10 Best Breweries and Beer Places in Ashbourne

"The headquarters of Ireland's most famous beer adds a bit of culture and history to your vacation drinking, giving you some depth beyond throwing back a pint in a pub (not that there's anything wrong with that). Three bars, three restaurants (all with bars), classes, and tastings all are on offer here, and although the public can't tour the brewery itself, this is the closest Guinness enthusiasts can get to the makings of the dark beer. The Storehouse's restaurants serve fresh food designed to pair with Guinness."

"Ranging over four floors on the western edge of Temple Bar, this pub began flying the microbrewery flag over 10 years ago, and today it's still going strong. Come here for a range of excellent in-house Irish brews: from dark, velvety porters (try the Oyster Stout made, yes, with fresh oysters) to red ales (try the fruity Porterhouse Red). This place can be touristy and very packed: but still, well worth a visit."

"Producing the very best lager in the world, it’s no surprise you can’t get moved here on a weekend. Welcoming stag and hen parties with open arms, the award winning Porterhouse Central is a multi-level gem in the Temple Bar. Opening its doors in 1996, this is Dublin’s first pub brewery, and has continued to grow in popularity since the very day it opened."

"Emma Devlin and Cathal O’Donoghue founded Rascals Brewing in 2014. It’s a bit of a journey out past Kilmainham Gaol, but Rascals Brewing Company is one of the most innovative breweries in Dublin. Going beyond the standard styles found at every other brewery, Rascals has unique beers such as Chardonnay Saisons, Mint Chocolate Stouts, & Strawberry Vanilla Milkshake IPAs."

"Rascals have a pretty healthy-sized outdoor area, but part of it is covered over with massive covers and canopies. Stillgarden Distillery situated beside Rascals also have a big marquee set up for those looking for cocktails. You can find Rascals in Inchicore off the Tyrconnell Road, visit their website for booking information."

"This neighbourhood bistro is run by renowned chef Philip Yeung and has a shiny reputation among Dublin’s restaurant scene for serving the best local ingredients, cooking them with flair and – most importantly – whopper flavours. Awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand status in 2018 for its “modern and creative” dishes with “vibrant colours and fresh, natural flavours” Craft serves up brunch, lunch and drool-worthy dinners. The best cooking can often be found outside the city, and Craft is proof."

"The buses will take you past the major sights and, depending on which tour you choose (grab some leaflets the evening before or do some research on the internet), even far-flung attractions like the Guinness Brewery, Kilmainham Gaol, and Phoenix Park will be seen. The main thing to remember here: get a good seat on top, enjoy the view, listen to the commentary, and snap away... but do not get off the bus. This is your city tour."

"One of the city’s most rewarding walks is the 800-meter stroll along the Great South Wall to the Poolbeg Lighthouse, that red tower visible in the middle of Dublin Bay. It’s best enjoyed around sunset on a clear day, when you’ll have a stunning view of the bay and the city behind you."

"The Great South Wall is one of Dublin’s most gorgeous coastal walks, the trail leads all the way out to Poolbeg Light House. This is a fantastic walk in the evening time as it is a great place to catch the sunset. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the lighthouse from the car park."

"Poolbeg Lighthouse is also one of the most Instagrammable places in Dublin. The lighthouse is an aid to navigation. It's a very photogenic place because of the beautiful red color."

"Originally designed by Richard Castle, and built in 1745, Leinster House has been the seat of the Irish Parliament since 1922. Built in a Georgian style, the building has undergone regular renovations since Victorian times, with a notable extension built in the 1960s to house parliamentarian offices. The design, following the plan of a Palladian country house with a double height hall and picture gallery, influenced the White House in Washington DC, in particular with a projecting bow on the north side."

"Leinster House once served as the home of James Fitzgerald, the Duke of Leinster and Earl of Kildare. Leinster House in Dublin. Photo: Duby Tal for Tourism Ireland."

"Here at John’s, we are known as The Home of Guinness for a reason!. Strolling distance from the Guinness Storehouse, we guarantee the freshest, creamiest pints, and world-class spirits, served up by our friendly team of an expert bartender. Thomas Street has a history of distilling, a history of tailoring and a history of being the original home of a pint of plain."

"The Rua Red is a gallery which aims at all the members of the community, located in the new cultural quarter of Tallaght is a more urban gallery. There you will see very different things from visual art exhibitions to film screenings."

"RUA RED is South Dublin’s hub for creative activity for all ages – with Galleries, Films, Workshops, Classes, Performances, Community Events, Artistic tenants and much more."

"Source: Photo by Flickr user William Murphy used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Named for one of Ireland’s greatest writers, the Bernard Shaw is a big pub in the St Kevin’s area of the city with a wide range of draught beers, ciders and cocktails among other delights for thirsty Dubliners and tourists alike. They also do a very tasty line in food, and while pizzas and larger plates are outside the 10 USD price range, their toasted sandwiches are excellent and highly affordable."

"The Shaw' as it's known to its young, trendy clientele is the Dublin equivalent of London's Shoreditch pubs. Seemingly compact and indistinguishable from other pubs from the outside it's the sprawling beer garden inside where all the excitement is contained. The Blue Bus contains a pizzeria, the walls are covered in colourful graffiti and the pool table is rarely left unattended."