Darkey Kelly's Bar & Restaurant
+353 83 346 4682+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:30 - 23:00
Mon
10:30 - 23:30
Tue
10:30 - 23:30
Wed
10:30 - 23:30
Thu
10:30 - 23:30
Fri
10:30 - 0:30
Sat
10:30 - 0:30
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travellers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
Irish, Bar, European, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
features
Details
CUISINES
Irish, Bar, European, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music
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4.5
2,123 reviews
Excellent
1,570
Very good
439
Average
72
Poor
23
Terrible
19
permia
64751 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
In grand surrounding of traditional dark wood panelling we perused the ample menu. Choosing seafood chowder and fillet of salmon, we sat back and enjoyed the pleasant ambiance.
The goodies arrived without delay and were very tasty. Sharing a banoffee pie, accompanied with coffee and cappuccino, was a fine culmination.
From warm welcome, staff were great, friendly and attentive.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for the kind review. We are delighted that you enjoyed the food we have on offer.
Kind Regards
Nathy T.
Written 27 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pete M
Oldham37 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
All I can say is - fantastic.
What a diamond place to find.
The food is absolutely delicious and was such a surprise.
Drink selection was more than expected - especially the whiskey but jeez the food.
I took my wife for a spot of lunch and after one course we were so fill up and satisfied we couldn’t eat again until much later in the evening.
I’m tempted to go back to Dublin just for the food in this place
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for taking the time to write a review for us. Hope you had a wonderful trip to Dublin.
Regards
Nathy
Written 27 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lordys92
Tamworth120 contributions
Nov 2021 • couples
Came here for drinks, dinner and live music and we were not disappointed.
The doorman was lovely, really polite and couldn’t do enough to try and fit everyone in, even with Covid rules etc.
The live music was very enjoyable with a mix of traditional Irish folk songs and more mainstream choices to suit all (and to top it off, they even had the Liverpool match on in the background which we were chuffed about!)
The food was absolutely delicious!! We had wings and the lamb shank and I’m not usually a big lamb fan but this was cooked extremely well and the mash and veg accompaniment complemented it perfectly! The wings were crispy underneath and dripping in spicy sauce with celery on the side for dipping which my partner really enjoyed too! Best wings I’ve had by far!
The waiting staff were attentive and made sure your drink never ran out before offering a top up even on a busy Saturday evening.
I would definitely recommend this place if you’re visiting Dublin!
Written 20 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for the kind review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your visit with us.
Kind Regards
Nathy
Written 27 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elaine B
Downpatrick124 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
Called here after a long walk and looking a rest. On entering the bar I noticed a warm friendly atmosphere. There was a great ambience about with all nationalities.
Stunning pint of Guinness and beautiful bowl of homemade tomato soup and breads. My husband had a Cajun chicken BLT with chips. Food was piping hot and very reasonable. Could happily have stayed only we had a schedule to keep.
Great place and would love to return.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our pub here - Glad you enjoyed the food here we serve - we are very proud of our kitchen so its great to see that you enjoyed your meal here with us.
Hopefully it wont be too long until your next visit to us.
Kind Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 10 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mr Creosote
Maidwell18 contributions
May 2022 • family
We visited this great pub 3 times during our 4 day stay in Dublin. Friday night for food and live music, Saturday afternoon for a quick Guinness and Sunday to watch the mighty Leeds Utd get stuffed again :( Every time we went in the place it was buzzing and the staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly. We nearly left straight away on our first visit but a member of staff spotted us and said a table for 4 was just about to come free. I’m glad he did the atmosphere was always fantastic, the live music was great and the place was a little less raucous than the bars in the middle of Temple Bar. This Pub epitomises Dublin for me, great fun, incredibly friendly and welcoming. Easily our favourite pub in Dublin.
Written 14 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for the lovely review. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to the bar.
Kind Regards
Nathy
Written 27 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sicandea
Canton of Zug11 contributions
Apr 2022 • couples
We had to wait nearly an hour to be seated around 7pm, very loud and crowded. The food itself was good, although the lamb was cold when it arrived. The portions were big and the live music was nice. I would recommend it more as a bar rather than restaurant.
Written 21 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for taking the time to review our pub here - sorry you didnt enjoy your dinner with us .
We try out best to ensure everyone has a great night here with us so Im sorry we didnt deliver on your visit.
Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 27 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alex B
North Yorkshire253 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
We came here after a bad experience at another place and we were not disappointed. At first impressions you could think this is a tourist trap, but the local music is classic and the service I found was top notch.
There were no seats available at first but the waiter tried to find us one really quickly and we were sat within 5 mins of entering.
The food portions are huge, tasty and homely. We had the mountain burger (monstrous), chicken wings, guiness stew and tagliatelle. None disappointed and we were left full and happy.
There were some excellent beers, the Howing Gale and Wunderbar IPA were really nice so worth having if you enjoy a larger.
Our waiter was very attentive and super friendly even with a huge pub to tend too.
If we could take him home with us, we would of. It's a cosy, traditional feeling pub, one of the nicest we found out of many pubs in Dublin.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our pub here - great to see that you had a nice evening here with us. We have 27 different beers on tap so there is plenty of choice - although the two you picked are really good ones.
Hopefully it wont be too long until your next visit to us.
Kind Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 10 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
borlo1
Dundee301 contributions
Mar 2023 • couples
First of all, this is a cracking bar with a good atmosphere. We arrived about 4.45 in the afternoon as it does not take reservations and this turned out to be wise as it got rapidly busier within the next hour. The menu was fairly standard Irish pub grub and we both opted for the Irish stew. This was excellent. Tender meat with tasty thich rich gravy and loads of mash. Wholesome and very filing. Was pretty decent value for Dublin too at 14.95 Euros each. The bar had a huge range of beers and spirits and as usual in Dublin were on pricey side - over 7 Euros a pint. Service was also good. Would highly recommend.
Written 28 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy Towey
Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review about us here - I hope you had a nice holiday here in Dublin.
Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 21 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Toñi E
2 contributions
Mar 2022 • friends
last week (8th march) i was in dublin and i went to visit this pub. Totally recommended, good live music, very tasty food and very good beer. The staff is very friendly and attentive, I had a problem with an older waiter, hairless, who seemed to be angry and didn't want to put food on me, but I was served by another waiter who very kindly solved my problem and even recommended what to order. I want to thank you for your attention, you told me your name was Tom. I will definitely come back
Written 16 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thanks for the v kind review you gave us
Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 7 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rob Nesbit
Warsaw4114 contributions
Sept 2021 • none
Staying in the Hotel attached to the pub, a quick hop, skip and jump ventured into the bar and ordered a big burger and a pint of the black stuff.
Quick and efficient service, burger was delicious, albeit difficult to eat as it was over packed with quality, and the Guinness was dead on.
Nice relaxing pub, good atmosphere was building up, and service and beers all perfect. Will be back.
Written 29 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for the kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in our attached hotel and hope to welcome you back on your next visit to Dublin.
Kind Regards
Nathy T
Written 27 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SMC
59 contributions
Feb 2023 • family
We visited Darkey Kelly’s twice during our stay in Dublin last week. Once for a late lunch and again for dinner and music. The staff was friendly on both visits and the food (especially the soup) was delicious with wonderful traditional music being played.
Written 28 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy Towey
Thank you for the kind review - I hope you had a nice trip to Dublin.
Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 21 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kirsty M
Paisley139 contributions
Oct 2022 • family
It seems that Irish people visit this pub as well as tourists. It is extremely busy at all times, you have to keep an eye out for a table becoming free and then run and grab it, fighting off others in the process. The drink and food is expensive (€7 for a pint of cider), but not any more than anywhere else in the area. We had the pleasure of listening to the live music of the Irish Celts. They created a great atmosphere and the music was beautiful, funny at times and sad at others. We would recommend offering any empty spaces at your table to others, as we enjoyed the community of sharing our table with a few different groups.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for taking the time to review us.
Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 26 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mike C
Sydney17 contributions
Sept 2023 • couples
We loved Darkey's. It was the first place we stopped in at on our way to the Temple area and our favourite. It felt far more authentic than the other pubs in the area, with a real traditional band, rather than just a covers band (or maybe we just left before they got to Wonderwall).
It was busy when we got there about 6pm, but managed to sit. Dining can be tricky when the pubs start filling up, so we were lucky, and as much as it had a great atmosphere, it was never too busy. We weren't in full view of the band, but the layout allows for a good experience all-round.
Staff were great, jokey and responsive. A great way to kick off our trip. We had fish and chips, and while I thought it was excellent and plentiful, however by the time it arrived the meals were cold and some of the fish was undercooked and the side-salad was quite comically limp. Possibly a result of a busy kitchen at peak time, but would've been perfect with a little more care. The other meals we saw looked great too, especially the beef and Guinness stew.
Written 5 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy Towey
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about us - I hope you had a nice holiday here in Dublin.
Hopefully you will come back & visit again some time .
Regards
Nathy Towey
Written 12 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RunFL85
West Palm Beach40 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
It was my mom’s first trip to Dublin and she wanted to experience a trad session. I’m so glad we stopped in! The food was delicious (salmon and beef stew), and the craic was even better. Don’t miss this great pub while in Dublin!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for the kind review. We are delighted that you enjoyed our trad session and hope to see you again soon.
Kind Regards
Nathy T
Written 27 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ACLove
Clarion1 contribution
Nov 2019 • solo
I love this pub. Their Guinness beef stew is the best I’ve ever had and a “must try.” I crave it and wish I had the recipe (I live in the states). The live music is great. The staff are friendly and accommodating. I cannot wait to come back!!!!
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathy T
Thank you for taking the time to write a review for us. Hope you had a great trip to Dublin.
Regards
Nathy
Written 27 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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