Pogues Pre & Post Plans

Coming in from Michigan for the Pogues show on Friday 3/10 and not sure where to stay or drink before and after the show. Where's the best Irish Pub in DC? Any other thoughts on where people tend to congregate before and after shows at the 930?

I was at the Social Distortion show in October and it seemes like options are very limited in the area around the club.

Thanks! - adavici

You can't go wrong with the Bennigan's in Waldorf. :roll:

My favorite Irish pub in dc is Nanny O'Brien's in Cleveland Park {red line}, though if you like something a little snobbier, go to 4 P's across the street. There are other options closer to the club, like Irish Times and The Dubliner which are by Union Station, or Fado {chain I think} and Irish Channel over by MCI.

Obviously, there are plenty of options, depending on where you are planning on staying, etc.

The Irish Times, right next to The Dubliner is only a short 5 minute cab ride away.

Excellent suggestions - thanks!

We are inclined to make it a point to stay somewhere close to a couple cool bars rather than try to try to find somewhere good to drink close to where we happen to be staying if that makes any sense. That's kinda why I'm posting…

As for what we're into, I'd take a more traditional, local feel irish pub over a chain or a snobby new-era irish pub like you find anywhere these days - McIrelands I call 'em. I guess the important thing is that they pour a good pint and have some interesting whiskey. Having the Dubliners, Clancey Brothers or Pogues on the stereo instead of Jimmy Buffet helps too.

That said, the union station area sounds pretty cool. I also like the Capitol City Brewery which is right there. Can you recommend a hotel or two in that area?

Thanks again.

The Irish Times is always crowded and loud. There is usually some drunken fools passed out or vomiting out front. The Dubliner (next door) sounds more like your speed. They have live Irish music every night and they pour a good pint. Its part of the Phoenix hotel near Union Station. :)

Nanny O'Briens on Connecticut Ave. is the only decent 'Irish' bar in DC, and only a few mins from the club via taxi as well. There's also a few bars on the same block so you can have a mini-pubcrawl before/after the show. The 4P's across the street from Nannies is cack and usually has some idiot singing about a feck'n dragon, some bloke called Danny, the black n tans or some other shite like that….if you are interested in donating to NORAID with every pint purchased then Irish Times or The Dubliner are the places to hang out.

Enjoy the show.

Thanks! Any suggestions on a hotel near Nanny O'brien's?

Thanks all - adavici

Originally posted by adavici:
Thanks! Any suggestions on a hotel near Nanny O'brien's?

Thanks all - adavici

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hotels+loc%3A+3319+Connecticut+Ave+NW,+washington,+dc&f=l&hl=en

or this one is supposed to be good

http://www.jurys-washingtondc-hotels.com/normandyinn_washingtondc

jurys is a good suggestion and their bar, Biddys is imho the best 'irish' bar in the city

Originally posted by brennser:
jurys is a good suggestion and their bar, Biddys is imho the best 'irish' bar in the city

isnt that only in the one on Dupont though, the link I gave is to the one on Wyoming, closer to Woodley Park, both are fine I am sure

Both the Marriott Wardman Park and Omni Shoreham are in Woodley Park, which is just down the road from Cleveland Park. There's also a bus from Woodley Park that stops a couple of blocks away from the 9:30. The hotels aren't cheap, but they are convenient.

And, Nanny's is definitely the best Irish pub in the city. The Dubliner usually has better music, but since it's also a restaurant, you don't have that pub atmosphere.

See ticket forum for a pair of 3/9 tickets available (at cost of course).

if you don't really care where the hotel is, i often use priceline to get a 4 star hotel in dc for $50/night for the weekend.

last time the hotel was the marriot near the old convention center.

Originally posted by brennser:
jurys is a good suggestion and their bar, Biddys is imho the best 'irish' bar in the city

You really think so? We thought it was total bobbins. ('We' being wife and myself) I'd take Fado over that Biddy's, and Fado is the TGI Fridays of Irish bars.

I may have asked this before, but what makes a good Irish bar? Would I have to go to the local in some small town in Ireland?

Originally posted by econo:
I may have asked this before, but what makes a good Irish bar? Would I have to go to the local in some small town in Ireland?

you'll know it when you see it….seriously, its kind of hard to say - the reason we liked Biddys was the fact that it wasn't trying to be an Irish bar like all the other ones in the city, and in doing so, it somehow managed to be more Irish than all the others….the high % of Irish staff helped as well

Originally posted by econo:
I may have asked this before, but what makes a good Irish bar?

Lucky Charms served as bar snacks.

I found it strange to be in Temple Bar and all the pubs were playing bad classic rock.

The pubs on the northside were more 'traditional' but filled with mostly old people.

Personally I like the swankier spots in Dublin like Cocoon, the Globe, and the bars in the Clarence. The true Dubliners were really nice.

Of course to be an 'authentic' irish bar in the US now it would have to be non-smoking.

Aren't those the most fun?

Originally posted by slappy:


The pubs on the northside were (but) filled with mostly old people.