Durty Nelly’s Bar

So… there really should be a separate entry for Print Room as it’s completely separate from Durty Nelly’s. The difference between the two is night and day!
Admittedly, Print Room is a bit tough to find– they’re having issues with being found via a Google search (the bartender said they’re «working on it») and there isn’t any obvious signage out front, save for a small brass plaque outside the front door. Word of advice– tell your cabbie to go to Durty Nelly’s as it’ll be much easier on him, and then look to the left for the pink building and set of stairs.
I selfishly hope that this place stays under the radar for a bit longer as I could easily see it turning into one of the crazy crowded small bars in the city.
All of the cocktails are $ 18 and some of the coolest combinations I’ve seen. My friend and I sampled a few– the Santiago and Paddington Bear tied for the best drinks of the evening. Both have strong bases (tequila and whiskey) but neither were overpowered by the liquor.
The Paddington Bear has a lot of honey in it, which drips to the bottom of your glass so expect a sweet finish if you aren’t drinking quickly! The Santiago went down a bit too smoothly and $ 18 drinks rack up the bill quickly so we ended up having to switch to wine after a few drinks to keep our wallets from being completely emptied.
We didn’t have any of the food but it all looked and smelled fantastic– definitely go and check it out before it becomes all the rage!

Durty Nelly’s isn’t as dirty as one might expect. Sure, the ground-​level bar can fill with some crazy characters, but it’s a fun, jolly atmosphere and definitely shouldn’t put you off a beer or two here. Actually, make that a Guinness. Standing on Glenmore Road a street back from Oxford Street, the building was originally constructed in 1854 when the guys from the Victoria Barracks would pop in for a pint and a natter. The place has had a few good renos since then, with The Print Room restaurant opening upstairs in 2003. The restaurant feels like a different venue altogether compared to the bustling pub downstairs. Climb the stairs to find a serene, beautifully designed space serving delicious Irish and European meals. If you order one thing off this menu, make it the incredible braised beef and Guinness pie.

First built in 1854 to accommodate the ranks from the Victoria Barracks, Durty Nelly’s is a charming and traditional Irish-​style pub.
The bar is warm and friendly, with a relaxed atmosphere, music and a huge selection of irish beer, and the restaurant is excellent, and for me, what makes Durty Nelly’s well worth a visit.
Book a table on the balcony for a romantic evening, and soak up the ambience of the quaint Paddington surroundings on a warm summers night. A good selection of wines and lovely, friendly service.
My picks for starters are Coral Spiced Seared Scallops, with White Bean Purée and Piquant Sauce (16), the Confit Pork Belly with White Radish, Coriander & Mint, Chilli Jam (15), the Citrus Cured Ocean Trout with Pink Grapefruit, Shaved Fennell & Watercress Salad (15), or the Roast Beetroot & Goats Cheese Mille Feuille, Walnut Pesto, Rocket (15).
For mains, my picks are the Saddle of Spring Lamb with Crushed New Potatoes, Minted Peas & Broad Beans, Baby Carrots, Red Wine Jus (29), the Traditional Pork Sausages, with Champ, Peas & Onion Gravy (19.50), the Seared Duck Breast, with Carrot & Orange Purée, Potato Galette, and Star Anise Jus (29), or the Char Grilled 300g Sirloin Steak, Home Cut Chips, Green Beans, Herb Butter (29.5).
Finish with the Lemon Tart with Raspberry Sorbet (12), the Iced Coconut & Malibu Parfait, with Caramelized Pineapple & Raisin Biscotti (12), or the White & Dark Chocolate Terrine, with Orange & Cardamom Syrup, & Candid Peel (12).

Durty Nelly’s on Glenmore road is Paddingtons Irish pub for the area and very Irish it is. Downstairs is an old school pub with memorabilia and paraphernalia scattered all over the walls. This Sunday it’s packed even though it’s pretty early in the afternoon. It’s like most people have been here all night and judging by the soccer jersey everyone seems to be wearing, if they haven’t been here I’m sure they’ve been up since the wee hours watching the game. It’s loud and thriving and the best thing to do is grab a pint and join in the festivities!
If you’re after something quieter there is a nice restaurant upstairs called The Print Room which me and my companion decide to visit in search of some food even though there is a bistro downstairs. There is a hint of Irish in the menu but we decide to have the barramundi and steak which last time I checked wasn’t very Irish.
If you get in early you can try grab a couple of seats on the balcony upstairs or just sit back and enjoy a nice meal before heading back down for a night cap pint!

As Irish bars go, this one isn’t too sticky or smelly, which is a plus! OK, I may be comparing it to Scruffy Murphy’s but still, it’s not a bad pub. As with most Irish bars, it can get quite noisy when a few pints of the black stuff have been sunk, but it’s generally a good atmosphere and there’s a pretty decent restaurant upstairs too!
Of course, like all Irish pubs, you’ll be able to watch sporting action from both hemispheres, so not a bad option if you’re pining for Gaelic Football or Hurling but can’t be bothered traipsing into the city. Plus, it still manages to keep it’s pub atmosphere as opposed to the sense that it’s just a drunken meat market!
Oh, and if you think the Guinness over here is no good, they have cans imported from Ireland — so if you don’t like that, you may just not be into Guinness.