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Brian Dillon

The best pubs on the northside of Dublin

The best pubs on the northside of Dublin are dotted around the inner city as well as in neighbourhoods such as Phibsborough, Stoneybatter, Clontarf, Drumcondra, Fairview and Smithfield.

From classic Irish boozers to more modern bars with interesting twists, there are a number of great places to head to for a night out north of the Liffey.

Here are the 18 best pubs on the northside of Dublin.

Read more: Dublin pubs: The 60 best boozers in the city

The Bald Eagle, Phibsborough

The Bald Eagle is exactly what you'd expect from a pub in Phibsborough, taking inspiration from the local area while also acting as a trendy spot for a place that has seen massive changes in the last few years, having been labelled one of the 'coolest' neighbourhoods in the world.

Beer garden in The Bald Eagle in Phibsborough (instagram.com/thebaldeagled7)

The Celt, Talbot Street

Live music, pints and a great atmosphere is what to expect from The Celt on Talbot Street. Located right beside Electric Circus, which is owned by the same people, The Celt serves up classic Dublin pub vibes along with delicious traditional Irish food.

The Celt (Facebook: The Celt)

The Wiley Fox, Eden Quay

The Wiley Fox is the only place to go for a couple of scoops around this area of the city centre.

With food served from Bosh Burger, cosy interiors and the odd boozy brunch, The Wiley Fox should be added to your list of pubs on the northside to try.

The Wiley Fox pub (Killian Broderick)

Harry Byrne's, Clontarf

Harry Byrne's might just be the best pub in Clontarf, with a massive outdoor area and multiple bars.

Expect it to be packed on the weekends with a great atmosphere, especially when there's a match on.

The Ivy House, Drumcondra

One of Drumcondra's best boozers comes in the form of The Ivy House. Serving delicious bar food as well as pints and cocktails, it's a lovely spot for a catch up with mates.

Plus, the beer garden is fairly vibey.

The Cobblestone, Smithfield

The Cobblestone has been at the centre of the discussion about the deterioration of Dublin's unique identity, with multiple threats of it shutting leading to protests and heated debates.

Located in Smithfield, The Cobblestone has been a favourite for music lovers for generations and is considered one of the last remaining authentic pubs on the northside of Dublin.

The Bernard Shaw, Phibsborough

Since moving from the southside to the northside, The Bernard Shaw brought with it a slew of great events such as boozy brunch, live music and markets.

With the addition of Eatyard to the side, it really is a feast for the senses with a mix of gorgeous smells filling the air, delicious flavours to taste and bright decor that elevate the atmosphere to vibrant levels.

Hyne's, Stoneybatter

Paddy Losty's (AKA the Pintman) local reopened under new management last year, bringing back a lease of life to Stoneybatter's Prussia Street.

The venue regularly hosts markets, trad nights and even Irish speaking nights. With Dosa Dosa serving up delicious South Indian food from the beer garden, it's one of the pubs on the northside of Dublin that is well worth a visit this year.

Hyne's Bar in Stoneybatter (Hyne's Bar)

Bru House, Fairview

A multitude of delicious and interesting beers on tap paired with unreal bar food makes for one satisfying experience at Bru House in Fairview.

Additionally, it's a great place to go for trad nights and during match days.

Pantibar, Capel Street

Pantibar is beloved by members of Dublin's vibrant LGBTQ+ community as well as Dubs in general.

Owned by self-proclaimed Queen of Ireland, drag star Panti Bliss, expect pints, cocktails, drag shows and more weekend entertainment when visiting here. Across the lane, you'll find its sister bar Penny Lane which is ideal for more relaxed drinks.

(Panti Bliss/Pantibar)

Nealon's, Capel Street

Also on Capel Street is Nealon's which first opened back in 1905. Since then, it has become a favourite amongst Dublin nightlife lovers as it also boasts a top class cocktail lounge on the second floor.

Perhaps the main draw here is the homey vibes which is brought to life by the 200 year old gold gilded ceiling, open hearth fire and friendly staff.

Jack Nealon's (Facebook: Jack Nealon's)

Frank Ryan's, Smithfield

Frank Ryan's is a cosy local that is known for trad sessions, great food including pizza and relaxed pints.

The bar is full of music memorabilia for you to look at. They even claim to serve the best Guinness in Dublin, but we'll let you guys be the decider of that.

Sin E, Ormond Quay

Sin E is one for the music lovers, having become a go-to spot to watch up-and-coming and local artists. You'll also catch comedy gigs here every so often, all while enjoying a class range of beers and an excellent dive bar aesthetic.

The Grand Social, Liffey Street

While we're on the subject of live music, The Grand Social is perhaps one of the top go-to spots for that in all of Dublin.

The bar serves locally sourced draught as well as cocktail deals.

The Living Room, Cathal Brugha Street

Before it turns into a shape-throwing, tune-blaring nightclub, The Living Room is a decent spot for a bit of grub and a few pints.

When there's a match on, the beer garden comes alive with sports fans and an atmosphere like this is hard to find in any other pubs on the northside of Dublin.

The Living Room on Dublin's Cathal Brugha Street (Sam Mellish/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)

McGowan's of Phibsborough

McGowan's of Phibsborough prides itself on being the best late venue on Dublin's northside.

Expect a menu of grub including delicious burgers, light bites, wings and more. Into the night, expect a DJ blaring great tunes and plenty of dancing.

The Parnell Heritage Bar and Grill, Parnell Street

Featuring great food, multiple bars and even a rooftop terrace, The Parnell Heritage Bar and Grill is another one of the pubs on Dublin's northside that is a must visit.

The venue pours a great selection of drafts beers, has a decent wine list and also serves up cocktails.

The Big Romance, Parnell Street

Parnell Street is home to another great spot, especially for music lovers.

The Big Romance serves craft beers and cocktails, regularly hosts music nights just has a great atmosphere all-around.

The Big Romance, Parnell Street (Malcolm McGettigan)

Read more: Dublin restaurants: 60 of the best eateries you need to try in the capital

Read more: Best rooftop bars in Dublin for a sunny day

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