London's best Irish pubs

Best Irish pubs in London

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  Auld Shillelagh

  105 Stoke Newington Church St, London, N16 0UD

  Known for its exceptional Guinness, always poured with care, and occasional raucous entertainment. It's the kind of pub where the wine list runs to 'red or white', and where the staff are so matey and hospitable that they'll offer to bring your Guinness over to your table rather than have you hang around at the bar and wait for it to reach perfection.
  See Auld Shillelagh venue details
  
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  The Blythe Hill Tavern

  Stanstead Rd, London, SE23 1JB

  Three tiny, dark, wood-panelled rooms, with a bar in each housing framed jockey portraits. Behind the bar, the pumps have at least three regularly changing, well-kept guest ales (Hepworth’s Old Winter Ale, Harvey’s Bitter, Dark Star Hophead on our visit – not Irish, but good). There’s Guinness, of course, and a fair few Irish whiskeys. Smart, tie-clad bar staff are knowledgeable and friendly.
  See The Blythe Hill Tavern venue details
  
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  Boston Arms

  Junction Rd, London, N19 5QQ

  This huge venue is a popular and sometimes raucous Irish pub located just opposite Tufnell Park tube.
  See Boston Arms venue details
  
• The Claddagh Ring

  Church Rd, London, NW4 4EA

  The three pubs of the Claddagh Ring group are decked out in suitably gem-like colours. Find the Claddagh Ring branches on Church Street, Holloway Road and Salusbury Road.
  See The Claddagh Ring venue details
  
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  Cow

  89 Westbourne Park Rd, London, W2 5QH

  A cosy slice of (faux-)Irish pubbery in hip Notting Hill known for its good oysters and Guinness. The Cow is a rural Irish pub as imagined by Disney – all cutesy cottage-style net curtains, Guinness advertising and glossy 1950s Technicolor paintwork.
  See The Cow venue details
  
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  Filthy MacNasty's

  68 Amwell St, London, EC1R 1UU

  This boozer is the epitome of smart slumming, and is often brimming with would-be inebriates. It's a place for ale aficionados, with the likes of Wadworth 6X and Brains' Reverend James ('A taste of the good life') on draught, and there are almost as many Irish whiskeys available as from their Caledonian counterparts.
  See Filthy MacNasty's venue details
  
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  Harp

  47 Chandos Place, London, WC2N 4HS

  As the first London venue to win the Camra National Pub of the Year accolade, this diminutive Covent Garden pub pumps eight real ales and has casks of scrumpy behind the bar. Irish landlady too.
  See Harp venue details
  
• Irish Cultural Centre

  Blacks Rd, Hammersmith, W6 9DT

  As well as holding regular Irish film and literary events, theatre performances, regular ceilis, art shows, talks and educational classes, this cultural centre also has a music programme that embraces both adventurous contemporary music and more traditional forms.
  See Irish Cultural Centre venue details
  
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  Quinn's

  65 Kentish Town Rd, London, NW1 8NY

  With Miles Davis on the stereo and a stream of banter from two generations of Quinns behind the bar, this Irish free house manages to feel like a sanctuary from the outside world.
  See Quinn's venue details
  
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  Porterhouse

  21-22 Maiden Lane, London, WC2E 7NA

  A Covent Garden outpost of the Dublin brewery, this cavernous hostelry has a ‘traditional seisiun’ every Sunday evening. Nine own-brewed ales rotate on the pumps, but the bottles are global.
  See Porterhouse venue details
  
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  Royal Exchange

  26 Sale Place, London, W2 1PU

  An Irish-run pub which is a handy walking distance from Paddington station. It serves two kinds of Guinness.
  See Royal Exchange venue details
  
• Sir Colin Campbell

  Kilburn High Rd, London, NW6 2BY

  Two neon lit rooms in Kilburn, filled with thick accents and sessions three nights a week. Unpolished, perhaps, but utterly genuine.
  See Sir Colin Campbell venue details
  
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  Tipperary

  Fleet St, London, WC2 7NA

  This slender, centuries-old pub on Fleet Street is billed as the first to serve Guinness this side of the Irish Sea. It still serves a decent Guinness, of course, or choose from one of three Irish ales or a range of whiskeys.
  See Tipperary venue details
  
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  Toucan

  19 Carlisle St, London, W1D 3BY

  This Soho pub could easily be mistaken for a Guinness museum: publicity posters for the black stuff cover the walls, overlooked by a trio of toucans. The Toucan is a bit faded and frayed around the edges, but it does a mean Black Velvet.
  See Toucan venue details