In Search of the Perfect Pint

Jaysus,it’s a tough job but someone has to do it: In search of the perfect pint (of Guinness) in Dublin. This is a challenge not to be rushed, and considering the sheer volume of institutions serving the aforesaid, this could be particularly time consuming project.  Deadline :Arthur's Day September 27th17.59pm.

The task clearly screamed HELP,so hence the very obliging team at Jacobs Inn and Isaacs Hostel were recruited ( they didn’t take much forcing! ) to hunt out the  creamiest, smoothest pint in our favourite the best pubs in Dublin. We kind of restricted ourselves to the central square mile in Dublin, so apologies if we missed a vital suburban pint in the far flung reaches of Ranelagh, Malahide or Chapeizod (maybe a sequel blog??).  

The RULES? Well there weren’t any really! The pubs/ bars were judged,to be honest not just on the quality of the  black stuff but overall atmosphere and may have been unfairly influenced  by the  mightiness of the craic  and the consumption  levels on a particular  night in question  - so apologies to Arthur - this might not be the “purest”  of surveys .  We have included  on our  “Black stuff list”  some pubs on  the main Dublin Tourist Trail  ( but let’s  face that’s why they are got there  in the first place ) but we did manage to get a few  hidden gems in too ! So here goes: “Our Staff Picks for a PERFECT PINT” and in no particular order:

Martina (a literary soul?) spends her time at the Bernard Shaw: A pub, with an awesome beer garden and wait for it…A big blue double decker bus that sells pizza. Enough said!! If the bus didn’t pique your interest …you don’t deserve to witness it!

The Mercantile: Great looking bar, pretty central to Temple Bar and them also run a pub crawl every night. But great Sunday session with great modern traditional music.

Kevin: always on form for a pint  

Kevin (yes him) Hannigan  has been known to hang at Messrs Maguire –“Pretty cool bar just south of the river. They’re open late on the important nights of the week ( What IS an important night Kevin?) have several drink promotions most nights and have five different bars over three stories – very unusually and uniquely laid out.

Turk’s Head – One of the few spots in Temple Bar I would go to. It has an unusual layout – some parts of the bar are very cramped with people squeezed next to each other, whereas other parts are open and vacuous. Great live music most nights and some great drink promotions too.

The Porterhouse – There are two of these in the city centre: one on Parliament Street and one on Nassau Street. The Porterhouse is a micro brewery, so they have a large selection of beer from all around the world, as well as their own home-brewed beer (do they serve Guinness Kevin!!?). The one on Parliament Street is better; it’s got live music and a better atmosphere. And finally The Brazen Head – It’s second oldest bar in Europe (though they claim to be the oldest) for one thing. A ramshackle, weathered shell of a building from the outside, a lively local on the inside. Always packed with both tourists and locals, live music every night and (literally) award-winning food.

Mulligans gets best pint vote

Ronan recommends The Long Hall (South Great George Street) – a must-visit pub-and it really is a long hall – a taste of Dublin in the rare ole times! And Mulligans on Poolbeg Street – one of Dublin’s oldest pubs (1782) with the best pint of Guinness for miles around – no fancy frills here!. Frank Ryan’s in Smithfield – Great Pub with great Guinness… go on a Thursday to see the best Dublin cover band! And Darkey Kellys – Trad Sessions and good pints, often free sandwiches!

Niamh also backs up Ronan on Mulligans but suggested Mcdaids another traditional pub but on Harry Street just off Grafton Street –“great spot for a good pint of the black stuff but get in early if you want to get a seat!” (And park your shopping bags Niamh???)


Elaine  - is she hiding her Guinness moustache

Elaine plumps for: The Globe – on George's Street, cool, bar upstairs and dance floor downstairs, always full even on a weekday and always free in! The Grand Social – cool smoking area, good mix of people go there. Usually live music/events upstairs and different genres music played every night. (Warning: all the staff like this one) Sweeney’s on Dame Street – Always live music and great atmosphere.

Hot spots Andy 

Andy’s Hot spots! : If you are looking for the Irish cultural experience the Celt bar  Talbot Street is a great spot to go. Live music every night and very close to the hostel. Always a great atmosphere. .There other bars I enjoy are The Living Room on Catha Brugha Street  The best place to go for big sports matches. They have  biggest screens in Dublin and a huge smoking area out the back with big screens

The Globe on Georges street is one of my favoured bars for a late drink. It has a nightclub downstairs that plays some excellent indie music. Doyle's on Fleet Street is also a good bar. It also has live music every night and a nice friendly atmosphere always. One of my favourite bars that are also part of the hostels pub crawl is The Old Storehouse on Crown Alley in Temple Bar.

Would you take a pint with this man?

A third vote from  James for Mulligans on Poolbeg Street which is just over Butt Bridge a few minutes from the hostel serves a great pint of Guinness in a traditional pub environment of retired and still working hacks from the old Irish Press offices next door to the pub. A good mix of tourists with business folk and students along with some fun Dublin bar staff that has been there years, quality pub. The Palace on Fleet Street also serves a good pint of Guinness in a traditional old pub frequented by Brendan Behan and Flann O’ Brien back in the day…Further afield Clarkes pub in Drogheda has a good pint and has traditional Irish music quite regularly (James since when has Drogheda been in the Dublin’s central square mile? You will seriously need to buy the pints if you want us to hoik on out there!! ) NB but then if  you are visiting Newgrange ,then this might be  good  watering hole on the way back . 

So thats it! Our personal picks for a perfect pint. (Tis a blooming miracle how these guys ever have time to work?) We could go on (and on and on) but at least you get a taste of some of our “tried and tested” and clearly where NOT to go of you want to give us a wide berth!!.

We would love to get YOUR Perfect Pint feedback .So please send a review of your favourite Dublin watering holes (with a photo of you in a pub with a pint, if you have one) to events@isaacs.ie or tag to our Isaacs/ Jacobs Facebook pages. You will be in with a chance to win a free night with us plus a wild night out with The Hostel Pub crawl for you and a mate!