Munster Pubs

on October 14, 2009

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The relative calm and quietness of Kilmainham Lane in Dublin 8 is home to a rare gem. This is one of those kind of places that there are seemingly all too few of these days. No shiny chrome fixtures (except maybe for the bar taps), no glaring lights, marble bar tops or anything else you’d associate with the multitude of soulless city center ‘bars’, this is a place of character. No larger than many of the living rooms in the adjacent apartments, it’s packed to the gills every weekend with the locals you just have to assume have been coming here since they could see over the bar.

If you’re lucky and you’re early, you might be awarded with a spot in the utterly fantastic dimly lit snug at the bottom of the stairs. The snug has the benefit of being both close to the bar and being close to the toilet. I’m not too sure I want to find out how many pints of the superbly delivered Guinness I need to drink before traveling arse over tit down the stairs after spending a night drinking in the main bar.

Speaking of the tipple, the Guinness (which admittedly is the only thing I’ve ever ordered) is among if not the best pint of Guinness I’ve ever had. It makes it not only drinkable, but highly enjoyable. High praise indeed, given my history of praising Murphy’s and barely giving any others a look in. The bar staff are friendly without being overly so but always have a few words of conversation for you if you make the effort.

Eoin, who may have complained if I didn’t include this, was in awe of the miniature shower system in the toilet which provides steamy hot water for scrubbing your mucky paws. I believe the comment was along the lines of “you just don’t see that anymore”. No, you don’t. But you could say that about most, if not all of this place. It’s a very welcome step back in time. A place where you can go not to be deafened by a blaring stereo or the musical strains of whatever performer was cheap and available. A place to go to practice the forgotten art of conversation over a few pints. A place that’s around the corner from a Chinese takeaway!

The Dice Bar

Published

on October 13, 2009

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On my recent trip to Dublin myself and Ryan checked out this pub located on Queen street. It was packed on the night we went in and there was just standing room available by the door. There was a bouncer on duty and he was trying to keep people inside with their drinks. It is not a huge pub but there was a big crowd inside. From what i saw there was a good mixture of people drinking here. The dj was playing very alternative music which i enjoyed. The service at the bar was efficient and with a smile. The pint of Guinness was not great but i managed to finish it all.

The toilets are small and were in quite poor condition when i checked them. I have to say that i enjoyed this pub even though it was so packed and would definately make a return if in the area again.

Toilet rating: 4/10
Pint rating: 6/10
Overall rating 7/10

Final comment: Definately a pub with a good atmosphere and worth checking out.

The Porterhouse

Published

on August 25, 2009

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I think Ryan reviewed this in more detail before but what the hell. The next pub we visited on our short trip around Dublins drinking establishments was the above mentioned Porterhouse. It is on Parliament street in Temple Bar. We were given the once over by the bouncers on the way in and we entered a different world in my opinion. I suddenly felt very underdressed. Everyone was out to impress, except myself and Ryan of course. It was very busy inside this trendy pub. I managed to get to the bar and decided to try one of their own brewed beers. I think it was porterhouse red that i tried but can’t remember exactly. As i was waiting at the bar i noticed the band playing upstairs on the televison. We headed up the stairs to where the band were playing and hung around there. The band were good but were very much for the tourists. I found the red/pink beer hand to drink and was having an almighty sugar buzz. The only pub i can compare this one to that i have been i, is The Bishopstown Bar in Cork. I only think that they are alike in the geography of both places with stairs everywhere.

The toilets were in very poor condition when i saw them. There was a bouncer standing outside the toilet but they could have done with him cleaning inside. I presume that there are other toilet facilities available, i just didn’t discover them. I was glad we headed in but i certainly won’t be going back when i’m next in Dublin. Its just not my sort of place. It’s great that they brew their own beer though.

Toilet rating: 4/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating/ 6/10

Final comment: If your looking for a busy pub with plenty of different beers check it out.

Sin e

Published

on August 24, 2009

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I was up in Dublin recently and met up with the co-owner of this website, Ryan. Seeing as he is now living up there we decided to check out a few establishments. The first pub we went into was Sin e on Ormond Quay. We headed in at about 9:30pm and the place was relatively quiet. The bar man served us efficiently and we took a seat overlooking another area below us where others were sitting. It is quite a dark pub and there were plenty candles dotted around the place. The pint of Guinness was very decent and it went down well to be fair. When i went down stairs i noticed another bar with plenty of seating but it wasn’t open while we were there.

The toilets were fine when i checked them. There are two cubicles available for use. We only stayed for the one drink in this pub but it was a very relaxed and chilled out drink. Being from Cork i did notice the increase in prices for the drinks.

Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10

Final comment: There is a pub with the same name in Cork City although i haven’t reviewed that one yet.

Buck Mulligan’s Bar

Published

on November 20, 2006

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I was up in Dublin for the weekend and had my first visit and stay at the Burlington hotel. The room was comfortable and it was an enjoyable stay. We had dinner in the restaurant on the first night there and the service was quite slow. We went for a few drinks and managed to get seats in the Lobby Lounge. We got our pints in Buck Mulligan’s bar and i opted for a pint of North Star Guinness. I enjoyed the pint and it went down very well. Another member of the group had this pint as well. The bar itself was not overly busy but there was a good crowd inside. I was impressed with the decor and we headed out to the lounge with the pints. This area is very comfortable with a big seating area and relaxing couches. When we arrived at the hotel we noticed the Australian rugby team relaxing in the Lobby lounge. They were nice enough to sign autographs for anyone who wanted them.

The toilets were located just off the lobby and were in pristine condition it has to be said. there was even a television in the gents which is a first for me. They are big toilets and are very well maintained. There was a good crowd in the bar for the rugby match on Sunday and i only caught the last few minutes myself. I was at a meal in the conference room and have to say that was impressive. The Burlington is an exclusive hotel and i had an enjoyable stay.

Toilet rating: 9/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10

Final comment: Both Buck Mulligan’s Bar and The Lobby Lounge were impressive.

The Porterhouse; Temple Bar

Published

on August 31, 2006

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On a recent trip to Dublin for Peoples Photography, we took a trip to the Porterhouse on Temple Bar’s Parliament street. The blurb says it’s “Irelands largest genuine Irish brewery”. This of course means that once inside, you can forget your Heinekens and Carlsbergs. Throw your Budweisers and alcopops out the window. It’s all their own tipple and what tipple it is.

I started the night in a rather sedate manner with a pint of ale, quickly moved on to a lager and then finally rested at something divinely pink; their very own strawberry flavoured beer! I stayed away from the beer referred to by some as “bananas and ham” but will no doubt get around to that one on my eventual return. As you’d expect from any place marketing itself as “Ireland’s largest genuine Irish brewery”, their selection of beers is varied. Mind boggling even. Perhaps only so mind boggling later on in the evening due to sampling one too many strawberry beers.

The pub itself is a labyrinth of brass and oak with stairs ascending to no fewer than 4 levels. Where there might not be large expanses as you’d normally get in ’super pubs’, there is certainly a seat to be found somewhere if you climb high enough. On the top level, there was a rather impressive looking kitchen and some of the meals that were being served out of it on our arrival looked mouth wateringly good. Maybe I’ll get around to testing those the next time. As with many/all Dublin bars, once the night is in full swing and you’re sufficiently imbibed, the price of the beer goes up. Specifically, an extra 50c on a pint that cost €5. Oh how I love Dublin. Thankfully by that stage I already had a back pocket overflowing with change.

So for something different when in Dublin, definately try the porterhouse. Try that strawberry beer too. Just be wary of the hangover…

The Orchard

Published

on May 10, 2006

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Its been a while since a pub in Dublin has been reviewed. I was in Dublin last weekend and stayed in Swords. It was my second time staying in this area and i have to say that i like it. We headed for dinner in the Tree Top restaurant over the pub. Applewood main street is where you will find this venue. It was my second time having dinner here and it was excellent once again. It is a fantastic setting and the food is very nice. Following dinner we headed down stairs to the pub for a drink. There is a bar and lounge available. I have been in both and overall it is a big pub. There was live music and a one man band entertained his audience very well. We were sitting in the smaller area of the pub which i think is the bar. It is very modern and a grand spot to sit and enjoy a drink. I ordered a pint of Guinness which was delivered efficiently and with a smile! It was a very good pint and my fellow stout drinker agreed.

The pub was busy where the music was on but quieter where we were sitting. The toilets were in very good condition when i saw them. It is a pub that i will hopefully visit again if i am in the swords area.

Toilet rating: 8/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating:8/10

Final comment: Last year when i was in this pub at about 23:30 on a Saturday night a guy came in selling the Sunday World. We all got our copies long before they officially hit the shops, a bit of a novelty!

The Twelfth Lock

Published

on April 15, 2006

in Dublin, Outside Munster and hotel

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I’ve often passed by this place, wondering first if it was a merely a bar or in fact a small hotel. It’s the latter and apparently quite difficult to get a room in. I’m going to put that down to the reason that there are few rooms however.
Greeting & Check-in
I can understand why the process is dealt with in a ‘quick as possible’ fashion here, it appears that whoever is covering the front desk is also either in the kitchen or serving in the bar. They have no need for a permenant front desk staff member. Maybe. Nothing stood out.

Appearance & Location
Follow the grand canal and you can’t miss this place. It’s in Castleknock (just down from the DART station). I always referred to Castleknock as “that place just outside Blanchardstown”. I realise now that the residents would likely see me hung, drawn and quartered for such a flagrant disregard for their suburb. The Twelfth Lock, as I was getting to, is on the grand canal (in all it’s glorious rubbish filled stinkiness). Grand canal eh? Isn’t that a bit dodgy? Well yes, it seems to be. When I made a voyage out to my car one night while staying here I did notice some (as Mr. Kipling might put it) some exceeding dodgy characters. It seems a small enough building, which makes you wonder how they crammed so much in. The secret is to put all the bedrooms below ground level, thereby denying them any view to the outside world (and presumably effective means of escape in the event of a natural disaster of some sort). My room was not unlike what you’d expect to find at any budget hotel. Small TV, basic tea/coffee service, not hugely comfortable bed, small ill-equipt bathroom. Ohh, except this isn’t a budget hotel. Oh dear!

Staff & Service
I found most of the staff to be friendly and helpful. The member of staff working in the restaurant on the night of my stay wasn’t all too pleased to see me when I strode in around 8pm for my dinner. I should have made a reservation, despite the fact that there was only one table out of easily two dozen in use. That brush off suited fine and I returned to the bar where there was at least some signs of life. Once in the bar, I noted that the service was good and quite efficient.

Food
I ordered something fairly basic from the bar menu which arrived in a timely manner and was quite tasty. Special mention has to be paid to the large selection of beers available. No different than any other run of the mill ‘trendy’ pub these days I’m sure.

Internet Access
The bane of my existance while in this ‘hotel’. They claim to have WiFi coverage of the lobby and all the guest rooms. Not so. While I successfully picked up a signal on my laptop, it dropped after approx. 6 minutes and required me to reset the WiFi on my laptop and manually re-connect. Eventually I just gave up. Completely unusable. Perhaps broadband was an afterthought here? I couldn’t help but think that they could have used existing cat5 infrastructure in the room to deliver a wired network instead of their yo-yo WiFi.

Price
By no means cheap and certainly more expensive than other hotels I’ve stayed in with far more prestigious names. Radisson for one. Also hotels ending in “& Country Club”. Definately not value for money. Also, before I end this thrilling chapter of yet another experience in our nations capital I’d like to say my room in The Twelfth Lock smelled of sewage for the entire night. I can assure you it wasn’t my dodgy plumbing that was causing the funk either. Every time I opened my room door to enter it hit me in the face like a brick wall. A wall whos bricks had first been marinated in stinking sewage that is. Perhaps it’s not a good idea to put a ‘hotel’ next to the grand canal after all?

For any adventurous types out there, The Twelfth Lock can be had here – http://www.twelfthlock.com/

The Comet

Published

on November 2, 2005