Several pubs in Ireland have been named among the 100 best in Europe.
Of course, when it comes to the pub, many a pintman/woman will argue that no two pubs are the same: sometimes the differences are minimal, others far more drastic.
While we may have our favourites, it’s also fun to find out which is considered the ‘best,’ particularly if you’re planning a trip abroad. With that, The European Bar Guide has named their top 100 in the continent — and seven of those are on these shores.
From Dublin to Dingle, the seven pubs listed as the best in Europe are some of the usual suspects — including John Kavanagh The Gravediggers, which just missed out on a top 10 spot.
The Glasnevin pub was lauded by the group as having the best pint of Guinness in Dublin, as well as its stews and its simple interior, with the page adding that the pub is ‘a masterpiece of historical, weathered beauty, absorbing the decades past, acquiring a patina across various shades of sepia and browns within a space that is both intimate, private and yet social with it.’
‘Spending time here is like stepping into a painting, the wash of colour and calm on a quiet afternoon as beguiling as its buzzy evening rhythms… Adored by the locals who know they live near one of the best pubs in Europe.’
Close behind The Gravediggers is Dick Mack’s in Dingle, which ranked at 13th and was described as having ‘wonderful craic from bar staff and quirks to be found everywhere from the snugs facing each other opposite two sides of the bar with hatches for service, to the haberdashery shop counter and original shelving.’
Staying in the Kingdom, Tig Bhric in Ballyferriter ranked 31st in the listings, while Sin é in Cork ranked 61st. Crowd favourite in the capital, Grogan’s, ranked 65th, while Cork pubs The Oval and the Hi-B came 79th and 86th respectively.
The pubs in Ireland that ranked among the top 100 in Europe are:
- John Kavanagh ‘The Gravediggers’ – 11th
- Dick Mack’s, Dingle – 13th
- Tig Bhric, Ballyferriter – 31st
- Sin É, Cork – 61st
- Grogan’s, Dublin – 65th
- The Oval, Cork – 79th
- The Hi-B, Cork – 86th
The top 10 pubs in Europe, according to the European Bar Guide, are:
- 1st: Szimpla Kerst, Budapest
- 2nd: Retsins Lucifernum, Bruges
- 3rd: La Fleur en Papiere Doré, Brussels
- 4th: Goupil Le Fol, Brussels
- 5th: Zlatna Ribica, Sarajevo
- 6th: Papa Joe’s Jazzlokal, Cologne
- 7th: t’Brugse Beertje, Bruges
- 8th: Bar Marsella, Barcelona
- 9th: U Hrocha, Prague
- 10th: Le Pot Au Lait, Liège
