Gayle and I were walking back from dinner and live music on George Street, when we happened by a…read moresign outside of Erin's Pub about an Irish music trad session that as it turned out was in progress. So we came in, took a seat at the bar, ordered a couple pints of Guinness (the best pour in St. John's we were told), and listened to several musicians around a big table churn out a number of traditional tunes. Another Irish word for this is seisiún or session. It was very relaxed and informal, with individual musicians starting a tune and others quickly joining in. Gayle and I really felt part of a local crowd of very nice and hospitable Newfoundlanders. A significant percentage of Newfoundlanders come from Irish descent. That started in the 17th Century when ships from the English West Country stopped into along Ireland's south coast to collect food and servants for the fisheries around the coast of Newfoundland. As such, the traditional music of Newfoundland and Labrador is rooted in Irish, Scottish, and English music. The Bar itself has a sort of local divey vibe, with dark woods, a cool bar, no pretense, and even a 24-hour camera screen on Quidi Vidi. It was a place where we really enjoyed staying awhile, which we did until this Celtic jam session was over.

Somehow this turned out to be pretty incredible. While practically all bars in St. John's are…read moresimilarly Irish and quite casual, Erin's is a standout. For all that is said (and really overstated) about Newfoundlanders being the nicest people in Canada, I actually had that friendly experience here more than at other bars in the city. (As an outsider, you can be easy to spot.) The bartender was friendly and on the ball. The live music was impressive. The artist who played (July 2?) was furiously devoted to continuously cranking out great music. The local patrons were generally lively and willing to engage in conversation with outsiders.

OK... this one is for the rooftop only. As the upper decks go this one is pretty good. The staff…read moreare fun and on the ball. Good selection of beers and the food is served quickly. I have always thought the food at this pub was pretty good and what comes to the roof does not disappoint. You get the full afternoon sun, but there are shaded areas if one prefers. I would give this one a try.

This was our first time visiting George Street in St. John's and to say we were disappointed would…read morebe an understatement. We had reservations and were seated in an upper area with extremely uncomfortable bench seating. The bench was so high and narrow that my feet didn't even come close to touching the floor. The tables were packed tightly together with virtually no room to move. At the table beside us, one gentleman had to stand away from the table for most of the meal because the sloped ceiling prevented him from sitting comfortably. On the other side, seven people were squeezed into what looked like a space meant for four. The food was, without question, the worst meal we had during our two weeks in Newfoundland. My husband ordered gravy with his fries and it arrived dark, thick and congealed. Paying an extra $3 for it only added to the disappointment. I figured George Street might be better suited for drinks and live music, but unfortunately the beverages were equally underwhelming. I tried two different mixed drinks that had little to no alcohol taste, flat 7-Up, and overall poor flavour. The next two shooters I ordered were better, but I still questioned the alcohol content. I'm someone who gets tipsy fairly easily and after several drinks I didn't feel the slightest buzz. I won't go into the conditions of the Washrooms. The two positives were the music, which was excellent and our server, who was attentive and quick with drink service throughout the evening. What surprised me most was that when we left, there was a lineup out the door waiting to get in. I honestly can't explain it based on our experience. The music was good, so perhaps that's the draw, but the food, drinks, and seating left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, this was not the George Street experience we were hoping for.

Excellent vibe. Terrific food and great beer on tap. The triumvirate of what a top old-school pub…read moreshould be.

Great place for fish and chips. I came here cause of a recommendation from a friend who's from St…read moreJohn's. The fish was very flaky and chunky. Service is so friendly! They have a great selection of beers, local and international. Definitely a must try in St Joh

When Gord and I arrived in St. John's this morning, we were exhausted and hungry and stopped at…read moreTalamh an Éisc for breakfast. Its sign says it's a 24 hour restaurant and the inside is a pub ... actually it's one of three pubs that are connected. There was a fella at the bar having a beer. I ordered the Celtic Breakfast with ham. It was good, though I wasn't crazy about the home fries. Gord was more adventurous and ordered the Newfoundlander. He enjoyed it. Toutons, we discovered, are leftover dough that are then fried. Our server was very friendly ... it was a great way to start our visit to St. John's (though we were only spending a day there)!

Great pub, good selection of beers and easy access to George when you go upstairs. Nice to find a…read moreveggie burger in the pub grub. Why why WHY is it listed as British? The pub's name is literally written in the Irish language.

Live music, friendly Natives ready to kick up their heels and dance! Fantastic atmosphere! Very…read morepleased with Allison's from Fish Exchange recommendation

Could be great but wasn't. The band were good but it was an an Irish Newfoundland acoustic band…read morethat didn't need amplification let alone over amplification. It was impossible to talk without leaning in and shouting. Best to just sit outside and listen and chat

Popular pub in the center of water Street in downtown St. John's Newfoundland…read more The menu for me was somewhat limited, but I had the turkey noodle soup, which was quite good. Unfortunately, the bar was out of the two draft beers that I was interested in. I ended up getting a Coors light, which, really sucks if you think about it, since I'm from Colorado. If I ever go back, I need to learn more about Canadian beer. Still, it was a great place to stop for lunch while I walked and shopped Water Street.

Grabbed a quick drink in here while waiting for a table at a seafood restaurant, very cool looking…read moreplace, one of the nicer looking places on Water st. Definitely a spot I could see frequenting if i lived close, not as chaotic at some of the other places we visited.

With the exception of a Smithwick's on draught that was a bit flat, my evening at the Black Sheep…read morewas incredible. So much so, that I can't count the Smithwick's against the place in my review. 1. Typical of most St. John's bars, Black Sheep features Irish beers (Guinness, Kilkenny, etc) and whisky. 2. Service is surprisingly prompt. The bartender in here (at least on a Monday night) was really on the ball. Everything Beer or glass of water came quickly with a friendly attitude and smile. 3. Live music in here on Mondays is quite impressive. I enjoyed some of the best bluegrass anywhere. A server at a nearby restaurant recommended that I check it out, and I am glad I did. 4. The vibe is warm and inviting. Don't be put off by the rather dark exterior. Inside is cozy and nice. 5. They offer bottled beers, as well as 3-4 draught options and cocktails.

Small place but great bands and music coming out of this place! On tap selection of beers is…read morelimited to some Irish standards - wish there were more!!! - but they'll do.

Come from away, leave as an honorary Newfoundlander…read more.... Christian's Pub is where I was "screeched in". Gayle skipped being in the ceremony, but watched enthusiastically as we both had a great time. Plus enjoying a couple of wee pints of Guinness ahead of time was a great starter. After all, Christian's Pub is a cool bar and lounge in itself. As legend has it, an American serviceman stationed in Newfoundland during the Second World War downed some local rum one night and let out a 'blood-curdling howl'. Someone nearby asked what that awful yell was and a Newfoundlander sitting at the bar said, "The Screech? 'Tis the rum, me son." And that's how Screech earned its name. I now have the certificate as an Honorary Newfoundlander. But first the ceremony! That involved a shot of Screech rum, flambé bologna, kissing the codfish (a real frozen one), receiving a a personalized certificate, and taking a photo with Skipper Lukey. Joining me that Sunday evening were people from all over the world, all of us having a great time. It was a whole lot of fun and Skipper Lukey put on a show that was also thoughtful, folksy, and educational, all in just under 30 minutes. Other George Street bars do this, but Christian's was the only one that another businesses on the street recommended. And Hell Yes! I'd do it again.

Every visitor "from away" must be Screeched in. It's the law. Being from Newfoundland myself, I had…read moreto use this opportunity to have my younger brother and partner Screeched in on our recent trip home. Christian's, being the oldest pub in St. John's on one of the oldest streets in North America seemed like the perfect place. Now, Christian's is no fancy joint, so let that be known right away. It's charming and a little edgy. Drinks are poured with love, and hope you're not hungry because you're lucky to get a bag of crisps. Or maybe a piece of flambéed bologna! But it's all served up with the typical Newfoundland charm. Fast forward to the Screeching in... Skipper Lukey is impressive! Memorizing everyone's name (all 40 or so guest) during our ceremony. Adding in his rough around the edges reminders on how the process works. You better be good at following instructions, because Lukey will remind you, not so gently, if you're out of line. All in good fun, I promise! Respect the ceremony and keep chatter to a minimum. It's a sacred duty to Screech in mainlanders after all. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone and their group looking to become an honorary Newfoundlander!

The food here is excellent, the ambiance fun and the service is top notch. Highly recommend sharing…read morea bunch of small plates so you get to try more dishes!

We had dinner here as a large group, booking out the place. It was truly excellent! The service…read morewas friendly and helpful (typical for Newfoundland). But more importantly, the food was outstanding! I had the seafood chowder (yum) and a 10 oz steak. I ended the meal with the cheesecake. Really great! (oh yeah, and the cocktails were good too!)

I have been a regular patron for a year. The burgers are top notch. The service and atmosphere are…read morewhat you would hope for. It can get crowded at peak hours, so judge yourself accordingly. As well, it is a great spot for brunch on the weekends. Try this joint once and you will be back again and again.

We thoroughly enjoyed this quaint Gastropub on an unassuming corner of Duckworth street. We…read morehappened to arrive right when they opened at 11am, and we were able to select from their brunch or lunch menu. Hubby and I both ordered from their lunch menu. I had my eye on the PB&J burger that I had seen on Yelp, as peanut butter is my favorite thing ever! This burger did not disappoint. While the combo sounds strange, the flavors were well-balanced with the brie cheese, caramelized onions and bacon. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium and the hamburger bun was soft. I chose the kettle chips for my side, and they tasted house made. Very delicious! The only thing I didn't like about this burger was the price tag = $22. Hubby had the seafood chowder for $17 and it was enough for a full meal. He said the chowder was very flavorful and full of seafood. He was in heaven! We both ordered a Quidi Vidi 1892 amber ale on draft. They only had 7 beers on tap and I wished that they had a medium or dark beer, but this area doesn't seem to be big on that. They do have Guinness in a can, if that's your thing. Service was friendly and the food came out relatively fast. The booths were comfy and the pub reminded me of a cozy neighborhood bar. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!