James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery

We were looking for a Cuban restaurant but bumped into this Irish one. I'm thankful that we did. The restaurant is located in the historic, tourist area of Ybor City. I had the French onion burger. To die for! Hubby had Bangers and Mash. He loved it!

Staff amazing, food amazing, atmosphere chaotic and amazing! I loved everything about my experience last evening! The prime rib sandwich was out of this world good! Jon and I’m not even a fry lover and those were some of the BEST I’ve ever had!

From last night to this afternoon..over consensus is...the food lacks flavor. Just not enough zest. It's just something one eats and goes: "meh, im full". The atmosphere especially at night is there in true Irish pub fashion. The bar staff is attentive. This why im giving a 50/50 review. Expensive when I get better quality food elsewhere. To the comment of "fake review from a salty townie": 1) so my review is gaining tons of traction because...2) you can't tell me you dont recognize your own food from those pictures 3) I from Ft. Myers. So by THE definition of a "townie" I'd have to live "in town".

Come on ..James Joyce Irish pub is legit. Meeting Brian at the front door set the bar high and it kept going up Bartender Shannon (?) is fantastic. Food is incredible. Got to recommend.... Jameson Burger is phenomenal good beers on tap. Shannon made a fantastical old fashion for couple of us. Come one come all. Shannon's energy is contagious. Bartender checks in with everyone coming through door to see how the day was. Bartender at another place recommended. This place did not disappoint.

Cady is an amazing bartender and server. She remembers us every time we come in. Karaoke is super fun - good drinks. They have a machine that lets you put any picture you want on your Guinness.

I like to stay in Ybor because of all of the amazing places you can visit just walking around. James Joyce bar makes you feel at home from the moment you step in . I didn’t get a picture of all the things I got from here because it was too good not to just dig in . O also recommend the trivia nights - great people and lots of fun ! 🤩

Definitely Somewhere I Frequent. Amazing Food. Impeccable service. The vibes are unmatched. Best Boneless in Tampa Bay, Challenge Me!

My wife and I spent the night in town to catch a cruise the next morning. James Joyce Irish Pub was within walking distance of our hotel so we decided to give it a try. It was warm beautiful night so we sat out on the patio. The food, atmosphere were great and the customer service was awesome thanks to our server Shannon. We look forward to visiting again.

Was in town for a friends wedding and they had their welcome party here. Katie made our first round drinks and they were delicious. There were some bite size food served but we were HUNGRRRRYy from traveling for the first half of the day so we ordered the Jameson BBQ burger and it was DELICIOUS. The lettuce and tomato was fresh, the candied bacon and crispy onion gave the burger so much texture. I asked for medium rare and that's what I got! It was so good, I cut some up for my friend and I had never seen her made the face she made LOL. She was in awe of how great it tasted hahaah. Their fries were delicious too. My friend ordered waffles and chicken, the waffle was made well and the chicken wasn't dry so yay! Only thing we didn't like was the sangria on their menu, it tasted more like... kool-aid? It was odd since everything else was so good. The overall place had a pretty divey vibe, a lot of decor in the walls and dim lighting. I can see myself being a regular here if I lived in the area. It got REALLY loud inside tho, to the point people lost their voices the next day lol.

Great bar, cool atmosphere. Food is pretty good typically. Not particularly as Irish feeling as a few other Irish pubs I've been to in the area but still neat. We've had wings, buffalo chicken sands and other food that was really good. However the fish and chips I had here recently was really bad. The fish was old, soggy and translucent. The chips/fries were soggy and greasy. Ya gotta have a decent fish n chips if your an Irish pub imo.

Awesome food, very traditional flavors. Had the shepherds pie and French onion burger. Large tap selection, definitely a must visit Irish spot in the Bay Area!

Came here tonight since we were in the area and wanted to try something new. I have never noticed this place before but was happy we found it by using our Craft Tapped. The vibe is very much Irish Pub with a Indy Rock spin. We ordered a Guinness shepherds pie tater tots. We ordered the whole order and quickly upon receiving it realized we could have gotten the half order and been just fine. It was a lot of food. The flavors were amazing and the large chunks of chuck roast were so tender and delicious. We then ordered a few beers from the 50 plus options. The staff were very friendly and helpful in helping us make our selections and we were quite happy to have found this place and will certainly be back. I will add that they do have a small parking lot that is free for patrons if you are lucky enough to score one of those. Can't wait to come back here again soon.

Went before a show at the ritz, the building is unassuming from the outside but spectacular on the inside. The food was better than most I've had in Ireland. Bartender was friendly and attentive. James Joyce is easily one of my favorite places in ybor. Unless you pay for the public lot, parking can be tricky. 9.8/10 Would recommend.

René was our server and he was great! This place has a great selection of beers and the food is amazing! Everyone there, staff and customers are soooooo friendly. Check them out!!!!

Great food, lively Tampa vibe, friendly service And, oh yeah, we were really hungry!!

Good not great! Inside atmosphere is dark & hole in the wall-y feel. We sat outside bc it was LOUD in there. I had the fish & chips which was tasty but small portion for the price, fries appeared to be homemade but wimpy & floppy. Tarter was basic. The burger was good according to my hubby, bbq sauce & bacon. Bacon was overcooked and hard to eat. Our server was very nice & attentive! We both had margs and they were basic.

Great place for food, drink and fun. I was in Ybor City overnight and just happened to wander in for a beer...took awhile to choose due to their great selection of beers on tap. Chris at the bar was very friendly. I chose the Shepherd's Pie egg rolls to eat...they were delicious!

Stopped in briefly for lunch one day since I always pass by this place and say to myself, I'm gonna go one day lol they have a nice friendly staff friendly locals and their corn beef sandwich was very good

Ladies night is on Tuesday! Cant beat that! Beware: there's a bouncer who doesn't smile back Food is tasty and not greasy. Very well presented for a bar. Bar is totally stocked with every kind of liquor you can imagine! Brews on tap were nice and cold. Service was friendly too We sat outdoors at the picnic tables as it was Karaoke night. People inside were having a really good time with it. Looks like plenty of locals visit on Tuesday nights. I'd advise you to check it out for yourself! Have fun!

Very interesting atmosphere here. Seems like a popular place for lots of locals. We were drawn in by the great food reviews. It took a while to get a clean table and our server but the food was great! I tried the Buffalo chicken sandwich which was unique because it was a chicken patty instead of fried chicken which I much prefer. I wasn't a fan of the crispy onions on top which were actually quite soggy. I was disappointed that I had to pay for a side of ranch, because you would assume a sandwich like that would come with it. The French onion burger was also very unique and different. Perfectly cooked and very flavorful!

Traveling in the area with a friend and we stopped in for some drinks. Great beer selection featuring many of the local beer options which we enjoyed along with some great live music and new friends we made. The atmosphere was very comfortable and the bar staff were top notch if I am ever back in the area this will be my goto spot for sure.

For a midnight find near a very busy area, this place was fantastic. I had first come just as most places in Ybor stopped serving food or if they did, it was just overpriced subpar fake NY pizza. This place was inviting. Had plenty of beers if that's your drink of choice. This visit, I had just ordered the loaded fries and chicken & waffles. Would highly recommend splitting it. I had split these items with 1 other person and we still couldn't finish it. The chicken was better than expected and the waffle was fairly sweet. Plus the fries were crispy and truly loaded with jalapeños.

Great spot for a bite and drink just off the main drag in Ybor. Friendly staff and service is exceptional. Ambiance is trendy and inviting.

We enjoyed the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, was very good, but, just a little too much blue cheese on the sandwich for my taste. The boneless chicken wings were excellent. I would definitely eat here again. Also a shout out to our server Stacey, we enjoyed a couple hartey laughs with Stacey, the beer was fantastic and cold. 45 more draft beers to go to get my first reward!!!

BLT on Texas toast with homemade fries with skin on. Food is decent and filling for sure. Bacon was nice an crispy. Sheppard's Pie was good. Has a lot of big chunks of beef in it which hubby loves. We've been here a few times. It's a mad house on St Patty's Day and on the weekends. So plan ahead. There is a small parking lot so plan on street or lot parking. Ybor is all pay for parking so plan ahead. The server Natasha, during the day is a hoot! She is so friendly and talkative, just makes you feel like you walked into her living room and she is serving friends. She is very lively, and extremely entertaining. So go visit her tell her we said hi love her to death and watch her sing and dance for you The ambiance is quiet and fun during the day.

Located just a block off of 7th Ave. in Ybor. James Joyce has been around for a long while and has become an Ybor staple. They have a huge list of beers on tap and a good bit of spirits as well. If you come here when they are serving food, I highly recommend the chicken and waffles. You get a huge serving for the price and they have several different flavors for them. They are some of the best chicken and waffles I have had. Be careful if you come here when there is a soccer match on, it will be packed from wall to wall. Since it is not on 7th, you will have a better shot at getting parking as long as you are not coming during peak Ybor hours of Friday and Saturday night.

What a great atmosphere and good food!!! Bartender Chris was amazing and a ton a personality. It is good to see someone who loves their job these days. Had several Guinness but they have 50 beers on tap so you'll be able to find something. I grabbed the Jameson burger. It was clear to see how this is an award winning burger. This gem is well worth your time and money especially if you are needing to get your Irish on. And remember don't do coke in the bathroom!!

This place has the most amazing burgers! The atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff are always friendly. Whenever I'm anywhere nearby, I make it a point to stop in for a drink and a burger.

I love this pub and bar. They have so many beers on tap, all different styles, there's something for everyone. They have a great menu as well as delicious food. They've also started serving RyGuys chicken and waffles here. So I decided to try something new and I had the RyGuy's Way chicken and waffles, southern fried chicken tenders, with a waffle with pecans and sweet cream. It was fantastic. We also had wings and fish and chips. A perfect meal with a couple pints. Great location in Ybor city, friendly staff and open late.

Best burger!!! I had the French onion burger with two types of cheese and it was so good! Loved the fries too. Crispy and seasoned well. Would definitely be back!

Nice pub just north of the Main Street in Ybor city. Extensive bar and beer list. They serve black & tans here which I've missed from up north. Gotta go to an authentic Irish pub to experience them down in FL! Open late - like 3am late, not that anything good happens after midnight ;). Least you know there's a place around Ybor you can stay hydrated while you wait for the sun to come up...

Wednesday night = game night. The place was full after 9 pm. Good food, cold beer, multitude of shots available. Everyone was friendly and in a great mood.

Brilliant bar. Fun place, fun people. Excellent take on Irish bar food.....always very high quality. The Guinness Fries are ridiculously good. They have so much going on from Karaoke, quizzes, live music. Never had a bad moment

This place is incredible. We were greeted as soon as we walked in the door. The food is spectacular. Chris, Katie and all the staff are the best servers anyone could ask for. I had a Caddyshack (movie) t-shirt on that day. I ordered a Guinness and was blown away when I had a Guinness beer placed in front of me and it had a picture of Carl Spackler in the foam on top. It was right next to the Hilton hotel we were stating in so the ovation was great for heading out to 7th and coming back.

Service is poor- very slow with items forgotten. The trivia is super fun. Food was average to good. Ambiance is a typical Irish pub- extremely loud.

Don't show up on a night they have trivia. Came an hour before it started and every table and bar stool had paper down saying reserved for trivia, which was an hour away, which the 2 of us showed up for. Very odd. Food was bad on the previous visit when we were able to get a seat for trivia by chance....boneless wings. Servers and bartenders are not the most delightful in town

Wow, what a find! I had the Octoberfest pretzel Burger. Amazing! From the minute I walked in the place, the service was fast and friendly. The food was good, and if you can't find a beer in this place that you like, then you just don't like beer. You can tell everyone is having a great time. I would definitely come back!

Yet another Tampa International Fringe Festival stop! I was a bit hesitant after seeing some reviews about dirty glasses on several sites. They were however older reviews so I decided to go, but if got a dirty glass, would immediately leave. Luckily it was clean. Although i did not have food, the smell of the hot wings burned my nose hairs! The Shepards Pie Tots looked good, but to me a potato overload! For those i was there with who ordered food, the service was prompt, and they said the food was good. That Wednesday night was Bingo night, but not your traditional bingo. The cards had song names on them, and you marked them off as DJ played them. Very unique, but as I suck with music, I didn't play along. The oddest thing that night was the sign near the restrooms. I just don't get it! If that's a problem, why not just post paper signs near restrooms?

I love this place. First of all..its super clean, it doesnt smell like cigarettes and their staff is great, diverse, smart and ..just the best. They have a good selection of beers, good vibes and good food. We have had the fries with cheese and all that good stuff. Half a portion was enough for 2 people. Next visit we had the Guinness tots which were great..so crispy and that gravy with meat was superb. We ordered the french onion burger and the jameson. The jameson is really good...great..but the french onion is SO simple but SO delicious that it was the favorite in our table. It felt like a hug...its a "gentle" taste ..not salty, not bland..just great. The fries ..they are good ! Even tho they dont seem like it..but they are. Our waiter recommended beers and it was so great and kind to share his favorites..and oh boy it didn't disappoint Well be coming back to watch some games and enjoy that amazing good vibe and great service/food

I tried the scotch egg and they were decent. I had a $5 coupon to try it and since it's walking distance from my place we walked over

I'm going a 5 star on this one. I have been three times and this is the first review I have been able to do so we will consolidate. First time I ordered the Fish and Chips and I thought they were great and had plenty of flavor and a healthy portion. Second time I ordered the Shepherds Pie and wow was it great. Flavors exploded in my mouth and it was so filling. I almost couldn't finish it all but I managed to get to all down. Third time I ordered the Bangers and Mash. All I can say is this place has some food that has some awesome flavors. The gravy with the mushrooms was awesome and the bangers were fantastic. Be sure to order the Scotch egg.

Great place, good drinks, good food, excellent and friendly staff. Best place in Ybor to grab a drink and bite. Love the decor!

We were walking down 7th Avenue in Ybor City, checking out the various bars and clubs that stood with patrons when an Irish pub of which I had read about caught my eye a street corner over on 8th Avenue and 18th Street. Liking Irish pubs (and judging them having spent a vacation in Ireland), we made our way over to the James Joyce Irish Pub. The fact they had Knappogue Castle 16 Year Irish Whiskey made them a winner in my book. With both outdoor seatings in front of the entrance facing 8th Avenue as well as indoor, the pub is a fun spot and one of the few that was wall-to-wall with people when we visited recently on a Friday evening. When you walk into the pub, there lies a partition separating the main room into two. Should you be looking to grab a table, you go to the left, whereas the bar on the right side was our immediate go-to. The pub has a food menu (we had already eaten, so we didn't order anything but drinks). If I were in town more frequently, then I would be trying their burgers because why not? If you are going to do something, do it right. With all the bars, restaurants, breweries, and hangouts in Ybor, James Joyce is a spot where you could chill on a Friday evening, Sunday afternoon, after work, and wouldn't become old because the vibes are gold. There's a neighborhood atmosphere to the spot that stands out from non-stop party bustle a block over on 7th Avenue. You can come as you are, order a pint or whiskey with some mates, and enjoy your life.

We absolutely LOVED this place! I am not posting any photos as they would just be duplicates of others' photos. Our bartender was fantastic! My brother, who is a former bartender, said on the way out, "Now THAT is a great bartender!". He helped me pick out a great Hefeweisen (and then commented how I was drinking German beer in an Irish bar... but hey it was a multi national day as I had the German beer with some Irish whiskey in an Irish bar on July 4th). He was very even keeled, happy to serve, funny, and conversational. We had the fish n chips. It's a LOT, but it is very good. For an appetizer,, we shared a scotch egg (again, these things are huge so one can be shared between two people). The decor is fantastic, the bathrooms are clean, and the service is fantastic. This will definitely be my go to Irish bar in Tampa.

My first visit to Ybor, i took the free shuttle from my downtown hotel, and after walking around decided to stop in James Joyce for a drink. The bartender Gabriel was fantastic. I ended up leaving but came back later for dinner. I got the Korean fried chicken waffles and wow. It was amazing! Everything on the menu looked great. The atmosphere was great. So glad I stopped in. Would definitely go back if I was lucky enough to visit again. And I also got a military discount.

I've been to James Joyce Pub a couple of times . I've had the Bangers and Mash, the Shepherd's Pie, and the Fried Macaroni Balls which were all delicious! . They have a creamy cheese sauce with a touch of jalapeno so it gets a bad cream and us a fight. I've also had the regular Chicken & Waffles and the Ryguy's Chicken & Waffles. The Ryguy's is my jam. It comes with a big waffle with buttercream and maple syrup. You have a choice of apple butter and Sriracha honey sauce. The chicken came out hot crispy on the outside and tender on the inside nice spice it. It paired very well with the the buttercream and the maple syrup. The flavor was delicious! Today we got two orders of the jumbo Pub Wings. One with the Mango Habanero sauce and the other with the Honey Blaze sauce. I love the way that James Joyce cooks their jumbo wings. They're sooo meaty. First they're fried to crispy perfection and then the sauce is put on it after it's cooked so it makes it crunchy and saucy at the same time. I love their jumbo wings. I haven't had a bad meal yet at James Joyce Pub. It's an Ybor favorite:-)

Great Irish pub located on 8th Avenue next to Centennial Park. I love to come here on rainy days when there is no one around because it's just a lovely, dark place to hang out. There is not a ton of seating inside so if you come by at a busy time, you might have to wait to sit (it's seat yourself). Parking is not terrible: there are about 5 spots in their free customer lot but you can also park across the street in the paid lot which is free of charge on Sunday. They host a lot of really awesome events including the annual Marine Corps birthday bar crawl. Needless to say it can get pretty packed! Always a good time regardless. I only recently ordered food here and I was 100% a fan from the get-go. Their boneless wings are freaking fantastic! Big, juicy, white meat chunks with excellent flavor. The fried pickle chips were also delicious and not overly greasy. Excellent prices on food. On Mondays (for the time being) they have a lobster special for around $12. They have a good beer selection and the prices are also fair. I'm not super crazy about their mixed drinks, but they have plenty of options for every taste. The staff has always been great and you can meet some pretty cool fellow bar-goers here. Definitely a worthwhile stop in Ybor!

So I had high expectations. The pictures looked amazing, but today, tonight, my son's birthday dinner choice left us sad and out late waiting on dinner since the "kitchen stopped taking orders", but what the server did not tell us, if that meant they would make our food, or not. They eventually made our food....eventually. The food - shepherd's pie was delicious, as was the tater tot thing was good except it was cold. The server attempted to communicate the issues with the kitchen, but fell a bit short. We waited 1+ hour to order and get food and the drinks, whiskey, should have made me feel better, but they also fell short on my expectations, which is crazy, this is an Irish bar!! . Given the fantastic reviews of JJ, I am certain this was just a fluke, but if the server says the kitchen is having a tough time, you should leave.....

The best spot in Ybor. Regardless of when you go, a busy weekend or a slower week day, they treat you well. Food is great, whether in-house or the food trucks the bring in at times. The bartenders are the best. Cliche though it may be, everyone knows your name. Depending on when you go, you can get great karaoke or trivia. Special ok point, and speaking of points, their loyalty program will get you plenty of free drinks, food, and even gear. Go here. This I decree!

Great pub! Welcomed the moment you walk in the door and treated like a regular from that moment. Food is outstanding. Drinks as well. Service is off the hook. Cheers to Natasha great bartender.

Awesome place! Friendly bar tenders cheap drinks Karaoke Tuesdays are the best! Definitely recommend!

Wow, a true Ybor gem! Of all the times I've been to Ybor, I never even knew this place existed! there is a small lot available for free parking but it has maybe 4 spots available. Good news is there are two paid for parking lots directly across the street. Seat yourself upon entering and a smiling face greeted us promptly. They have a wide selection of beers and a full liquor bar. As we waited I was pleasantly surprised at the trendy throwback music being played. Not your typical dive bar stuff. We started with the Guinness tots per our waiters recommendation. Do yourself a favor and get the smaller portion! The large is LARGE and 2 hungry adults barely ate half! The tots were smothered in cheese, gravy, tender beef and peas and carrots (all that good shepherds pie stuff!) My mouth Is Watering just thinking of them! Now being the Buffalo chicken connoisseur I am, you know I had to give this award winning sandwich try! Wow, it was AMAZING! The chicken is a patty so it was juicy and tender as can be. Topped with chunks of blue cheese and these unique onion petal-like pieces on top soaked in Buffalo sauce. Sounds weird but it was everything! While we ate we got to play free rounds of dirty bingo (every Wednesday!) it was so fun and we even won a $10 voucher! They have something every night of the week from live music to karaoke. Next time I'm hungry in ybor I'll surely stop by again!

I got the Buffalo Mac and Cheese and my boyfriend got chicken and waffles We were both in love! It was so much food, we had to take it home. The drinks were perfect and the service was great. I'll definitely be going back

This bar was my first stop with my Crafttapped membership. You should check it out. I had a Schofferhofer Grapefruit draft, and my partner had a Double Chocolate Stout, bogo. The first time I tasted the Schofferhofer was in Helen, Georgia, where they have everything German, and it was love at first sip, very light and refreshing, and I don't usually like fruity beers. We ordered Korean fried Chicken and Waffles, yes, at an Irish pub! You get to pick a topping and syrup. I chose bacon and a maple Sriracha syrup. What a delicious lunch! There were 3 chicken tenders and a huge waffle with butter. The bacon was baked in my freshly made waffle, and a bite of that with a bite of the Korean fried chicken was a wonderful food party in my mouth, and it paired wonderfully with my beer. Not my first time here, and definitely not my last.

So after another stupendous visit to this place I am updating from 4 to 5 stars. The bar tender went above and beyond over and over again. And the food and presentation was incredible. The logo printed on the top of the libation stayed in place, with careful sipping, all the way to the bottom (it was like a game challenge). This place is just incredible with everything they do...and they make you feel super welcome to be there.

Stopped on for dinner late night beverages and a "snack" after the Bruce concert (our hotel was a block away). They had a great selection of alcohols and beers, lots of top shelf booze. We shared some wings and the loaded fries and they really hit the spot. Great bar food and the kitchen is open late for when you need it!

Late night food hit the spot and music was lit. Great time after 1Am will come again