Best Irish Pubs in London 2025

Spots for Guinness & Music  

London's Irish pub culture is a cornerstone of its vibrant pub scene, offering more than just a drink; they're vital community hubs brimming with craic. These London Irish pubs are famed for their warm hospitality and, crucially, for serving what many consider the best Guinness in London. Beyond the perfect pint, you'll find lively atmospheres, often with live music, making them cherished spots for both the Irish diaspora and Londoners alike. Whether you're in Covent Garden or Soho, these pubs offer a genuine taste of Ireland.

Top Irish Pubs in Central

Here are 5 in Central London, Covent Garden and Soho

Waxy O'Connor's: This legendary cCentral London pub is famous for its unique multi-level layout, central tree, and lively atmosphere perfect for Guinness, sports, and live music.

The Porterhouse: Offering a vibrant Irish atmosphere in Covent Garden, experience The Porterhouse’s impressive range of its own craft beers, great food, and regular live music across its multiple floors.

The Toucan: Is a  small but mighty spot in Soho renowned for its exceptional Guinness, lively crowd, and spontaneous traditional Irish music sessions.

O'Neill's Wardour Street: An aul  classic and reliable Irish tavern in Soho providing a welcoming atmosphere, hearty pub grub, live music, and sports on big screens.

Philomena's Irish Bar & Kitchen: Located near Covent Garden, Philomena’s is an excellent choice in central London for sports fans, especially rugby, with a good beer garden and major matches shown live.

Best Guinness in London

The Auld Shillelagh: This gem is a top contender for best Guinness in London. They are experts in the perfectly poured pint.

The Coach & Horses: This traditional pub has a fierce reputation for exceptional Guinness thanks to its meticulous, unrushed pouring process.

The Devonshire: A popular establishment which quickly gained a reputation for outstanding Guinness due to the team's expertise.

Gibney's: A place worth discovering for any Guinness lover, Gibney’s focusesing on delivering a top-tier pint of the black stuff, often cited for its freshness and smooth delivery.

The Faltering Fullback: This North London pub is highly regarded for its consistently well-poured Guinness in a vibrant setting.

Fancy a spot of lunch before you drink some of the creamiest Guinness the city has to offer? Check out our guide filled with the best places to lunch in London.  

Authentic Local Irish Pubs

5 Irish Pubs in North London

McCafferty's Bar: Delivers excellent live music, major sports, and genuine Irish hospitality.

The Claddagh Ring: Blends tradition with modern design, offering a welcoming setting for live music and sports events.

Sir Colin Campbell: Known for its intimate atmosphere and excellent traditional Irish music sessions, the pub’s mission is to provide Irish hospitality in the heart of London, ‘with a contemporary and forward-looking outlook – just like Ireland today’

The Sheephaven Bay: A Camden favourite, popular for its vibrant atmosphere.

The Dublin Castle: This iconic music venue also retains a strong Irish feel, hosting fantastic live bands regularly.

5 Irish Pubs in West London  

Connolly's: This Chiswick gem offers a friendly, family atmosphere with homemade food and traditional live music, and only a 10-minute walk from Clayton Hotel Chiswick.  

The Shanakee: Irish-owned and managed,  this Ealing pub is self-proclaimed as ‘great Guinness and Great craic’ and it is described by patrons as welcoming to all.  

O'Brien's: Known for its warm atmosphere, great Guinness, good prices, and live music,  O‘Brien’s is  just up the road from The Shanakee, why not visit them both?

Biddy Mulligan's: Situated near the Olympia, Biddy’s is another traditional Irish pub providing an inviting ambiance with a wide range of drinks.

The Parish Bar: Located near Wembley Stadium, offering a lovely beer garden, it’s a haven for all things Irish.

West London is full of fun things to do. After a pint in an Irish bar, why not visit some of the unique bars in West London, or make a date out of it, we’ve got you covered with 5 fun date ideas in West London.  

5 Irish Pubs in East London

Nancy Spains: This modern pub in Shoreditch celebrates Irish culture with nightly live trad performances.

Feeney's: Feeney's brings quality service, top-range Guinness, and live Irish music to Whitechapel.

Burkes Warehouse: This Dalston spot has delicious cocktails, a great pint of Guinness and plenty of outdoor seating.

Gibney's: As mentioned previously, Gibney’s is known for its exceptional Guinness, bringing genuine Irish hospitality and live music to the East End.  

O'Neill's (Leytonstone): Expect a warm Irish welcome, tasty food, great music, and everything needed for a memorable party.

What Makes a Great Irish Pub?

A truly great Irish pub in London offers more than just a place to drink; it provides an authentic experience rooted in Irish culture and hospitality. When looking for the best, here's what to look for:

Guinness Quality: A perfectly poured pint of Guinness.  

Warm, Welcoming Staff: The heart of any Irish pub is its friendly, engaging staff.

Live Music & Entertainment: Many of the best Irish pubs in London host regular live music, from traditional 'trad' sessions to contemporary folk and cover bands. And not to forget sports screenings, especially rugby and GAA—the Gaelic Athletic Association’s uniquely Irish sports like hurling and Gaelic football—which are also a major draw.

Authentic Decor & Atmosphere: Traditional wooden interiors, memorabilia, cosy snugs, and a general ambience that evokes the feeling of being in Ireland.