Madrid's Downtown Irish Bars

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Aug 27, 2012 —  Irish bars are ubiquitous to every drinking scene around the globe. And even though Madrid’s nightlife revolves more around late-night revelry than mid-day boozing, it’s nice to know that you can simply pop into an Irish watering hole where the Guinness is poured slowly and the patrons are always friendly.

So if you’re looking for a little bit of Ireland in the capital of Spain, head over to the center of town where three Irish bars, all within a small, highly touristy area, bring together expats, soccer, and shepherd’s pie in one perfectly Irish package.

Dubliners and O’Connell St., run by the same owner, sit side by side right off the Puerta del Sol and are practically identical, each with two bars on a single floor, scattered tables, and improvised dance floors that come alive every night.

Each bar also has a slew of TVs, though Dubliners has a large projection screen that entices even more visitors and expats to get together to watch football, rugby, baseball, basketball, and even American football games.

Just a stone’s throw away is O’Neill’s, a much larger pub with two levels of tables, comfy recliners, and a large church organ taking up one of the walls. Flat-screens here are invariably set on the latest football or rugby match of any significance.

Despite their slight differences, the three bars share the convivial ambiance of similar Irish pubs throughout the world, right down to the dim lighting, hardwood floors, and hefty pints of excellent beer.

English-speakers from all over the world dominate these three establishments, so it’s always easy to strike up a conversation – or for locals, practice some English and join in on some Irish traditions.