11 Best Bars in Dublin | Condé Nast Traveler

"Once upon a time, pubs like this were two-a-penny in Dublin. But while everyone around them rushed to modernize, the Cobblestone, north of the Liffey in slowly regenerating Smithfield, has remained defiantly old-fashioned. The pine-wood floors. The lingering memory of nicotine stained into the dark, paneled walls. The busy bar, crammed with beer taps (including some particularly fine Guinness) and upside-down bottles of stronger stuff, that has served five generations of thirsty Dubliners. And the music—some of the best live traditional music you’ll hear anywhere, seven nights a week and twice on weekends. Head in to catch a seisiún —an informal ‘session’ where musicians gather to play—or the Wednesday Balaclava sessions, a teaching class for those too timid to test their skills in the front bar. If you want to hear a lively, authentic traditional session that is aimed as much at locals as it is at visitors, this is the place for you." - Nicola Brady