Ireland is most likely the best place in the whole world for a traditional pub. From Guinness to Whiskey – the country is world-famous for its tipples of choice. Traditionally, Irish culture was made up of three different social outlets: the church, the pub, and the local football club – and typically you’d go to the pub after attending one of the other two events.
In fact, until recent years, the only place people would drink was the pub; it was rare to drink at home because most of the enjoyment came from the socializing aspect. And this social atmosphere is plentiful in an Irish pub specifically – why else do you think they have been replicated across the world? Seriously, try and find a major city anywhere that doesn’t have at least one Irish pub somewhere on its streets. It can’t be done!
With Irish pubs being an important asset of the country for both locals and tourists alike, including our own small-group tours of Ireland, we headed to Instagram to find out which pubs are the most popular in Ireland, according to the social media platform, at least.
Read on below to find out the full results. And if you have any questions for the Overland team, please just contact us.
Ranking Ireland’s Best Pubs: Our Methodology
Before we get into the results themselves, let us share how we came to them. In order to compile this list of the most Instagrammed pubs in Ireland, we curated a list of the top 145 pubs across Ireland by scouring trusted destination guides to find the most recommended and popular pubs in the country.
We then crawled Instagram using the geotag location feature to find out how many images had been tagged at each pub. This gave us a number of posts to rank the pubs from most to least Instagrammed, allowing us to pull out the top 50 most Instagrammed pubs for our final results!
If you’re already planning trips to Irish pubs and restaurants and are curious about our country’s tipping culture, be sure to read our Guide to Tipping in Ireland when you have finished here. It’s filled with helpful local insights!
The Most Popular Pubs in Ireland: 50 to 11
While the sound of fifty pubs may sound appealing, it’s actually rather a lot! With that in mind, we’ve decided to list numbers 50 to 11 before focusing on the top 10 below. So, without much further ado, here are Ireland’s most popular pubs, counting down from number 50…
50. Foxy John’s — Main St, Grove, Dingle, Co. Kerry — 1,764 posts
49. Devitts Pub — 78 Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin — 1,795 posts
48. Geoff’s Café Bar — 9 John St, Waterford — 1,888 posts
47. Arthur Mayne’s — 7 Pembroke St, Centre, Cork — 1,920 posts
46. Edison — 11-12 Washington St, Centre, Cork — 2,054 posts
45. De Barra’s — 55 Pearse St, Scartagh, Clonakilty, Co. Cork — 2,078 posts
44. Matt Molloy’s — Bridge St, Cahernamart, Westport, Co. Mayo — 2,114 posts
43. Barr an Chaladh — 3 Daly’s Place, Woodquay, Galway — 2,142 posts
42. Sin é — 8 Coburg St, Shandon, Cork — 2,301 posts
41. Tom Barry’s — 113 Barrack St, The Lough, Cork — 2,303 posts
40. The Old Town Whiskey Bar — 44-45 Cornmarket St, Centre, Cork — 2,334 posts
39. The Gin Palace, Dublin — 42 Middle Abbey St, North City, Dublin — 2,546 posts
38. The Bankers Bar — Trinity St, Dublin — 2,586 posts
37. Tig Choili — Mainguard St, The Latin Quarter, Galway — 2,637 posts
36. Against the Grain — 11 Wexford St, Dublin — 2,853 posts
35. L. Mulligan Grocer — 18 Stoneybatter, Arran Quay, Dublin — 2,892 posts
34. McHugh’s — 29-31 Queen’s Square, Belfast — 2,895 posts
33. Mulligan’s — 8 Poolbeg St, Dublin — 2,920 posts
32. Mary’s Bar and Hardware — 8 Wicklow St, Dublin — 3,153 posts
31. The Black Sheep — 61 Capel St, Rotunda, Dublin — 3,216 posts
30. Johnnie Fox’s Pub — Glencullen, Co. Dublin — 3,252 posts
29. J.W. Sweetman — 1-2 Burgh Quay, Dublin — 3,400 posts
28. The Bloody Stream — Howth Railway Station, Howth, Dublin — 3,456 posts
27. The Warehouse Bar and Kitchen — 100 Upper Main St, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal — 3,461 posts
26. The Skeff — 27 Eyre Square, Galway — 3,667 posts
25. Cassidys Bar — 27 Westmoreland Street, Dublin — 3,677 posts
24. Gus O’Connor’s Pub — Fisher St, Ballyvara, Doolin, Co. Clare — 3,710 posts
23. Kyteler’s Inn — St Kieran’s St, Gardens, Kilkenny — 3,977 posts
22. Dick Mack’s — 47 Green St, Dingle, Co. Kerry — 4,152 posts
21. The Brazen Head — 20 Lower Bridge St, The Liberties, Dublin — 4,516 posts
20. Toners — 139 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin — 4,730 posts
19. The Palace Bar — 21 Fleet St, Temple Bar, Dublin — 4,853 posts
18. Grogan’s — 15 William St S, Dublin — 5,384 posts
17. The Cobblestone — 77 King St N, Smithfield, Dublin — 5,577 posts
16. Sean’s Bar — 13 Main St, Athlone, Co. Westmeath — 6,083 posts
15. The Celt — 81 Talbot St, North City, Dublin — 6,227 posts
14. Kelly’s Cellars — 30-32 Bank St, Belfast — 6,363 posts
13. O’Donoghue’s — 15 Merrion Row, Dublin — 7,682 posts
12. The Auld Dubliner — 24-25 Temple Bar, Dublin — 7,801 posts
11. The Long Hall — 51 South Great George’s Street, Dublin — 8,079 posts
The top ten pubs in Ireland beckon! Are you surprised that any of the pubs on the list so far didn’t make it into the top 10?
You may have already noticed some Galway pubs pop up in the list. And spoiler alert, there are more to come in the top 10! This special city is renowned as Ireland’s cultural capital. But why? Well, you can find out more in our blog Why is Galway Known as Ireland’s Cultural Heart?
The Top 10 Best Pubs in Ireland!
Here we are then… Ireland’s top 10 pubs! According to Instagram, anyway. Let’s start our countdown with number 10:
10. An Púcán, Galway
11 Forster St, Galway. 8,276 posts.
A lively Irish pub with a fantastic beer garden, great food, and regular live music, An Púcán is a favorite stop for both locals and tourists in Galway.
9. PantiBar, Dublin
7-8 Capel Street, North City, Dublin. 8,312 posts.
Dublin’s most famous LGBTQ+ bar, owned by drag queen Panti Bliss, PantiBar offers a fun, inclusive, and energetic atmosphere with great cocktails and entertainment.
8. Zozimus, Dublin
Centenary House, Anne’s Lane, Anne Street South, Dublin. 8,644 posts.
A stylish cocktail bar known for its chic decor, expertly crafted drinks, and lively weekend crowd, making Zozimus a top spot for a sophisticated night out.
7. The Stag’s Head, Dublin
1 Dame Ct, Dublin. 8,902 posts.
A beautifully preserved Victorian-era pub with stained glass, mahogany furnishings, and a cozy ambiance, The Stag’s Head offers quality pints and a traditional Dublin experience.
6. Porterhouse Temple Bar, Dublin
16-18 Parliament St, Temple Bar, Dublin. 9,681 posts.
A haven for craft beer lovers, Porterhouse Temple Bar serves a fantastic selection of house-brewed ales and stouts alongside hearty pub grub and live music.
5. The Oliver Plunkett, Cork
116 Oliver Plunkett St, Centre, Cork. 11,889 posts.
A lively pub in the heart of Cork, The Oliver Plunkett is known for its welcoming atmosphere, live music every night, and a great selection of Irish beers and whiskeys.
4. Lusty Beg Island, Kesh
Boa Island, Kesh, Northern Ireland. 12,157 posts.
A unique pub experience on a private island, Lusty Beg offers scenic views, rustic charm, and a relaxed atmosphere perfect for a getaway with great food and drinks.
3. The Bernard Shaw, Dublin
11-12 Richmond St South, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin. 25,198 posts.
A trendy and eclectic pub known for its artsy vibe, great beer garden, and excellent street food, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The Bernard Shaw even has an exhibition space and an Italian pizza cafe!
2. Café en Seine, Dublin
40 Dawson St, Dublin. 39,358 posts.
A stylish and elegant bar with a Parisian flair, offering sophisticated cocktails, delicious food, and a vibrant ambiance perfect for a night out in Dublin. Café en Seine is renowned for its five-star service, with an extensive food menu that reflects the ever-changing Irish palate.
1. The Temple Bar, Dublin
47-48 Temple Bar, Dublin. 520,313 posts.
Are we really surprised? Temple Bar is basically a rite of passage when in Dublin and a must-visit for any tourist! The iconic pub in the heart of Temple Bar is famous for its lively atmosphere, extensive whiskey collection, and frequent live traditional Irish music.
There we have it! Your list of the 50 best pubs in Ireland. Which one will you visit first? And why not take your food and drink adventures further by reading our Gastronomic Guide to Ireland: What to Eat and Top Restaurants to Try?
Visit Amazing Pubs on Your Tour of Ireland with Overland!
So, now you know the best pubs in Ireland, it’s time to start planning your trip to the Emerald Isle! Of course, there’s a lot more to see and do here other than going to the pub, but having so many to choose from is a nice bonus!
Browse our range of small-group tours of Ireland to find out more about the unforgettable experiences waiting for you here. And please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions for the Overland team.
