The Palace Bar - Dublin 2
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The Palace Bar is undoubtedly one of Dublin’s best loved original Victorian pubs. Located in the centre of Dublin, just off the Temple Bar area, we feel it’s one of those places that should have a preservation order stamped on it – not just on the building, but on every inch of the interior, including the many characters that frequent it.
The Palace Bar boasts to be “internationally famous for our intellectual refreshments”. During the 1940’s and 50’s it became the social home to Dublin’s literati – writers, poets, artists, novelists, sculptors, newspaper men – all under the patronage of R.M. Smyllie, the then editor of the Irish Times. The Irish author and newspaper man Flann O’Brien was a regular and drank whiskey in the intensive care unit (lounge room at the back). He was once asked why he wore a velvet glove when he drank whiskey. ‘I swore to my mother on her deathbed that I’d never touch a glass of whiskey. That’s why I wear a velvet glove’. Today, this noble pub still finds favour with the greats of Irish literature, such as Noble laureate poet, Seamus Heaney.
Whiskey? Ah, yes. There’s so much that is great about the Palace Bar, that we nearly forgot the whiskey connection. The Palace Bar was one of those Dublin pubs that bottled its own whiskey right up until the mid 1960’s. Unfortunately, the practice of distilleries supplying whiskey in the cask directly to whiskey bonders stopped shortly after. But in August 2011, the Palace Bar became the first pub in Ireland to have a whiskey bottled specifically for them again. The award winning Cooley Distillery bottled a 9 year old Single Cask Single Malt specifically for the pub, so you can now order the Palace Bar whiskey once more! Your second choice may take a little longer - the Palace Bar have over 100 different Irish whiskeys, making theirs the best Irish whiskey selection in the country. Green Spot is a pouring favourite and for the nostalgic, there’s also some real collectors’ gems on dusty shelves, like the bottle of DWD whiskey from the old Jones’ Road Distillery (which closed around 1926), and assorted memorabilia to gladden the heart of any Irish whiskey enthusiast.
Upstairs is the Palace Lounge with another separate bar, which is festooned with murals depicting the pub’s long association with sports and literature. There’s often a traditional Irish music session going on here and the Palace Lounge is also available for private hire with full catering facilities on request...a perfect place for any kind of celebration.
The Palace Bar has been a family run pub since 1946, and Willie is now the third generation of Aherne men running this pub. He's a real gent and the main whiskey man in this pub, and justifiably proud of the traditions and history this Dublin landmark pub is steeped in.
We recommend you call into the Palace Bar early – they open around 10.30 in the morning (except Sundays, when they open around 12.00). On one of those not so infrequent days when the sun does shine in Dublin, shafts of light filter through the stained glass windows, illuminating the bar in all its Victorian mahogany glory. There’s always a good selection of sandwiches and soup for lunch and a good mix of Dubliners enjoying a relaxing lunch break. Then move on to do whatever brought you to Dublin – shopping, culture, etc. Our bet is, you’ll be back in The Palace Bar before the day is over.
The Palace Bar - 21 Fleet Street, Dublin 2
Web: www.thepalacebardublin.com
Tel. +353 (0)1 6717388
Recommended Hotel Accommodation: Brooks Hotel (5 minutes' walking distance)
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