I shouldn't even be telling anyone about this hidden treasure but I recon if you're going to make the effort to find this place you deserve to enjoy its pleasures. Last night, I was brought to quite possibly the best pub in Dublin. This little gem, know as The Royal Oak is located in old Kilmainham, on a quiet lane behind IMMA, conveniently opposite the local cop shop. Stepping inside this pub is akin to being transported to an old rural public house from the 1950's. It couldn't be further removed from the corporate, soulless, heaving meat marts located only a couple of miles away in Dublin city center.

Almost anonymous from the outside, the decor inside is plain and simple and certainly hasn't changed all that much in the past 50 years. We wandered into the bustling main section of the bar and were greeted immediately by a friendly bar man who directed us to the wonderful, cosy snug down the steps to the back of the pub. We tucked ourselves into the corner next to a few locals and their dogs and enjoyed some of the finest stout this side of the equator. No TV, no music just the din of conversation and banter. A fantastic place for a few pints with friends and contrary to popular opinion, it is one of the few pubs of this type left in Dublin.

Published by Padraig.