If you’re looking for Irish authenticity mixed with a touch of modernity, then it’s high time you stopped off at The Palace Bar, one of the Irish capital’s most iconic pubs. Located in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar, this Irish pub is one of the city’s oldest. In operation for almost 200 years, it is famous for having witnessed the Great Irish Famine… and both World Wars! Would you like to push open the door of this historic site that is still in operation? Make yourself comfortable, grab a cold pint and let us tell you why this place deserves your attention.
The Palace Bar
Established in 1823, The Palace Bar is a historic gem located in the lively Temple Bar district.
This is not one of those tourist bars where clichés about Ireland are sold by the kilo.
No, here we’re talking about tradition and authenticity. And above all, history.
For this Irish pub is an establishment straight out of another time. He is famous for having played a key role in Dublin’ s literary renaissance and tradition in the 1940s and 1950s.
Great Irish literary talents such as Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan and Flann O’Brien were regulars at the establishment!
What’s more, the Irish pub was also the haunt of choice for journalists from the nearby “Irish Times” for most of the 20th century.
As for the owners, The Palace Bar has been in the Aherne family for nearly 80 years! Willie Aherne, the current owner, does his utmost to keep the spirit of the place intact!
Le Palace Bar
And what a place! When you open the door of the Palace Bar, you take a leap back in time. Carved wood, stained glass windows and black-and-white photos on the walls instantly immerse you in the atmosphere of another era.
The place is warm and friendly. No television here. Beer-drinkers chat and get witty. Here, locals and foreign travelers meet for an impromptu chat.
Live bands perform the great classics of the Irish repertoire. Drinks are served with a smile by seasoned bartenders, and the atmosphere is absolutely perfect.
It’s not just Guinness that draws the crowds to the Palace Bar (although we reckon it’s one of the best places to discover it). This pub offers a range of Irish drinks that will make even the most discerning connoisseur salivate.
If there’s one thing you need to know about the Palace Bar, it’s that its reputation is well established. Popular with locals and foreign visitors alike, it offers that rare blend of conviviality and quality. It’s one of those places where you feel instantly at home, even if your “home” is thousands of miles away.
So, if you’re in Dublin and fancy a drink in a place with character, stories to tell and an atmosphere like no other, now you know where to go. The Palace Bar is the kind of address that confirms that, sometimes, classics are timeless. Cheers!