The Brazen Head

The Brazen Head in Dublin, renowned as Ireland’s oldest pub, is steeped in rich history that immediately draws you in. Established in 1198, this legendary spot has witnessed centuries of stories, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts and locals alike. The atmosphere is nothing short of vibrant; the place buzzes with energy. However, be prepared for potential wait times, as lines can be long to secure a table in this bustling hotspot. While the historical charm is captivating, the staff lack friendliness and attentiveness. As for the food, it left us with mixed feelings. We ordered the beef stew, which unfortunately fell short with a lack of flavor and tough meat. On a brighter note, the chicken burger was enjoyable, and the mussels were absolutely excellent, showcasing the kitchen's capacity for quality dishes. The beer, was served quickly and at the right temperature. One area that needs improvement is the cleanliness of the bathrooms; they could use some attention and they smelled awful. While the Brazen Head boasts an incredible historical background and an energetic atmosphere, it also has room for improvement in service and food quality. It’s certainly worth a visit for the experience, but best for just a drink.

My family of five visited on a weeknight at 7pm. Had a short wait for a table, but nothing of consequence. We sat in at a lovely table on the 3rd floor, in a well decorated room with great atmosphere. Service was prompt and courteous, with our drinks arriving quickly. The menu was what I consider classic fare, but still a good selections. We selected only 3 food items, and all were made well. Special marks for the beef stew. We didn’t stay for drinks but the atmosphere in the drinking areas was pleasant, and seemed well suited for couples & groups. Average cost of an entree was around €20.

I visited the Brazen Head Pub while in Dublin and it was cool to see one of the oldest pubs. We both got the fish and chips which were also good. Thick batter on the fish and more potato forward chips. We sat upstairs so it was quite hot, but overall still a good experience. The tables along the wall were rather close together so was a bit uncomfortable trying to squeeze in and out of them. The patio space was very cute but think was reserved for drinks only. I would definitely recommend!

Really good tasty good. Lots of choice on the menu. We went for the traditional Irish stew and the Bacon and leek. Both really good, hearty, full of flavour, good sized portions. Friendly staff and good atmosphere. Staff helped us get a table in the restaurant area as we wanted to order some food.

This is a great pub to pop in and grab a bite. Sure, it had been made even more popular recently due to how long they’ve been in business. That is something special but don’t just come for that, come for the food and drinks, it’s delicious!

From the outside this looks like a one room place with an outside seating area, but step inside and it is actually a few different rooms all with plenty of seating. My friend ate the stew and loved it, I had a Caesar Salad and enjoyed it. Service & atmosphere are great!

The Irish stew was delicious, the atmosphere was great. We really liked the police badges and currency plastered on every wall. Good service. We did wait in line for about 20 minutes to get a table for dinner, we were able to buy drinks while we waited in line.

The Brazen Head is exactly what you expect—and somehow a little more. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it can get crowded. And no, you’re probably not coming here for the lightning-fast service. But honestly? The food more than makes up for any of that. I had the beef and Guinness stew, and it was exactly what you dream of eating in Dublin: hearty, flavorful, and perfectly comforting. The fish and chips at our table disappeared in record time, and the sticky toffee pudding… don’t skip it. The historic charm is undeniable—dark wood, low ceilings, old stone walls—it feels like a proper Irish pub should. Whether or not you believe it’s truly the oldest, it still holds a certain magic. In short: come for the food and atmosphere. If you’re in a rush, maybe loosen up a bit and enjoy the pint. It’s worth it.

For a touristy bar, the service is very quick and there's plenty of seating options. If you can get a seat in the snug in the evenings, the trad sessions are great. One of the best Guinness pints in town.

The oldest continuously operating pub in Ireland and definitely worth a visit. We dropped in for a couple of drinks and some chips. It was noon and they'd just opened. There wasn't entertainment while we were there, but we enjoyed just being there. The bar staff was efficient... it as chatty as other pubs we visited but I get it...they're probably so sick of tourists. We did purchase a couple of t-shirts too and left satisfied with our visit. Worth the stop in for sure just to see the pub and experience it in person.

Classic Dublin pub! Very crowded but you don't feel overwhelmed, the food choices are excellent, and of course the Irish drink options are well varied. Lots of history on the walls; you can easily find yourself pausing to take in all the deco even with all the bustle.

Final meal of nine nights across the island and I selected The Brazen Head. Yes, it's popular and it's popular because it's good. It's also Ireland's oldest pub (don't tell Sean's Pub in Athlone) dating back to 1198. It's charming and it's welcoming and thankfully, the live traditional Irish music was not that loud this evening. Sitting at the bar (otherwise, another 20 minutes in the queue for a table), I had a Guinness of course. And the bangers and mash which was a nice portion of sausages and mashed potatoes with some broccoli. My friend chose the smoked salmon salad and it looked very nice as well. Inside seating for dinner or outside seating for just drinks, the outside was also rather popular. I wouldn't miss it. [Round number review 2000 of 2024 - 176 in Republic of Ireland - 23022 overall]

Yo' if you're in Dublin and you don't make a pit stop @ the oldest pub you messing up. This bar was way bigger than I thought. They have different rooms and a very spacious outdoor patio. The food was good, customer service could step it up a bit but I understand the wait time considering the amount of people that come to this place, it gets pretty packed. Worth making a pit stop!

After being told this spot has been aroubd for 1000 years we had to check it out. We were freezing and soon as we walked in we could do-coat and warmed up quickly. I had a local blonde ale and my friend the local Guiness. She had the Guiness stew (amazing) and I had the fish and chips (double amazing). The breading on the fish was perfect and crispy without a gross over fried taste. So stinking good!

Interesting place because it's one of the oldest bars. Cool atmosphere with lots of different rooms. However, the customer service was sort of lacking and it wasn't exactly the best fish and chips I had in Dublin, AND around the bathrooms it smelled like rotten fish or sewage or something which did not sit well with me. I hope that they get inspected just in case. I don't know if they do that in Dublin or not but would definitely feel more comfortable. Great for pictures and definitely worth the stop because of the history but a little overrated to me.

When I was in Dublin I was told by the cab driver to give this place a try. It's a bar that most locals go to and they serve food. We stopped in to give it a try. The place seems a little cramped but we found a place to sit. We were greeted by staff and given a menu. There were not many vegetarian options but we ordered the vegetarian stew and fries. We also ordered a pint of Guinness (when in Ireland), rockshore lager, and rye river. While we were waiting for our food we noticed other trying to order but they told them the kitchen was close. Which mean we were at the tail end of that timeframe. I thought it would be helpful to add there kitchen times so people knew. Our food came out and looked yummy. The stew was really good and the fries were crispy. I enjoyed the beer I ordered. Not a huge fan of Guinness but wanted to try it on draft. Overall, the experience was good. Staff were friendly and attentive. Beer was cold and food was hot. Definitely recommend when visiting and will be back when I visit again.

Had a blast at the brazen head and glad that my friends who are local made the call for us to come here. It's definitely a tourist destination but it's fun that even the locals will opt to bring their "out of towners" here. Claiming to be the oldest bar in Dublin, the locals will tell you it's really not but that's okay. Again, adds to the allure of the place. Brazen Head is naturally pretty busy as it's well known and on most peoples to do list. I'd recommend coming early. Also in order to get a table to dine you must have your entire party with you for them to seat you. Just worth noting as they were really firm on this. As far as the bar goes, if you are just coming for a drink you'll get seated pretty quick. A table to dine can take a little bit of time depending on how big your party is. The vibes are immaculate as it's so much fun here, a true Irish pub in every way. Loud banter, music, drinks flowing, it's a great spot to come, even if touristy. I also like to remind that touristy doesn't = bad. We actually had fabulous service and the food was delicious! Staff were friendly and definitely working their butts off. Our waiter was super darling and helpful. He didn't seem annoyed with all of our little requests and was super on top of things. I appreciated that with how busy it was they get food and drink out fast. Service was def 5 stars. The food was surprisingly super good! There were 5 of us and all of us loved our meals. Like loved loved. We had a variety too! From Guinness stew to fish and chips to chicken strips to Irish cabbage and a vegetarian style dish everything was really really good. I had the Guinness stew and was so happy I got that! It was flavorful, hearty, and made to perfection. They do Irish staples here right and honestly I'd definitely come back here for a meal again. Even my friends who are local commented that the food was spot on so I know they're cranking out classic Irish dishes here. Delicious! 5/5. The Brazen Head was a great Dublin experience and so happy my friends recommended it because we had an awesome time.

It's not very often that you can eat at a restaurant that's older than your country. The feel was as if you travelled back in time to the medieval ages but with far better food. I had the Guinness Stew. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is wanting an authentic Irish dish. The meal was very filling & hearty. I paired this with a Bulmers Irish Cider to lighten the meal.

Worse fish & chips we had on this trip. It was cod and not haddock. Fish was mushy and greasy. Batter was not cooked all the way thru. Ordered a side of brown bread. Had to tell the server twice that she forgot to bring it to us. When she did it looked like whole wheat bread out of a bag. Was not brown bread as expected. Skip this place for the food.

Brazen Head is the oldest pub in Dublin and was a recommendation by a ton of people to check this place out, so I definitely had to add this to the list to check out! The fish and chips were delicious and I'm so glad I had it here. My personal fave is still from a random market in Belfast -- nothing comes close to it, but this is def pretty good! My husband got a stew which he also liked. This place gets pretty packed even considering how big it was. There were tons of people here and the service was a bit on the slower side, but overall a fun place to check out.

This was our first dining stop on our visit to Ireland. They stake claim to being oldest pub in all of Ireland, established in the year 1198. This place reeks of history. It has both indoor and outdoor dining spaces. I had their fish & chips. Fish was OK, chips were dry. Best thing about the meal was the tartar sauce, which was very good. Service was adequate, prices were high. IMO, worth a visit to see this historic pub and have a pint or two, but you may want to consider eating elsewhere.

Gord and I checked out the Brazen Head, Dublin's oldest pub and Ireland's second oldest pub on Tuesday ... about 800 years older than the one in our 'hood at home! It's a big pub with a lot of small rooms and a patio. We were going to have supper there but the room we were in didn't allow food and there was a line-up outside for people who wanted to eat.

This was a nice taste of Dublin. It's definitely touristy . The old building was old and amazing with loads of historical photos on the walls . I had fish and chips and my husband had the Guinness stew. Both were flavorful and delicious. We got what we came for . The service was good too . Didn't have to wait long at all for our food . Served nice and hot. You know the Guinness was fabulous!

Stopped by on Sunday evening and the place was fairly busy. There was live music inside, but it was so muggy and you could barely step in the room. We wanted to get food but the wait was too long, and ended up just getting a drink in the outside seating area. In the end, felt just like another Irish pub.

What do you do when you're a tourist in Ireland? Well, for starters it's mandatory to visit anything that says it's the oldest or longest running anything. That's why we found ourselves at the oldest pub in Ireland. Although the place was packed, they are efficient with their service, and in their labyrinth of a restaurant there's plenty of seating. In fact, we waited a max of 10 minutes for seating. Once seated our waitress took our order and placed it. Now, saying all that I have to say that we never felt unwelcome or rushed. The wait staff is very caring and accommodating. The food was scrumptious. We enjoyed the fish and chips, burgers, and the Guinness Stew. All was delicious and all was huge in size. Overall, even though this can seem like a gimmick, it's not a tourist trap in that context. It's actually quite a nice and pleasant place with a warm feel. I'd gladly get "trapped" here again. Enjoy.

Of course it's a tourist destination. It's love the history. It's huge with 3 levels. Typical Irish beer offerings. The Guinness stew was very good, good service, my wife had the fish and chips with was only warm, not hot. Reasonable prices. Great historic ambiance.

Pretty cool to have fish & chips in Dublin's oldest pub! It's cozy and atmospheric, and the food was solid enough that if I were in Dublin and fancying fish & chips, I would return for that alone. I came right as they were opening and yet was relegated to a corner of the bar, which, whatever. Old Dublin pub!

Our first Guinness in Dublin had to be at The Brazen Head - it's an iconic institution which may or may not be the oldest pub in Ireland. From the front, it does not look very large, but once you enter there is a path that takes you through to several areas within the space. We headed to the far right back room and grabbed seats at the bar to order. They also sell souvenir magnets so you know I had to buy one of those as well. We enjoyed our beers for a while, making small talk with a couple older local gentleman when they walked up to buy another round. After they went to the next room, we met another local chef at the bar who had just finished working at The Brazen Head as a fill-in chef. We got to chatting with him, and in telling him my birthday dinner plans for the next night, he gave us a couple alternate recommendations which we ended up going with on the day of after missing our original recommendation so that was a happy coincidence. After a bit, we ended up going over to the next room where live music was playing. They were playing a mix of American and Irish music. It was a packed and lively room - everyone was having a blast, and we really enjoyed ourselves. While we didn't dine here, they do have a full menu from 12pm-9pm. I definitely think The Brazen Head is a must visit if you're visiting Dublin.

This pub is known as the old pub in Ireland established in 1198 and gets a lot of hype and popularity. We came by for dinner after visiting the Guinness Museum and was seated indoors. If you're here just for drinks, there's a cool outdoor area with high top tables. For food, we started off with the Spicy Chicken Wings (€10 for small). These are essentially Buffalo wings in the US, which was juicy and covered in sauce. Then we also got the Beef & Guinness Stew (€19.50) and Bangers & Mash (€18). The dishes were a bit on the smaller side and both came with two little scoops of mashed potatoes. Overall, the food was decent but also a bit pricey since this spot has become quite popular with tourists. I hate to say we got suckered coming here as well. It's one of those spots that I'm glad to check out, but would probably pick elsewhere for food next time.

Brazen head on Dublin is the oldest bar in town! You'll find yourself snacking on their delicious fish & chips with one of their Irish beers or commonly, a Guinness! Our waitress was sweet, the service was very efficient & it was very clean inside being it's an old bar. They have inside & outside seating so if the weather is nice you can be on the patio! This spot was easy to find & surprisingly wasn't super busy. Loved it!

I have always wanted to visit The Brazen Head and finally had the opportunity to this week. It was so worth the wait as I live in the United States. I absolutely love the history and the character of the place. The drinks were great, the food was amazing, and the staff were all super nice. As my husband and I were leaving, the live band randomly started playing the song that was playing when he proposed to me years ago. We danced to the song and danced out the door. It was absolutely magical!!

Great beer. Tried the Brazen Lager. Very nice! The Guinness beef stew was delicious and plenty of it! The Irish music made it even more authentic! I would highly recommend

It was founded in the 1100s. We had a very nice sit at the bar. Good Guinness. There was an outdoor area but it was too cold.

A charming pub. Friendly service and good food. It's a very old pub so it's a bit dark inside, but has some good history. The front is quite packed with people having drinks outside, but head to the back for sit down dining.

Quite average. Touristy. Seafood stew was good. Burger tasted like the meat was processed around the time the bar was built. Historical ambiance. Beyond that...average

Great spot in Dublin. Yes it's the oldest bar in Dublin (maybe Ireland?) and it's very cool to look at the decor since it has so many things from old to new. It looks like a pub should in Ireland! The staff were so kind and helpful the entire time. That made the Guinness taste better in my opinion. We got the fish and chips 5 stars on take and portions too. We will come back again when we return.

Went mid afternoon after Jameson tour. Was immediately seated by bar. Had the Brazen Ale and Beef and Guinness Stew. The beer was light and crisp. The stew was very rich, but delicious.

Super service. We ate in a room upstairs. Very casual as you would expect. Good menu. I went with the bangers and mash. Glad I did. Really good. We looked around after we ate and found at least three bars. Lots of different rooms to hang out in, including a great patio. The place was hopping for mid-week.

We were seated by a friendly person. The service was just okay. They didn't check back with us so we ran low on water and couldn't get the bill. The food came quickly. Fish and chips were a large portion and good. Typical pub atmosphere.

This was our first stop off our plane from the U.S. because our Airbnb was just around its corner! A classic introduction to Dublin in supposedly the city's "oldest pub". Husband had the fish & chips and it was delicious. I tried the green bean soup because I'd never seen such a thing on a menu before, and it was actually good! Excellent, straightforward (though not chatty at all--typical of Dublin) service. Beautiful, authentic, dark & cozy classic Irish pub with multiple seating areas, all with fireplaces. There's also an outdoor drinking area.

The Brazen Head in Ireland is truly a gem! From the lively atmosphere steeped in history to its delectable food. The steamed mussels were great and they weren't tight with the amount that was given. Each bite was a taste of the sea, steamed to perfection. The seafood chowder was absolutely delicious ! Creamy, rich, and packed with assorted seafood, it was a hearty and comforting bowl for a cold night. Combined with the authentic ambiance and warm hospitality of the Brazen Head, dining there felt like a genuine immersion into Ireland's culinary and cultural heritage. Service was great and will definitely come back next time I'm in Dublin.

A little off the beaten path there's a pub that many say is "the oldest of Dublin" and to be honest I wouldn't doubt it. A layered building that truly showcases what a typical "I'm as old as your country" historic pub is. A labyrinth, and hundreds of years of history. The food is quite good, specially for being a pretty big tourist destination. Drinks weren't terribly expensive. Even though it's a place many from out of town/country come to it is also a locals spot as well, and as a frequent across the pond traveler I appreciate that. Live music every night, and quite a fun group! Very interactive with the audience. If you're in town for a short while, and want a Dublin feel this is a sure fire way to get that. Good Irish staple dishes, plenty of seating, and live music. You can not go wrong with The Brazen Head.

The best seafood chowder I've had in my entire life! The place does get very crowded so be prepared to wait for a table. My friend and I happened to get lucky in snagging a table quickly but it doesn't happen often. The place is lively but can be overwhelming with the crowd if you're not prepared. Nice outdoor space

We didn't eat here, just popped in for a beer and to listen to some of the most amazing live music ever. Biggest issue is we kept get sent room to room until I finally muscled my way into the live music room. - (I'm really glad I did - it's to the right on the lower level) There's a room dedicated to the live band and there ARE rules: - Be respectful and don't chat while they are playing and singing - Sing along. They love that and encourage audience participation. Service - you go to the bar and place your order. Totally fine with that. I want to go back to this place. I'll return on our yearly visit to Ireland!

This place is cool to sep in for a Proper Pint! The oldest pub in Dublin, and it's got old classic pub vide! Food is actually very good, and the service was amazing! If you are heading here for lunch get in line 15 minutes early to get a good seat. Cheers!

The oldest pub in Ireland. A nice stop near Jameson. Vast selection of beers. Helpful staff that reseated us in a bit of a clumsy way. Then again we're just aimless tourists. We were ultimately seated on the stage. The food was affordable and tasty. Service was awkward but ultimately efficient. The ambiance was distinctive and a pleasure to take in.

Very cool place with good food and a great vibe. Drinks are very good too. Bar is beautiful. You go here for the vibes & Guinness. We had to wait like good 30mins to get a table but other than that service was fast and great. It is

I was in awe of the length of operation of this establishment and so had to come in for a few pints of the black stuff. I love the courtyard area to sit and enjoy said pints as well. The staff and service was excellent and this pub is definitely a must visit when in Dublin.

Claimed as "Ireland's oldest pub", we came in on a Wednesday afternoon and it wasn't too busy. We got a table easily and ordered some beers along with Guinness stew and a burger. The food and beer were delicious and the vibes inside were immaculate. I can definitely see why this place is so popular. As we were eating, it started to get busier and busier. Overall, a great pub. Food took a little long to get out, but the deliciousness made up for it. We'd definitely be back if ever back in Dublin.

Listed as the oldest pub in Ireland. It certainly has a draw. Friendly staff crazy busy with multiple bars all over the place. Because it's the oldest they sell all kinds of memorabilia. Was going to order food just didn't have enough time. The food did look pretty good obviously good drinks, Guinness, and Jameson and of course all the others. Very cool place in general very crowded. Definitely a place to visit and consider the deep history this place has. I mean I can imagine all kinds of fights and celebrations happening here

On my second day in Dublin, I did some street hiking and found this place. It was a little bit after noon and it was fairly crowded. I found a stool at the indoor bar to the right and ordered a cider -- Guinness isn't my thing. The bartender was very friendly and everyone was having a really good time. There was one server taking care of tables who seemed a bit short with people, but I did not have to deal with her. The place claims to be the oldest pub in Dublin. Other Dubliners claim some other place is actually a little older, but I don't recall the name have no clue where it is. This spot suited me just fine for a few beers.

Great atmosphere going to the oldest bar in Ireland. The fish & chips was good. The server was attentive, the environment is quite loud though. I was very excited to find Guinness' Kilkenny beer there. It is a nitro amber ale. So smooth & light.

This is a must-see if you are visiting the Dublin area! I accidentally stumbled upon it and knew I had to visit when I read that it was the oldest pub in Ireland. There's a nice patio area, but I also highly recommend checking out the indoor bar area. There are many artifacts, and the views did not disappoint!

FABULOUS place! The Guinness stew is to die for! And having an actual Guinness in Dublin? Perfection. The live music was awesome and the pub itself is charming. Oldest pub in Dublin I'm told. Perfect experience to have our first night in Dublin!

Worth visiting the oldest pub in Ireland! The service & friendliness we've experienced in Dublin has been like none other! Everyone is welcoming and offers the best suggestions. We asked for whiskey here and our bartender offered Dingle Single malt- 20/10 recommend this! So good and what a great place!

My bartender was French, the room I was in was full of Americans (I'm also an American), but the loud, bossy ones. Not the go-with-the-flow ones. I ordered a beet salad, got a Cesar one. ‍ didn't complain because I didn't want to be that tourist. Guinness was good. The place has a lot of character.

It was good here! Quaint and definitely cool to see the oldest pub. Service was good, food was alright too. A definite quick stop for a drink if you're in the area!