Bodkins Bar

My overall opinion of Bodkin's has been shaped by two very divergent experiences, each existing at separate ends of the fun-o-meter scale, so I shall recount both and allow you to make up your own mind.

Bodkins is the unofficial local of DIT Bolton St, and as such there is often DIT functions there. It is at one of these functions that I had my first encounter with Bodkins. There was an open bar for an hour or two, and as such I have a dim recollection of many of the minutiae of the evening, though I do remember finishing the evening singing Survivor's classic "Eye of the Tiger" on the karaoke with some vigorous culchie or other, unable to hold the microphone a I had three drinks in my hands. Needless to say, the evening was very convivial.

The only other time I was in Bodkins, it was under a very different set of circumstances: the afters of the Young Progressive Democrats National Conference (I would like to at this point assure everyone that I was there in a strictly professional capacity, and that I do not now have nor have ever had any affiliation with the PDs).

In the sober light of early evening, it was a very different Bodkins. Still an ok pub, but a fair few old men and a hell of a lot more sedate.

If you went on a weeknight during term time, when all the students are about, Bodkins should be good for shits and giggles. But not if you are a man and you are in amorous mood: DIT Bolton St has fairly few female students, and as such Bodkins has fairly few female customers.

A plain old good pub.

A fairly basic boozer in the locale, and under the heavy influence, of DIT Bolton Street. If ever you see a glint in the eye of a Bolton Street student, know that they're thinking of Bodkins, and leave them to it.

For, you see, Bodkins cares for its customers. There are many famous stories of barmen sitting down beside the ossified zombies and saying gently, without a hint of judgment in their voice, "would you like a toasted cheese sandwich son?". And Lazarus arose, still hammered, but at least capable of making it home safely.

It can feel like a boys club though, at times/all the time, but that's Bolton Street for you.

Bodkins was until quite recently a fairly run of the mill north inner city pub used mainly by students.

It has however been reinvented as BoCo a rather hipsterfied bar and pizza place, complete with wood fired oven. It has as you may expect the standard range of industrial chic fittings, the usual specialised whiskeys that Dublin seems to be filled with these days.

BoCo stands out though due to the range, quality and affordability of its menu. They offer a student menu ranging from 6-7 quid for a pretty spectacular no way studenty feeling lunch. If your not an impoverished student the menu can reach the terrifying cost of circa 9 euro, for which you can pick from a delectable range of flatbreads, pizzas and other tasty bits and bobs! I can promise you not only is the menu great, but the portions are pretty decent too.

Apart from the excellent quality of the food, the two guys that seem to run the place are chill but efficient and are pleasant to boot!

I can see this place becoming a stronghold on the frontier of the Dublin culinary scene, offering an exceptional bookend to Capal St. It could well steal the glory away from that favorite hipster haunt, The Black Sheep, not only is the food better but the booze is cheaper too!

They also offer a range of coffees and desserts. The coffee is ok, though not quite as good as other places in the area (though would say its a pub/pizzeria, so you wouldnt necessarily expect them to have the most amazing coffee)-but the desserts-chocolate and flatbread board-a must try!

If it wasn't for its Bolton Street DIT connections I don't think I would have ventured into Bodkins at all, because like the Kings Inn up the road it looks a bit like a dive. But because of the DIT students the clientele is surprisingly young and you can actually have a decent night out in here during the term, especially as a girl because the ratio of female to male is probably 1:15 or close to that. Without the students though it's mostly older men in here and that's where it starts getting a bit uncomfortable. I don't like being stared at while I'm having a pint and a chat with a mate,so I will avoid Bodkins when there are no student nights on.

Bodkins is a traditional Irish pub that has friendly staff and a good atmosphere. People are either sitting-down, standing at the bar or playing a game of pool with a pint in their hands. The local is popular with students as DIT Bolton Street Campus is directly opposite the pub and make it very busy come the end of exams!