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Oliver St John Gogarty
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Irish Restaurants Gastropubs Pubs, Irish, Gastropubs [Edit]
18-21 Anglesea StTemple Bar
Dublin 2
(01) 6711822
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:30 - 2:30
Sun 12:00 - 1:30
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking Garages:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Children:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
€€
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
38 reviews for Oliver St John Gogarty
Review Highlights
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"The live music begins 1:30 - 2:30 pm daily." In 6 reviews -
"...all corners of the earth while enjoying some tasty beer or..." In 2 reviews -
"...in all the right ways, topped off with a pint of Guinness." In 3 reviews
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Elizabeth C.
This is only a review of the pub. I didn't stay in the accommodations area or eat in the formal restaurant upstairs on the third floor. Not too bad for a touristy pub in the middle of Temple Bar. There was a large food selection on their bar menu, from traditional Irish food like Stew, Beef and Guinness casserole, and Fish N Chips to burgers and pasta. There is something for everyone on the menu, including vegetarians. The pints were pricey but seems about right for a popular spot. The same thing happens in the Gaslamp District in downtown San Diego, CA.
The two times we went there, the same guy was performing and he chatted us up a lot during the performance which was great. There were people there from Dublin, the States, Finland, France, and Germany and he had songs for all of us.
One of the nights we went there was a Monday and they were slammed. There was only one bartender and one lady working the floor, so sadly service was super slow. We ended up not getting our last drinks because after thirty minutes we didn't get our drinks. She apologized and I don't hold that against her, but the management needs to realize they get busy and staff accordingly. -
Review from Drach V.
25/4/2012
At here my first evening in Dublin a few months back.
And being a tourist, I was easily caught by this tourist trap, being dazed from my long journey and in search of an "Irish" experience.
Slow (slow, slow) service. Hard to get their attention. And the music is too loud, and not even Irish.
Still, the cider was great and the food passable. I did not regret going, but of course on my next Dublin visit, I will seek something more interesting. -
Review from Brian M.
26/10/2011
The next time I'm in Oliver St John Gogarty's I'll be in body bag. Or so drunk that it won't be long before I'm in a body bag.
Either way I probably wouldn't be given a loan by the bank in order to buy a small round here.
You'll be pushed around by the swarming masses of tourists who know no better before the barman liberates you of the few euro the recession has left you with.
I hate to pan a place but, well, I did not enjoy the time I was there at all. -
Review from Keith R.
Right I am from Dublin, so it gives this review some perspective. This is one of the pubs in Dublin that i wouldn't normally visit. Very touristy (no offence tourists, we love ya really!!) Anyway I was in town on Friday afternoon, strolling through temple-bar, and the lure of live music brought me to St John's. I stuck my head in and continued on my way! But I was drawn back later on, and I went in.
Now it is exactly as you would expect, lots of people visiting our fair city, Irish Food menus, expensive pints (€5 for a Guinness), and live traditional music.....ah the music. I have to admit to liking this music, and the guys on Friday at 4pm were very good, they played the "hits" but also some pieces of music. I stayed for an hour and a half, got chatting to a few people and had a fine time.
I didn't have any food, so can't comment.
Give it a chance for an afternoon, but not a place for a night out - bit expensive! -
Review from Victoria C.
Dublin
12/1/2012
Typical Irish and very much a tourist spot. It's great IF you are a tourist but not a place I'd go too.
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Review from Tude L.
2/10/2011
I accompanied my pops to the Emerald Island and one of the things he wanted was live music. He also wanted to see the river dance.....we walked up to Temple Bar area and hit up a few pubs, pretty much all were packed and we just could not see the live musicians.
We ended up at Gogarty's and it hit the spot, the music and dancing was on point. Dad was completely satisfied with the entertainment.
Now, I got a bone to pick with some of you people who live there and call it "touristy". When you're from Los Angeles and you fly all the way to Ireland, you're compelled to dig into the "touristy thing" Temple Bar itself is quite touristy but it was fun.
I ended up going back for lunch a few days later. I had some chowder, fresh bread a pint of Harp and enjoyed the live music again.
Ireland was amazing and Gogarty left me wanting more.
Cheers! -
Review from Meg B.
31/1/2011
Yeah yeah, You've heard it below- it's a tourist's haven. Just like the Irish pubs we have at home. If you're in the Temple Bar district, you're only going to find places like this for the most part so you might as well embrace it, especially if it's right across from your hotel like it was for us. The place is spacious. Yes, mostly tourists ( and a small world, met a fellow American who grew up in the same town I did). You have your pick of a few different areas in the bar.. the traditional music we heard was good. The prices, a complete rip-off ( they don't know the term "top off" as it was an extra 3 Euro to add some more vodka to a weak yet 6 euro redbull and vodka.). This place also gets very crowded with meaty obnoxious people around 11 or so.
I say definitely stop in, it's not a bad site but keep it moving- there are plenty of other places to see. -
Review from Nick M.
2/9/2010 1 photo
Saying that this place is full of tourist is an understatement. I may be a tourist but this is not the place for me. I will give credit to the staff, they rocked with it being so packed. I will also say that it's very spacious and there is plenty of places to pull up a stool. And finally the band was pretty good. There is no cover charge but that's probably because you pay for it in the expensive drinks. Apparently there is an upstairs but it was almost impossible to get to due to it being so packed.
Temple Bar area is one of the "Wonders of the world" (that is drunken wonders of the world) kind of things, you have to experience it at least once. It's fun for a night, especially if you are in a descent bar like Oliver St John Gogarty (whoa, say that drunk three times fast).Listed in: Travel -IRELAND
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Review from Donna M.
27/10/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Sounds crazy that I am giving this place a 2 star rating, considering I dropped in three times during my one week stay in Dublin. Largely it was based on people I had met along the way who had plans to go there; so it was a convenient meeting place.
As other reviews have already mentioned...it is a tourist attraction...and then some. I was more put off with some of the rude and/or drunk tourists, than I was with the set-up. As far as being a tourist's bar, they do it right. But if you want to hang with the local Irish, go to a local pub...outside Temple Bar. If you are keen to just throw back some pints and enjoy some music (authentic irish, as well as not so much) it is a good meeting spot. Like most bars in Temple Bar area, the place gets jammed....even with two floors...and even more so on the weekends.
I will admit, the service was excellent, especially considering how many people filled the four walls. Worth checking out, if you are in the area. -
Review from Jeremy M.
2/12/2010
Traditional Irish music upstairs. --better than many
Standard beer selection and prices.
Not great, not bad, just right. -
Review from Myhang H.
2/1/2011 17 photos
Named after Dublin's most famous poet, pilot, politician and avid fan of Guinness, the Oliver St. John Gogarty Pub and Restaurant is well known among the trend setting haunts of Dublin's Temple Bar. Tourists and locals visit this hot spot. You get a mix of sports on flat screens mixed with Olde Worlde charm, traditional Irish music and wholesome meals served all day! The live music begins 1:30 - 2:30 pm daily! Every inch of the place is covered with some sort of poster, artwork, or vintage artifact. There is a picture of Sinead OConnor on the way to the bathroom. There are great U2 posters. An old bike hangs above the bar. Guinness signs everywhere. Big huge Santa Clauses all over!
Food and drinks are decently priced. 6,50 euro for Seafood chowder that comes with bread if you want. We ordered a side of roasted rosemary potatoes and there was no charge! How nice! A pint of Guinness is 5 euro, while a half pour of Black's Bushmills Whiskey is a little of 5 euro. Friendly bar tenders and great music makes this a fun place to visit and hang out. The food is DELICIOUS by the way! Seafood chowder had calamari, shrimp, mussels, crab and vegetables! Potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The way they should be! There is also a bowl overflowing with bananas and apples that say "Complimentary. Take with you!"
Live music is always fun. But when the musicians switch out or go on breaks, they play a very diverse selection of music including: Oasis, Nickelback, Lion King, Tina Turner, and Black Eyed Peas! My favorite hang out in the Temple Bar area. -
Review from Kathy O.
Dublin
3/8/2010
I know this place is aimed at Tourists but alas! on a bank holiday Monday night, there weren't too many casual places open late.
It's not a bad set up, a floor with usual late night pub music and an upstairs with live traditional music - enjoyable enough if that's what you're looking for!
My issues with this bar were that firstly, it didn't have Heineken on tap. Secondly, a pint of Budweiser was 6.20 and I had to go downstairs each time to get the ice cold one (which, surprisingly, didn't cost any extra).
The biggest issue we had was that at the end of the night the staff were extremely rude about us finishing our drinks and leaving. There were plenty of other people still there and a very drunk man shouting the odds
at the bar but, ignoring that, one member of staff actually took the glass from my friend's hand and shouted at us to leave. Unnecessary to say the least! -
Review from Andy H.
7/7/2009
I do not care if this place is a tourist trap.
Trap me all you want in here...the place is a fun time for a visitor to Dublin. Plus when I have visited, I met mostly people from and around Dublin, so the locals also frequent this monster of an Irish pub.
The building hosts an enormous bar, a restaurant (which I have never tried), and a hotel.
The music at night is lively, makes for a great atmosphere and the bar tenders keep the beers flowing.
Every person that has gone to Ireland's most popular city with me seems to like Oliver's the best, and while it is not my #1 pub (that goes to the Brazen Head), it surely is a great place to party when in Dublin. -
Review from Jo M.
30/6/2009 1 photo
The best thing about Oliver St John Gogarty is there are never any hot boys there, so if you're up for a night of dancing to some tacky tunes like 'Walking on Sunshine' and can handle the stares of disgusting old men, this is the place.
Had a great night there with a bunch of girlfriends, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a destination.
Why?
1. No Irish people, save the occasional boy from Cork
2. Sleazy, middle aged clientele
3. Very expensive pints (around the 6 euro mark) ouch!!
It is a cute pub though, and right in the middle of Temple Bar, so give it a try, you might have a different experience! -
Review from Michelle A.
5/2/2010
Touristy? Sure. But isn't that what temple bar is?
Having walked all over the city during the day, I wasn't ready to try my luck walking to find food. Turning the corner from my hostel, there sat Oliver StJG in all it's olive green glory. Just what I needed - close.
The food honestly wasn't that bad, but I hate sandwiches so perhaps I missed out on the bad food. Service was friendly both times I wandered in here, and the staff directed me to the smaller back side of the restaurant which is less bar and more focused on people looking for an intimate, quiet meal alone. I didn't find it too expensive, but then again, everything is expensive to an American having to travel on the Euro (can I have UK Trip 2000 back now please?). All in all, my boyfriend and I had a great time and full stomachs here, and even got a free meal out of it when the staff misheard an order and delivered the wrong thing. It was food overload in all the right ways, topped off with a pint of Guinness. Ahhhhhhhhhh.
Would I recommend this place to a fellow traveler looking for an authentic meal? No. But if someone wanted something quick and right in the happening night life of Dublin, I'd have no problem directing them to this place. -
Review from M M.
Dublin
11/7/2009
Great bar, lots of space and has a great atmosphere due to its mixture of tourists and locals! Music is great, place is always packed on the weekends and it can take a while to get a drink but the barmen are always friendly and smiling and add to the great feel of the place.
They do a lovely Guinness too. -
Review from Lynn R.
20/11/2009
Two parts to review. The first being the pub downstairs, which get 4 stars. Any night of the week you will find a packed crowd (mostly tourists) congregating to enjoy some of Dublin's finest live trad. Heard from the street, it can't help but entice you inside to delight one's soul while enjoying a pint.
Upstairs is the restaurant portion. Definitely touristy and separated into 3 sections which I've still not quite figured out after three visits; if it attire driven or luck of the draw. Good menu with all the traditional Irish entrée favorites to please tourists. I have enjoyed the meals and the service each time but some dishes can be a little hit or miss. A tad pricey, but worth it if the service and food is spot on. -
Review from Aoife O.
Dublin
23/7/2009 2 photos
You should take a deep breath before you try to say 'Oliver St. John Gogarty' and do the same before you enter the pub. It's generally swarming, being one of the biggest tourist meccas in Temple Bar.
I tend to avoid it unless I'm lured there by visiting friends. It's bearable for a swift early evening drink but after that it just gets messy, crammed and claustrophobic. One of the big problems with Temple Bar is that it's dominated by people in the 'last night of freedom' zone and they think that everyone around them is buzzing on the same wavelength. So, if you don't want to kiss their 60 year old drunken mate then you're just not getting into the spirit of it. I won't be spending my 'last night of freedom' in Oliver St. John Gogarty's but even if I did, I wouldn't want to kiss red-faced Billy from Texas, y'hear.
Gogarty's offers pretty much non-stop trad sessions in the bar upstairs from 2.30pm-2am Monday- Saturday which is handy if you're passing through with a tourist on hand and want to give them their fix. Just don't attempt to duck in here anytime after 10, it'll make you want to cry. -
Review from Alexandra M.
Dublin
18/7/2009 1 photo
The pub's name really is a mouthful and it looks like someone painted the outside while on acid. You can't miss the neon green and yellow! The inside is just as loud as the paint job.
This pub always has people in partly because of its prime location and partly because it's a multifaceted business. Gogartys does live traditional music, has an extensive pub menu, has a dance floor and finally offers customers accommodation. Above the pub, there's are self-catering apartments and twin or mixed dorm rooms. In short, this place is a cash cow.
I wouldn't recommend this place to locals or people under 30. The atmosphere is over the top, in your face Irish and this novelty wears thin after your first few days in Ireland. -
Review from Laurie P.
5/7/2011
Downstairs was packed with people enjoying the live music. We were knackered after our first day walking around and seeing the sites, so we headed upstairs where it was nice and quiet (we thought). I had the lamb stew and enjoyed it until the lady (at least 50) at the table next to us dropped the f-bomb too many times to count. Given that she was sitting about 2 feet away from us and could see our lad was with us, she was rude. Now that we knew her love life, we hurried up to be on our way. Temple Bar is a wild place, but we were done too early to see craziness this time.
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Review from Erin L.
27/6/2009 1 photo
As everyone else has said - a total tourist trap.
From the outside, this place looks so cute and inviting. The food was terrible and it was also overpriced. Don't go here unless you just want to look around because the place looks really nice. -
Review from Jennifer B.
17/8/2009 1 photo
What a dive! We stayed in the hostel attached to this pub. All I can say is:
1. Piss-stained sheets
2. Blood on mattress
3. One key per room (even if there's 10 people in a room)
4. Broken heater
5. Broken shower
6. Rude service
I think they make the accommodations so poor so you need to drink at the overcrowded attached downstairs tourist-trap bar. -
Review from Scott F.
22/8/2010
Of course we had to make a stop in the Temple Bar District on a trip to Dublin a couple of years back. Out of all the places we visited Gogarty's was at the top of the list for atmosphere, drinks, music, and overall rambunctiousness.
The session band was epic. The beers were a bit pricey (typical for middle-of-the-action Dublin nightlife) but we were on vacation and imbibed regardless. We met some jolly chaps and lasses throughout the evening and also learned the greatest drinking song of all time. FTW.
Bouncers were a bit gruff around Temple Bar. I guess they have to deal with a lot of douche bags. However, Gogarty's was a little less abrasive. I'm looking forward to my next visit. -
Review from Mary C.
24/9/2009 1 photo
Oliver St John Gogarty's is one very popular example of the Irish bar experience that has been marketed heavily towards visitors. Yes, it is crawling with tourists and wasted teenagers from the UK. Yes, it is extremely expensive for food and drinks, yes it is crowded and yes it is noisy.
Sure it's a tourist trap, but I'm not ashamed to say I had a good time here. Some friends of mine were visiting Dublin and they told me to meet them at OSJG and I have to admit I was very hesitant. As a recent transplant to Dublin, I'd seen this place while running around the city - how could you not with its bright green exterior and the perpetual crowd in and around the building. I knew by then that Temple Bar was "just for tourists."* But I obliged. It was pretty loud and sweaty right away, but my friends had a good table right next to the band playing traditional Irish music. It was raucous and everyone was having a good time. There was a friendly, good vibe. It's a good place to have one drink and enjoy the atmosphere and then move on.
Will I return? Probably not, as there are plenty other good bars around here that aren't quite so full on (Turk's Head, Stag's Head, Porterhouse, etc). It really is kind of a fun place to bring visitors to show them the Irish pub they've always envisioned. It might not be the 100% truth, but what's the fun in reality anyway?
I HATE when people say this kind of stuff with a smarmy sneer on their faces. People tend to ignore that tourism is an important industry for any country and usually makes quality of life better for the citizens. Just saying. -
Review from Amanda S.
Dublin
19/6/2009
This place is pretty touristy... but it's right in the middle of temple bar so you have to stop by for at least a drink when strolling through temple bar. =)
It was such a scene during St. Patty's day!!! Bulmers and blackcurrant all the way!!!!
This would be a place where the Irish lads find some American birds!!! Beware of those pesky leprechauns!!!!!!
Slainte!!! -
Review from Brónagh M.
Dublin
23/1/2010 1 photo
If you are a tourist this is one of he bars you will probably love, right in the middle of temple bar, los of irish music and faux irish stuff around the bar.
If your from ireland though, forget about it, the drink in here so very expensive and you will likely end up talking to some tourist who wants to know a bit about the local history or something. now i have no problem chating away to a friendly foreigner but its not the most fun you could have in Dublin.
As someone else said this is not a good place to have food really, there are lots of better places to have food in temle bar. like the drink this pub think its okay to rip off unsuspecting tourists for mediocre sandwiches.
tut tut oliverSJG! -
Review from Ben M.
21/10/2010
Following a theme from previous reviews of this place: touristy to the max. But who cares. It's got live Irish music at night (albeit amplified). The ladies in our group loved it, and I have to admit, I did too.
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Review from Kris W.
8/10/2009
Don't go here to eat. Do go here to drink and listen to some trad music until the wee hours.
Yes, it's loaded with people from all over the world. The food? Kind of revolting frankly, the sort of thing you think of when you think bad Irish food of 30 years ago. There are lots better places to eat, but to drink? Nay, none.
You can work your way right up to the bar where the band plays; you can watch Nicholas the Dancing Doorman (is he still around?) jig about with lovely ladies from the crowd; you can meet people from all corners of the earth while enjoying some tasty beer or cider. Best way to keep the booze flowing is just to go fetch it yourself at the bar - this place can get crowded, and the waitresses may never reach you. A lively, fun crowd, especially on Thursday, which is "town night." Fridays, I've heard, are to be avoided. -
Review from Tony B.
16/1/2010
There are a lot better places in Dublin for a pint, but if your set on temple bar than you can do worse.
As for the food I do not know. I refused to pay 17 euro for a club sandwich. Looking at the other reviews I am glad that I did.
It looks like they are reacting to this and adding some lunch specials.
25 euro for three courses. I think I'll skip it, but it sounds like a better deal.
The music is OK and you get a good international crowd if thats what you want. -
Review from Swati B.
15/2/2011
Live music, fun crowd (mixed with tourists mostly, with some locals). Typical sports bar feel on the inside...definitely had more fun here than the temple bar pub. Definitely stop by and have a drink before you keep barhopping in the temple bar area.
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Review from jen r.
10/6/2009
this place is a total tourist trap, and as a tourist i fell for it hook line and sinker!!
since its right smack in the middle of temple bar (which is a convenient location) and the first floor bar is very lively, we decided to give it a shot for dinner. we ate on the 3rd floor. its typical irish cuisine which is a lot of stew dishes.
i had the guinness beef stew and it needed a major dose of seasoning!! wow was it bland. none of the 4 of us were impressed with our way overpriced food. we even got charged per person for the bread basket - typical euro scam!!
the service was pretty slow and we saw at least 3 tables of people look at menu and get up and walk out, which is what we shouldve done. we each paid 30 some euro for our basic dinner and wine.
this place is just blahh... much better places in the area!!Listed in: Luck of the Irish
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Review from Grace T.
15/8/2011 3 photos
without saying too much this place reminded me of an Irish TGIF...gimmicky and sub-par irish fare...bf and i pretty much just ate and then left, in hopes of finding another place that was playing a repeat of Bon Jovi, Journey, and 80s rock!
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Review from Mark B.
18/9/2010
I went for the "traditional" music on the second floor. The banjo player was pretty darn good and there was a good enough guitar player and a pipes player too. Fun to to listen to for a couple hours. Had dinner upstairs. Nice room, food fine. No cover for band.
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Review from Wesley W.
3/11/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I had a chance to have a few pints here the other weekend when mates came in from out of town. It is for the most part, a tourist trap. They have the bodhráns on the walls, the exposed beams in the ceiling, the classic pub look that one would expect. Any night of the week you can come here and see a bit of diddle i music, the kind the tourists eat up. That being said, the band was actually very good, and yes, I am partial to a bit of the trad, so it wasn't a totally bad thing. They have a nice covered smoking area with tables and chairs, so if you have a group with smokers, you are in luck. The only things I didn't like were the prices (which were quite dear) and of course the amount of people who ended up in the place. By 11PM everyone was packed in like sardines elbow to elbow. I do like hear some Christy Moore tunes, but I also like to relax and enjoy my pint without being constantly bumped around by the surrounding crowd. It's a great place to take people from out of town looking for an 'Irish' experience in Dublin, but not so much a place you would call your local.
Listed in: My Dublin Pub/Club Reviews
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Review from Shane T.
14/6/2011
Great Beef and Guiness stew. There are local contemporary bands on the first floor but we ate on the second floor and enjoyed a great Irish band. It was packed with people from many different countries and a very fun time
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Review from Melissa S.
22/6/2009
Touristy but worth a pint.
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Review from Rowena Y.
6/12/2009 3 photos
This was the first restaurant I went to when I visited Dublin four years ago. I was pretty much attracted to the colorful and festive facade and it was probably the brightest building in the Temple Bar area. It definitely looks better at night. I remember walking into the bar on the first floor filled with drunk Irish men (I think there was a big sports game that night) and I had trouble hearing the hostess telling me where I should be seated. I ended up going upstairs and it was strangely quiet. I kind of anticipated that this is not going to be a great Irish food experience but the food turned out to be ok. They definitely overstuffed me with bread and baked potatoes. The best part of the experience was probably enjoying a nice pint of Guinness. And oh yes, there is live traditional Irish music, which really uplifts the atmosphere. I guess one drawback about this place is that their name is such a mouthful. I can never get it right.
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