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The Porterhouse Temple Bar
Categories: Restaurants Gastropubs Food Breweries Gastropubs, Breweries [Edit]
16-18 Parliament StDublin 2
(01) 6798847
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 - 23:30
Fri-Sat 10:30 - 0:30
Sun 12:00 - 23:00
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking Garages:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
€€
- Good for Children:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
56 reviews for The Porterhouse Temple Bar
Review Highlights
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"Bar has at least four levels and live music." In 13 reviews -
"...Porterhouse is always consistent for their own beers on tap." In 4 reviews -
"Oyster Stout is there really more to say." In 5 reviews
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Johnathan J.
11/2/2012
This was a great place to eat and even better place to drink. Me and 2 of my friends spent the week in Dublin, and in my opinion this was the best place to eat at. The beer selection was really good. Their staff was always friendly and curtious.
If you do decide to go, try to go early. This place is quite busy and fills up fast. Try their stout if you go there. In my opinion it out ranks Guinness. They also let you buy bottles. Good souvenirs from the trip. -
Review from MaryAnn Z.
12/4/2012
The food here is just okay. The selection was good and the prices were reasonable, but it was nothing spectacular and I wouldn't necessarily seek it out again for anything more than a sandwich in the middle of a day filled with beer and whiskey. The beer, though... come for that. The selection is fantastic and the servers were able to offer suggestions based on taste preferences. We got to try a lot of interesting beers we otherwise would have missed out on.
The atmosphere is also really great and it was a nice, central place to relax and decompress after a lot walking. -
Review from Debbie H.
11/2/2012
Really nice place. So spacious.
It must have about 4 levels so not for the faint hearted or those of you who may suffer from vertigo :P
I've never eaten anything here, just had drinks, they have great selection of beers and other beverages, it's a great bar for live music.
It's a popular spot and gets very busy, so be there early to get a table :) -
Review from NIcole W.
Dublin
11/2/2012
very nice atmosphere, a wide selection of homebreewed and foreign beer.
Both for a after work beer and a party time :D -
Review from Eoin M.
Dublin
14/11/2011
"Yeah, I'm in the Porterhouse. The one in Temple Bar."
"That place is always packed on Fridays. How will I find you?"
"I'm beside the stairs."
The bar has fourteen staircases. -
Review from Shelly A.
28/12/2011
This was the first place I went to in the Temple Bar District and I loved it! Great food, and so many floors, I didn't know when they would stop! This place is so much bigger than it looks from outside.
We had a great little nook overlooking the street and we enjoyed a couple of their delicious beers with lunch. Everything we ordered was great! The service was friendly, too.
When you're tired of Guiness after Guiness in Ireland, go and check out Porterhouse and try some of their great independent beers! Definitely a unique spot and worth the visit. -
Review from john b.
Dublin
14/3/2012
This place is over rated.
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Review from Annie L.
18/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
After reading Zara's great and very funny review about The Porterhouse burger, I had to try it. The girl got it right - it really does hit the spot.
The chips where decent but the burger was great. Ideally I like mine medium/done but due to the food authority outlawing that I have to deal with done burgers which is not ideal. Having said that they still made it juicy and flavoursome and the toppings really hit the spot.
Also affordable especially as an end of work week lunch treat. -
Review from Rob M.
2/2/2012
I spent a semester abroad in Dublin years ago. And this was our regular Thursday night city centre bar.
Not only do they brew a number of their own beers they serve beers from all over the world.
The place has a great layout. The building is three floors tall, but they have been able to turn the three flights into about five or six levels.
They will usually have rock bands playing most nights of the week. Which can keep the place lively at night. -
Review from Kari Z.
18/7/2011
Food - 5 stars
Drink - 5 stars
Service - 3-5 stars...
This is a chain. I avoid chains when travelling. I am so glad we went to the Porterhouse.
First visit, I had the Bacon and Cabbage. It was tremendous and delicious... I would not share, and for 11.50, not a terrible price. The beers were delicious as well.
Second visit, the staff ignored us as we waited for our third to join us. I think that between shifts, set up is concentrated on and not customers. The beer was great, but we decided not to stay to eat, since we had been there over an hour and they never asked us if we wanted to eat.
Third visit (yes, same trip) I went alone, they had internet, I ate, drank and enjoyed the people watching.
All in all, I liked this place, even though it seems a bit cookie-cutter, and is a chain, I would go back for the Bacon and Cabbage :) -
Review from Alex D.
16/4/2011
The porterhouse is always buzzing - excellent selection of beers, decent food and a great location - so why wouldn't it be?
Good quality stouts, ales and lagers on draught (their own brews and from other irish microbreweries) and nearly a hundred different bottled offerings to choose from, so you won't be disappointed. As a native Brit, it's nice to see cask ale with a real hand pump too, and 4e a pint is a nice bonus. Messrs Brown Ale is on tap for the next year as it won their annual brewing competition, and that's an exceptional beer - a real must-try.
As a regular, the ONLY downside of the place is the live bands (one plays every night) who are often deafening and never seem to change their setlists...trad music I can deal with, but if i hear bloody Don't Stop Believing once more I'll.....anyway, the tourists love it, so why on earth not.
Comfortably the best bar in the temple bar area. -
Review from Joel B.
28/8/2011
I have always really enjoyed the Porterhouse for a great brew. Their house-brews are quite good but their beer menu of specialty and imports is to die for!
You'll find an extensive list of beers from around the world here (No guinness though, be warned) the likes of which range from traditional belgian to Caribbean fruit brews and honey or chocolate as well!
I absolutely love the ambiance of this place, and the live music is always good (on a unique, and small, stage visible to three floors).
I will say that service during the day hasn't always been the best, but that's not why you come to Porterhouse.
For Wi-Fi hunters: They have an agreement with bitbuzz and provide 20-minute free access on a free-to-renew basis for customers. -
Review from Sylvie C.
9/2/2011
Just when I think I've had enough with beers and I really want to go anywhere but a pub... I land in Porterhouse and I forget I just thought that because there's just so much variety and a warm atmosphere. I love the layout with the different floors and narrow stairs, there's a great charm to it.
I've got lots of great celebrations that happened there, that's a pub for friends to get together to me. Well, until the band starts playing and then you're A. captivated or just enjoying them and/or B. enable to articulate a word without really shouting :-D
AND the food is pretty decent and not necessarily your ordinary pub food. -
Review from John K.
20/10/2011
Unusually good brewpub.The food was creative and very good.Ireland in many respects is not a great beer country.The Guinness is very good and treated with a respect it doesn't get in the US.However once you get past that there is a lack of variety.However craft beer is starting to catch on and Porterhouse is serious about producing good craft beer as well as making a number of other beers available.I had the coodle while there and enjoyed it. My wife had Irish stew which was really a lamb shank.She liked it so much that she wanted to have it again.We tried to go a second time but service was none existent.The first time it was quite good.Go here if you are in the area!
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Review from Reuben G.
31/10/2010
Of the number of Porterhouse bars around the city I have been to, this one is my favourite but all of them are worth a visit if you are in the area.
For me it has to be the range of their own beers that amazes me. Add to that the fact that they are one of the few places in the country that serves Cask conditioned beer and you have something special. Their regular cask beer is TSB but they usually have one of their other beer available on Cask or else a guest beer from one of the other Irish microbreweries.
There is no Guinness in this one (though I think Porterhouse north does) and they direct you to their plain porter instead. Personally I would rather their Wrasslers xxxx (full stout) or even their Oyster stout over the plain on tap.
The porterhouse started bottling their beers so you can get them in the bottle. The bottled versions are often different and in fact better than their tap versions.
The food is excellent and far superior to most pubs that serve food.
One of the reasons I love Dublin is because of the Porterhouse, be it the brewery itself in Ballycoolin or any of the pub franchises and especially the Temple bar one. -
Review from Éamonn O.
6/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Don't Pass on the Porter!
I've been to this Porterhouse several times and nearly each experience has been enjoyable and satisfying. As I primarily drink whiskey, I sadly am unable to reflect on the quality of their beers - though I've received the odd sample from the barman.
Price: I think the burgers are over-priced. They are better-than-average, but they could do with a price reduction.
Food: I do enjoy the offered variety. The very first time i had the Suicide Wings, I was completely in love. To be fair, I've returned over two-dozen times since and they've never been quite as good or 'suicidally hot' - but they are still quite lovely. Porterhouse does not charge extra for bleu cheese or any of that nonsense, so that's a respectful plus. I've had most of the starters here and have been quite content, my only complaint being that the price is a bit high for what you get. The burgers are sometimes done a bit too well for my taste, but overall I've been entirely satisfied with the menu options.
Service: The service is adequate. I'd say the bar service is fairly spot on, but I haven't been over impressed with the serving staff. That isn't to say it is poor, just certainly not impressive.
Atmosphere: The live music can be fun and it has a rather cosy noise. I've called in here on a lonely winter night and truly felt the glow. My only complaint is, at least whenever I go, it is damn near impossible to find a table. My pitifully optimistic quest always scripts me up to the second floor in search for a table-for-two. The story ends with me returning to the ground floor, defeated and still hungry. -
Review from Rhatia C.
Dublin
7/7/2010
I have one word for you... Früli.
Früli is a Belgian white infused with pure strawberry juice. It's fantastic on a level I cannot explain. I mean, just think of it... strawberry beer. This might make you grimace at first, but now think about it actually tasting great. That's Früli. This alone warrants a five star rating from me. (Men, strap on your gay for a few minutes and try a pint, you might actually really like it.)
In addition, this place has the best damn bangers and mash plate anywhere in town. They serve it to you in what I believe is a bowl made of Yorkshire pudding... no kidding. Peel off the edges of the delicious bowl and dip it in the gravy, with a piece of banger and some mash... Nom, Nom, Nom! Ohhhhhh that's tasty! One star off for the sticky toffee pudding I had on a recent visit. It was luke warm when served and did not sit super well with my stomach. I wouldn't let that keep you from paying this place a visit.
Interestingly, the owner of the bar refuses to sell Blue Moon. He just won't do it, seeing as it's actually a Coors beer. I love Blue Moon and think that type of beer would have a good home here, but respect his decision. -
Review from edel n.
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great beer selection, good music and friendly staff. 3 stars in my book!
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Review from James S.
13/7/2010
It's perhaps one of the great culinary and cultural ironies that a country famous for a particular brand of beer has very little variety in style or producers outside of "the black stuff". Now, while there are few things more comforting than the standard tap selection at a traditional Irish pub, occasionally it's nice to mix things up with some locally brewed craft beer. The Porterhouse is "Ireland's largest genuine Irish brewery" and proudly offers 9+ pint options with a rotating seasonal brew.
The bar is huge and can accommodate a large group of people. Service is quick and friendly.
While in Dublin I came back to this bar three times because I always wanted to try something new on their beer menu. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I had. Stop in if you want a break from the nitro-saturated ales you'll likely find at every other pub. -
Review from Shane K.
Dublin
29/4/2010 ROTD 4/2/2011
Simply put, this is the best pub in the world. That's an apt appraisal given the international nature of this fine establishment. I maybe a little biased perhaps given the fact I drank there for several years but that should be a testament to The Porterhouse's charm.
The wonderfully rustic-but-not-really interior, barely accessible performance area, tiny smoking area and awful seating layout only enhance the feeling of contentment when you explore it wooden heights. Something about this pub just makes you feel "good". Not to mention its ridiculously well-endowed beer menu featuring the very best in world drinkables. I haven't even mentioned their superb homebrews either!
The real winner of this place is its clientele. Endless hours can be spent in the TARDIS-like smoking area chatting to denizens of every corner of the globe. So if you're a tourist looking for an interesting evening or a nice relaxing end to the days sightseeing then this is your only port of call.
PS The musics not too loud either...Listed in: Dublin Essentials, Rugby Pubs
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Review from Zara M.
Dublin
17/7/2010
This places covers some requirements for me that pubs must have.
1. Decent music
2.Decent food
3. Decent choice of drink.
On the various occasions that I wander into Porterhouse I've usually been greeted with a live band of some description playing some music of some description. This music then spurs on a half ambition of "Yeah I could be a music producer! I could make them big" But I usually get distracted when I see my friends returning with my love of my life. Früli.
Yesterday after a disastrous flight back to Dublin, I was treated as a half date, to a trip to Porterhouse and I have to tell you, this guy got full marks as he ordered me the two things I wanted most. A Smokey Barbecue Burger (Yeah it was a date and I devoured a burger in a non lady like fashion. He just laughed at it. Thank God!) and a Früli.
Now I would slight consider myself an expert on burgers. For a burger to be good, this is a genuine fact, you must be able to to fit it in your mouth without overstretching your jaw. Well I may have over stretched my jaw but that's only because the onion was made to look pretty in the burger. Having removed that (and used chips to remove the BBQ sauce) the burger was then of an eatable standard.
The only problem with that experience there was that there was a large booking on the same floor as us so they got all the juicy window seats where himself and myself like to sit. Now I wouldn't say we pass judgment on the people walking past.....well actually that's exactly what we do. So having not gotten our judgement thrones we lurked in a little darkened corner and I think we scarred away an American family after he compared my eating a burger to eating kittens. I blame the Früli. -
Review from Patty G.
15/8/2011
Not much to say, came here in a bad mood with only 30 minutes to closing. I'm bummed I was not in the mood because I probably would have really enjoyed the place otherwise. So for that reason, it's getting 4 stars.
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Review from Clarice W.
4/12/2009
Sunday night live music!
Yummy food!
Hot wings!
Beer!
The burgers are 12 euro, but they are so big and so worth it.
The music was great, but they took too long of breaks. It was 40 mins before they came back, then they played a few songs and took another 40 min break.
Coffee was good as it was on the house. Why? Because even though the burgers were good they didn't get one of the orders right and brought out a plain burger instead of the Italian one. Not a biggie. -
Review from Candice R.
18/12/2009
My little American butt had a great time chatting it up with our friendly Irish bar mates and the bartender. My boyfriend and I tried most of the brew's offered, enjoyed each one and got a little tipsy in the process. The Oyster was by far my favorite, and I should have just dived in and gotten a whole pint.
Porterhouse, where can I find your beer in my country?Listed in: Farther East Than Ever Before
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Review from Chris L.
26/3/2010
During an exhausting five day bender in Dublin, my associate Chris and I would periodically catch our breath at the Porterhouse. In a laughable attempt to "pace himself somewhat" on our third day in town, Chris ordered a water along with his pint of Plain. The bartender looked at him aghast, and spat out, "water?! Water's for WIMPS!" and then refused to serve him.
Another night (New Year's Eve, in fact), my associate and I were posted up at the bar when a group of rowdy local youths befriended us. They were adamant that we commit the following wisdom to memory (and would check in on our progress toward this goal throughout the night as we re-encountered them around town): "now before midnight, make sure you're in a club, not some shite bar! Because a club has a dance floor, and how else are you going to get a finger in some girl unless you're on a dance floor?" I have no idea what they meant by all that - must be some local colloquialism.
---
All of the house brews here are stunning. Guinness gets all the market share and glory around town (though honestly - why should people celebrate something that is distributed worldwide and only manages to taste right in one country?), but each of the Plain and the Oyster stout is far superior. I also loved the Hop Head, Alt, and Red. And the bangers and mash. And the sassy bartenders. And the abundant seating. And the fantastically tasteful selection of imports. And the proximity to the Czech Inn, which has the grimmest, most surreal dance floor scene I managed to find in Dublin. -
Review from Sarah T.
17/10/2011
I recently went for a few drinks in the Porterhouse on a weekend night (think it was a Saturday) and its a lively spot. I had dragged my friends there due to their highly attractive price point bottle of white wine for €14. We had a good night, listening to their quite decent live band and repelling drunk tourists. I went back a week later, attracted by their gluten free options, but was incredibly disappointed to see that they had a new drinks menu, where the cheapest bottle of white wine was now €22! What a disappointment! :( Any hope I had of convincing the girls to go back has disappeared. I ordered the burger & chips, burger was a bit dry, & my chips were somewhat soggy. Hmmm, disappointing. But perhaps I caught the chef on an off day. I'll probably go back due to their gluten friendliness but wont be arranging nights out with the girls there. I've just discovered the southwilliam does bottles of wine for €15. Result.
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Review from Brandon W.
11/9/2009
Excellent brew pub. Stopped in here for dinner on our first night in Dublin and we were very surprised. The beer here was excellent. From each one to the next (i tried nearly all of them) they only got better, and the service from our bartender was beyond excellent. He gave us great conversation, and discussed the different beers before we tried them, to make sure we would like them.
The food was excellent as well. I got the Bangers and Mash - and I can't complain at all. Not that I have had a steady diet of authentic Bangers and Mash, so I have not much to compare this too, but it was a great meal none the less.
If anything, stop in for the excellent drink and live music - you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Alexandra M.
Dublin
29/1/2011
I went during trad fest (traditional Irish music) and it was great. Turns out they have live music 7 days a week! Also, I have never found a beer I liked (yes, I have been forced to try a lot) and they finally did have one that I liked--and its not listed on the website so I cannot give the name.
Listed in: Dublin Pubs!, Dublin Tourism, Temple Bar
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Review from Jo M.
4/7/2009 2 photos
I've spent many a pleasant evening at the Porterhouse Temple Bar. There is level upon level at this place, and at night a pretty great cover band plays on a stage in the middle of it all. I love the way you can walk around the entire building and still see and hear the band playing the likes of Billy Joel, U2 and Kings of Leon.
It's a magical wonderland of a densely packed pub... so many staircases, so many bars, so many punters, so many places to hide if you're trying to outrun a bad date!
As with Porterhouse Central, the range of beer is amazing, and please note they do NOT serve Guinness (one of the only bars in Ireland that doesn't, I imagine!)
The food is surprisingly awesome. I was really not expecting much, but one day branched out from the usual pub fare and opted for the Morroccan Vegetable Tagine. If you can get here early enough in the evening to nab a table, I recommend having your evening meal in this place. Better than your average pub grub.
I'm not usually one to frequent the pubs and bars in Temple Bar, but this place comes with my recommendation. -
Review from Trixie D.
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oyster Stout is there really more to say?
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Review from Natalie M.
Dublin
17/8/2009 1 photo
Go here on St. Patrick's Day. If you're in Dublin for our national holiday, you'll probably be in Temple Bar and you should really be in the Porter House.
The Porter House is a famous brewery and pub that's famous with tourists and locals alike. You can get just about every beer imaginable here including cherry flavour beer, unpasteurised beer and everything in between! It's got about 5 floors and lots of nooks and crannies and is guaranteed to be hot and sweaty at the weekend. They have live music that's usually traditional always good. The band/musician have a special spot in the middle of all the floors so that no matter what floor you're on you can see them!
The Porter House also organise beer tastings that are great fun for a party or work do. It's a great spot, good crowd, live music and good beers. Great stuff! -
Review from Kate M.
Dublin
10/7/2009 1 photo
The Porterhouse is a great spot for a few drinks - during the day or at night.
They have lots of different types of beers to try from all over the world. Really obscure, random ones and then more local ones too. They also have their own few beers on draft too. I am a fan of the rose they serve here and you can either get a small or large glass. I like the way they offer that option and needless to say, I tend to go for the large.
I spent a paddys day here one year and it was great - great craic and great atmosphere. The foods not bad either. I always tend to order chips here for some reason, and they're really good to pick at over a few drinks when everyone gets the munchies -
Review from Rob M.
Dublin
2/10/2009
I think the Porter House is great for its originality. they have a wide range of their own pints on draught. There's no Guinness, Heineken or Miller, but their own versions of each. Which is a nice change of pace, and also means you'll get an often superior pint to the watery likes of Budweiser.
They also do a decent pizza or burger for a tenner before 6 and the atmosphere is generally good on a night out. That being said, if you're a Guinness or Heineken purist, you may want to steer clear. -
Review from Anonymous R.
16/10/2010
This is my first five-star review. This pub has every beer imaginable (of the imports/microbrews, no Guinness, unfortunately), live music and dancing on Thursdays, and 3 floors of space, each buzzing with young, vibrant crowd. Come see it if you're in Temple Bar area
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Review from Aoife O.
Dublin
15/7/2009
Porterhouse Temple Bar is a bit of a labyrinth with staircases, floors and bars galore. The advantage of this is that, even on a packed Friday night in Temple Bar, you have some hope of finding a free table tucked away in the corner.
It is a bit of craic but nothing exceptional although, the live music (acoustic and covers) usually gets the crowd going. The Porterhouse offer a wide range of international bottled beers and their own brews on tap so if you simply MUST have your pint of Bud then you are better off going elsewhere. Also, If you look anywhere in the region of 20 then don't forget your ID, they are pretty stringent in my experience. -
Review from Conall O.
Greystones, Co. Wicklow
21/7/2009 1 Check-in Here
Good food and a very nice atmosphere. Great beer, especially their own brews.
Live music most nights after 22:00, which might be irritating for casual conversation.
Tends to get busy on Thurs, Fri, Sat evenings. For a quiet drink & conversation, so on a school night. -
Review from Mary C.
17/10/2009 2 photos
This was the first bar I went to in Dublin, and I have returned to it more than maybe any other in the area. It may be situated in Temple Bar, which many people hate because it's filled with tourists, but which I like very much, but it's not nearly as crowded or Irishy as the rest of the pubs round those parts.
First of all, this place sells strictly its own brews, all of which are brilliant. All of their beers are described deliciously on the menu, making deciding fun but totally difficult! My personal nectar is the Brain Blasta, but at 7% it's a doozy so watch out!
This location is surprisingly quiet during the day, so it's perfect for decompressing and drinking after a long day of sight seeing and shopping. Their food is really good too, and very reasonably priced for the quality.
At night, especially on the weekend, it gets crowded with a diverse and fun-loving assortment of people. They have live music many nights a week, though it can be hit or miss! We were in here one night and were forced to put up with a terrible cover band who's singer thought he was all that and a bag of chips. -
Review from Beth W.
31/5/2010
I would give the Porterhouse six stars if I could.
My family and I were out sight-seeing. After a long walk along the Liffey, I was hungry. My partner said, "What do you want for lunch?"
I said, "I'd love some pub food, but the chances of finding something gluten-free are slim."
He stopped us in front of the Porterhouse, where he'd been a few years before, and we looked at the menu. I saw one or two things I thought looked safe, so we stepped inside.
It turns out the thing i inquired about was not gluten-free, but then the waiter said the most amazing thing: "We can make any of the burgers with gluten-free buns, and we have a gluten-free beer."
SOLD.
And that's how I had my first proper cheeseburger (their smoky BBQ burger, by the way) and beer in more than three years. Everything was delicious, and the portions were generous. The pub has a wonderful vibe during the afternoon and the waiter was very kind. We had a great time here. -
Review from M M.
Dublin
1/8/2009
This bar brews its own porter, ale and larger and very tasty and palatable it is too, all of them!
The interior is great and big with lots of drinking areas on different levels. Lots of space and a light airy feel make this place never feel stupidly over crowed like many of the other pubs in Temple Bar.
The crowd here are young and hip and friendly, like the staff and it is a great pub to head to with your mates before heading to a club or on into the dreaded Temple Bar proper! -
Review from Laura C.
Dublin
9/8/2009
Ireland's largest Irish-owned brewery? Nope, not Guinness (Diageo made sure of that!)...Porterhouse. They brew all their own stuff. It's all organic. They brew ales, porters (the real name for stouts don't you know?!) and lagers. And they do taster trays for a fiver. Pretty cool. And the staff know their stuff so be sure and ask them about the beers and that....it's an education to say the least.
The place itself is a bit of a maze...if you're meeting someone here be sure to specify where exactly you are going to meet because there's so many nooks and crannies and floors that it can be more than a bit tricky trying to navigate your way around. And who likes wandering around pubs looking lost and a tad embarrassed? Not me.
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