Travel


Irish bar voted best in the world by Lonely Planet

Wicklow pub has it all, says famous guide


The Harbour Bar in Bray has been named the best pub in the world by Lonely Planet.

It's official, the votes have been cast, counted and tallied and an Irish bar in Wicklow has been named the best pub in the world according to the international Lonely Planet Guide.

The Harbour Bar in Bray has been named the best overall pub in the world on the travel company's website. The bar is often frequented by Irish celebrities including Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Sinead O'Connor. Testament to it's charm, the bar also scooped the prize for the “off the beaten track” category this year.

The Lonely Planet travel guide is the premier source of information for tourists.

"We are really delighted to hear this," manager Colin O'Toole told the Evening Herald, whose family have owned the bar for generations.

“Congratulations Colin et al - what a well deserved coup! - Long live the Harbour!! Hurrah!,” said one well wisher on the bar's Facebook page.

Another guide stated “One of the most exclusive bars in Bray to experience. The eclectic mix of a stags head, cats, old furniture and pictures adorn the building ....A haunt for star gazers, musicians, film stars and your local characters."

Another reviewer  wrote “Cosy, warm, quite tattered but comfortable. Varies from very quiet to packed to the rafters, and hosts live music of varied influences (and quality). Selection of beer is somewhat limited but does a great pint of Guinness. One of, if not the, best pubs in Bray for a drink with a few mate."

Anothe reviewer noted “Imagine drinking in the 'Medieval' zone of the Crystal Maze - that's what you do here. The place is old and a bit grubby, but exceptionally charming and very cosy. There's an outside space and conservatory for the summer months. Furniture is uber-comfortable. Drinks are the usual offering."


Nster.com


7 Comments

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Obviously they never got up to Sligo (town) and visited Shoot the Crow. No pretensions, crappy furniture, dingy nook with a fireplace, live music and Ronan's own CD collection, and visitors from all over the world. Visit it online.
the abbey tavern in howth beats them all. slainte
I wish you Happy Halloween. fashionsb.com Hello,everybody,the good shoping place,In the Winter. Let's facelift bar! .,.,.
For Jaysus's sake, Dicey Riley's in Ballyshanny, The Black Cat in Billick town and I just started
BTW, check out the article in today's New York Times (10-24-2010) travel section about Ireland entitled, "Lost in Ireland." Matt Gross, the author, should not have stopped the antidepressants before embarking on this trip. Think bleak. Poor guy couldn't find anyone to talk to in Ireland! This has proven impossible until now. Kerry, can you believe. My wife and I just spent 16 day there (mainly in Kerry) and we started talking in JFK and never quit. And this guy's a travel writer? It must be rough for him in Pennsylvania Dutch country. They aren't known to gab that much. Hey, the only bummer about the most recent trip to Ireland (a little over a month ago)was the fact that U.S. Customs wouldn't let me bring home the turf I had gotten at a friend's house in Cahirciveen. I have taken home two bags of turf since 9-11-2001 (one was actually a discarded fertilizer bag)and I was intent on doing it this time. However, the new regime at Shannon wouldn't have it. They took our passports and brought us into a back room and it was finally determined that the turf would surely be a threat to the USA so the turf stayed and we got on the plane at the last moment. The end of the story comes the other day when a friend over tells me of an Irish Independent article (Irish Times had one, too) about an American barbecue joint owner who has brought in 10 tons of turf to burn at his place of business because it seems to help his business. All I do is stick a hunk of it in the fire when it's about 11 degrees and then I (and any others nutty enough to join me) run out and smell that unique smell of the burning turf that puts you right back there. I guess I didn't pay the right person, but it gives me hope that I may be able to get a bag of turf in again one day.
That place will never be the same. Bye, bye cozy.
Sorry....Harbour, but give me Dohney and Nesbitts in the rare auld 1970's. I fell in love with the snug at the back of this pub!
 




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