Flann O'Brien

L'Eixample, Barcelona –

Established in 1994, Flann O’Brien is the second oldest Irish pub in Barcelona and is dedicated, not surprisingly, to the holy trinity of beer, sports, and live music.

A range of tasty brews like Guinness and Murphy’s Ale pour from the taps as live rock and pop get the crowd going from Thursday to Saturday.

Meanwhile, the various TVs scattered throughout the bar might display up to three different sporting events at the same time, a real boon to sports fans who need to keep a simultaneous eye on football, cricket, and Formula 1.

Unlike many of the city’s Irish bars, O’Brien is located a bit outside of town and tends to draw a more local crowd that gathers to enjoy a bit of animated chatter between music sets.

The pub’s narrow bar and shadowy alcoves get more packed from autumn to spring, especially on the weekends when customers squeeze in against the stone walls to add their voices to the festive, friendly atmosphere.

Whether the crowd is rowdy or laid back, O’Brien’s usually delivers a good time.