If you happen to wander through the narrow passageway off Dame Street in Dublin you’ll stumble upon a true gem. Though a tavern has existed at this site since the 1780s, The Stag’s Head was opened in 1894 by popular British merchant George Tyson and was the first pub in Dublin to enjoy electric light. It is arguably Dublin’s best-preserved Victorian pub complete with a mosaic floor, wooden snugs, and a long mahogany bar. Tucked quietly behind the main bar you will find a cozy parlor lounge that used to serve as a fashionable Victorian smoking room.

Once inside you’ll quickly understand why The Stag’s Head was recently crowned the ‘Best Pub in Ireland’, and after a few pints you’ll never want to leave. With its history and charm set firmly in the Victorian era, the pub has aged with ease and now hosts weekly comedy gigs, ukulele jams, and trad music sessions. Whiskey fans take note – the pub boasts a selection of nearly 70 varieties of Irish whiskey!