Doheny & Nesbitt

Words by Simon Difford

Address: 4-5 Lower Baggot St, (nr St Stephen's Green), Dublin, County Dublin, 2, Ireland (Eire)
Tel: +353 (0)1 676 2945
Email: info@dohenyandnesbitts.ie
Website: view Doheny & Nesbitt’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Pub (traditional British pub)
Food: Bar Snacks

Review

Doheny & Nesbitts is a legendary bar and classic example of a Dublin pub in both its patrons and decor. Its front bar boasts original Victorian snugs, bare wooden floors, carved woodwork and whiskey branded mirrors.

First established in 1867 by William Burke it was over a century later before Ned Doheny and Thomas Nesbitt took over the premises and applied their names to its frontage. Three decades on they sold to Tom and Paul Mangan who renovated the interior and later dramatically increased its size by extending backwards. It may look small from the street but it goes back a long way.

The large back sports lounge is plastered with memorabilia and on rugby days is packed and the atmosphere electric. It's also busy late week evening when politicians, civil servants, sports fans and office workers pile in from the government buildings just around the corner. In the late '80s a journalist satirically attributed Ireland's economic success to 'The Doheny and Nesbitt School of Economics'.