"Order a Guinness at Kelly’s Irish Pub on South 1st and Oltorf, and start counting back from 120. Because they’re not taking any shortcuts here, so use that time to listen to jokes from the friendly bar staff while you comb through the menu of classic pub food, like burgers, fish & chips, and toasties. Or just toss the menu aside and confidently ask for the shepherd’s pie, as if you’ve been ordering it for years. It’s a bit rustic and gamey, and it’s right near the top of our unofficial ranking of the best in town. Kelly’s is an intimate spot that feels like it was plucked straight out of a small town in Ireland, but with longtime Austin residents lined up at the bar to remind you where you are. Come in to watch a game or listen to some live fiddle on one of their music nights. As dime-a-dozen as Irish pubs can sometimes feel here, there’s really not much else like Kelly’s in town." - Nicolai McCrary
