Irish pubs can be found in most cities around the world and often become a meeting point for students, sports lovers and Irish abroad. If you are looking for a good pint of beer, some traditional Irish music, or you’re just interested in watching some sports, then look no further than the city’s top Irish bars. Living as an Irish student in Barcelona I have visited as many Irish bars as I can, and from this I have compiled my favorie Irish pubs in the city.
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The Shamrock Irish Bar
First up on the list is the Shamrock Bar on Carrer dels Tallers. Located just a five-minute walk off La Rambla, it has some of the best draught beers in Barcelona. Opened in 1997, Shamrock is the fourth oldest Irish bar in the city and is the place to go for your sporting fix during the week. The bar shows all types of sports from GAA, soccer, and rugby matches and the staff is accommodating to any matches you would like to view. Drink prices are very reasonable for the location, with over 13 draught beers and stouts to enjoy. Guinness wouldn’t be my drink of choice but this Irish bar prides itself on some of the best you can enjoy outside of Ireland. Not only does The Shamrock offer televised sports, it also holds live music sessions and has a varied food menu including pub grub classics such as hearty nachos or an Irish staple of chips with curry sauce. The Shamrock offers a homely setting for any Irish that are missing their traditional pubs at home or anyone that would like to experience an Irish bar abroad, and it boasts some of the nicest and friendliest staff in the city. This Irish bar is personally my favorite here and is a must on your list while visiting Barcelona.
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McCarthy’s Bar
McCarthy's bar is located in the heart of the city near Urquinaona metro stop (L1 Red Line). This Irish pub is a meeting point for many groups and young people who study and work here. All the staff members are Irish, giving authenticity to the pub and they are always on hand to give you information about the city that you won’t find in a guidebook. Like many other Irish pubs in the city, McCarthy’s offers televised sports and great Guinness to go along with any match that is being played. This is a perfect pub to grab a drink while exploring the city with the landmark Catedral de Barcelona located just down the street.
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Scobies Irish bar
Centrally located next to Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya, Scobies welcomes a mixture of locals, expats and tourists throughout the year. Its name originates from a famous pub in Ireland that closed its doors in 2001, with Scobies in Barcelona taking over the tradition-one of the owners is a direct descendant of the original pub owners. If you are looking to try some traditional Irish whiskey then this is the place- it boasts over 30 types of whiskey, mostly distilled and produced in Ireland. The pub has recently begun serving food Monday to Friday and offers menu items like a traditional steak sandwich or a hearty chilli con carne. Scobies is in a great location and a comfortable, relaxing bar for anyone passing by its doors.
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The George Payne Irish Bar
If you are looking for something a little different from your traditional Irish bar, but still want to enjoy some good beer, then the George Payne is for you. Located just opposite the Urquinaona metro stop, The George Payne offers a wide range of live sports, activities, and drink deals throughout the week. It also offers a huge burger menu and the usual pub food classics every day. Personally, this is one of my favorite bars to visit with friends as their food and drink deals are some of the best in the city. This pub is the place to go for all students and party lovers as their “Blackout trays” and shot deals offer an affordable night out. With music playing and drinks flowing The George Payne offers a location to meet people of all nationalities and backgrounds (not just Irish). Check out the bar’s social media for up-to-date news on activities and deals on offer throughout the week.
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Flaherty's Irish Pub
Plaça de Joaquim Xirau, 08002 BarcelonaLike many other Irish bars in the city, Flaherty’s Irish Pub prides itself on its long list of live sports being shown there every day. Located near the end of La Rambla, Flaherty’s offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with brunch being served on the weekends. This is one of the best bars in the city if you are looking to watch a big match with a large gang; most of its tables and the courtyard area cater for groups, making the atmosphere almost electric inside. The pub offers all the traditional beers and stouts and even has beer and cocktail towers to quench your thirst. The website offers a booking request form for anyone that is planning to visit the pub with a large group. Each day the pub updates its social media, listing all the matches on show in the bar that day so you’re never in doubt on what matches are being televised.
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Dunne's Bar
Dunne's Irish Bar replicates some of the most authentic elements that you would find in a traditional bar in Ireland. This is one of the largest pubs on the list and is the perfect location to enjoy any sporting match being televised with plenty of TV screens and two huge projectors to showcase it all. The pub offers a huge menu ranging from sandwiches, hearty meals and desserts. Dunne's also offers an outdoor terrace showing views of the oldest part of Barcelona which differs it from any other Irish pub in the city.
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The Old Irish Pub
Contrary to its name, The Old Irish Pub is one of the newest bars in Barcelona. Located right in the middle of La Rambla, this pub offers live music from 19:00 and then a DJ from 22:00 onwards every day of the week. Live music in pubs is hard to come by during COVID-19, but the Old Irish ensures everyone has a good time with its resident musicians changing weekly. Similar to George Payne, Old Irish shows all the riveting football matches while still pumping the tunes all night long. This new pub has given a new lease of life to the Irish pub scene here in Barcelona, and with an extensive cocktail menu and offers on beer throughout the week, the Old Irish pub is worth checking out when walking down La Rambla.
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The Fastnet
If you are looking to quench your thirst after a long day at the beach then check out The Fastnet pub on your commute home. This bar is located on the long stretch of road that leads to Platja de Sant Miquel and offers an extensive menu of food and drink. Keeping with the nautical theme of its location, the pub is decorated with framed photos of lighthouses and sailboats. This is the perfect spot to sit down and enjoy a drink after a day in the Barcelona sun.
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The Michael Collins Irish Bar
Situated only a two-minute walk away from the Sagrada Família, The Michael Collins pub is one of the oldest Irish bars in the city. Established in 1997, the pub offers live, traditional Irish music sessions every Monday night. If music isn’t your thing then you can enjoy a cold draught beer while watching the many sporting matches being shown there. The pub also offers an extensive food menu for anyone that gets hungry while visiting the beautiful Sagrada Famíla. The Michael Collins, unlike most other Irish bars in the city, has a long counter stretching from the front door all the way back to the projector screen allowing you to experience the authentic Irish tradition of sitting at the bar.
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The Wild Rover
Another Irish bar offering live sports on three giant HD screens and another six large TVs, The Wild Rover is very close to the beach, situated just at the end of La Rambla. Its prices reflect the location, with a pint of Guinness at €5.50. As a student living on a budget this is one of the pricier pubs on the list, but still remains a charming place to visit with Irish memorabilia covering the walls. This bar also showcases live music every night from 23:00 and is a great place to enjoy a mixture of sports and live music in the city.
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