My very first time in Dublin my friend and I stumbled upon The Oval by accident after a long train ride as we wandered. It was exactly what it looked like it was: a traditional Irish pub, but without feeling overwhelmed by people like many of the other main spots in town. It has a wonderful atmosphere and is right off the main drag, and has good prices to boot. The service was impeccable the first time and every time I've been back since. We usually sit upstairs (the view is great!) and the food has never been anything but excellent. I personally love the Guinness stew, but their chowder is also excellent, as is the salmon. I'll definitely stop again the next time I'm in town. read more

Smoked salmon was amazing as was the brown bread and fish chowder. Service was friendly and efficient. Great place to take a break on a rainy afternoon. read more

The Oval Bar - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

I want to point out that if you have any mobility issues the first floor would only be available to you as there is no way to get to the other floors without using the stairs. We did use that stairs but it was a challenge to do so. The Oval Bar was recommended to us by someone who had been there oftern. The place as been in existence since 1822 so we thought we would take in the feel of the place. We found the bar area to be quite crowded and not a space that would be very comfortable. We headed up to the next level (there are a number of steps to get there) and found a mixture of tables and wall seating. We were greeted pretty quickly by our server but found that she didn't speak or understand English very well but we were able to place our drink orders. They have an extensive drink menu with pretty much anything you want. The food menu is a two page 'booklet' containing starters and mains that would give someone enough choices to find something they would like. There is also a child's menu on the back and desserts although you need to check with the server to see what desserts they have. We ordered the 1/2 chicken with vegetables (carrots in this case) and the Irish stew. The chicken was well cooked, nice crispy skin and a huge portion, could have ordered just that and split it between us. The carrots were large slices served on the side. The Irish stew came in a large bowl with plenty of chunks of tender lamb shoulder, potatoes, carrots and onions in a nice gravy. A slice of brown bread and butter was served on the side. Like most restaurants we have been to while in Ireland the wait staff seem to disappear after you food has been delivered. It took several tries with different wait staff (2 to be exact) before we could get another round of drinks. Ordered the check at the same time to avoid waiting any longer. All of the wait staff we dealt with had problems speaking and understanding English which made it a little bit of a challenge. Another couple sitting next to use expressed the same issue. But the food was good, most important part of the visit. And we appreciated all of the people that were in the pub that helped us get up and down the stairs, proved that people are friendly everywhere in Ireland. read more

Please do yourself a favor and order the beef pot pie entree thing they have on this menu. I cannot remember the name of it but think of a chicken pot pie but with beef. I was floored by how good it was! My husband ordered a burger and had a bite of mine and talked the whole night about how much he wished he had ordered that instead of his own food. He was like a vultire. When i said i was full and left the rest of my food he immediately dropped his burger and reached over for my plate to finish what i had left. Thats how damn good that was! I honestly thought about it well into the next day and regret not going back before we left. I will always dream of you oval bar read more

It wasn't very busy and we were completely ignored There is zero ambiance The Irish stew was okay The soup of day was blah Wish we had picked a better restaurant for our first night in Dublin read more

Cool pub with great pub grub. We stopped in for a quick dinner after walking the city all day. Staff were friendly and attentive. They pour a great pint of Guinness as well. read more

After touring Dublin for hours in the thirty-degree night, my buddy and I we starved and looking for a place to eat. It was my first time in Dublin and I let him lead the way. We eventually found out that we wre on the outskirts of town and caught a taxi back to the center of the city. We let him know we were looking for a place to eat, and he recommonded The Oval Bar. The driver knew his stuff; it was quite good. One thing I learned quickly, is that many pubs close their kitchens by 9:00 pm. Unlike the U.S. equivalent of a bar & grill where the kitchen may stay open until 11:00 pm (or later), you've got to get your eating done earlier. That said, The Oval Bar was still open and we ordered as quickly as we would. At that point I kept things simple and ordered a burger & fries (chips) and a pint of Guinness. It was fantastic. I didn't know what to expect, but I was ready to eat my hand. Thankfully, the burger was tender, flavorful and hot. The fries were just like ones here in the States. Best of all, the pint of Guinness was like heaven's nectar. It was the perfect end to a great day touring the city. Finally, our server was courteous and helpful in letting us know what was still avaible on the menu. This saved a lot of time. My next trip to Dublin will include a pit-stop at The Oval Bar. read more

The Oval Bar - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

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Great place to meet friends and share a drink or two. Excellent service. Try the scotch,

Stopped in right after I got into Dublin, I recommend going around 2-4 for the best service and ambiance because it's right before their dinner hours!! Had a great house IPA and lunch menu. read more

The Oval Bar - House IPA - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

There's a lot to recommend here, but the service on our two visits has been disappointing. This could be a five-star pub, in my opinion, if the staff was a bit more attentive. The Oval is rich with history and feels less touristy than many other pubs in the area. You can come here to enjoy a delicious pint and hear Irish music rather than the standard pop tunes played elsewhere. The décor feels like it should for a place that was opened in the 19th century and rebuilt after being destroyed during the 1916 Rising. On our second visit, we came for a late lunch and were seated upstairs. The server took our drink and food order promptly, and we thought the food was excellent. The Beef & Guinness Pie was delicious and filling. My wife was very happy with her pan-friend salmon. We were having a five-star pub experience--and then the servers ignored us. We finished our meal and pints and sat there with empty glasses as the servers ignored our table. At one point, I even thought I'd caught the server's eye, but she visited the table beside us and then turned to leave. My wife and I were prepared to order another round and dessert, but after 25 minutes of waiting with no food, drink, or attention, I walked up the till and simply asked to pay. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise nice visit to The Oval. read more

We came here looking for a mild way to kick off the evening. It was too late for a formal sit down meal, but we needed to get some food and figured we had a good shot at The Oval. Unfortunately, we were initial told the kitchen was closed. However, our waitress was kind enough to ask if they could make anything and came back with a few sandwich options. We each got a sandwich to accompany our drinks. While not the best sandwich in my life, it did satisfy. I also felt it was a solid value and included a small salad. The Oval itself is set up with multiple floors allowing people to enjoy their food in one area, and catch a match in another. I thought the layout and decor were nice and The Oval could be a great place for sports fans. read more

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My wife is Irish, I'm American. This is an authentic Irish Pub, bombed out by a gunship in 1916 and rebuilt in its original image. The salmon was perfect and the vegetables a plenty like in an authentic Irish pub or an authentic Irish home. I highly recommend if you are in the area. read more

Had so much fun. Went to visit for a BDay celebration. Great place. Great atmosphere. Awesome staff. Would definitely go back.

Our last night in Dublin ... we called ahead and they put us window side upstairs... great treat. Accommodations were fun and comfortable and the food was fantastic and very affordable! Our server, Adam was especially charming, friendly and courteous from start to finish. Touched our heart by saying Ireland was our new home! Too rate Adam and the Oval Bar! read more

I found this as I was wandering the streets of Dublin and stopped in because it looked interesting. It's very old and has a lot of character. I sat upstairs by a beautiful bay window that looked over the street. It was a nice view. Service was great and the food was really good. I just had a small appetizer recommended by the server of chicken strips and fries that were really good. They came out fast, too! I liked it here, but there are so many great places that I'm not sure I'll be back, but I'm really glad I visited. read more

This is the best pale ale in all of Dublin. (coming from a big beer head.) Michael was great!

This place always seems to be busy, especially with tourists. It's a handsome looking building and there is an outdoor seating area. It just seems a very dirty area to me to be sitting out in, and a bit chaotic, I can think of much better outdoor areas that give you some peace and quiet. It's really big inside with three levels. It's a typical pub and a busy spot on game day. I would not spend my night here, I would have a drink and move on as the prices are more on the expensive side, you can shop around for better drink offers. read more

The Oval Bar - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Great pub in the centre of town that feels like your local standard. They have Galway Hooker on tap, hurray! The seafood chowder is delicious with loads of different types of fish and shellfish in a light, creamy stock. It's not the overthickened bowl of industrial stuff you get elsewhere. The chips are also perfectly cooked. read more

We wanted a classic pub atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle that predominates in the Temple Bar area. The Oval did not disappoint. Great food and good beer served by attentive staff in a pub originally established in 1820. Definitely recommend if you are in the area. read more

The Oval Bar - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

Finally! A nice, traditional pub that isn't packed with tourists. We stopped in because of the bit of history behind the pub: reborn in the same location it has been since the early 1800s through the 1916 rebellion. We had a couple pints and quite enjoyed the place. There seemed to be a lot of locals, which is always a good sign. We had already eaten at some tourist trap pub, and regretted it when we saw the menu at The Oval. While we didn't eat anything, there were several items I would have selected had I not just had a full meal. Very friendly staff and good beer selection! Cheers to The Oval! read more

So let me paint you a picture... My wife and I were on the last leg of our trip with twins and really had not enjoyed a meal out past 6 p.m. We got the kids ready, jumped on the tram and jumped off and stumbled upon this place around 7:30 p.m. Sign on the door said 7 p.m. no kids allowed. Guy game out, said pay it no attention and led us in the back. We had some locals at the bar drinking a few pints and they could have been our grandparents. They took to our kids and were actually rocking them in the stroller as we ate. I had my first and only fish and chips. Fish was flaky and delicious and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put a good set of chips in front of you. All of this was washed down with a Guinness of course. My wife had the Guinness stew which was actually better at this place then the stew served at the Guinness factory. We met some incredible people, were treated with so much warmth and were given great food that I cannot give anything less than 5 stars. The overall experience was something I will never forget. read more

We ate here for supper. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff. We had the Irish stew, sirloin steak and roast chicken. All of it was delicious. For dessert we had apple pie, cheesecake and chocolate cake which were all delicious as well. I recommend this place for a smaller party looking for an authentic Irish meal. read more

Came in here based on a review below - looking for the seafood stew. It was the perfect lunch on a cool summer day! Served with delicious brown bread, just add a pint of your your favorite brew for a great meal in a quiet spot in the midst of a bustling city! read more

Our first meal in Ireland and it was fantastic! Coming from the USA we've been used to greasy food and were thrilled with the difference. The staff was courteous & service was quick. Highly recommended! read more

The Oval Bar - Irish stew - a must! - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

The best fish and chips ( and I tried a few) As a family we ate our way through Ireland, England and Scotland. Each time someone got the fish and chips the question always was "is it as good as Oval Bar? " we personally found none as good. Highly recommend. read more

The Oval Bar - Oval Bar Fish and chips - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

The Guinness pie is absolutely fantastic. Great service, great food, lovely place! I went back a few times during my visit. Can't wait to come back read more

We decided to check this place out after reading the good reviews. The waitress was very friendly and efficient. Our food came out very quickly and everything was very delicious. The chicken wings and beef and Guiness pie are something I would order again. Has a great location of O'Connell Street but is is not touristy just packed with locals. read more

The Oval Bar - Beef and Guinness pie - Pubs Near Me - Dublin, D

You can easily catch a rugby game here. They have great food. However, one night I came and sat upstairs with friends. When we were done eating I think we may have spent about 45 minutes wondering whether our waitress would ever show to give us our bill. One of us walked downstairs to find out where she had gone... and to our surprise she had gone HOME! What? We all had to come downstairs to pay our bills at the bar with the bartender? I voiced that I would have probably slept at the restaurant waiting for my bill had we not come downstairs to ask what happen... Bartender did not even apologize. If you want to eat, I would recommend sitting at the bar. Unless, you want no service, no waitress and you know you're way around the kitchen and know how to buss your own table. :) Good luck. read more

We were starving when we popped into the Oval. It was a great looking building from the outside, a bit run down inside. We had the 2nd floor to ourselves, though there were some people at the bar downstairs. We enjoyed a quick meal of drinks, panini's, soup and chips. The service and food was standard, but not exceptional. What stood out, though, was the soundtrack of 50's & 60's American music. It seemed a bit out of place for an Irish pub. read more

Initially happy with our experience, nice enough place, attentive enough bartender. Happy until we were charged for an extra round & it's not like we had enough to lose track. This sloppiness left a bad taste in my mouth. Bummer end to a cool evening. read more

Good beef and Guinness stew. Fish and chips were ok (only one piece of fish), but we've definitely had better elsewhere. Nice atmosphere -- it's more of a soccer crowd on the ground level. read more

Love the Oval. It's a city centre pub with a real local feel, where bantering barmen and regulars mix easily with blow-ins and tourists. This is one place where sitting at the bar is a fun experience and it has that elusive "good atmosphere" in spades. During the day, it's an alternative to Supermacs across the road - try the famous Irish stew or the chicken curry with the fabulous option of half chips/half rice. read more

The drinking bar on the main floor is very cozy but make sure you eat at the Oval Pub. They serve food in their upstairs seating area looking over Talbot street. Yummy goodness! I had the veggie/goat cheese puff pastry and my husband had the Guinness stew. Wow! And the pub is gorgeous and full of history. Our waitress was supper good and sweet. read more

Had some food here on Monday before a gig in the Academy. Not bad, decent burger and chips. Bangers and mash looked great though. Service was fine, prices were a bit steep for pub grub. The pint of Guinness was good, but it still kills me in Dublin having to pay more than €4 for a pint of anything. The quicker they publicans learn the more money they'll make. There is nothing like the sheer joy you get when a pint is less than 4 quid :)! read more

One of my favourite watering holes that has excellent wifi and a lovely pint of cider under a fiver which getting pretty rare in the city centre, service is fast and the place is well ran, highly recommended. read more

Amazing food with a great selection of beer. I highly recommend the Irish stew! My sister had the fish and chips and it was delicious as well. The service is great and I plan on coming back tomorrow (which I never do when traveling abroad). It is conveniently located near some shops. Must come! read more

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I've been in Dublin for 4 days now and this was the best food I've had by far. When ya walk in you might feel a little uncomfortable (I did), but that's only cause you aren't used to not seeing tourist. This is more of a local smaller place, but its perfect. Should have a hire rating then it does. Service was great too! read more

Very local! Delicious food--great service. Settle in and be among the natives--it's a great feeling. Their chowder is excellent.

One of the few places on the north side of Dublin I enjoy. But then - nothing special. But they have O'Hara's Pale Ale on tap - and that is a plus. definitely. So... yeah - A-OK. Clean, nice, rather touristy during the late afternoon. But then - nothing special. read more

Popped in for a sneaky pint en route to somewhere else. Kind of more of the same in terms of decor. Bartenders were attentive, and prices didn't seem as bad as others experienced. I think a whiskey was 3.75. It's all relative though. read more