Sure, it's a grand Irish bar. Live music some of the nights, great staff, Guinness which tastes suitably terrible by comparison to the stuff back home, but still necessary sometimes. Jesus though, lads, don't sell "Black and Tans" or "Irish Car Bombs" to Irish people. For comparison, that's like us having "Al Qaeda" and "9-11" cocktails. Stahp. read more

My FAVORITE bar ever. Low key ... cozy. Great beer. And on magical nights, a band called the Ulysses S. Jasz plays. Feels like home.

Yeah it's a bar. Not a club. You will not get your groove on, you will not get your freak on. You will, however, sing Irish folk songs and play a damn good game of pool. This place is Irish...uber Irish and I love ever unpretencious, crowd-lovin, bartender's-your-best-friend moment in this place. If you want a place to drink with friends and have a fucking blast without having to dress in those 4" heels that make you bleed, this is the place. read more

Awesome bar on State Street!!! Friends took me out here for their live music and wide assortment of whiskey! We hung out for a couple of drinks, listened to the live music, and enjoyed ourselves. Not a lot of seating area but plenty of space to dance! would definitely come back here if I am in town again! read more

On a recent weekend trip we went to hear the jazz band on Saturday night. We have been before and looked forward to hearing some great jazz by seasoned professionals. However, our experience was diminished by two obviously drunk females at the bar that were talking/screaming while the band was performing. It was brought to the attention of one of the bar tenders that these girls had apparently been over served and were now disrupting the other patrons by there behavior. One of the girls then starting dancing and put on quite a show that the "Spearmint Rhino" would have been proud of! read more

They always have cool live bands playing here. The bartenders are really nice and welcoming! I love how I can eat tons of free peanuts and then proceed to throw the shells on the ground. It gives this place a cool divey feel. Generally a fun crowd when I've come here as well. read more

We chose to eat dinner across the street at Sandbar and were intrigued by the music we could hear in the distance at James Joyce. After paying we walked over and were delighted and surprised to find out that it was a 7 person ensemble of 40+ year old men playing jazz standards. They had a bubbly lead singer named Hannah who smiled and talked with us in the corner between songs. The music itself was INCREDIBLE! Coming from a musical background with a lot of knowledge in jazz standards, their musicianship was close to perfect. Add to that their friendly and happy composure and it should be clear how they completely captivated us (without drinks) for the last hour of their set. This place is HIGHLY recommended for atmosphere and booking some bad ass bands. read more

First I just want to apologize to anybody who heard me doing karaoke there on Sunday night. I can't sing (and neither could any of my partners) but I guess thats the fun. What makes this place great is that even with a starting time of Sunday at 9pm (and the aforementioned horrible singing emanating from the doors) the bar was getting busy. The guy running the machine was a hoot, and he even offered us a free shot of whiskey to get the show rolling. The patrons were friendly and supportive, a surprise give the first line of the review. We got free shirts from some talkative sisters repping for a vodka company. The only thing that wasn't free were the drinks from the bar, which I felt could have been a dollar, or even 50 cents cheaper. So thats the reason for the 4 stars as opposed to 5. But i'd go back for the karaoke if I had the chance. read more

Normal pub.. Nothing special. Little packed for my liking, but what can you expect from a college town on a Friday night

They have live music but we missed it. They also have a great selection of beer. The bouncer outside makes sure that it doesn't get too crowded. read more

Looooovvvveeeee this place. Emmet is my favorite bartender and their Irish coffees are on point! Kudos! Oh, and great karaoke!

Fun Fun Fun! Went there late Saturday night, the atmosphere was very festive, rustic and informal. The live band played some really nice songs and the crowd was dancing. A good mix of tourists, college students, and locals. The floor was littered with peanut shells, which kind of added to the rustic vibe. Good & expansive beer selection. Will be back! read more

Visiting from LA and had a great time Thursday night. Everyone was so chill and friendly. Brian Kinsella was awesome! What a great voice! We had a blast. We will definitely be back. (Go Dodgers!) read more

They charged me $14 for a Monkey Shoulder whiskey on the rocks (~$25 is what the bottle costs). Chances are they don't know anything about whiskey if they consider Monkey Shoulder top shelf! Good bar, good music but do yourself a favor and don't order a whiskey! read more

Bouncer didn't accept my ID so had to grab a passport. Would avoid this joint in general if you are in town.

This place is one of my favorites to go when i need a fix. The female bartender makes the best jack and coke in sb i give her kudos for it

This place was cool. Definitely a pub. Very chill and relaxed. It was very crowded but not packed. It was very easy to get a drink or 5 or 6. Bartenders attentive and give you a good pour. I can't remember how much drinks were, but that means they weren't very expensive nor super cheap. There was a non-working fire place, and I think there was a darts area. Dunno. Was pretty drunk. Had fun hanging out here. read more

Fun night, love this place! The energy is ao awesome, wish more places felt thits great! Fit right in!

Any bar that has free darts and free peanuts is OK with me. It's just a little sad that I wake up with a sore arm the next day....

My days hanging out on State Street back in my 20s were legendary but now that I am in my early 40s I can't really do the nightclub scene anymore because I just feel silly being around the kiddos even though I'm still a kid at heart. Now when I am itching at the seams to get out and hear some live music I had to the James Joyce where I know I will always get some good live music to soothe my soul well I crack peanuts at the bar and chat with locals. Long live the Joyce! The bartenders are the same bartenders you were there when I was in my 20s! That is so crazy wicked cool! read more

We came here on a Sunday night around 9pm. They had karaoke from 9-11ish and it was a good mixture of regulars and tourists so the people watching was on point. Beers were good priced but hard alcohol seemed a little pricey for a dive bar. It was a good experience. read more

The State Street strip's No. 1 Irish bar, the Joyce can get overrun with tourists and students, but, hell, free peanuts and Stella on tap. Solid live acts pass through. read more

Often live music, and a true BAR feel. it's not trying to be a lounge, or a club, or an oversized VIP area. It knows it's a bar and does well at it. Can get crowded, but what place doesn't in a college town? I had hoped for a little more personality from a place named after Joyce, but really nothing made it stand out from hundreds of other bars I've been to. read more

Exactly like every other Irish pub everywhere else in the entire world. But I have some fond memories from this place, and they played some fun music, so... cheers! read more

As we were walking up and down State Street, we were enticed by the live Irish music coming from this establishment. We didn't necessarily order any drinks, but we sat there for a good hour, listening to the lively music. I was reminded of my dance tour in Ireland and craved to go back. I felt I was right back there! The people were warm and the musicians were very interactive. We liked them so much that we bought one of their cd's. It was clean too. If you like pubs, this one is well worth a try. read more

Went there twice and had good fun both times. They usually have decent bands playing on weekends. Drinks are of the regular variety and nothing more. They dont blare out the music too loud so you can have a drink and a conversation at the same time which is pretty rare these days. It is easy to get into even when bands are playing and they dont charge cover. I hope I didnt jinx it :) Go check it out! read more

A little plain inside...was absolutely dead on the Thursday night that we were there, but it was the holiday week so...free peanuts.

The Joyce is cool, it has been a place that I've frequented over the past few years only because my friends play in the bands, but the drinks aren't so good and their prices are way too much for what it is. This isn't a craft cocktail bar, this is more of a Irish dive bar that has Bands play on weekends or sometimes weekdays. The beer that they have on tap is alright, but it's not worth 7$ a beer for an 805 ale!!!! read more

Just came back to the hotel after early night out on State Street. Great service at the bar, super friendly. Saturday night live Jazz band named Ulysses has been playing here for about 20 years, put on a great show along with Hanna at the mike. Promoters were giving out coupons for Heiniken Light for $1 off. Great Peanuts. read more

vibe was pretty relaxing. went here at the start of happy hour so the place wasnt crowded at all. seems like it would be a good place to go read more

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Cool western outlaw themed bar. Peanuts adorn the floors and the bar spreads from the entrance to the end of the bar. Cool vibe, one giant bar, one pool table and one dart board. read more

Good crowd, great live music but slow service and uninspired cocktails made for a simply so-so experience here.

great bar. awesome staff bartenders. diverse upbeat crowd. 3 different bands. darts and pool table. great bar. rocking on a tuesday night. read more

This place was great! Mind you, we came in on a Monday at noon-thirty and ordered Guinness, so what could one complain about? But seriously, being Irish, this place called out to me and being an English major, my hubby was intrigued. I love the decor, the staff was friendly and I even liked the pigeons who stopped in for some peanuts. If I lived in SB, I would be a regular, (they have a great karaoke corner stage!!) and if I am in the area, I will be stopping by. read more

Not a bad place. Seemed like a bit of an older crowd, but I liked the whiskey so that's really all that matters. The band was okay. The beer was good too. :) read more

I swear that the black hole that was my senior year of college can be attributed to the excellent service and atmosphere at the James Joyce. As the daughter of a bartender turned bar-owner, I spent my early years in a car seat strapped to a bar stool and consequently, grew up with a bar as my second home. When I turned 21, I hopped off Bill's Bus with a purpose and looked up and down State Street for that comfortable feeling. I fell in love with the James Joyce from the moment I stepped inside and heard the crunch of peanut shells under my feet. Pool table and dart boards in the back, a jukebox for the rare moment that they aren't hosting rocking good live bands, no-bullshit and simultaneously friendly staff, and an eclectic crowd of locals. What more can a girl want? I've been gone for two years now, but every time I walk in the back door, Linda and Anna Marie glance up like I was in there yesterday and say "Oh hey Trisha...where's Jen?" Great service, great booze, great music--Let's just transplant them to SF, and I'll be happy. read more

Good people, great service. And you can nerd out on Tuesday with trivia. Don't forget karaoke mondays!!!

I'm not only reviewing this classy bar with detailed tin ceiling, classic wood bar, great top shelf liquors, and excellent upscale pub vibe. I am also reviewing the band that plays on Saturday nights.. FANTASTIC! Old time music that makes you dance and the singer has some of the most amazing pipes I've heard. I enjoyed the mixed crowd, mixed ages and types of people. Some tourists from LA just stood around gawking, not drinking or dancing, getting in the way of both. Whatcha gonna do? It's a bar. Bartenders are fast. As others have mentioned, you may find a peanut in your pocket the next day. read more

A divey bar with lively people. The crowd is a bit older than the other bars that are infested with college students, so it's a nice change. I went to town with those free peanuts and they have a nice selection of beers. A bit unkept with the peanut shells all over the floor but the bathrooms were fine. The bartenders are attentive and friendly, and everyone there is out to have a good time. There's a pool table in the back if you want to stray away from the live music at the front. read more

Nothing special in the afternoon but a nice cold bottle of beer. Nice bartender though. Looks like it gets super busy at night- throw your peanut shells on the floor. Their t-shirts say "keep your nuts off the bar" ha ha read more