Dublin's Best Stag Bars North of the Liffey

Bagots has got bags of charm.

Attempting to bridge the distance between Georgian building and New York-style café, Bagots is dedicated to good food and even better wine (now you’re interested). Spreading across the first floor and basement, the world of wine is designed to get you good and drunk… with an education thrown in for good measure. The first floor is, typically, made up of the day crowd; a relaxed, boutique-style interior and laid-back vibe, whereas the back and downstairs is for the more seasoned of drinkers. Leather sofas and comfy armchairs take up the room, along with a cool crowd of locals tucking into the modern European dishes. Think fine-dining (without the screaming chef) inspired cuisine, matched with fantastic company.

All hail The Church…

Dublin’s most unique pub/restaurant/club/beer garden/tourist attraction. You’ll be surprised to hear The Church Bar and Restaurant is set in a former, 300 year old church. The venue has undergone an impressive transformation, with a new deity: Guinness. Serving some of the best pints in Dublin, you’ve got plenty of space to ditch the Mother or Father-in-Law, in the form of a bar and basement club – regularly hosting top DJs – as well as the The Gallery Restaurant and the beer garden, recognised as the largest outdoor space in Dublin. You’ll be mixing with the elite of Ireland at The Church – Bill Clinton and Taylor Swift have both dined here (cute couple) – and you can even hire out The Tower Bar, along with its own separate entrance in the glass tower, for that emerald experience.

There’s no penance at the Confession Box, just a good pint.

In fact, the pints are so good – this place has reigned supreme as the Best Pint in Dublin for the last two years, in the Best of Dublin awards. This olde-worlde pub, dedicated to the ‘Big Fella’ no less, has a long history in Dublin – once a ‘Confession’ for bishops seeking sympathetic priests. Honouring its past, the pub boasts a great deal of memorabilia along the walls, sitting snugly with the massive crowd. And, we mean snug, as ‘box’ is apt when describing the pub – a cosy venue with a whole load of charm, but not much room… You’ve got to get there first to sample that beloved Guinness and craic on with the locals.

Slattery’s is Dublin through and through – one of the city’s finest bars across the water.

It’s also one of the only pubs in the city with a license to open at 7am on a weekend (we can’t imagine you’ll have surfaced…). The authentic Dublin bar is steeped in history, with all of the character and buzz you’d expect from the capital. In fact, this bar is so traditional, it’s attracted the likes of Ireland’s music and movie legends, along with General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The famous Irish breakfast is the cure to all hangovers and you can even stay for lunch for the even bigger carvery. Either way, you’ll be spending several of your weekend hours at this pub.

The Hacienda is a salt-of-the-earth style pub, and relies on word of mouth.

It so heavily relies on it, that it’s one of Dublin’s best kept secrets, and we are revealing it… Located by Dublin’s famous fruit and veg market, your entry is not guaranteed. However, once you ring the buzzer and answer a few questions, we imagine Shay – the local legend and popular landlord – will have a hard time letting you go. Inside the pub, it’s a mix of Spanish villa and old ship (hence the name), featuring 80s music and pool tables. If that doesn’t get you in, Matthew McConaughey and Ed Sheeran have both made an appearance.

This pub is no outsider.

The Black Sheep of the family is also the swan, as well as Dublin’s finest craft and micro-brewery venue. Dedicated to all things hops, The Black Sheep has 23 delicious craft beers on tap, an ever-changing menu of bottles, tasty food on said menu and a comfortable atmosphere. The nightlife over the Liffey is, typically, more authentic and The Black Sheep has character, charm and craic by the barrel. Speaking of barrels, the beers are flown in from all over the world and served alongside spectacular local brews. The pub may be off the beaten track, but it’s worth the extra walk – and you can burn off those beers/get a tuk tuk.

The Beerhouse does exactly what it says on the tin; providing good beer, good music and good craic to the masses.

Offering a modern and exciting menu to the ‘traditional Dublin’ style of pubs, the house serves up a wide variety of craft and premium beers, fine wines, cider and impressive cocktails. However, their bread and butter is beer, and lots of it… The specialists in Irish craft and micro-brew beer offer 23 delicious beers on tap, as well as a huge range of bottles and tasty pizzas, available up until midnight (to soak up the hops).