It’s no secret that Dublin is synonymous with pints. Pints of beer, pints of ale, pints of rich, creamy Guinness – if it can be drank by the pint, you’ll find a world class version of it in one of Dublin’s pubs.
Stretching from Dame Street in the city centre at the bottom to the Royal Canal in Portobello at the top, the Camden Mile is perhaps the best stretch of Dublin in which to sample the city’s liquid delights. Encompassing the classic pub street of Camden Street, from where it gets its name, the Camden Mile also takes in bustling George’s Street, Wexford Street, and the small and hip side alley of Fade Street.
Home to over two dozen pubs, the Camden Mile has something to whet everyone’s appetite, no matter how many or how little pints are on your mind. However, separating the gems from the duds can be no easy task. We’ve whittled the full list of pubs down to the top 7 spots, to have you covered no matter what your drink of choice is.
In this post we share the 7 best pubs on the Camden Mile.
Map of Pubs on the Camden Mile
The following map shows the location of every pub highlighted in this post:
The Long Hall
Best for: Soaking up the atmosphere of one of Dublin’s best pubs over a perfect pint.
There was only ever going to be one candidate for the crown of best pub on the Camden Mile – The Long Hall by a long stretch. Nestled in the middle of George’s Street, The Long Hall has it all. Old-world interior from 1881? Check. Attentive bar staff who won’t hesitate to take a table order? Check. One of the best pints of Guinness in town? You guessed it! Check.
We recommend settling in for an hour or two on an old leather seat beside one of the pubs ornate wooden partitions and soaking in the unique atmosphere.
Location: 51 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2
Cassidy’s
Best for: A classic Dublin pint in old-fashioned, calm surroundings.
Next on our list is a Camden Street institution, the homely and utterly authentic Cassidy’s pub. The best pub on Camden Street in our eyes, Cassidy’s is the perfect spot for a quiet pint with friends. The pub sports an old school decor, with warm wood fittings and cosy furnishings.
While it’s hard to put your finger on it, the pub simply has a certain quality to it that is evident from the moment you sit down. This is one of those rare pubs that just has a life of its own.
Location: 42 Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin 2
Against the Grain
Best for: Sampling Dublin’s finest craft beers.
Against the Grain was one of the trailblazing pubs in Dublin by helping bring craft beer to the masses. Operated by the craft beer company Galway Bay Brewery, Against the Grain don’t serve Ireland’s most famous drink, the humble pint of Guinness. In its place, they instead serve up their own range of craft beers, ales, ciders and stouts. Imagine your usual tipple, except with more flavour and complexity, and you’ve got an idea of the beer on offer here.
The pub runs a core group of nine drinks on tap, and produce a range of monthly specials on top of that. They also serve up excellent quality pub grub, including a scrumptious buttermilk chicken wrap and a seriously good burger.
If you’re looking for more than just a well-poured pint of Guinness, look no further than Against the Grain.
Location: 11 Wexford Street, Dublin
Website: https://galwaybaybrewery.com/againstthegrain/
Anseo
Best for: A quiet pint in one of the most cool and chill pubs in the Dublin.
Named for the Irish word for ‘here’, Anseo (pronounced un-shuh) is invariably mentioned when you ask Dubliners about their favourite pub. The place has a youthful, quirky vibe, and always have some quality reggae and soul tunes playing. If you want to sample the tunes ahead of a visit, hop onto their website for a look at some of the playlists in rotation.
The pints are cold and crisp, the staff are friendly and welcoming, and there’s a buzz in the air – bliss.
Location: 18 Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin 2
Website: https://anseo.pub/
Whelan’s
Best for: Kicking back with a group of friends over music, pints, and a fire.
Perhaps best known for its live gigs, Whelan’s on Camden Street is also a tremendously nice pub in its own right. Although you need a ticket for the concert venue upstairs, there is usually a live band playing every night for free in the main bar.
With a warm, welcoming turf fire, creamy pints of perfectly-poured Guinness, and plenty of space to sit and chat, there’s no denying Whelan’s spot in the pantheon of the Camden Mile’s best pubs.
Location: 25 Wexford Street
Website: https://www.whelanslive.com/
Fade Street Social
Best for: Lip-smackingly good cocktails and food.
Nestled on Fade Street, just off George’s Street is Fade Street Social. This slick and stylish bar and restaurant is the place to go on the Camden Mile if its food and cocktails you’re after.
The cocktail menu is colossal, and carries an excellent mix of classic cocktails like the negroni, espresso martini, and strawberry daiquiri, as well as signature drinks such as the Knee Trembler (Ketel One vodka, strawberry liqueur, fresh lime juice, vanilla, and prosecco). We’re also huge fans of the Fade Street Sour (Roe & Co whiskey, red wine syrup, lemon juice, egg whites, grapefruit bitters and old fashioned bitters).
The food in the restaurant is simply to die for. We love the truffle cheese flatbread for starters, followed by the rib eye steak with celeriac. There is also a ‘Woodfired Menu’ of pizza, burgers, and appetisers if there’s no space in the main restaurant.
Location: 6 Fade Street, Dublin 2
Website: https://www.fadestreetsocial.com/
No Name Bar
Best for: Enjoying a ritzy drink in stylish surroundings.
The final entry on our list is the second spot on Fade Street. No Name Bar, also affectionately known as Snail Bar and The Bar With No Name, was once upon a time a somewhat secretive bar frequented only by those in the know. However, word of No Name Bar’s intimate, cool vibes and stunningly good cocktails has since spread, and the bar is now firmly on the radar of most discerning Dublin pub-goers.
Nevertheless, the bar does retain some of the feel of a ‘secret’ bar, and is an amazing spot to take a date as a result. If the unconventional yet stylish decor doesn’t set the mood enough, the earth-shatteringly good cocktails will! The mojitos here are especially good, but in all honesty everything off the cocktail menu is spectacular.
Location: Fadebrook House, 3 Fade Street, Dublin 2
Website: https://www.noname.bar/
