Now that daylight savings is upon us and nightfall arrives at a beautiful 5:30 PM, the time for a cosy pint is nigh. There’s a tinge of winter chill in the air, the leaves have started to fall from the trees, and the warm, golden lights of the pubs are glimmering invitingly – but it’s now more than halfway through Michaelmas term, and I’m aware that checking the old BOI app has become somewhat of a panic-inducing feat. As the need to save some money starts to grow, I’ve compiled a guide to some wallet-friendly pubs slightly off the beaten path. Seeing as assignments are starting to pile up and making the trek into City Centre is quickly becoming a time-consuming journey, this list focuses on areas such as The Liberties, Phibsborough, and Smithfield in hopes that this can serve as a guide to some pubs in your area that have some damn good Guinness and won’t break the bank.
Disclaimer: these are pubs for a cosy and quiet pint, not places to go with a massive group looking to get hammered. Rather, they’re institutions dedicated to the delicate art of Guinness pouring – settings for you and three or four friends to have a nice chat while slowly slipping into intoxication among locals and barmen. If this isn’t your cuppa, no worries! Doyle’s is open 7 days a week.
Cumiskey’s – Phibsborough
Cumiskey’s is a quiet pub situated at the top of Dominick Street. The floors are carpeted giving the place a homey, warm feel that’s perfectly conducive to downing eight to thirteen pints of Guinness. This is one of the more geezer-ish pubs on the list, with at least five auld lads that seem to be permanent fixtures of the spot – I’m not sure what time they arrive, but no matter when I rock up to Cumiskey’s, the same few older gentlemen are occupying their usual spots at the bar. The patrons are definitely wary of a younger crowd, but don’t let that deter you. Be respectful and keep the noise level to a minimum, and you will be rewarded with the perfect cosy spot for dark wintery nights.
Fallon’s – The Liberties
The minute you cross the threshold of Fallon’s, you can tell you’re standing on hallowed Guinness grounds. Typically quite busy due to the tiny size of the place, the clientele is a healthy mix of young and old, all gathered to bask in the light of true Guinness mastery. What Fallon’s lacks in seating it makes up for in ambiance – you’ll typically find a lively crowd spilling onto the sidewalks surrounding the joint and occupying the small outdoor seating area. Fallon’s is a true testament to the theory that the grumpier the barman, the better the Guinness. I highly recommend going for a cheeky midday pint if you want to avoid the crowds, and then wandering around the park at St. Patrick’s Cathedral if the weather allows.
Martin B. Slattery’s – Rathmines
All my Halls survivors are certainly familiar with Slattery’s Rathmines, and although this is on the pricier end of the pubs on this list, its location deep in the Southside makes it a perfect spot for those who can’t be arsed to walk to their local bus stop. Slattery’s has a jovial, high-energy ambiance late on weekend nights but offers the best of both worlds with a calmer, quieter atmosphere on weekdays and early evenings. The patrons and bartenders of this establishment are a bit wary of rowdy college students, but once you prove you’re not like Those Other Trinners, you’ll reap the benefits of a solid pub with plenty of space for you and all your mates.
The Lord Edward – Christ Church
Now, Lord Edward is indeed in City Centre but I’m adding it to the list because a pint of Guinness here is 5.90€. Yes, you heard that right, 5.90€ in the City Centre. But that’s not the only reason I’m recommending this place. Across the street from Christ Church, Lord Edward is a lovely representation of all the good things a classic Irish pub should be: cheap, cosy, and the perfect place for some good old banter. Small tables line the walls, providing a cushioned bench on one side and small chairs on the other, while the bar boasts its own capacious seating area of stools, usually filled with locals in deep conversation with each other or the friendly barman. The service is quick and attentive, the pub is just the right size, and the prices are, as one Google review puts it, “normal” – a concept unheard of in Dublin.
Walsh’s – Smithfield
Just a few blocks west of Smithfield Square, Walsh’s is a long-standing institution that has survived the gradual gentrification of the Northside. The pub is centred around a double-sided bar with a ton of seating and many snugs separated by dividers into different sections giving it the feel of a smaller, more intimate place. When I visited on a Thursday night it was warm and lively but not rowdy, a balance that a good pub always manages to strike. The place was far from empty, but my friends and I were able to find seats right away and all received picture-worthy pints quickly. Right down the road from The Cobblestone and Token, Walsh’s is well worth the journey north of the river.
Honourable mentions:
- O’Connell – Portobello, just off the canal.
The Cobblestone – Smithfield, live trad music every night.
Smyth’s – Ballsbridge, bring a book.
chill in the air, the leaves have started to fall from the trees, and the warm, golden lights of the pubs are glimmering invitingly – but it’s now more than halfway through Michaelmas term, and I’m aware that checking the old BOI app has become somewhat of a panic-inducing feat. As the need to save some money starts to grow, I’ve compiled a guide to some wallet-friendly pubs slightly off the beaten path. Seeing as assignments are starting to pile up and making the trek into City Centre is quickly becoming a time-consuming journey, this list focuses on areas such as The Liberties, Phibsborough, and Smithfield in hopes that this can serve as a guide to some pubs in your area that have some damn good Guinness and won’t break the bank.
Disclaimer: these are pubs for a cosy and quiet pint, not places to go with a massive group looking to get hammered. Rather, they’re institutions dedicated to the delicate art of Guinness pouring – settings for you and three or four friends to have a nice chat while slowly slipping into intoxication among locals and barmen. If this isn’t your cuppa, no worries! Doyle’s is open 7 days a week.
Cumiskey’s – Phibsborough
Cumiskey’s is a quiet pub situated at the top of Dominick Street. The floors are carpeted giving the place a homey, warm feel that’s perfectly conducive to downing eight to thirteen pints of Guinness. This is one of the more geezer-ish pubs on the list, with at least five auld lads that seem to be permanent fixtures of the spot – I’m not sure what time they arrive, but no matter when I rock up to Cumiskey’s, the same few older gentlemen are occupying their usual spots at the bar. The patrons are definitely wary of a younger crowd, but don’t let that deter you. Be respectful and keep the noise level to a minimum, and you will be rewarded with the perfect cosy spot for dark wintery nights.
Fallon’s – The Liberties
The minute you cross the threshold of Fallon’s, you can tell you’re standing on hallowed Guinness grounds. Typically quite busy due to the tiny size of the place, the clientele is a healthy mix of young and old, all gathered to bask in the light of true Guinness mastery. What Fallon’s lacks in seating it makes up for in ambiance – you’ll typically find a lively crowd spilling onto the sidewalks surrounding the joint and occupying the small outdoor seating area. Fallon’s is a true testament to the theory that the grumpier the barman, the better the Guinness. I highly recommend going for a cheeky midday pint if you want to avoid the crowds, and then wandering around the park at St. Patrick’s Cathedral if the weather allows.
Martin B. Slattery’s – Rathmines
All my Halls survivors are certainly familiar with Slattery’s Rathmines, and although this is on the pricier end of the pubs on this list, its location deep in the Southside makes it a perfect spot for those who can’t be arsed to walk to their local bus stop. Slattery’s has a jovial, high-energy ambiance late on weekend nights but offers the best of both worlds with a calmer, quieter atmosphere on weekdays and early evenings. The patrons and bartenders of this establishment are a bit wary of rowdy college students, but once you prove you’re not like Those Other Trinners, you’ll reap the benefits of a solid pub with plenty of space for you and all your mates.
The Lord Edward – Christ Church
Now, Lord Edward is indeed in City Centre but I’m adding it to the list because a pint of Guinness here is 5.90€. Yes, you heard that right, 5.90€ in the City Centre. But that’s not the only reason I’m recommending this place. Across the street from Christ Church, Lord Edward is a lovely representation of all the good things a classic Irish pub should be: cheap, cosy, and the perfect place for some good old banter. Small tables line the walls, providing a cushioned bench on one side and small chairs on the other, while the bar boasts its own capacious seating area of stools, usually filled with locals in deep conversation with each other or the friendly barman. The service is quick and attentive, the pub is just the right size, and the prices are, as one Google review puts it, “normal” – a concept unheard of in Dublin.
Walsh’s – Smithfield
Just a few blocks west of Smithfield Square, Walsh’s is a long-standing institution that has survived the gradual gentrification of the Northside. The pub is centred around a double-sided bar with a ton of seating and many snugs separated by dividers into different sections giving it the feel of a smaller, more intimate place. When I visited on a Thursday night it was warm and lively but not rowdy, a balance that a good pub always manages to strike. The place was far from empty, but my friends and I were able to find seats right away and all received picture-worthy pints quickly. Right down the road from The Cobblestone and Token, Walsh’s is well worth the journey north of the river.
Honourable mentions:
- O’Connell – Portobello, just off the canal.
The Cobblestone – Smithfield, live trad music every night.
Smyth’s – Ballsbridge, bring a book.
a panic-inducing feat. As the need to save some money starts to grow, I’ve compiled a guide to some wallet-friendly pubs slightly off the beaten path. Seeing as assignments are starting to pile up and making the trek into City Centre is quickly becoming a time-consuming journey, this list focuses on areas such as The Liberties, Phibsborough, and Smithfield in hopes that this can serve as a guide to some pubs in your area that have some damn good Guinness and won’t break the bank.
Disclaimer: these are pubs for a cosy and quiet pint, not places to go with a massive group looking to get hammered. Rather, they’re institutions dedicated to the delicate art of Guinness pouring – settings for you and three or four friends to have a nice chat while slowly slipping into intoxication among locals and barmen. If this isn’t your cuppa, no worries! Doyle’s is open 7 days a week.
Cumiskey’s – Phibsborough
Cumiskey’s is a quiet pub situated at the top of Dominick Street. The floors are carpeted giving the place a homey, warm feel that’s perfectly conducive to downing eight to thirteen pints of Guinness. This is one of the more geezer-ish pubs on the list, with at least five auld lads that seem to be permanent fixtures of the spot – I’m not sure what time they arrive, but no matter when I rock up to Cumiskey’s, the same few older gentlemen are occupying their usual spots at the bar. The patrons are definitely wary of a younger crowd, but don’t let that deter you. Be respectful and keep the noise level to a minimum, and you will be rewarded with the perfect cosy spot for dark wintery nights.
Fallon’s – The Liberties
The minute you cross the threshold of Fallon’s, you can tell you’re standing on hallowed Guinness grounds. Typically quite busy due to the tiny size of the place, the clientele is a healthy mix of young and old, all gathered to bask in the light of true Guinness mastery. What Fallon’s lacks in seating it makes up for in ambiance – you’ll typically find a lively crowd spilling onto the sidewalks surrounding the joint and occupying the small outdoor seating area. Fallon’s is a true testament to the theory that the grumpier the barman, the better the Guinness. I highly recommend going for a cheeky midday pint if you want to avoid the crowds, and then wandering around the park at St. Patrick’s Cathedral if the weather allows.
Martin B. Slattery’s – Rathmines
All my Halls survivors are certainly familiar with Slattery’s Rathmines, and although this is on the pricier end of the pubs on this list, its location deep in the Southside makes it a perfect spot for those who can’t be arsed to walk to their local bus stop. Slattery’s has a jovial, high-energy ambiance late on weekend nights but offers the best of both worlds with a calmer, quieter atmosphere on weekdays and early evenings. The patrons and bartenders of this establishment are a bit wary of rowdy college students, but once you prove you’re not like Those Other Trinners, you’ll reap the benefits of a solid pub with plenty of space for you and all your mates.
The Lord Edward – Christ Church
Now, Lord Edward is indeed in City Centre but I’m adding it to the list because a pint of Guinness here is 5.90€. Yes, you heard that right, 5.90€ in the City Centre. But that’s not the only reason I’m recommending this place. Across the street from Christ Church, Lord Edward is a lovely representation of all the good things a classic Irish pub should be: cheap, cosy, and the perfect place for some good old banter. Small tables line the walls, providing a cushioned bench on one side and small chairs on the other, while the bar boasts its own capacious seating area of stools, usually filled with locals in deep conversation with each other or the friendly barman. The service is quick and attentive, the pub is just the right size, and the prices are, as one Google review puts it, “normal” – a concept unheard of in Dublin.
Walsh’s – Smithfield
Just a few blocks west of Smithfield Square, Walsh’s is a long-standing institution that has survived the gradual gentrification of the Northside. The pub is centred around a double-sided bar with a ton of seating and many snugs separated by dividers into different sections giving it the feel of a smaller, more intimate place. When I visited on a Thursday night it was warm and lively but not rowdy, a balance that a good pub always manages to strike. The place was far from empty, but my friends and I were able to find seats right away and all received picture-worthy pints quickly. Right down the road from The Cobblestone and Token, Walsh’s is well worth the journey north of the river.
Honourable mentions:
- O’Connell – Portobello, just off the canal.
The Cobblestone – Smithfield, live trad music every night.
Smyth’s – Ballsbridge, bring a book.
WORDS: Scarlett Ferry
