If there’s one sign of summer coming in Dublin, it’s that glorious time when the weather warms a little, and the beer gardens start to fill with people. Music, pints, food, and the hustle and bustle of people enjoying fresh air and fresh pints - what more could you ask for!
With May being a veritable heat wave so far, it’s time we have a look at some of the best of the beer gardens across the city, to better help you plan your summer socialising. And while the Irish weather is never fully guaranteed, our commitment to al fresco pints and dining means that even on a wet day, you can usually find a shelter or umbrella to sit under and have an outdoor experience.
Here is our rundown of the best beer gardens in Dublin, for dining and a nice pint.
Toners is a Dublin institution. Snuggled in among a few other Dublin institutions (we will get to another of these shortly), it’s a place that’s known for a decent pint of Guinness, with many visitors and locals alike declaring it one of Dublin’s finest. The beer garden here is huge, and - crucially - it’s heated. You’ll find lots of covered booths, so it’s great for rain and shine, and some of the tables even have charging points for your laptop or phone. Toners doesn’t serve food, but it does allow patrons to bring in delicious pizza from Cirillo’s Pizzeria, which is situated right next door.
Right on the fringes of Smithfield, Bonobo is a trendy, lovely beer garden that’s dog-friendly, very lively, and comes with its own wood-fired pizza oven so you can order a delicious gourmet pizza while your pint is pouring. It’s known as one of Dublin’s favourite beer gardens, so if you’re coming on a weekend, you’d do well to arrive early to be sure you get a spot to sit down. If the beer garden is too crowded, you can at least enjoy the gorgeous interior design of the pub itself… but try to get a bench outside, that’s where the buzz truly is in Bonobo.
Mother Reilly’s in Dublin 6 is a gorgeous pub that has hung onto its old-school charm inside, but in recent years has revamped its beer garden into a bright, charming, and cheerful outdoor space that’s perfect for some summertime pints in the sun. Known as Ma Reilly's to a lot of Dubliners, it’s a pub that’s renowned for a good pint of Guinness and a grand bite to eat. They have a delicious ‘pub grub’ style menu that’s rated highly for its take on burgers and chips, bangers and mash, fish and chips and more.
Did you know we have our very own beer garden here at the brewery? It’s part of the Open Gate Brewery, our experimental brew pub and tap room. Here’s where we play with perfection, our brewers trying out new flavours and techniques to bring exciting new and unique beers to your lips. The food here is fantastic too and conceptualised with that same experimental energy. Scotch eggs, pretzels with three cheese fondue, and beef arancini are among the small bites you can get here, and of course, the pints are great. You’re at the source, after all!
The Bloody Stream in Howth, right near the DART station and just a short spin outside the city, brings you a beer garden with coastal charm and enough space to fit over 200 people - one of the biggest in Dublin. Picnic tables and a retractable roof ensure comfort even if the heavens pour, and you can get superb seafood here that’s as fresh as it comes. If you wanted to try the famous combination of Guinness and oysters, then The Bloody Stream’s beer garden may well be the spot for you.
The other Dublin institution we mentioned earlier, and just a minute’s walk from Toners, O’Donoghue’s, has a beer garden that has played host to some of the greatest musical legends the country has ever seen. The Dubliners were particular fans of this spot; they’ve even paid homage to Guinness with a video and poem filmed inside the pub. The beer garden here is legendary, and covered, and that means it’s always hopping with people, year-round. This isn’t a food pub, but you can find some soup and sambos here if you do need to supplement one of the best pints you’ll get anywhere in the city.
We provide a guide to Dublin's best beer gardens. Be sure to check out our top rooftop bars in Dublin if you're looking for places to enjoy a pint of Guinness with height and a view.