Dubliners Irish Pub / Sports Bar

Sol (El Centro), Madrid –

The area around Puerta del Sol definitely isn’t short on Irish bars, and that fact is probably most evident at Dubliners, which happens to have a twin brother named O’Connell St. – run by the same owner – located right next door.

Thanks to its location on a heavily touristed stretch of Calle Espoz y Mina, patrons will find a wealth of English speakers drinking inside, from rowdy Irish expats to sports-loving backpackers to lots of young Madrileños practicing their ingles over pints of Guinness.

The cozy single-room joint goes with a standard décor familiar to any frequenter of Irish pubs, its dark wood and cream-colored walls dotted with portraits of the homeland, beer logos, and Gaelic crests, but most folks are probably more interested in regular specials like the €12 beer buckets, teeth-dissolving sangria pitchers, and hearty grub to help coat the stomach for another round.

Guests can expect a packed house if a big soccer or rugby match is on the large projection screen – which also tunes in American football and basketball games – and a raucous crowd of twentysomethings most nights that regularly turn the open space between scattered tables into an improvised dance floor.

Definitely not a place for romantic escapades or finely crafted drinks, but for anyone in the mood for a touristy hangout that still manages to be friendly to their wallet, it’s hard to beat Dubliners.