As far as pubs go in Dublin, this is hands down my favourite. Far from the typical Irish pub experience, this place is truly one of a kind. It feels like the type of place that in any other city in the world would be overrun and packed to the brim with hipsters who'd have appropriated the place as their own. At the Bernard Shaw however, it manages to capture the exact vibe - a funky interior decor, eclectic & artsy and yet somehow not being pretentious at the same time.

The place is always busy regardless of when you go here, but somehow never too busy and you always get served pretty fast. Their selection of beers is solid and there are cocktails on offer as well and there is often a 2-4-1 deal going on with 2 cocktails for 10 Euro - bargain!

The magic of this place though happens as soon as you step out the back. It is the one place in Dublin where no matter the season, out the back in the yard is where you need to be. The communal seating out the back is great, it's always heated and despite the smokers if you're a non-smoker like me you don't feel the smoke at all and can still relax. With the same street art type layout as you get indoors, this is the type of place you could really just sit and chill with your friends for hours on end, play some pool or just chat with some randoms in your surrounds.

Now if you're hungry, then comes the icing on the cake: order your pizza off the counter on the big blue bus. Yes, you read that right. The big blue bus, a double decker turned hang out spot where you order and have your pizza prepared (and with pizzas starting from 7 Euro, the prices are a real win too), and you can head upstairs, sit on the bus, drink your pint and eat your pizza in relative cosy isolation as you look out at the buzz in the courtyard below. The bus too is decorated in a sort of vintage style with dimmed lamps, cushions and the likes, it's a great spot to eat, drink and chat with mates.

Off the main tourist trail and yet still close to the centre of town this place is always a favourite. Great for an afternoon chillout or an evening out with friends alike. And with brunches in the morning and of late Saturday afternoon yoga sessions out the back you can't really go wrong here. That's why I keep coming back!

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The Bernard Shaw - 135 Photos - Bars - Harcourt - Dublin ...