Dublin Pub Guide

The Hacienda Bar is a different breed of Dublin pub. Sitting on the corner of  Little Mary Street you could easily walk by this building without realising that inside there is a safe haven for those looking for a nice relaxed drinking environment.

There is a novelty to entering this pub that gives the illusion of exclusivity. It has an almost Berghain style door policy as you need to ring a buzzer and are checked out on a cctv camera before you are allowed in by the Shay, the absolute gent that owns the place.

Boasting two pool tables and a dart board the inside of this pub is quite spacious however it feels cosy and small because of the open fire and the amount of ornaments all over the place from wooden crocodiles, a piano, a massive globe and an old scuba helmet. On the jukebox you will find nothing but 80’s music and the walls are covered in photos of famous people that have visited the place such as Ed Sheeran, The Rubberbandits, Kate Beckinsale, Le Galaxie, the list never ends. Rumour has it that Colin Farrell once tried to book the bar for a private wrap party but was refused. 

One of the most unique aspects of the bar s its tiny smoking area which is designed for maybe four people but you could easily find about six people crammed in there on certain nights. Because of how small it is you have no choice but to talk to whoever else is in there, making it an extremely social place. The atmosphere in the bar as a whole is very inclusive and there is a sense of community there that makes it feel like a real local pub and the open fireplace means that there is no better place to be on a cold winter evening.

The drinks are reasonably priced and there is a decent selection however the opening hours are pretty vague and seem to be at the managers discretion, best bet is to go after eight. Shay, the eccentric owner is the glue that holds the whole place together with his charm, wit and ridiculous talent on the pool table.