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-   -   Irish Pubs in Paris - how authentic? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/irish-pubs-in-paris-how-authentic-825855/)

tod Feb 10th, 2010 07:03 AM

Irish Pubs in Paris - how authentic?
 
In the two weeks we toured Ireland we missed out on the pub scene in the evenings - We will be in Paris in August and I have viewed at least 17 Irish Pubs online. They all describe the beers and sometimes the pub food they serve. Some tell you the have live rock music on certain days.
I was wondering if any ever had an evening of Irish folk music?

lrock Feb 10th, 2010 07:27 AM

I am not sure of the answer to your question, but you missed a very good time by not getting to the Irish Pubs at night. I hope you can find something close. If you get back to Ireland, go on a pub crawl. Totally fun and hilarious

Cholmondley_Warner Feb 10th, 2010 07:31 AM

French “Irish” pubs are truly horrid. Imagine the worst aspects of the French combined with stupidly expensive booze and filled up with pissed Brits.

hetismij Feb 10th, 2010 07:55 AM

"Irish" pubs anywhere but Ireland are horrible. Exactly as C_W describes them.

eyelids Feb 10th, 2010 08:47 AM

Dicey Rileys in Paris is not Authentic and is the same as any Irish pub not on home soil, the dearest pub in town. I did not realise that there were 17 in Paris, but its even hard to find an Irish barman. You missed your chance when in Ireland

nukesafe Feb 10th, 2010 09:42 AM

Out of curiosity, how did you manage to miss the pub scene during your two weeks in Ireland? What else is there to do in the evenings?

tod Feb 11th, 2010 10:18 PM

Nukesafe - Have a peep at my trip report - it explains a lot, but for the immediate answer: we were in a large motorhome!
We are sure to return and see Ireland maybe in a different way now that we know the ropes. It certainly has a 'return again' appeal!

Thanks everyone for putting me right off going for a Guiness in one of those pseudo Irish Pubs.

walkinaround Feb 11th, 2010 10:31 PM

what is an 'authentic irish pub'?

if you want a break from french stuff in france then go for it. it will be filled with expat, tourist and business travelling aussies, wee britons, south africans, irishmen, japanese, kiwis, canadians, americans and yes, frenchmen. not much different from many 'irish' pubs in dublin. it is just what it is...not at all sure what is the measure of 'authentic' when it comes to irish pubs.

Padraig Feb 12th, 2010 12:12 AM

walkinaround wrote: "not at all sure what is the measure of 'authentic' when it comes to irish pubs."

First criterion is being able to pull a pint of Guinness properly. In one pub in a smaller town I went behind the bar and showed the lassie working there how to do it.

Josser Feb 12th, 2010 12:34 AM

I have seen several Irish pubs in my time including one in San Francisco. However, these are pubs where Irish people tend to go rather than theme pubs. They are not "Irish pubs" as in Grotty O'Nasty's

Pete_R Feb 12th, 2010 02:17 AM

I'd say that, in a way, the Irish Bars is France are very authentic. Nothing like a pub in Ireland - but authentic in a way.

In some parts of the world that don't have a pub culture (i.e. Continental Europe and the USA) the <i>Irish Bar</i> fills a niche, it's almost like someone's franchised the concept. So, in that sense, the bars in France are prime examples of the genre.

tod Feb 12th, 2010 02:41 AM

Thanks again all for your comments -
I was just hoping in that wonderful city called Paris, with it's piano bars, dancing shows, stand-up comedy haunts and sing-a-long old French song cafe`s, there may just have been one teeny little Irish Pub that had an Irish band every now and then.
Oh well..............back to Cushendall, Ballymena, County Antrim for an Irish band & singsong held Friday & Saturday nights. This place is known to locals only so when we get there one day we are sure to have the most wonderful Irish experience ever!

Cholmondley_Warner Feb 12th, 2010 03:09 AM

You could have an authentic Irish Experience in a pub in Paris. When you order your dinner the English could nick all your spuds.

There is a small chain of English Pubs in Paris that are quite authentic (mainly because they are full of Brits). They’re called the Frog and Rosbif.

If you go to the one in Chatelet there is an “Irish” pub just up the Rue St Denis that isn’t too bad. There’s a half decent one in Pigalle too (just by the Moulin Rouge). Both of these areas are full of hookers and sex shops. Coincidence? You tell me.

RayKrebs Feb 12th, 2010 03:31 AM

There's an Irish pub just on the river in the Latin Quarter called The Galway (if it's still there). Because it is Irish owned, it is more Irish than many themed Irish pubs you will find in America or other parts of the world. It is usually full of Irish and English expats. I think this is about as close as you will get to authentic. Even in Ireland, most irish people don't go out to see live traditional Irish music reguarly. It's mostly for tourists these days.

tod Feb 12th, 2010 04:15 AM

Thanks CW - I see English Pubs are also referred to as the Frog & Princess.

Heres an Irish Pub that sounds tantalizing:
TIGH JHONNY (Irish pub)
(16::~00:300)
Address: 55, rue Montmartre, 75002, Paris
Tel.: (33)(1)42339133
Typical Irish pub with excellent draught Guinness. Very reasonable. So authentic that you have the impression of beiing back in Dublin or Cork!

As we are staying in the 11th arr. this may be worthy of a quick pint, but I am yet to figure out what "Irish Classes" are? Dancing? Language?
(THE) WILD GEESE (Irish)
Address: 140, Moulevrd Richard Lenoir, 75011, paris.
Tel.: (33)(1)48061436
Open daily 11:00 a.m.~02:00 a.m.
Happy hours all day.
Darts, table quizzes, Irish classes, live sports shown. Sunday brunch.

Cholmondley_Warner Feb 12th, 2010 04:26 AM

I see English Pubs are also referred to as the Frog & Princess>>

That's the same chain - they're all the frog and xxxx

Irish classes would be the language which makes welsh look easy.

tod Feb 12th, 2010 05:12 AM

I'd like to make a correction to my previous count on Irish Pubs in Paris -that there were 17 .....not true - there are at least 43!

eyelids Feb 12th, 2010 05:55 AM

tod according to the Irish France website there are 45 Irish pubs in and around Paris. Thats amazed me. Several of them are franchises like Kitty Osheas and the like but some definitly have names that are not familiar. They might be the ones to plump for if you do plan to visit a couple. Guiness travels well these days, but its all down to how it is pulled.

nukesafe Feb 12th, 2010 10:24 AM

I know, I know, "If you have to ask, you don't deserve to know", but how do you "pull" a glass of Guiness "properly"? Perhaps improper pulling has ruined every glass I have ever bitten. Each of them have been nasty.

Bitter Feb 12th, 2010 11:16 AM

O'Brien's in the 7th on St. Dominique, 10 years ago, had an Irish bar man. I don't remember music. Not a big place


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