Eat · Temple Bar and Dublin Castle
The Brazen Head
A pub that claims the site of Dublin’s oldest licensed house: go for an early dinner or a pint in the courtyard, stay for the live trad music from about 21:00, and book a table for food at weekends.
- Claims the oldest licensed site
- Live trad music most evenings (check)
- Courtyard on a dry night
- Order: Irish stew and a pint
- Table seating
- Walk-in window: 12:00–14:30
- Queue risk: 17:00–19:00
- Bring cash
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Cobbled Temple Bar and steep Georgian hotel steps are har…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
- Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
- Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.
- Dublin ↗The Book of Kells, the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham Gaol sell timed tickets that run out days ahead in summer: buy on the official site before you fix the day plan.
- Dublin ↗Cobbled Temple Bar and steep Georgian hotel steps are hard with big cases: bags go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
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Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Opens late morning; bar until about midnight (check)
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
12:00–14:30
Reservations
Reserve ahead
Paying
Bring cash
Per person
€20–40 (≈ US$25–50)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
Tip
Format
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Your first order
- Pint of stoutPint of GuinnessPoured slowly; wait for it to settle.€6.50–8≈ US$8–10
Menus and prices change; the board on the day wins.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
How to order
- Order drinks at the bar; food is usually ordered at the table (check).
- If you join a round, buy yours in turn.
- Ask for a table in the courtyard on a dry evening or near the music room for the session.
- Arrive by 19:30 for a seat on a Friday or Saturday; the music starts later.
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10–15%, close to US habits.
Allergies and diets
- AskVegetarian · A few dishes; ask. · say: “Do you have a vegetarian main?”
- AskVegan · Limited; confirm with staff.
- NoHalal · No halal certification known (check).
- AskGluten-free · Ask staff about the current menu. · say: “Do you have a gluten-free menu?”
- AskNut allergy · Ask staff.
- AskAllergy · Tell the server before ordering; the kitchen will check. · say: “I have an allergy to…”
Paying
Bring cash
- No service charge on a pint; check the bill on food for a service line before adding a tip.
- Cards and contactless are accepted; cash is not needed.
- Check whether service is already on the bill; if it is, no extra tip is needed.
Booking
- Booking
- Reserve ahead
- Note
- Tables for food may be booked; check the pub’s own site before a weekend evening.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Order drinks at the bar; food is usually ordered at the table (check).
- 2If you join a round, buy yours in turn.
- 3Ask for a table in the courtyard on a dry evening or near the music room for the session.
- 4Arrive by 19:30 for a seat on a Friday or Saturday; the music starts later.Arrive by 7:30 PM for a seat on a Friday or Saturday; the music starts later.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Dia duit | dee-ah gwit |
| Goodbye | Slán | slawn |
| Thank you | Go raibh maith agat | guh rev mah ug-ut |
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Service charge on a group booking: Often 10–12.5% for parties of 6+ — Ask when you book and check the bill.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10–15%, close to US habits.
- No service charge on a pint; check the bill on food for a service line before adding a tip.
- Cards and contactless are accepted; cash is not needed.
- Tipping: About 10–12.5% in restaurants without a service charge; not expected for a pint at the bar; round up for taxis.
- Check whether service is already on the bill; if it is, no extra tip is needed.
At the table
- Look for a busy pub or café with a short menu; a long list of every dish is a sign of a tourist kitchen.
- Book dinner on Friday and Saturday, and book weeks ahead for a Michelin-starred table.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- €20–40 (≈ US$25–50) per person for a meal with a drink (2026 estimate)
Paying, diet and allergies
Paying
Accepted.
Contactless is normal.
Not applicable.
Apple Pay and Google Pay work with contactless.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianask
A few dishes; ask.
Show: Do you have a vegetarian main?
- Veganask
Limited; confirm with staff.
- Halalno
No halal certification known (check).
- Gluten-freeask
Ask staff about the current menu.
Show: Do you have a gluten-free menu?
- Nut allergyask
Ask staff.
- Allergyask
Tell the server before ordering; the kitchen will check.
Show: I have an allergy to…
What is in the dishes
- Fish and chipsFish and chipsfish
- Seafood chowder with brown breadChowderwheat
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Book a table for food through the pub’s own site or by phone (check).
- How far ahead
- Book ahead for Friday or Saturday dinner
- No-show / cancel fee
- Some tables need a card guarantee for groups (check).
- Dress code
- Casual; a light waterproof for the walk.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | check before you go | Pubs are typically closed on Christmas Day. |
| Good Friday | check before you go | Alcohol sales rules on Good Friday have relaxed; check the pub’s status. |
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Hour by hour, with queue times
Quietest listed hour: 12:00 (light).
- 12:00lightlittle or no wait
- 14:00lightlittle or no wait
- 17:00busya short wait is possible
- 19:00heavyexpect a lineDinner and music
- 21:00packedexpect a long lineMusic room full
- 23:00heavyexpect a line
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; Friday and Saturday evenings run two levels higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: ask · stroller: caution · Early evening food service is family-friendly; later it is for adults
- Access
- step-free: check · An old building with several rooms and small steps; ask on arrival
Hygiene
- A busy pub with regular service; wash hands before eating.
- Ask for a jug of tap water; it is safe to drink.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not on file — Tables for food may be booked; check the pub’s own site before a weekend evening.
- Capabilities
- food · seated_rest · toilet
- Getting there
- Bridge Street Lower, 5 minutes west of Christ Church along the quays · ~5 min walk
Cons
- Busy and loud on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Food is standard pub fare at tourist prices.
- Music evenings fill up early; arrive by 19:30 for a seat.Music evenings fill up early; arrive by 7:30 PM for a seat.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Trad session | A group of musicians playing Irish traditional music on fiddle, flute and bodhrán. | Sit nearby and listen; it is polite not to talk over tunes. |
| A pint of plain | A pint of Guinness, sometimes ordered as "a pint of plain". | Say "a pint of Guinness, please". |
| Snug | A small enclosed booth in old pubs. | Ask a staff member if a snug is free. |
| Irish coffee | Hot coffee with whiskey, sugar and cream. | Order at the bar; it takes a few minutes to make. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A pint is the same price for everyone; a main course is €18–26 (≈ US$25–35) (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- Tourist pubs can add a mark-up on food; check the menu board.
- rule
- No service charge on a pint; check the bill on food for a service line before adding a tip.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge on a group booking | Often 10–12.5% for parties of 6+ | Ask when you book and check the bill. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it in Temple Bar?
No; it is on Bridge Street Lower, about 8 minutes west of the Temple Bar lanes, which is quieter and cheaper.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is The Brazen Head the oldest pub in Dublin?
It claims the site of the oldest licensed house in Ireland, with records from 1198; the present building dates from the 18th century. Treat the date as a claim, not a verified fact.
Is there live music?
Usually in the evening; check the schedule on the pub’s own site.
Do I need to book?
For dinner on Friday or Saturday, yes; for a pint, no.
How much is a pint?
About €6.50–8.00 (≈ US$8–10) in 2026 (estimate).
Is it kid-friendly?
Early evening with food, usually yes; later on, adults only in the bar (check).
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Leo Burdock's Fish and Chips8 min walkA quick fish and chips before the music.
- Queen of Tarts12 min walkTea and cake before the pub.
- Kehoe's18 min walkA quieter snug pub south of the river.
- Cornucopia17 min walkA long-running vegetarian and vegan wholefood restaurant a minute off Grafton Street: order hot dishes and salads at the counter, sit down, and use it as the meat-free lunch that also works in the rain.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Dublin, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Dublin in 4 days.
Sources
- officialFáilte Ireland (national tourism authority)
- secondaryWikivoyage — Dublin
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.