In James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” Leopold Bloom remarks that it could be a good puzzle to cross Dublin without passing a pub. Colm Quilligan, founding father of the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, doesn’t recommend even trying it.
“When Americans come to town, all roads result in Temple Bar,” said Quilligan, referring to the pub-rich area on the south bank of the Liffey. “It’s incredible within the daytime, but transforms right into a tourist thoroughfare at night.”
Nevertheless, he tells tourists to get on the market and “use your nose.”
“I like to recommend traveling off the beaten path,” he said.
But can your nose be trusted? Couldn’t it use slightly training? In spite of everything, picking a pub is not any small matter. We queried the experts and gathered the tools you’ll must sniff out the right hoppy Irish odyssey in your next trip.
Vibe check
Courtesy Failte Ireland
For hundreds of years, Irish pubs — short for public houses — have served as hubs where people not only drink, but gather to share news, discuss business, and socialize.
“Irish pubs have a capability to make everyone feel welcomed on that exact day,” said Padraig Fox (aka, Foxy), a Guinness global brand ambassador. “What each one among them has is ‘the craic’ — a sense of shared community. Pubs are a fantastic leveler, whether you’re an area, a tourist and even a celeb, everyone seems to be treated the identical.”
Search for a combination of ages and backgrounds while you step inside. It’s a very good indicator that the group is welcoming to newcomers. One demographic that it’s possible you’ll wish to pay slightly extra attention to: “If there’s a whole lot of old guys on the bar having a pint, then it must be a very good pub,” said Quilligan. “They appreciate quality.”
Beware pub pedigree
“Normally, you would like an old pub, which suggests probably 100 years old or more,” said Ali Dunworth, creator of “A Compendium of Irish Pints: The Culture, Customs and Craic.”
Give it bonus points for original fixtures, floors, bars, stained glass or a “snug” — a small seating area that originated within the Nineteenth-century so women could drink in private. But wary of exaggerated claims about age.
James Wright, an award-winning archaeologist and creator of “Historic Constructing Mythbusting,” has debunked dozens of dubious “oldest pub” assertions within the UK. In Ireland, he’s also busted the Brazen Head and Sean’s Bar — neither of that are really “the oldest pubs in Ireland” (Sean’s Bar even declares itself to be the oldest on this planet).
“Sean’s Bar in Athlone claims to have been open since 900 AD,” said Wright. “In point of fact, it’s a constructing of circa 1700 with no evidence of prior use on the location. The Athlone example is typical. Currently, I’m unaware of any pubs anywhere making an accurate date claim.”
Get the Guinness
If the beer is sweet, loads might be forgiven.
“Guinness doesn’t taste the identical in every single place,” said Anthony Malone, director of development at the Irish Exit in Recent York City. “You might be in search of the right temperature — not too cold — and a pleasant creamy consistency in the top. You wish that actually subtle, gentle roasted flavor.”
While Guinness gets their beer to pubs “as fresh as possible,” said Padraig, the remaining is out of their hands. “There’s an art and theater to the signature Guinness two-part pour. Guinness lovers are keen about their drink, and the way it’s poured is a key a part of serving great-looking and great-tasting Guinness, consistently.”
Heed the red flags
One red flag that a pub is strictly designed for tourists? Non-stop music. Particularly, “a pair of men playing ‘Wonderwall’ and people varieties of rubbish songs,” said Quilligan, noting that live sessions of traditional Irish tunes like those at Hartigan’s in Dublin, however, are welcome.
One other warning sign could also be too many TVs, but most experts and sports lovers agree they aren’t a tough no in a rustic where soccer and rugby qualify as national religions. Similarly, pubs serving Irish stew and fish and chips 24/7 veer into tourist-trap territory. More legitimate gastropubs that double as restaurants have popped up since Ireland’s 2003 smoking ban.
Fan favorites
A walkable city, Dublin’s neighborhoods and side streets are populated with a sea of pubs from Harcourt to Stoneybatter. Among the hottest with tourists and locals alike are the Gravediggers, which got its unusual nickname because gravediggers from the neighboring cemetery used to are available in for drink after a tough night’s work, and Kehoes, where writers like Samuel Beckett are said to have bellied as much as the bar. The Victorian charm of the Stag’s Head and the Palace Bar, complete with a skylight and stained glass, make it value venturing to Temple Bar.
Just don’t forget to explore outside the capital.
“Each town and city has their very own good spots,” said Padraig.
Just a few of his many favorites include Taaffes Bar in Galway, the Duke of York in Belfast, Matt Molloy’s in Westport, Dick Mack’s Pub & Brewery in Dingle, Sin É in Cork, Tynan’s Bridge House Bar in Kilkenny and Mother Macs in Limerick.
“You won’t fit all of them in, however it’s all the time good to have a reason to come back back, right?” Padraig rhetorically asked.
