Muddy Murphy's

Though it’s tucked away from view under (not even in) a nondescript shopping arcade across the road from Orchard Towers, the landlords have wisely made a virtue of its subterranean location by installing alfresco bench seats below pavement level, while indoors there’s cheer aplenty any night of the week.

Live bands – often very good ones, too – perform from a slightly raised stage, the black stuff flows freely and it’s mercifully free of those ‘comedy’ signposts which indicate Dun Loaghaire is 15,000 miles away. Food is a major plus; even at 10.30pm on a Saturday night they served us a huge, inexpensive ‘Muddy’s BLT’ with potato wedges, minutes after requesting it.

The intrusively loud sports coverage booming out from the giant TV screen can be a turn-off, particularly for non-rugby fans. But whether you’re in for a quick Guinness or staying till 2am, Muddy’s caters to every class of drinker.  Its cosmopolitan, West-meets-East clientele is a tribute to the pub’s savvy self-promotion and genuinely friendly ambience.