Just back from Ireland, and Yelp suggested I post a review. I've selected my favorite tavern, The Abbey. Only got there once, but of the many, many bars I stumbled out of on this trip, I recall this as the one I'd most want to see again. The photos cannot do it justice. It's in Houth, a gorgeous coastal village just a short train ride from Dublin. The exterior photo is actually the rear entrance, while the street entrance is down the stairs. Like a secret path to a private lair. Fantastic bar! Stone and ancient wood floors. Built in 1042, I'm told. 24 taps, and all the Irish whiskey there is. A few of the better bottles showed prices by the glass, €15 and up. Sorely tempted to try one, but we had a long day ahead. Normally, an $18 glass of whiskey is just fine with me, but as I had moderated my intake, I had found myself less able to drink all day. Plus, it was about 10 am. Great service from a young bartender, who assured me NO hour was too early to drink in Ireland. Pro tip: Fly into Dublin Airport, skip that town, and head to Houth. Seafood galore, and The Abbey. Bonus review: Five minutes away is Ann's Ice Cream just off the Irish Sea. Worth it for the view. My child, a very particular eater, just loved a huge waffle cone with "Double Cream Vanilla" which is apparently quite tasty. Most notable for the "No Toilet's" door. Grammar be damned. read more

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AWESOME spot. Staff was great. Wonderful conversation and perfect ambiance. Not touristy in any way and easily walkable from the marina. We're going back when we go back. read more

Fish and chips and chowder are amazing. Owner Paul & bartender Nessa made our experience sensational! read more

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We were in Howth for a few days and really only checked out Abbey Tavern because my husband and his friends like to go to a place by the same name in Denver. It luckily turned out to be a great decision! They still had some holiday lights glowing inside so it felt nice and cosy. The bartender/server was a very nice and attentive young man. When my husband and I both ordered the Abbey Tavern Howth Chowder, the server ensured us that it would be the best chowder in Howth. He was right! Really delicious and hearty with fresh, local seafood! Of course, I had a Guinness to wash it all down. We hope to get back there again someday. read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

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Very good chowder, tasty yet not salty or starchy like most of the American ones. It appears to be a nicely chilled place. read more

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Gord and I had a late lunch Saturday at the Abbey Tavern. It was a busy spot so we managed to grab a couple stools at the bar. Gord had corned beef and cabbage and I had a classic burger and fries. Both were good. read more

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Wonderful neighborhood bar in the fishing town of Howth which is a short 25 min train ride east of Dublin. This oceanside local pub, one of the oldest in Ireland has major league history and old world flair. Original stone walls, full service bar, fireplaces and a warm staff await locals and visitors alike. Ryan, the bartender from Manchester, was really accommodating allowing a pic taken behind the bar!!! Go see Ryan! read more

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Found this place in Howth after hiking the cliffs. Good fish and chips. Nice staff, good service, I loved the music there were playing. I hope I can get there again next time I am in Howth. read more

everything was wrong. we ordered a diet coke and gin with no ice. they gave the wrong drink two times. and the diet coke. it not even diet coke it's regular coke. like give me a break we're on a trip to have fun not to stress and ask the waiter forty five different times to bring the right thing. and they had a new waiter here. it was all round a shit show read more

Abbey Tavern - gin with ice - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

Ambience. B Service. A Food / drinks. A Price. B Found at top of hill around from Howth piers. Find street parking or lot parking. Recommend to make reservations if more than 4 people. Today was quite busy Monday during bank holiday. Nice ambience. As we are in bar area next to peat burning fire place. Service was very friendly and accommodating for 3 adults and 3 kids. Had the burger and Cesar salad and fish and chips. And they have a good selection kids menu. For the 6 of us the bill came to €122. With drinks and beer. I'm a Fan! read more

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Our barkeep John was great. Our food was great. My seafood chowder was great. My husband's corned beef and cabbage was great. Service was quick, friendly, funny and welcoming read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

Our visit to the Abbey Tavern was a nice finish to our 2-week tour of Scotland and Ireland. It was billed as an evening of Irish food and entertainment. There are 2 parts to the tavern - one section catering to tour buses of American (and other) tourists; the other being a neighborhood tavern catering to the locals and to the non-tour group tourists. We were in a large hall (room) that accommodated several tour buses worth of tourists. Considering the size of the overall audience, the staff was surprisingly good and the wait staff tried to provide individual attention to a mass audience. The food was good but nothing exceptional and the wine and beer were great. How can you not like Guinness? The entertainment was the highlight of the evening and consisted of 2 separate groups of entertainers. The musicians (2 men and 1 lady) were OK but nothing great. The female performer warmed up a little as the evening wore on but you got the sense that this "just a job". Being from Columbus, OH, we've been attending the Dublin (OH) Irish Festival for the past 15 years and that Festival attracts the best Irish musicians from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States. So, the bar is pretty high for any Irish music. The STEP-DANCERS, on the other hand, were excellent and rival the best step dancers we've ever seen perform. The ste-dancers seemed to be putting their heart and soul into their performance. It was a really nice evening of Irish food, song and dance but not quite worthy of a 4-star rating. read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

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What a wonderful experience! Lovely drive to get outside of Dublin. The wine, wonderful. The beer, wonderful. The service, amazing. The proprietor was a young man who truly loves his job. He made sure everyone was taken care of and tended to. Such a rich history in this Abbey and I imagine the young gentleman has so much pride at being one of many in the long line of owners of this establishment. The food was absolutely fantastic. I made sure to get my delicious traditional Irish food and it was as good as I expected it to be. The cultural music and dancing was a great touch as well. Highly recommend :) read more

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Very nice place to eat.We're on vacation and stopped by.The food was good and the service was great. read more

Abbey Tavern - The Abbey's Tavern. - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

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Delicious food, friendly service, in a traditional Irish pub atmosphere. We very much enjoyed our dinner there!

Absolutely fell in love with this quaint little tavern in Howth, Ireland. After a lovely afternoon of hiking near the Oceanside to capture a view of the Dublin harbor, a local recommended we try this spot for dinner. The atmosphere was every so cozy with dim lighting and a warm friendly vibe. As we sat down for dinner, our waitress graciously greeted us and took our order promptly. Our food arrived quick and was fantastic. Definitely recommend this place if you're ever in the area. read more

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Meh, especially for the price. The chowder was chock full of a variety of fish and was the best choice of the day. 2nd was the beef and Guinness pie which was pretty good but not on par with the one from the day before at Kitch in Belfast (go there if you get a chance). Third was the soup of the day which was a vegetable soup that had been puréed, broccoli cheese-ish. Dead last was the spinach ravioli which was actually tortellini-- nice touch of fresh spinach, but likely frozen pasta- the pesto cream sauce was blah. Came back and took off a star- The tortellini weighed heavy in my gut as we hiked the Cliff trail (sooooo beautiful) and I reflected more on the meal. I will say that the service was attentive and good. read more

Abbey Tavern - Spinach ravioli and Guinness and Beef pie - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

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Good pub good food and drink recommend it Good for tourists and locals and day trips read more

The Abbey Tavern is a quiet pub near Martello Tower in Howth. It's a nice place for a pint of Guinness and a traditional meal. Like other village pubs, it has a dark wooden interior with Powers Whiskey mirrors. A lot of locals and people from the city come here on the weekends after walking along the beach and taking in the village sites. This pub attracts mainly families and older men. This place is perfect for the day or evening time year around. Summers tend to be livelier but winters are cozier. The pub has a crackling fire when the temperatures drop. read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

Fantastic place for a relaxation by and very filling meal. The wings are tender and delicious. The chicken curry is a surprising treat - large portion with raita and mango chutney on the side. For a special treat, ask for a single piece of brown bread to butter and dip in the chutney. It's a nice sweet end to that dish. The best dish is the fisherman platter. Very fresh, very flavourful, very filling. Cured salmon, boiled shrimp, pickled fish with pickled onions, salad with sardines, poached salmon, and generous portion of crab. Homemade cocktail sauce and herbed cream top off this fabulous platter. Having polished off a few pints of Guinness, we were too full to try the bread and butter pudding. But I'll be back. Friendly staff as well. A great go-to place in Howth. read more

Abbey Tavern - Fishermans platter. Very generous portion. Very fresh. - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

A stop for lunch while taking in the amazing views in Howth. I enjoyed a delicious chowder that had a lot of fish and wasn't too heavy. I went with the Guinness Beef pie and salad which hit the spot. Went great with a pint of Guinness. The place was pretty packed and the host, bartender, server was by herself as they were short help. Nessa was amazing as she hosted a non stop crowd with a great sense of humor. She even took time to guide me to my next stop to the summit lookout. read more

We loved the Abbey Tavern. Went twice during our short stay on Howth, once for lunch and once for dinner. Food was great and the service from Shelley was awesome. Had the steak for dinner, it was perfect. Room for desert. - try the Eton Mess, you won't be sorry read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

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Service friendly and helpful. A little short handed at first, but all good in the end. Salmon and steak pie were good as you would expect. Onion rings were a little to greasy for my liking but the fresh Guinness on tap goes a long way to make up for this minor issue. Bread pudding great. read more

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What better way to end a Sunday walk in Howth?! The place itself is super cosy, especially the fire lighting. When you've after walking around Howth in the freezing cold it's a nice treat to be greeted by a fire! Unfortunately, there was no room downstairs where the gorgeous fire was lighting, the bar and the great atmosphere is situated, so we headed upstairs. The upstairs was equally as cool but something was lacking... THE HEAT! It was quite cold! I was super eager to order and begin eating as first of all, I was starving and secondly the food is always delicious! As we were in Howth, I thought that I may as well order some fish- I got the salmon with mash potato and vegetables. The menu caters for almost everyone, which is handy. The food did take a while to come, that was another negative. But when the food did come, my god it was beautiful. I mean, it was excellently presented, super tasty and filling! So I didn't mind the wait in the end. My parents got fish and chips which were devoured before I even got a chance to stick my fork in. Overall, a really pleasant experience with super friendly, enthusiastic staff! I would definitely be out again to have that salmon! read more

Nice bar to visit for lunch or a drink. Went here on a day trip to Howth and had a lovely steak sandwich! The clam chowder looked really good too, made with local sea food. Seemed to have a stead trade from both locals and tourists. Nice menu & nice atmosphere. read more

Great food and friendly service is what you'll get at the Abbey Tavern. As a group of six they re-arranged some tables, with pleasure, then brought another when one freed up just to give us a bit more room. We were there late afternoon and found it very kid friendly. I've noticed some places have certain hours for kids so best to check if you have some in tow. It's only a short walk from the waterfront and the views make the hike even more delightful. read more

Great little restaurant worth the trip. Good food, good music, and just a great time. Definitely recommend! read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

A lovely pub with a nice cosy atmosphere and good quick service- I'm sure I could happily while away an afternoon here and it's just a short walk up from the main port/ harbour area. A really lovely building with some quirky original (?) features (I don't know if they are actually original, but they are nice!) read more

Abbey Tavern - A pint at the pub - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

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Worth the walk up the hill, away from touristy area. Beautiful interior, friendly staff, fresh seafood, BEST Ceasar salad in the area. Bread and butter pudding and apple crumble desserts are delicious!!! This would be my local if I lived in Howth. read more

This might be the meal I remember from my Ireland trip, the Guinness beef stew was amazing and the service and atmosphere was great! read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

Following a lovely spring evening walk popped into here for a bite to eat and drink. Little bit worried as walking in as huge coach of people ahead of us. But maybe that's a good sign! Headed in and it's a great looking bar. Real fire. Not too bright and good amount of space all round. Good selection of drinks at the bar and the menu looked great. Opted for the seafood chowder and a pint of the black stuff. Came out piping hot with a couple of slices of lovely bread. The chowder was thick, creamy and packed with fish. Really tasty. Good portion and after that and the Guinness I was fit to burst. My only downside for here was the presence of tvs showing football. Lots of them. Kind of took away the atmosphere a little bit. read more

Loved the food; best fish & chips I've ever had! So glad that this place was recommended to me. We were a fairly large group, there were 8 of us. We did not have a reservation, sat right away. (It was a Friday mid afternoon) One of us was a vegetarian and she said "for a seafood place, they had a delicious vegan curry option". Would definitely recommend to anyone spending the day in Howth, who wanted to try some of the local dishes. read more

Abbey Tavern - The Fisherman's Platter was also incredible and worth the $$ - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

The Abbey Tavern is a very nice place to eat or have a pint in the lovely fishing village of Howth. There are a warm welcome, friendly waitress and good quality food. We ordered an excellent fish & chips, pints and irish coffee! read more

Abbey Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Howth, D

Abbey Tavern is a traditional Irish place to eat. We found the food to be wonderful, the Irish dancers were fantastic, and the servers were warm and friendly, what more could you ask for? We will definitely visit Abbey Tavern again on our next trip to Ireland. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Excellent food. Open face smoked salmon sandwich was great. On brown bread with capers, rocket and two sauces plus a nicely dressed side salad. Seafood chowder was chock full of fish and not two heavy on the cream. Service was slow on a busy Sunday, hence the 3 stars. Food was worth it! read more

Emma our server was kind and lovely. Great atmosphere of locals willing to share their wonderful pub. Outstanding food and after the long walk on the cliff path it hit the spot. read more

Just a quick train ride from Dublin! Loved this place and our server Nessa rocked! Food drinks and peeps were Great, walk the cliffs (not for handicap) loved the views then a bus down to Howth to the Abbey Restaurant and Halloween decor was awesome and had a great the day! read more

A fun place for OK food, but good Irish music and dancing, with audience participation if you are up to it. The food is good, but the main thing here is the entertainment. Good craic! read more

Great pub with excellent service and a cool vibe. Stopped in for lunch with my family and had a great experience. The food was delicious and the beer was fantastic. Our waitress was kind enough to provide samples of each of the beers we were trying, adding to the great experience we had. Would definitely recommend to others. read more

Delicious fish and chips and fisherman pie. A lovely place to stop in after hiking the cliffs.