Quiet pint or absolute carnage? These Irish pubs in Liverpool do both

The best Irish pubs in Liverpool are waiting for you. From old-school boozers to bouncing bars, we’ve got something for everybody’s taste.

Skiddle Staff

Date published: 18th Aug 2026

Asking yourself where the best Irish pubs in Liverpool are is a tough question. You can’t move for Irish pubs in the city, and a lot of them are very, very good. So, we put together a handy list.

And one thing we noticed? There’s variety. If you’re looking for independent haunts that serve the creamiest Guinness around, or historic pubs that have welcomed regulars for years, you’ll find them in Liverpool. Equally, if you’re looking for a massive, big-weekend style bar with food, drink, sport and live music, it’s all here too.

But enough from us. Let’s take a look at the best Irish pubs in Liverpool and help you plan your next big night out.

Shenanigans

Image: Shenanigans / Facebook.com

Best for: A proper Irish atmosphere away from the main nightlife

When: Monday – Thursday: 8am-12am, Friday: 8am-2am, Saturday: 10am-2am, Sunday: 10am-12am

Where: 77 Tithebarn St, Liverpool L2 2EN

Swap the themed bars of the city centre for Shenanigans. It’s independent and Irish-run, having sat on Tithebarn Street for over 20 years. Not only will you find an excellent pint of Guinness, but you’ll probably end up having a conversation with a group of philosophy students and 20-year pub regulars in the same evening.

As well as top-quality stout, Shenanigans has a menu full of hearty food, traditional Irish music sessions, comedy nights and live sport throughout the week. And if the weather plays ball, you’ve got a rooftop terrace to enjoy it all on. Liverpool isn’t short on places promising Irish hospitality, but we reckon Shenanigans has a stronger claim than most.

Find tickets for events at Shenanigans – HERE

Pogue Mahone

Image: Pogue Mahone / Facebook.com

Best for: Live music and vibes on Seel Street

When: Monday – Thursday: 12pm-2am, Friday: 12pm-3am, Saturday – Sunday: 11am-3am

Where: 77 Seel St, Liverpool L1 4BB

Sure, Seel Street is known for its high-quality cocktail bars. And we love those. But when there’s a pub with a name that translates to ‘kiss my ar*se’, can you really turn down the opportunity to spend a few hours there?

Jokes aside, Pogue Mahone offers everything you’d want from an Irish pub: expertly poured Guinness, live sport and cracking music every weekend. It’s as lively as they come without the super-sized, overcrowded experience of a sports bar. And if you do end up wanting to sample some of Liverpool’s best pubs and bars afterwards, you’re in the right place to do so.

The Dispensary

Image: The Dispensary / Facebook.com

Best for: Those looking for an alternative to splitting the G

When: Monday – Sunday: 12pm-12am

Where: 87 Renshaw St, Liverpool L1 2SP

The Dispensary might not have the loud atmosphere of a sprawling, late-night bar; it does have traditional interior, dark wood and a handsome-looking old bar at the centre of everything. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

Once you get inside, order a pint of Murphy’s or Beamish; it’s quite likely you’ll want to settle in for the evening and maybe sample a few of the cask ales on offer too. Throw in regular sport and live music, and you’ve got yourself a no-nonsense pub with plenty of character.

Find tickets for events at The Dispensary – HERE

Peter Kavanagh’s

Image: CAMRA

Best for: One of Liverpool’s best pub interiors

When: Monday – Friday: 12pm-12am, Saturday: 12pm-1am, Sunday: 12pm-12am

Where: 2-6 Egerton St, Liverpool L8 7LY

You could visit Peter Kavanagh’s without drinking a drop and still have plenty to look at. This Grade II-listed pub is one of Liverpool’s great historic watering holes, filled to the brim with trinkets and treasures accumulated throughout the years.

Bikes, old radios – you name it. People from all over the city have it down as one of their favourite pubs, and we can see why, as it's absolutely packed with character. So, leave the hustle and bustle of city-centre bars, pull up a stool and spend half the evening spotting another strange piece of decoration you missed earlier.

Kelly’s Dispensary

Image: Kelly's Dispensary / Facebook.com

Best for: A proper neighbourhood Irish bar

When: Monday – Sunday: 12pm-12am

Where: 154-158 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 3JR

If the city centre isn’t doing it for you, then you aren’t short of options. Kelly’s Dispensary flies the flag down on Smithdown Road, offering a friendly neighbourhood pub experience that just can’t be manufactured.

Expect great stout, real ale, sport, live music and, most importantly, an atmosphere made up of local regulars and students from around the area. So, if you fancy branching out from the usual names, head South and get yourself to Kelly’s.

Find tickets for events at Kelly’s Dispensary – HERE

Lanigans

Image: Lanigans / Facebook

Best for: Watching a huge match with a huge crowd

When: Monday – Sunday: 10am-2am

Where: 33-35 Ranelagh St, Liverpool L1 1JP

Lanigans boasts what it describes as Liverpool’s largest LCD video wall. So, it’s a no-brainer whenever there’s a big sporting event on.

Plus, it’s right in the city centre, so you can easily carry on the night once the final whistle has gone. Sport aside, Lanigans hosts live music all week, and in our eyes, it’s one of the city’s best spots for having a good craic.

Find tickets for events at Lanigans – HERE

McCooleys

Image: McCooleys / Facebook.com

Best for: Big nights out

When: Concert Square: Monday – Thursday: 10am-3am, Friday – Saturday: 8am-4am, Sunday: 8am-3am.

When: Mathew Street: Monday – Wednesday: 10am-2am, Thursday: 10am-3am, Friday – Saturday: 8am-4am, Sunday: 8am-4am.

Where: 46-50 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4AQ & 9-12 Temple Ct, Liverpool L2 6PY

A good pint of stout and a long chat is nice. But sometimes you want loads of screens, live music, food, sport and a bouncing atmosphere. That’s McCooleys.

There are two of them in the city centre, and they’re both located right at the heart of all the action. One on Concert Square and the other on Mathew Street, with the Concert Square spot operating as a massive sports and party bar. If you’re struggling with how to approach that upcoming birthday or just fancy a big night out, you can’t really go wrong with either of the McCooleys bars.

Find tickets for events at McCooleys – HERE

Temple Tavern

Image: Temple Tavern / Facebook.com

Best for: Spending time in one of Liverpool’s busiest spots

When: Monday – Thursday: 12pm-12am, Friday – Saturday: 11am-3am, Sunday: 11am-2am

Where: Stanley Street, Liverpool L1 6AL

Temple Tavern is one of Liverpool’s newer Irish bars, and its location is absolutely perfect. Sitting on the edge of the Cavern Quarter, it’s a handy starting point if you're planning on heading to Mathew Street later on.

Inside, the formula is pretty simple. A lively atmosphere, stout, whiskey and live music, all worlds away from a hushed pint. Drop in early, build up some momentum and head deeper into one of Liverpool’s busiest nightlife areas, or settle in and soak up the vibes for the remainder of your night.

Find tickets for events at Temple Tavern – HERE

Punch Tarmey’s

Image: Punch Tarmey's / Facebook.com

Best for: The full-scale Irish bar experience

When: Monday – Friday: 11am-10pm, Saturday: 10am-12am, Sunday: 10am-10pm

Where: 31 Grafton Street, Cains Brewery Village, Liverpool, L8 5SD

Punch Tarmey’s and understated are two words we wouldn’t put together. Set inside the historic Cains Brewery Village, it’s absolutely enormous, bringing together live sport, Irish whiskey, food and live entertainment on a scale few traditional boozers could ever attempt.

But none of the character has been lost. Elements of the former brewery have been incorporated into the venue, meaning it doesn’t fade into the background as just another supersized Irish bar. With loads of screens and space for groups, it’s at its best on a big occasion – whether that’s a major match, St Patrick’s weekend or a group night out with all your mates.

Find tickets for events at Punch Tarmey’s – HERE

Flanagan’s Apple

Image: Flanagan's Apple / Facebook.com

Best for: An Irish pint in the middle of Liverpool’s most famous nightlife street

When: Monday – Thursday: 10am-12am, Friday: 10am-2am, Saturday: 10am-3am, Sunday: 10am-2am

Where: 18 Mathew Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 6RE

On the Flanagan’s Apple website, it says ‘Come for one, stay for the rest’. And as a bar that stretches over three floors, we can see why they’re saying that.

Plus, it’s on Mathew Street, so you’re right in the thick of the famed Liverpool party atmosphere. Sport is a big draw for Flanagan’s Apple, so you can be sure to catch all the big games throughout the season. But for us? It’s down to broad appeal. There’s a wide range of food on offer, meaning everyone can find something to eat, and you’ve got a healthy mix of Liverpool sightseers, friends catching up and sport fans cheering on their team.

Find tickets for events at Flanagan’s Apple – HERE

Now you’ve got the list of the best Irish pubs in Manchester, the only thing left to do is round up your mates and plan your night. Whether you’re after a quiet pint of stout and good conversation or a busy pub bouncing with atmosphere, Liverpool’s got you covered. And if you’re looking for more, check out our list of the best pubs, bars and things to do in the city.

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