Share
Published 14:54 25 Mar 2026 GMT
With the clocks about to change and the weather *hopefully* set to pick up, rightfully, there's only one thing on our minds...
Picture it now: You finish a long week in the office, the sun is shining and you get THE text - 'Pints?'.
Dublin is well known for having some lovely watering holes, and beer gardens a-plenty, but when it comes to the best beer gardens it can be difficult to narrow them down.
The spots on this list range in size and vibe with one common denominator – they’re all excellent places to spend a sunny afternoon:
Sandyford
Not only does The Blue Light pull some of the city's best pints of Guinness, it also has a cracking beer garden with an equally unrivalled view of Dublin below. Set in the Dublin Mountains this spot is a bit of a trek, but boy is it worth it.
Ballsbridge
Could we seriosuly make this list without mentioning it?
This beer garden on the main street of Ballsbridge has capacity for upwards of 300.
When the sun is out it's quite the suntrap, but there are plenty of covered areas too helped along the way by the new retractable roof. It's a festival-style set up with park benches and movable chairs, completely dog-friendly with plenty of screens if the match is on.
Merrion Row
One of the city's most iconic pubs, even Dua Lipa paid it a visit.
O'Donoghue's beer garden is a superb spot to be on a fine evening.
Craic, ceoil agus a cúpla pints, talk about a perfect combination.
Rathmines
Pizza, pints and plenty of good vibes - you can't ask for much more.
While inside Kodiac is always recipe for a great night, on a sunny day outside is the place to be.
Grab an Aperol, throw on a trucker hat and watch the world go by from behind your 90s shades.
Beggars Bush
This is one of the most buzzing beer gardens to go to after a match at the Aviva Stadium, no matter the match-day result, there's always a great atmosphere out the front.
It's nice and contained, with plenty of heaters if it gets a little nippy after the sun goes down. The staff inside are super efficient and despite being in a pretty fancy part of town, you aren't going to get ripped off in Ryan's.
Trinity College
Unofficially dubbed to be the city's biggest beer garden, the bar in the middle of Trinity College is set right beside an expanse of greenery and in true Trinners fashion a cricket pitch.
Students and non-students can buy cans or pints in the Pav and enjoy them out the front where there's loads of seating, just bring a cushion in case you don't get a seat and end up with a sore arse on the concrete.
Clontarf
Boasting not one but two outdoor areas, it's big indoors and even larger outside. There's always a great atmosphere in Harry Byrnes, it can get busy on the weekends but you can still find a seat no problem.
Known to have some of the best wood-fired pizza in the city, with some banging sides too. Plenty of screens for sport when it's on and there's a good selection of beers on tap including a few from a local brewery.
Phibsboro
You may know this Phibsoro spot as the pub that offers unreal deals ahead of big gigs, even renaming itself 'Garth Brooks HQ' to celebrate the country singer’s Croke Park gigs back in 2022, but they’ve also got a great beer garden out the back with plenty of space for groups.
Middle Abbey Street
One of the more central spots on the list, you wouldn’t know about Wigwam's buzzy outdoor terrace from looking at the front of the building.
But we assure you she’s there complete with a retractable roof, making this the perfect destination for an outdoor drink in the middle of town.
Smithfield
Securing a bench in Bonobos will make you feel like you've won the lotto, once you've found your ticket you don't let go of it for love or money.
With incredible pizzas, proper cocktails and a great beer list, if the sun is shining down on that ivy-clad, dog-friendly haven, sure why would you want to go anywhere else?
Explore more on these topics:
