The Palace Bar

The Palace Bar was on my “Dublin Pub Crawl” list and also came recommended by a few different bartenders, so I knew it had to be good. It is a very nice place and clearly a popular spot for both tourists and locals, and it is obvious why. The atmosphere is sharp, classy and lively. We went in hoping to grab a seat inside, but the place was completely packed. Not a single open chair. So we snagged a spot outside on the patio while I went back in to get our drinks. And that is when the madness began. In the thirty seconds it took me to get to the bar, the entire pub somehow filled up even more. People kept pouring in until there was barely any standing room left. It felt like the whole city suddenly decided to meet inside that one pub. Thankfully, I managed to get our pints before the real rush hit. I asked my wife, “What happened? Did a few Dublin buses stop out front and unload people by the busload?” We didn't stay long due to the crowds, but it was worth the visit. Overall, The Palace Bar absolutely deserves its reputation. Great atmosphere, great energy and clearly a hotspot for just about everyone in Dublin. Just make sure your prepared for a crowd, this place fills up quick, no warning at all.

Great spot with reasonably priced drinks and a relaxed atmosphere. No food or TVs. Love the sense of privacy, it’s perfect for catching up with friends or just enjoying a quiet night out. Always a solid choice! The guiness is a perfect pour.

Stopped in here for a quick pint. The Guinness did not disappoint. Very cool pub atmosphere and in a great location. The place is very busy and it can be hard to find a seat or even standing room.

This was on our list of Dublin pubs to visit , and as we were in the area it worked out very well. Absolutely rammed but very nice, upstairs we did manage to get a seat just about although that was filling up as we left. I can see why

This is a perfect place to enjoy a pint or few. It was busy on a weekday afternoon and we were extremely lucky to find a seat as it got really busy not long after we arrived.

It's what you'd expect out of a pub. I asked locals and did research on where I could have the best pint of Guinness, as I frequently drink it, I was not disappointed, this was definitely the best pint of Guinness I've ever had. Their Guinness is rather easy to drink and more on the smooth side than the creamy side, depends on what you like, but this was perfect for us. The Bulmers off the tap was also excellent, it had kept its fizz quite well, as they're usually served via bottle. The barmen were fast and on point, no bullshit, just drinks.

We saw the notice saying live trad music on a Sunday night abs since it was Sunday we went up. The guinness was great, the irish coffee too. But the music was fabulous. As the evening went on musicians kept arriving. The music was good traditional music not fake tourist come-all-ye's.

Great service & ambiance. I went solo and found it easy to find a spot to sit. Busy, but did not feel crowded. I felt that the prices were very reasonable.

Great place to get a pint on the edge of Temple Bar area. The Palace Bar serves pints and liquor at a proper price, not overpriced like most of the area. The staff were friendly and answered many people's questions. The place had a good vibes.

Stopped in here for a quick pint. The Guinness did not disappoint. Very cool pub atmosphere and in a great location. The place is very busy and it can be hard to find a seat or even standing room.

My husband and I were wandering the streets of Temple Bar district trying to figure out what to do, and he said he had a feeling about this place. We poked our heads into the downstairs area which was tiny and filled with people, but we heard music coming from upstairs so away we went. The bar is in the corner and the musicians were on the lounge across from them. We looked like lost puppies and someone took pity on us and invited us to share their table. I ordered us some pints, paid and took my seat. The music was traditional Irish and so much fun! The bar is quite small but the energy in there felt electric. We really enjoyed this bar so much that we recommended it to others we met along the way.

Great traditional Irish pub vibe with a good selection of Irish whiskies. It appears they only sell Irish whiskies as well. Bartenders had great knowledge of whiskey and recommended excellent product, and they had even the latest releases available, as seen by the Redbreast 18 which was released about a week or so before I came in. Talked to two parties of complete strangers all night about football, drinks, cities, and cultures around the world. Very pleasant experience! Though I did not have any pints of Guinness, I could see that the bubble in others' pint glasses could last superlong, so the barmen must have done great jobs pouring them.

Probably one of the most beautiful pubs in Dublin.. and I went to 'em all! Beautiful old lantern outside welcomes you in... look up & an ancient gas heater.. just old school touches that really make it great. The bar is obviously gorgeous but check out the ceiling & windows + back area to really get a feel for how great this place really is! Service is great & prices are average, I would try to go at an off time to really take it all in here. Talk later

The place bar was a very cool spot with lots and lots of whiskey choices! If you like whiskey you should come here! Seriously, they probably have hundreds of whiskey bottles. I checked out the upstairs bar as it is more intimate IMO. You will not be unhappy to try some new Irish whiskeys!

This place has a kitchen? I had no idea. But that's not the best part, the best part were the bartenders at that it was right across the street from my hotel. Temple Bar Inn. We met some nice folks there, including a local who has been going there for 20+ years. He even bought us a drink. They got some really good whiskey and beer! Good place to end the night, it's not super loud or crowded. People that go here are just there to have a drink and good convo.

Nice pub, quiet, good atmosphere, but it was sweltering. We only were able to enjoy a single pint because it was uncomfortably hot. Will definitely go back, as the Guinness was brilliant, light velvety, a truly great pour, but we will leave the layers home.

A must for a proper pint! Go check out Alex at the bar and bust him for liking the Jets. Great spot!!

Very cool pub near Trinity college. We loved the decorations and the stained glass ceiling. Good ciders and beers on draft. The servers were friendly.

Just returned to our hotel after a delightful two hours at the Palace Bar. Perfectly poured Guinness, 437 different Irish whiskies, and one bottle of Jack Daniels. Promising start. Spent the time sitting at the bar chatting with Alex who provided interesting insights about Ireland, helpful suggestions regarding different whiskies, and generally making my wife and I feel welcome. If you're interested in Irish whiskies or just looking for a quiet spot to enjoy a beer, this is the place.

What a cool bar with a vibe unlike any other in Dublin! Visit early in the day and make sure to chat with the bartenders - they're some of the best conversations we had in Dublin

I was told by a local that this establishment had the best pint of Guinness in the city. They did not disappoint. It's a quaint, charming place. We met some gents from Liverpool who were big into Evan. It was great chatting with them. That is what traveling is all about.

This was our last stop before going back to the US, and it was a perfect way to end our trip. The bartender was amazing and went out of his way to make everyone in the upstairs bar feel welcome. I would recommend this bar to anyone!

Great whiskey bar! Stopped in to have an after dinner drink. What a fun place! Music downstairs and upstairs. We went upstairs where there were 4 musicians singing, playing fiddle, guitar, and accordion. It was a lovely fun crowd. And the whiskey selection was great! We were all friends after a bit and I can't wait to go back some day. Don't miss the Palace bar.

Perfect experience! Historic pub, locals go there , some great conversation. Glad we made it. There are a ton of good pubs in Dublin, and a lot of touristy places that we were not interested in. They have Guinness 0.0 on tap.

Service extremely rude. Shame becauyse Guiness was really good . The rude service kills it though.

On our last night in Dublin, we made our way to Palace Bar, which was one of my favorite pubs to visit on our stay. I applaud their whiskey selection, which I had enjoyed more than one variety and brand in the couple of hours we were there. Located on Fleet Street on the outer skirts of Temple Bar, Palace Bar is a vibrant hangout of both locals and tourists, with regal wooden walls and partitions separating sections of the bar as well as a back lounge area. Palace is one of those pubs where you could spend hours hanging out with friends and other patrons who are enjoying a bit of the drink. Per my recollection, I enjoyed whiskey on the rocks from Jameson Crested, Knappogue Castle 14 Year, and Writers Tears Copper Pot. All were very magical. To become lost amongst the pub scene in Dublin is easy because there are so many within the Dublin City Centre. However, Palace Bar is class. When we return to Dublin, we will return to Palace Bar because the vibes, the people, the spirit selection make this a requisite stop on your journey or evening.

I stopped in for a whiskey and it did not disappoint. so much to choose from. the staff was very nice and helpful when I asked for a little help. Redbreast 21 was my pick. Loved it

You need to order your drinks at the bar. Nice bartender. Cool looking place. Don't expect any food. Just good drinks and conversation in a nice atmosphere.

We loved this place on our first night on Dublin after a LONG trip from the U.S.A. Wonderful comfort food, in the great Temple Bar District at a very affordable price. Tasty!!! The stews and puff pasty toppings were a joy on a chilly, damp winter night. The nicest thing I can say about any good restaurant is, "I will be back!!!'

great place for whiskey friend, place looks good inside and outside, location is good. I saw good feedback about this place and thought to give it a try, no regrets, highly recommend

I love this place. Came here for a drink and can't wait to go back. Loved the cider and loved the beer. But even better than the beer is the ambiance. There are a lot of great old pubs in Dublin- and this is one of those. Lots of fun stuff to look at on the walls. It feels hundreds of years old. You can also buy a T shirt or driving cap printed with the palace bar logo on it! Ten euros! A steal. Just wish they had XXL. I didn't think it was very expensive, considering the area, and it's a great place to stop. Try it.

One of my favorites pubs on the planet, a lovely pint of Guinness , nice to grab the snug bar but it's usually busy, sadly stopped selling snuff but still one of the best pints in town

Great beer selection- which is hard in a city full of great pubs. Place has an open, relaxed feel if your looking for a traditional pub with a more open layout for a group.

Food: No Food Brew: Always gotta go with a Guinness. You don't "go into a pub for a Guinness" A bird doesn't fly with one wing! You always have two! Enough Said. Enjoy!

Old school classic bar with both indoor and outdoor spaces to hang out for some drinks. The staff are all friendly and quick to refill whatever you were having. The atmosphere is very casual and relaxed. Despite being in the high tourist area of the temple bar, it still maintained the feel of a chill place you would want to stay at for a bit.

We has a very good time. Good advice and drinks. Simon was very helpful and took yhe time to educate all of us on Irish whiskey.

If you are in the Temple Bar area and want to go to a non touristy authentic Irish Pub - stop in here - no music, no tv's no non-sense ! Pints, whiskey and conversations !

Went to this bar because it seemed to be highly recommended on the Internet and did not disappoint. Sat outside with my friend and it made for great people watching over a couple pints. She met a regular inside who told her some profound inspirational advice! Despite being a little crowded it had a very cool historical vibe. 100% worth checking out.

Palace Bar is relaxed and welcoming in the afternoon. I can't attest for the scene at night. I happened to be nearby at Trinity College when I noticed this spot was nearby and used to be a haven for Irish writers, so I knew I had to at least stop in for a drink. The front bar was packed when I walked in, but there were some seats available in the back lounge-like area. I grabbed a Guinness and settled in. It's also safe to note that I was the youngest there by a good 20 years. Maybe the clientele changes at night though? Either way, it was a comfortable, quiet place to relax after hours of sightseeing. I'd recommend a visit.

The palace bar is absolutely beautiful - especially the room upstairs. The first time we came in here, we were under the impression that they served food. After we found out that was not the case, we left because we were hungry. During the second visit we went for drinks and sat upstairs. The time was early evening (before 9 pm) and the room upstairs was empty, only the bartender was there. The interior is gorgeous - very classic and makes you feel like you went back in time. They also play beautiful classic jazz style music which really adds to the entire vibe. The chairs/stools/couch do squeak a little since they are so old but there's beauty in that as well. I just really enjoyed the entire ambiance upstairs and the drinks were reasonably priced (around 13 euro total for both a Jamie/ginger and Guinness). I recommend you make time to visit the Palace Bar when in Dublin!

Our 1st stop in the Temple Bar district, had a blast, great PUB. Didn't try the food but it looked quite good, service at the Bar was great, place was rather busy, took a minute to find a seat for our group of four but was worth the wait ..... -Ad this place to your Dublin Pub Crawl !!!

About as authentic an Irish bar as you can get. The Guinness in this place just tastes better. Was a couple days after the Kerry win and there were a bunch of passionate fans who broke into song. Beware asking for a half pint , you will get abused :) great atmosphere and comradarie!

I nipped into the upstairs of Palace Bar in Temple Bar (not to be confused with the other, very different Palace on Camden Street) when my friend was playing a trad session there. It's a very intimate little place - so much so that it feels like they just rammed a bar into someone's living room and you're chilling there like Billy-o. It was cramped (as it would be if you had a session in your living room!) but great craic and the session was intense and rowdy, in the best possible ways. The Palace has a long association with Irish Times journos and literary types like Flann O'Brien and Patrick Kavanagh. Despite this and its proximity Temple Bar, it has somehow escaped the fate of becoming a total tourist trap - perhaps this is because it hides shyly in the corner under an array of hanging baskets. Whatever the reason, when I was there, there was a very healthy ratio of tourists to locals!

It's always our first stop after flying over. It's small and can get jammered. Awesome snug up front and and snugs along the bar. Never had anything less than excellent service. The pints are top notch and the whiskey selection is second to none.

Only been in once. Nice traditional pub, central enough to get a crowd but far enough away from Temple Bar to have some of them actually be from Dublin. They do get respect points for the Jem Casey 'pome' printed on the front window though. The Workmans Friend "a pint of plain is your only man"-brilliant!

Man was I disappointed with Palace Bar. I was so excited to check it out after hearing that it's the preferred bar of my favorite Irish Philadelphian, Fergie Carey. With only a few precious hours to spend in Dublin, my sister and I made Palace Bar the first stop on our list. We arrived and there weren't many people there; a couple older gentlemen in the back seated area and maybe two people at the bar itself. There were a few people chatting in the office off the bar. We were famished, so when the bartender came over I said hello and asked if they serve food. The bartender sort of grunted a no and walked away. So we decided to just have a quick drink before setting off for a restaurant. My sister went to the restroom while I waited for the bartender to come back. He came over and filled an ice bucket but didn't make eye contact. By the time my sister returned, I hadn't seen the bartender again. So with that, we grabbed our purses and took our business to another bar, where we were treated with warmth and kindness. Extremely disappointing experience.

Traditional, cool pub. Very popular with the rugger crowd. This would be more of a lads spot than a night out with the girls. It's always very busy and packed, but you're pretty much guaranteed a night out! Great location in temple bar too - just around the corner from trinity college.

We needed a place. We found it fitting to the purpose. We had been wandering around the Temple bar area and had been looking for something simple, a place to rest, have a pint while we regrouped before moving along towards our next destination. Palace Bar looked right from the outside and seats opened up for our small group just as we walked in. We quickly learned that they only have ready made sandwiches, something like ham and cheese, or similar, we saw another table with what they had to offer and decided we weren't so hungry that we needed to go that route. We opted for Guinness and some potato crisps. See photo. This place has a lot of character and we enjoyed our visit very much. The whiskey selection was vast and tempting. But we were on a task and needed to keep our wits about us (next time...) Palace Bar is business casual. There were some chaps next to us discussing some personal business, a couple of tables looked like tourists (including us) and the rest looked like locals having a nip of the dew before continuing their day. The bar tenders were busy but very friendly. A great place to spend a little time. Additionally, the ladies restroom is downstairs. I loved the cleanliness and very nice tile. Kudos to the owner for keeping a tidy business. Would return to have some whiskey

I've been here once before ages ago and downstairs. But a couple of month ago they opened the upstairs as a bar and it is just lovely there. It reminded me a bit of Keogh's with its flair of a living room. The chairs we had could be more stable / comfy but other than that I loved the interior in this cosy room. The audience was a mix of tourists and locals but for it being so close to Temple Bar it was definitely not touristy.

Very casual spot. Pop in for some conversation over a pint or a cocktail. The backroom is stools and coffee table style seating with a beautiful center skylight. Bathrooms are well kept. A nice change of pace after leaving the temple bar.

Great bar. I have been going to for years. Nice lunchtime early evening pub. They also have the whiskey palace upstairs only open in the evenings.

How have I not written a review for this place before?! It's easy to walk by the touristy (and always crazy busy) part downstairs, and never think to venture up to the land beyond. Well, venture you should. The Whiskey Bar is quite at treat. It's like a cosy little private bar that feels nearly as if you're in your (mad) granny's gaff in a lock-in! The walls are absolutely lined with whiskeys from all corners of the world, and it's full of comfy furniture, dim lighting and interesting Victorian / vintage decor. The place is as old as the hills, and they've absolutely kept hold of that history with both hands which is wonderful to see. The barman is personable and knowledgeable and can talk you through some of the choices available. They have trad sessions in here from time to time as well - though genuine ones, rather than the GM type ones offered in some other parts of Temple Bar! A great place to stop if you're looking for a quiet cosy corner in an otherwise crazy busy part of town.

"It's great to see a woman drinking a pint," smiled the Don Juan of Irish men chat up lines. "Thank you." "Tis great," he added and leaned in for dramatic effect as he passed our table. I wouldn't come here expecting to be captivated by poetry by potential partners. I would come here if you want a great pint of Guinness and if you wanted to have a good conversation with friends. At the back there is a Victorian styled dome which opens up the space a lot versus older pubs with smaller ceilings that can be rather claustrophobic. The ladies loos are wonderful - seriously wonderful. So clean, plants, moisturisers... I was not expecting that very feminine side to what is a very masculine bar.

This, in the time of Joyce and O' Brien, was The Pearl bar. It was, for decades, the pub for Irish Times journos to drink in. There was once a great saying in the capital that if you missed The Irish Times, you missed a part of the day, yet if you went into The Pearl, you'd miss a few days! This pub is located unfortunately close to the bus stop, and on many occasions I've missed the 11:30pm for another pint. The pint is up to scratch, and this is one of the only pubs that gets away with selling t-shirts. Like O'Donoghues, the walls here are like those of a museum, giving great insight into the history of the premises and perhaps even bragging about a few famous ex-punters. Two pints, a pint a piece, is all we have time for when I drop in. On the way out I drop them back to the bar, something anyone who spent any amount of time working in a pub seems to develop a habit of doing, and the barman gives thanks. I haven't been in here in a while, but the atmosphere is just as I remember it on a previous visit, with conversation king here. Go visit.

The Palace is one of the most traditional pubs in Dublin, and although it's on the corner of Temple Bar, it is most definitely not part of the rip-off tourist trap that is Temple Bar. It may be a cosy little bar, but good goods come in small packages! This is a bar is as it was, and unspoiled by the passages of time, unlike a lof of Dublin. It was also the favourite watering hole of a lot of the Literati of Dublin in the late 19 and early 20th Centuries. Frequented by the likes of George Bernard Shaw, Flan O'Brien, and James Joyce Still one of the best pubs in Dublin, and it serves a fantastic pint of Guinness.

I normally steer clear of Temple Bar because it's a bit of a tourist trap and the drinks are over-priced, but on the edge of Temple bar on Fleet Street this pub is a real gem. Whenever I have friends visiting from America I always bring them here for its authentic Irish feel. In the downstairs section of the pub, there's an old-fashioned snug, which are hard to come by in a lot of pubs in Dublin these days. It's normally locked so you just have to ask the bar men to let you in and voila you have your own private seating area plus direct access to the bar, as one door leads right to the bar. My favourite thing about this snug though is the history behind it. It's rumoured that Michael Collins used to meet other co-patriots to discuss secret plans and the politics of the day! I always feel like I'm conducting some sort of espionage whenever I'm sitting in there. In the upstairs section bar most nights they have a great trad music session. The lads who play are great fun and are Dubs through and through. The crowd is a good mix of locals and out-of-towners and the many nationalities present are a good representation of those in Dublin today. It's definitely worth a stop if you want an authentic Irish feel with a lot of history!

I'm a non-drinker because of my diabetes. If I was back in my native Pittsburgh, PA, I would almost never go into a pub (the ironic thing was that I was the bassist in a bar/covers band). But on a recent trip to Ireland, my husband and I did venture into a few of the famous pubs. I am, however, an avid reader. I was interested in this place because it was frequented by writers of the Irish Times. The bar also draws a fair amount of both locals and tourists. It's a fairly lively place, and is fun to stop in at any time.