Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Dawson Lounge

    4.1 (52 reviews)
    ModeratePubs, Lounges
    Closed 12:30 pm - 12:30 am (Next day)

    The Dawson Lounge Photos

    THE DAWSON LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Very loud
    Intimate

    Recommended Reviews - The Dawson Lounge

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Teena D.

    Gord and I checked out the Dawson Lounge because it's Dublin's and Ireland's smallest pub ... seats only 26 people and is in the basement!

    Dan M.

    Billed as the smallest pub in Ireland, sure it's tiny, but a great place to get to know the barkeep and other patrons. Great no frills English / Irish draught pours of some local / some macro beers. Definitely a great place to head downstairs and have a pint and a photo or two

    Bryan B.

    "Probably the smallest pub on the door" is what the sign outside says and it's not far from the truth. This is definitely a place you could easily miss since the entire establishment is in the basement but it's definitely worth stopping in if you get a chance. The location is killer and I'm adding the Dawson Lounge to my list of must see pubs in the Grafton St. area. I can imagine this place getting too crowded that you'd decide to leave without ordering a drink but my friends are I were able to find a table on a Tuesday night pretty easily. Their selection of drinks is good and the novelty of being in such a small pub is entertaining.

    Cathal C.

    The Dawson Lounge purports to be the smallest pub in Dublin and do you know what, they could well be right. I would associate Dawson Street more with bookshops than licenced premises, but I was in the area and a thirst was upon me, I'd quite probably slake it in the Dawson Lounge. Because of it's small size, Dawson Lounge is not big enough to contain both the Irish and non-native drinking classes, so it's novelty factor and oodles of charm ensure that the place is mainly patronised by tourists. You'd almost wonder how a place that small would be able to tun a profit, but with it's anecdotability, the place is guarunteed to be always almost full of tourists who want to be able to tell the story of drinking in the smallest pub in Dublin. What they should do is hire some old codger in a tweed cap to sit at the end of the bar and utter the occasional piece of native wit. Then they'd be able to charge into the place, and flog t-shirts.

    Icaro S.

    I first visited the Dawson lounge for whiskey wednesday a yelp whiskey tasting event. If I had not been coming to the event i think I would have continued to walk by this little spot without noticing it. For the event i arrived a little early so i decided to have a pint of Guinness - WOW- i can honestly say one of the best pints of Guinness i have had in all my years here in Ireland Its a tiny little place in a basement and is really a perfect cosy place for a pint on your own or with a few friends. If you're out on the town with a big gang probably best to give this place a miss as you simply wont fit inside. If however you are planning a party you can book it out for the night and have up to 60 people. On a street dominated by huge pubs and chains its great to see this little place and i surely will be making it a regular spot.

    See all

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Small, intimate environment creates a very friendly atmosphere between staff and patrons. Highly recommend for at least a pint or two

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karina C.
    10
    300
    351

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lowell H.
    252
    395
    5

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Review Highlights - The Dawson Lounge

    It always has a fun and welcoming atmosphere, thanks mainly to the friendly bar staff and management.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Pubs 8,026 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Stag's Head - Bacon & Cabbage

    The Stag's Head

    4.3(316 reviews)
    0.6 kmSouth Inner City
    €€

    We loved the atmosphere, very authentic. . The service was great and the food was delicious!read more

    If you want to experience a true Victorian pub in Dublin, The Stag's Head is a beautiful place to…read morestart. Tucked down Dame Court just off Dame Street, The Stag's Head is one of those rare pubs that feels genuinely historic rather than designed to look old. The building dates to the late 1800s, and the interior retains the ornate features of a classic Victorian "gin palace"--rich carved wood, stained glass, brass rails, and a warm, glowing bar that feels wonderfully preserved. We stopped in around 4:30 pm, which turned out to be a perfect time to visit. There were other patrons enjoying drinks and food, but the atmosphere was calm and relaxed rather than loud or rowdy. It felt like the kind of place where locals drop in for a quiet pint on their way home from work before the evening crowd arrives. The staff were excellent--friendly, welcoming, and attentive without being intrusive. The food was very good (we failed to take photos because we were too busy enjoying it). As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to see the Impossible burger front and center on their menu; it was deliciously prepared with guacamole on a brioche bun, and not an afterthought on the menu. My companions both chose the Irish Beef Burger, and said it was excellent. One thing to know: this is a traditional Victorian pub, so cocktails aren't really part of the program. Expect beer, wine, or spirits rather than mixed drinks. In a place like this, that actually feels exactly right. Other pubs do serve mixed drinks. Between the history, the ambience, the quality of the food, and the wonderful staff, The Stag's Head is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've experienced a real piece of Dublin.

    Photos
    The Stag's Head - Bar

    Bar

    The Stag's Head - One of our favorite

    One of our favorite

    The Stag's Head - Back door area

    See all

    Back door area

    O'Reilly's - Courtesy of Sub Lounge website

    O'Reilly's

    3.9(60 reviews)
    0.9 kmSouth Inner City

    The Sub Lounge (formerly O'Reillys) was a real find. Not something you'd expect to come across at…read morethe end of an alleyway under Tara St Station, Sub Lounge takes its visitors on a gothic journey into a haven of magical otherworldliness. A group of us wandered down the dark alley one Sunday afternoon, a little anxious about what we might discover... Pleasantly surprised to find ourselves inside a Sleeping Beauty-like cavern of candlelit wonder, we stopped to marvel over the interior before giving the solitary bar man his rush of the century. The place was empty before we arrived, but luckily we'd brought a large enough group to make the entire place our own. The candelabras, mood lighting and high, domed ceilings make this place enchantingly atmospheric, but let's not forget the practicalities. Recipe for a good night with a large group: large tables - check, cheap beer (3.40 a pint!!!) - check, pool table - check... Ok this place is a winner. And get this - they even have a foozeball table! Rad! The toilets are definitely worth a gander... many, many mirrors, and easy to get lost in after a few pints of the dark stuff. OMG - 5 euro COCKTAILS Thurs - Sat night. Done. Sold. I'm there.

    After finishing work I went to meet a few friends here for after work drinks. It started out very…read moregood the first waitress we had could not do enough for us we even ordered a few wedges and chips these were really good. Me and 1 of my friends decided to order some cocktails so we went to the bar to see what we could get I ordered a mojito and a White Russian for my friend. I should have known it would be a disaster when the female bartender had to as the waitress how to make it needless to say it was not very good. After a while my friend decided to get one more round before we left. Well to say we were shocked is an understatement. When the waitress came over she went to order a drink to which the response was cant you see I'm busy what's wrong with you going to the bar, as she turned and walked away and went back to the bar to chat with another member of staff. The girl that had been looking after us earlier I think had finished which was a shame. Needless to say we didn't stay for another drink. This would put me off going back I could understand if it was busy but service like this is not acceptable

    Photos
    O'Reilly's - Had some wedges have to say they were great very hot and spicy though good value for money

    Had some wedges have to say they were great very hot and spicy though good value for money

    O'Reilly's - Nice smoking are.

    Nice smoking are.

    O'Reilly's

    See all

    Windjammer

    Windjammer

    4.0(13 reviews)
    1.0 kmSouth Inner City

    Local bar, very cool people…read more Tons of beer on tap, with some liquor options. Great service, and love the location. Be mindful of going during a sports event! It gets slammed.

    The Wind Jammer on Townsend St is one of Dublin's "early houses", that is, pubs that open at half…read moreseven in the morning. The Wind Jammer is not, however, one of the really fun early houses. For fun early houses that serve already somewhat inebriated people, try The Chancery. The Wind Jammer is the type of early house that caters to shift workers and Gardaí from Pearse St coming off the night shift. Apart from a few couples the morning after the Trinity Ball, they wouldn't let in too many post-club revellers. The door is closed most early mornings, and they have a CCTV camera to give ya a good hard scrutinising before they'll let you in. The only time I was there for early pints, there was only one other group of young lads there and the barman looked like he was about to stop serving them. During the rest of the day and night, the Wind Jammer is a quiet pub frequented mainly by old, grumpy locals, who would sooner bite your head off than ask you the time of day. If you're really desperate for a drink and can't make it til half ten when the rest of the pubs open, by all means go to The Wind Jammer. Otherwise, there isn't that much else to recommend to it. Oh, one other thing. The Wind Jammer is the closest pub to Windmll Lane Studios, so U2 and The Saw Doctors among others have retired there for post-recording session pints over the years. Not the type of thing that would interest me, but sure it might interest you so I thought that I'd tack it on the end there

    Photos
    Windjammer
    Windjammer
    Windjammer - Taking a bit of Ireland back to Long Beach. Slainte!

    See all

    Taking a bit of Ireland back to Long Beach. Slainte!

    The Old Storehouse - Guinness

    The Old Storehouse

    4.3(237 reviews)
    0.7 kmTemple Bar
    €€

    The Old Storehouse is a Dublin pub with casual seating, live music, Guinness on tap (of course),…read moreand delicious eats. My husband and I stopped by for dinner and I ordered a caesar salad and their fish chowder. The caesar was great but my gosh the fish chowder and accompanying brown bread rocked my socks. So, much so, that I did what I never do--I revisited this spot more than once on the same trip (so many places to explore I almost never do this!). That fish chowder is craveable. They do live music on occasion as well and so we were able to enjoy that while sipping our Guinness. The prices are reasonable and the service is friendly. They aren't as small as they look at first glance, on one of our visits, we sat upstairs which has a second dining area. Amazing! Get to it!

    Loud music, cheap drinks and good food…read more Place was absolutely packed with people in town for the American Football game so service was dreadfully slow. Had to excuse ourselves from the table multiple times to freshen drinks. The food was good. Once again, absolute star was the Buffalo Wings! Ireland? I mean what??? Perfectly cooked, sauced nicely, just spectacular! The band was playing a mix and of Irish Music and American Rock songs played to Irish tunes. Very fun and well engaged with the crowd. The restaurant itself is cozy and very warm. A great night was had by all!

    Photos
    The Old Storehouse - Steamed mussels

    Steamed mussels

    The Old Storehouse - Irish lamb stew 3.5/5

    Irish lamb stew 3.5/5

    The Old Storehouse

    See all

    The Dawson Lounge - pubs - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...