Pubs Near Croke Park
Where to land a pint before and after the throw-in.
7 pubs ranked by locals
Croke Park on a big match day is a tide of colour pouring up Jones's Road, and the pubs of the north inner city have been part of the ritual for as long as the Championship itself — a pint and a pre-match dissection of the team before you climb to the Hill or the Hogan. This is the locals' guide to the rooms within striking distance of the ground, the ones the regulars hold and the away crowd learns to love.
Every pub here is scored on the pint, the room and the welcome by the people who actually drink in them — from Drumcondra's match-day institutions and the Glasnevin snugs to Phibsborough, Fairview and Ballybough on the walk in. Line up your spot for before the throw-in, find somewhere for the post-match analysis, and skip the places trading on the crowd rather than pouring a proper Guinness.
Top-rated pubs near Croke Park
Distances are straight-line from Croke Park.
Frequently asked
- Where can I get a pint near Croke Park before a match?
- Drumcondra is the classic pre-match stretch — Fagan's, The Cat and Cage and Gaffney's are within a short walk of the ground — with more rooms in Glasnevin, Phibsborough and Fairview a little further out. Every pub on this page is rated by locals on the pour, so you can pick the best pint rather than just the nearest door.
- How do I get from the pub to Croke Park?
- Most of the Drumcondra and Ballybough pubs here are a 10–15 minute walk from the turnstiles, and Drumcondra train station and the Dorset Street buses drop you close. On big Championship days leave plenty of time — the streets around the ground fill up well before throw-in.
- Is Croke Park only for GAA matches?
- Mostly, but not only — alongside the hurling and football Championship, Croke Park hosts major concerts and the odd international fixture each year. Whatever's on, this guide covers where to drink nearby, and the list re-ranks as locals score the pints so it stays current rather than last season's tips.