7 Great Traditional Pubs to visit in Dublin City

These traditional pubs in Dublin City, as of 2026, are among the best anywhere in the country. We’ve spent plenty of evenings wandering the city ourselves, so this guide comes straight from firsthand experience rather than hype.

This post is for anyone who wants the real Dublin pub experience. These aren’t the tourist traps of Temple Bar or the student-heavy haunts of Camden Street, but friendly, welcoming spots full of charm. Think great Guinness, live music, cosy décor and even the odd plate of grub, all wrapped up in that unmistakable Irish atmosphere.

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Read on to find the best boozers!

McCafferty’s at The Barge is a bit of a jaunt from Dublin’s city centre but the walk to Ranelagh is well worth it. Acquired by Donegal’s McCafferty chain in 2023, The Barge remains the Dublin institution that it always was. The bright exterior is now unquestionably prettier and inside you’ll find a sprawling pub that maintains its traditional charm, packed with little nooks from which to enjoy a quiet pint.

Arguably most famous as the pub of choice for revellers on Ireland’s sunnier days, due to its canal-side location, The Barge is also a tremendous place to grab some grub. A decent sized menu serves the best of Irish cuisine without being overly fancy. We chose the bangers and mash at €18 and found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Aside from food, they also show all of the biggest sporting fixtures and constantly run gigs and events, such as fancy-dress parties for Halloween.

McCafferty’s at The Barge opens till 11:30pm most evenings and till 2:30am at the weekends.

The Bleeding Horse on Camden Street is an ancient building, the current structure dating back to 1871, which is just what we love to see in a traditional pub! The beautiful exterior, perfectly placed on a junction at upper end of Camden Street, is almost impossible to miss. Inside awaits a classic wooden old-world styled interior. It often appears to be full upon entering but wander up the stairs to find a maze of corridors and hidden rooms to enjoy your pint.

A simple but delicious food menu mixes traditional Irish dishes like the beef & Guinness stew with more modern staples. The food is slightly on the expensive side but it’s really tasty. They show all of the biggest sporting events on the big screen but you will need to arrive very early to get a good view.

You’ll find live music here each weekend, during which times the roof comes unglued! We found the atmosphere a little lacking for the rest of the week however, which is why we didn’t rank it higher.

Open from 12 noon each day, The Bleeding Horse closes at 12am during on weekdays and a little later at the weekends.

The Celt on Talbot Street looks unremarkable from the outside, but step inside to be instantly transported to rural Ireland. This gorgeous pub boasts a cosy décor that provides the perfect setting for a pint and a few laughs. The walls and the roof are adorned with all the typical trinkets that we love to see in an Irish Pub.

A delicious pub grub menu awaits you, featuring Irish classics at low prices. Enjoy bangers and mash for €15 or if that’s too hefty pick one of the bar bites options. The cocktail sausages, onion rings and chips always hit the spot, for just €10. After enjoying your feast, sit back and relax while you are serenaded by traditional Irish music 7 nights a week!

The Celt opens from 11:30am most days and the live music starts at 9:30pm.

The Brazen Head on Bridge Street claims to be Ireland’s oldest pub, though that accolade supposedly belongs to Sean’s Bar in Athlone. For now we’ll allow the Brazen Head, established in 1198, the title of being the oldest pub in Dublin at least! The present building has stood since 1754 and, unlike the Celt Bar, looks remarkable from the outside and more resembles a castle than a bar! The pub combines cosy outdoor and indoor areas, warmed by a glowing fire and decorated to perfection.

From 12pm to 9pm each day you can avail of a simple yet delicious pub food menu. Prices are very steep however, with a fish and chips costing €21! We enjoyed the buttermilk chicken burger, but probably not enough to justify the cost. Their music room hosts live music 7 nights a week and when this place gets going it’s a real joy to behold. This place is very popular among international tourists which contributes to a wonderfully friendly atmosphere.

The Brazen Head is open from 12pm every day and the live music starts at 9pm.

O’Neill’s Pub and Kitchen keeps watch over the Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street, in Dublin’s busiest area outside of Temple Bar. Its close proximity to that tourist trap contributes to an incredible atmosphere, yet it is far enough away to avoid the extortionate prices. This excellent boozer has something for everyone, be it a quiet pint or a lively music session.

O’Neill’s is huge so it rarely gets too packed, and you can find a corner to suit any kind of night you wish to have. The charm starts with a beautiful exterior, only enhanced by the amazing interior. Explore the nooks and crannies of its multiple floors as well as the beer garden, before finding a spot to dig in for the night.

Once renowned for tasty food, they are currently building a new kitchen so only have a limited menu available. You can still grab a breakfast, soup and sandwiches, or a tiny number of main courses until 10pm each night. You will have to enquire about the particular menu on any given day. They host live music 7 nights a week, but the immense size of the place means you can easily avoid it if looking for a quiet night. We adore the jovial evening atmosphere in this pub which attracts visitors from all over the globe. The excellent bar staff provide an added level of amusement too.

O’Neill’s Bar opens from 12pm Sunday through Tuesday, and 10:30am Wednesday through Saturday. The live music starts around 9pm each night.

Mary’s Bar on Wicklow Street sits ideally in the bustling heart of Dublin City. This unique boozer looks petite from the outside but inside lies a long and narrow interior, beautifully adorned with ornaments. The pub famously (and comically) doubles as a hardware store and the atmosphere is first class. Patrons enjoy delicious pints while playing board games or nibbling on some of the confectionary on sale here. They serve a limited number of cocktails, and a pint of Guinness costs around €6.20, which is exceptionally cheap for the area.

Downstairs you’ll find an impressively well hidden WOW Burger where you can grab a delicious Bacon and Cheeseburger for less than €10. There is definitely no better way to satisfy your beer hunger! TVs regularly showcase the biggest sporting events and the pub hosts live music 3 nights a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. We were initially worried that Mary’s might be a fad that people visited predominantly because of the amusing hardware store element. We couldn’t have been more wrong about this brilliant pub!

Mary’s Bar opens at 12pm every day with the live music kicking off at 7:30pm.

Kehoe’s Pub on South Anne Street sits just off Grafton Street, in the heart of Dublin City. This 19th century boozer, Ireland’s traditional bar of the year in 2017 and 2018, was once frequented by Irish literary greats who wanted to enjoy some of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin! This multi-storey establishment manages to maintain a homely feel despite its size, owing to the many snugs available.

Kehoe’s isn’t the type of pub you go to for food or live music. This joint prides itself on being a place to enjoy some very reasonably priced pints while enjoying a chat and a laugh with friends. You may be sceptical at what seems like a lack of offerings but you must visit this place to understand its charm. It’s easily one of the best traditional pubs in Dublin, if not the whole country.

Kehoes opens at 12pm Monday to Thursday, 10:30am Friday and Saturday and 12:30pm on Sundays.