Well, this place would have to be the epitome of Irish pubs. It’s a squillion years old, has great craic and character, serves great food, and has traditional music playing seven nights a week.

Located on Bridge St. on the south side of the city, The Brazen Head is the oldest pub in all of Ireland. A pub of some kind has stood on this site since 1198--long before liquor-licensing laws were enacted (1635). It was located on the junction of four ancient transport routes, so would have always been a popular watering hole. The present building is an old 1688 coaching inn complete with a cobble stone courtyard that is now a great little beer garden in summer. We managed quite a few lazy Guinness whilst enjoying the long summer hours and warm temps.

This place has long had a traditional local crowd that frequent. However, more and more professional workers from the nearby legal buildings have changed that recently. The decor inside adds to the comforting feel of a great traditional pub. Everything is still wooden with memorabilia and old posters adorning the walls. There are low-hanging beams on the ceiling, small cozy rooms, fireplaces, and huge wooden barrels out in the courtyard used as drinks tables.

Music is played here every night in the two bars--one for traditional Irish music (live) and the other for more contemporary/modern style. There is also a Sunday afternoon session that attracts a few tourists. Many famous musicians have played here over the years, including Van Morrison and the Hothouse Flowers. The price of a Guinness is €3.80 ($4.98), and they have a wide selection of other Irish beers and whiskeys. Recommendation: Try Murphy’s beer; for a whiskey, go for a Bushmills, Jamesons, or Paddy’s.

The Brazen Head also offers great food options. You can order from a bar menu for snacks--plate of chips for €3 ($3.93)--sandwiches, soups, mains, and stews--traditional Irish stew and beef and Guinness stew are both €9.50 ($12.45). Alternatively, you can dine in the more formal courtyard restaurant, which is simple but very nice.

Getting to the Brazen Head is easy. It’s located only five minutes from the Guinness Storehouse, The Jameson Distillery, and Christchurch Cathedral. From the cathedral, just go along High St. and turn left into Bridge St. If you’re coming from O’Connell St., turn right and head down along the Liffey River, south past the quays. Go past the Dublin Corporation offices and past the Four Courts building across the river and turn left at the bridge on Merchants Quay. It’s just on the right.

If you have too many drinks or don’t want to trek home, you can always stay at the hostel there.

Great pub, Great craic, A must while in Dublin♪

Tel: 01 679 5186
Fax: 01 670 4042

Visit the website Brazen Head
Email: info@brazenhead.com

Well worth the walk: just keep walking along the South side of the Liffey, leaving the Temple Bar area behind on your left side. You will see The Brazen Head at a corner just after Fr. Mathew Bridge. The building looks old and authentic and appearently it is the oldest pub in Dublin (1668).

We were there on a Friday evening and the crowd was a nice blend of local 20- and 30-somethings having a drink after work, some tourists and barflies, too! We had a quiet drink in the back of the courtyard and went inside when a traditional music session began. We enjoyed it a lot but if you don't like crowds: stay in the courtyard!

We tried to have a bar meal at The Brazen Head on Sunday around 5pm, but the place was packed again for a traditional music session. We had our meal at a pub across the street instead (forgot its name), a place where we found lots of local families having their Sunday meal. Our dinner there was fine!