Reviews

What they about Grogans

Les pubs de Dublin sont légendaires, véritablement au cœur de la vie sociale de la ville. Pour suivre les traces des grand écrivans de Dublin, essayez le Literary Pub Crawl. Et si vous avez envie de partager une authentique soirée irlandaise au pub rien de mieux que … Grogans Castle Lounge ( Castle Market )

www.biarritz.aeroport.fr

Tommy Smith from Cavan started working in Grogans at the corner of South William Street and Castle Market, 40 years ago. “Come inside, I’ve a counter to watch,” he says, pulling doen the awning over the seats outside as the rains starts to stutter. Grogans is the unchangeable stalwart of the street. Always busy, always laden with art. Always inviting. Its outdoor seating spills acroll all of Castle Market on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and it has one of the most eclectic crowds in the city; professionals making their way over from the Baggot Street area, students rolling cigarettes outside, musicians, writers, old-timers propping up the bar.
“This originally was the rag-trade street really” Smith reminices. “When we came here the majority of our customers were involved in the drapery business, and some antique dealers that were around the area.” Back then the South William Street area was devoid of the bustle that now typifies it. “This was a very quiet backwater. It was a sleepy part of the city with no need to pass through the streets.”  Smith says, before detailing the philosophy of his pub.
“It doesn’t make a difference where you come from here, that’s what we like. I’d like to thinkthat this pub is quite egalitarian. There’s no such thing as suits or just younge people or just old people. Its just people who want to talk to each other. We don’t have televisions or background music. Not everyone wants to go out and boogey all the time, some people want to meet up and talk about something more serious. I think pub is a place where you can do that; from legal age to whatever age you live to. People can mingle here.”

Una Mullally
Irish Time Magazine

On the go since 1899, Grogans uses the bicameral system with the older and wiser senate type sitting up at the bar near the powdering rooms, while the younger pork pie hat crew usually stay closer to the front, or outside in the substantial smoking area.
There is just enough of the old man element in here as not to allow the younger types to get too raucous – something that is no way tollerated. To quote from the Official Guide to Being a Bouncer, “This is a nice pub, not a night club.”
The decor has a 1950s Scandinavian contemporary feel to it and the bright hospital lights behind the bar are a little, but we stress only a little, disconcerting. It would at times do them no harm to turn the hear down either, but then we’d never get to see the hot blond bargirl dabbing her brow with a hanky would we?
The paintings on th ewall are a lovely touch and its interesting to note that Grogans doesn’t take a cut when they sell a piece. That is if they sell a piece. As one punter on the night pointed out, you’d need quite a few pints before you buy some of it. We decided to test her theory out and had several tasty scoops of the local brew from Jame’s Gate (€4.50) – delicious.
If you get a little hungry you can try out their famous toasties (€3.50), which always do the trick. With no TV to lure your eyes away from your drinking partners this is the perfect place to settle into and spend the evening. Only thing is, it often passes too quickly.

Jonathan deBurca Butler
The Dubliner

This eclectic place is a bit rundown around the edges, but it’s a proper local pub, not heavily frequented by tourists. Its crowd includes local writers and artists, as well as people who just live around the corner. It’s a good place to get in touch with local nightlife.

New York Times

Tommy, the most gallant bar owner in Dublin with some of the best stories.

The Observer

Grogan’s is a good old place to find revelations dawning. Tucked into William Street South in Dublin, several blocks from the tourist traps of Temple Bar, Grogan’s might well be the perfect pub.

Golf Digest

Grogans serves the best toasted sandwiches in the city, no nonsense, wrapped in plastic. Old-school perfection.

The Dubliner

Artists, poets writers and Dublins young talent converge on this city centre joy. Is everything a good pub should be and more.

The Goddess Guide

A Much-loved bohemian pub. If you have never been to Dublin before and want to experience what it was like here before Ireland’s economic boom and resulting social self-posturing, head for Grogan’s.

Wcities