Barcelona’s Irish Pubs

Enjoying the craic in the Catalan capital

By Duncan Rhodes Barcelona Life

You’re a long way from Dublin, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great pint of Guinness and meet some friendly, like-minded, drinkers and thinkers. I reveal the best of Barcelona’s Irish, British and international boozers.

Greats beers, tasty grub, live football and sports on TV, friendly faces, English-speaking staff and even the odd dartboard – it’s not a secret formula but you can see why British and Irish pubs are popular the world over. And that great bastion of civilised society can be found in plentiful numbers in Barcelona – so if you’re tired of drinking beer from teeny Spanish glasses and hanker for a pint of Guinness, ale or a premium lager then you needn’t go thirsty in the Catalan capital.

If you’re tired of drinking beer from teeny Spanish glasses and hanker for a pint of Guinness, ale or a premium lager then you needn’t go thirsty in the Catalan capital.

Indeed, many of Barcelona’s Irish pubs are actually rather nicer than the ones back on the Emerald Isle, with sun-kissed terraces on romantic plazas complementing beautifully decked-out interiors. Ok, some are more your typical dark and dingy dens of inequity, but even these are brimming with character – and characters!

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a place to watch the World Cup, Euros or Six Nations rugby, or just a homely hangout to while away an hour or three, below are some of the best joints in town.

Right enough talk… it’s your round.

…article continues after the photo.

The Best British & Irish Pubs in Barcelona

Below you’ll find a selection of some of the best British/English, Australian and Irish bars anywhere in the Catalan capital; or else go to our drink section and search by ‘pub’ for even more options.

1. Flaherty’s Irish Pub

Easily one of Barna’s best Irish bars, Flaherty’s has got it all going for it: a great variety of booze on tap, such as Guinness, Murphy’s, Peroni and Strongbow, an extensive menu of light bites and hearty meals, 8 screens showing every sporting event you can think of and a pool table. I particularly like the little plaza with terrace seating where you can drink in the sun along with your cerveza. Nice and civilised by day, with folk enjoying coffee, Irish breakfast (served until 5pm), newspapers and WiFi, or maybe a beer and some sport, by night things heat up considerably as folks order 3-litre sangria towers or take advantage of drinks deals on cocktails and beer buckets. If you have no special plans for Sunday be sure to pop down for their roast lunch, served from midday. Find just off the bottom of Las Ramblas.
Plaça Joaquim Xirau
+34 93 4126263
www.pflaherty.com

2. The Old Irish Pub

A relative newcomer to Barcelona (despite the name!), The Old Irish Pub wasted no time in becoming a regular feature of the city’s nightlife scene thanks to its position on Las Ramblas, killer cocktails, great beers and crowd-pleasing party tunes that continue until 3am at the weekends. During the day things are considerably more civilised, but just as fun. Plenty of high definition TVs screen the latest football and sports, while plushly-padded pews are the perfect place to plonk the posterior for pub grub and a pint of Paulaner or Guinness. Plus at 8pm every night, there’s top quality live music.
Rambla dels Caputxins 31
+34 93 5956565
oldirishpub.es

3. Belushi’s Bar

If you like sports and friendly international faces but don’t care if you never see another Leprechaun or Shamrock clover in your life, then you might like Belushi’s Bar, which has all the ingredients of great pub (huge TV screens, generous drinks promos, tasty burgers and other lip-smacking grub) minus the cliched symbols of the Emerald Isle. With a youth hostel right above it, expect to find yourself drinking with a young and crazy crowd from all over the world. Big on events, you can always expect a good party here for the likes of Halloween or major sporting occasions.
C/Bergara 3
+34 93 6674588
belushis.com/barcelona-las-ramblas

4. The George Payne

For an awesome party pub that’s also great for watching sports, it would be hard to beat number 4 on this list. The George Payne is beloved by locals, expats and travellers alike, and there’s never a dull night in this cavernous venue in the centre of town. Ten high definition mounted televisions, plus a giant projector, screen all the Premier League and La Liga action (and much more besides), while regular events, such as Beer Pong Mondays, Ladies Night on Fridays and Karaoke Sundays, keep the atmosphere simmering at all times. As well as classic pub grub and Guinness, there are daily drinks promos on cocktails, spirits and beers, while braver souls can order their infamous ‘Blackout Tray’ of shots to really get the night started. ‘The Payne’, as its referred to by locals, is open from 1pm every day and keeps going until 2 or 3am, with resident DJs spinning tunes until closing.
Pl. d’Urquinaona 5
+34 93 4815294
www.thegeorgepayne.com

5. CocoVail Beer Hall

Another fantastic international bar, CocoVail is an American style beer hall centrally located near the bottom of the Passeig de Gracia. Hefty trestle-style tables, high definition TV screens, great bar snacks and a casual, friendly crowd mean it more than deserves its place on this page – despite a lack of Guinness on tap! No worries though, the 24 Catalan craft beers will give drinkers plenty of delicious options to wet the whistle. I recommend trying some of their hot wings too… although the really spicy ones are rather eye-watering, so best to exercise prudence when choosing your flavours.
C/Arago 284
+34 93 7822479
www.cocovailbeerhall.com

6. Obama Gastropub

This English gastropub has been decked out in African colonial style. Almost every square inch of its wood-panelled walls is covered with black and white photos of lions, crocodiles, tribal warriors, British officers and other memorabilia for those times. Just half a block away from the thriving Passeig de Gracia, Obama is ideally located for a post-sightseeing or shopping pint, and their extensive food menu has something for everyone, from pizza and pasta to prize steaks. Eight high definition TVs screen football and other major sports, while live bands drop by on a nightly basis from 11pm.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 603
+34 93 3016524
obamabcn.com

7. Michael Collins

This atmospheric pub, named after the Irish revolutionary, is found near Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia church, so if you find climbing those towers has brought on a bit of thirst, then you can pop over the road for a little quencher. The dark interior suits a winter drinking session more than a hot summer’s day, but there’s usually some friendly folk inside, whatever the weather.
Plaça de la Sagrada Familia 4
michaelcollinspubs.com

8. The Black Horse

It may be English, but you can still have an Irish cider and enjoy the game at the Black Horse. Frequented by locals as well as ex-pats, especially during Barcelona FC matches, the Horse’s coup de grace is undoubtedly the street terrace. Find it in the Borne district.
C/Allada Vermell 16

Further Reading

Hopefully we’ve pointed you in the direction of your new favourite hang out. But if not perhaps you’ll find it on our article about the best concert venues in Barcelona right here. Meanwhile, if you’re not a big Guinness fan perhaps you’re more of an aficionado of the fine art of mixology (that’s cocktail making to you!)?

You’ll find a list of all the best watering holes in the city on this page, from dive bars to VIP nightclubs.

About the Author

Duncan the AuthorDuncan established Barcelona Life in 2009, whilst freelancing for the likes of Conde Nast, The Guardian, Easyjet Magazine, CNN Traveller and many more. From interviews with Ferran Adria to revealing the secrets of the city’s poetry brothels, he knows the city inside out… and shares all his best tips right here.

2 Comments

  • Thomas

    I am coming on Tuesday 14th June and looking to see if there are any music sessions on during the week ? I am an award winning Sean nos singer and wondered is there an opportunity to sing a few songs in Barcelona it is very unlikely people will hear Sean nos in Barcelona

    12.06.2022

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