Neary’s

Garreth was the best bartender! :D this is the first pub we stopped at in Dublin and we met some wonderful people here. Garreth gave us suggestions on where to explore in Ireland. A super warm and friendly atmosphere to grab a drink!

Neary’s is a Dublin treasure and historic venue attached to a theater where U2 performed. It feels like a place you’d embark on a round the world adventure from with velvet couches and drapes inside. There is also a separate men’s and women’s entrance (from the old days, not still enforced). The space is pretty small so grab a seat if possible or you could be in for a full night of standing. The beer choices are mostly Guinness and a few other Dublin beers, but nothing overwhelmingly exciting. They do take credit card though. Service is professional but not exceptionally friendly as is in fitting with the atmosphere.

Neary’s was the first bar we visited in Ireland, and where we had our first pour of Guinness in Ireland. We quickly befriended the friendly bartender, Gareth, whom we started chatting with. He gave us a little history lesson on the city of Dublin, and hooked us up with some good tips on places to visit and eat and where to avoid and what to do/​see, and even marked out the places on the map, which was really thoughtful. Not only did he want to make sure we have a great time at his bar but in his country as well. We were so grateful and tried to leave him a tip but the guy was so modest and wouldn’t accept it. We also befriended 2 locals in the bar who were very nice and whom we struck up conversations with. This bar has been around for 4 generations, and filled with great people. Definitely stop by for a drink and say hi to my friend, Gareth!

I used to love this place. Great for a drink & a chat. Old man bar but still clean & comfy. Only 3* because in the last year the wine jumped from € 4+ over night to € 6+ and its also now minging that i have to drink pints. Get a grip nearys & your old value for a good bar with decent drinks back

Another old favourite of mine in the traditional Dublin pub scene.
We usually end upstairs in Nearys /​Chatham Lounge where hot whiskeys and Irish coffees are excellent.
The bar staff are well turned out and very pleasant. And they bring your round to your table. Real old style service.
Downstairs is grand too, but there’s usually no free seats in that level there so normally head straight for the stairs.
Recommended.

Great local feeling pub that looks like it hasn’t changed much over the years. Quick service and nice buzz. I noticed quite a few people sitting by themselves having a quiet post work drink. A handy option for that drink after work on the way home or as a venue before dinner

Not quite spit-​on-​the floor but a proper small old irish pub with a lot of history and a loyal following. no music or TV.
Beers on tap are the usual Diageo crap but in a place like this I am willing to let it pass!

Love upstairs in Nearys or as I call it (probably incorrectly) the Chatham Lounge. Great pint of Guinness, seriously comfortable and cosy. Used to go most Fridays after work but fell out of the habit. Must fall back in.

My oldest mate was up for an interview on Friday and not having met up with him since Christmas, Friday night was a perfect opportunity to catch up over a few drinks.
The Chatham Lounge was to be the venue. It’s not somewhere I would think of going through no fault of its own but it’s low-​keyness is can sometimes mean it doesn’t enter your mind as a choice when you’re coming up with a shortlist for a venue.
But on the flip side, it is also one of the good things about it. Conversation is easy and you don’t have to shout across the table to be heard.
The seats are also a big plus. Once you sit into them you don’t want to get up.
A good solid effort from The Chatham Lounge.

Excellent for salmon sandwich and coffee. Great surroundings and professional bar staff.

Unscheduled Sunday beer turned into several scoops in this very old and comfortable pub. It was very quiet while we were there.
Great pint of plain.

As its so near to the hustle and bustle of Grafton Street, I always find myself neglecting Neary’s. It’s a pity as it’s such a gorgeous bar.
The superior part of the pub is the upstairs (The Chatham Lounge) with its beautifully oval shaped bar and the velvet green windy couches
Avoid during the night at weekends, it’ll be too packed for comfort. Neary’s has always been associated with the nearby Gaiety Theatre. Instead pop in during the day or early evening to ensure you get a comfortable seat.
The Guinness is great and lies at a reasonable € 4.55. Not too bad for its prime location.

In the Chatham Lounge above Neary’s, the bucket chairs are deep and the plush bar stools in green velveteen are wide enough to accommodate the most ample of arses. It’s a good option for those who like a bit of a mix — you are as likely to find an aul’ fella supping a pint of plain as a youth ordering a Baby Guinness.
We went in for a Friday night birthday celebration and were hard pushed to find seats because the place was packed with the after-​work crowd. However, after doggedly standing our ground and through constant vigilance, we got nearly everyone sitting down. (On the weekend, seats are in high demand and you must hang on to them with glittery-​eyed determination. Once, four of us were completely surrounded by a graduation party from Trinity who were sitting and standing and haw-​hawing around our hard-​won table. Did we move? Did we hell.)
Oh, and one top tip — if you are shopping on Grafton Street during the day and you are a lady, this is your best option for a bathroom break. The toilets are located at the top of the stairs and you can walk straight in without having to go into the bar.

A lot of Dublin pubs if not Irish pubs can have a sameness to them, so in an effort to distingush them I ask the bartenders for a little known fact for you Unilocalers which you will get at the end of the review, a reward of sorts.
It’s very near the Gaiety Theatre so like the Flowing Tide, you will get a theatre crowd in here which doesn’t make it dull. I can’t say that I have come here after a theatre performance but I do like my late afternoon pint and this is one of my favourite places on the Northside.
OK so on to the fact, well I hope he wasn’t pulling my leg with this but apparently the pub’s orignal owner also was the Honoray Consul to the Republic of Guatamala. Maybe to should consider selling Gallo beer as an ode.

Neary’s is a central spot for a pint if you don’t mind a bit of a crowd when the suits have clocked out. It has a good vibe, particularly on a Friday evening when shirted drinkers emit a sense of release and gaiety that permeates the air.
It’s not all office workers talking shop though, there’s also a mixture of tourists, students/​academics, shoppers and general revellers. This is a pub to chat and get merry in. It’s no funky disco-​bar — you’ll be disappointed if you’re after cocktails and strobes when the sun goes down. You’re more likely to get a seat if you arrive before the mass office exodus.
It’s a lively and unpretentious spot but if you do happen to be assaulted by some overly loud money chatter then just ignore!

A very old school pub that serves up one of the best pints of Guinness in town. Walking inside is like taking a step back in time — lots of brass, wood paneling, indoor Parisian-​style lanterns, and turn of the century carpets.
Located just off Grafton street, this is a solid and popular post-​shopping /​pre-​dinner spot. Very low-​key /​mellow crowd.
Note if meeting friends at Nearys there are 2 entrances to the pub and they don’t connect… ie you have to walk outside and re-​enter the pub to get to the other side of the bar.