New Hope's Dubliner on the Delaware To Close

On Friday, November 14, 2025, the Dubliner on the Delaware, located in New Hope, Pennsylvania, announced on social media that they will be closing at the end of the year after more than a decade in business.

The pub, which has been a place known for its welcoming atmosphere and its passion for Irish music, will close on December 31, 2025. Patrons of the pub commented on the Facebook post, remembering moments spent at the pub, from first dates to meeting musicians and more.

Irish band Na’Bodach took to Facebook to share their memories of the pub. From listening to the music playlist to performing at the pub, the band had a deep partnership with the pub through the years.

The Dubliner is home to a combination of traditional Irish pub fare and classic American food. It has become known for its Irish music, through bands and traditional Irish music sessions. They have built their reputation of being a beloved pub for New Hope residents and visitors alike.

The pub is still open through the rest of the year and has music events scheduled throughout the coming weeks. Those wanting to go before closing can make reservations by phone, but reservations are not required. 

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Irish Pub Review: Plough and the Stars

 

On September 20, 2025, I went to Philadelphia’s Plough and the Stars. It is located at 123 Chestnut Street in Old City. The pub hosts live music and is known for their excellent traditional Irish cuisine.

This pub is the first pub I ever went to in Philadelphia, so it holds a special place in my life, even a decade later. From what I have heard, George Donaldson from Celtic Thunder (may he rest in peace) used to perform here under the painting of the blue bowl upstairs.

I ordered my typical shepherd’s pie. Most Irish pubs use a long and shallow dish to serve this meal. However, the Plough and the Stars used a round dish to serve the food, allowing for more depth. It would make sense to have more meat and vegetables on the bottom, which did happen, but the mashed potatoes were piled high on top. Their shepherd’s pie is made with beef. Usually, the potatoes tend to be flavorless when people make shepherd’s pie, but that was not the case here.

Shepherd's Pie, Plough and the Stars

In the past, I have gone to pubs alone, but this time, I had the pleasure of enjoying my meal with my good friend. She ordered the Dubliner fries and the tomato and bleu cheese soup. I got to try both, and they were both delicious. She raved about how the bleu cheese balanced out the tomato soup and added a bit of zest to it. I do not typically order dessert, but we had their flourless chocolate truffle cake. It had a raspberry drizzle and whipped cream, and it was delicious.

Dubliner Fries and Bleu Cheese and Tomato Soup, Plough and the Stars

The overall atmosphere is open and friendly yet cozy. We were seated near the fireplace, which was not going as it was still September, but I had been there in the past when it had been on during the winter months. There is some Celtic décor, including knotwork in the flooring and Celtic crosses in the windows. While I have been there when they have Celtic music playing, they were playing pop and rock music the day of this review.

Overall, this pub continues to be one of my favorite pubs in Philadelphia. It is such a fun, warm atmosphere perfect for groups of all sizes, from just two people to larger groups. The food is delicious and affordable. If you are ever in Old City Philadelphia, stop in for a break. 

Chocolate truffle cake, Plough and the Stars

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Irish Pub Review: The Black Sheep

 

The Black Sheep Irish Pub in Philadelphia, PA.

The Black Sheep Irish pub in Philadelphia opened in 1999. It is located near Rittenhouse Square. I went on August 28, 2025. It was the second time I had been there, but my first time going alone. It was just as good as I remembered it being the first time I went a few years ago. When I went with my friends, I had found the pub on Google Maps and decided to take a chance, and they did not disappoint.

The food was delicious. I had the shepherd's pie both times I went. It is made with ground sirloin (some places make it with lamb). They brought out HP sauce to go with it. I tried a bit this time out of curiosity, and it was so good, but I ate the shepherd's pie mostly on its own without the sauce. When I went a few years ago with some friends who were in town, they loved what they got as well.

I loved the overall atmosphere of the place. It has a cozy pub feel to it. I felt comfy enough to just sit there and read my book (working my way through “Dracula”). The décor items hanging on the walls are a good mix of local Philly items and Irish items you would expect. They have sports memorabilia from Philadelphia and Ireland, and plenty of Irish beer signs as well.  The service was excellent. My server was so sweet and attentive to what I needed and wanted.

Be careful when you go on and leave- there are steps leading in and out of the restaurant. I am not the most graceful person and have definitely tripped after missing the steps at other places (even though I did not drink). I am not sure if there is a wheelchair-accessible entrance, but I did not see one.

Overall, it is a great Irish pub! The atmosphere is very cozy and welcoming, which is on brand for Ireland and an Irish pub. The shepherd’s pie is one of the best shepherd’s pies I have had in Philadelphia. If you are looking for a great Irish Pub in Philly, check them out.

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Irish Pub Review: McGillin's

McGillin’s has been open since 1860, making it Philadelphia’s oldest continuously operating tavern. It was originally opened by Catherine and William McGillin, who were Irish immigrants,  under the name Bell In Hand Tavern. The customers who came to the bar simply called it “McGillin’s,” which is its current name. It is located at 1310 Drury Street in Philadelphia, PA.

I went there on Saturday, August 9^th, 2025, around 11:30 am. It is nestled off a side street in Center City, just a few minutes’ walk from City Hall. As soon as I walked in, I was amazed at all of the cool décor lining every inch of wall space throughout the building.

The menu has a wide variety of food options, from the classic Philly cheesesteak to traditional Irish options such as fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. I opted to try their shepherd’s pie (shocker, I know). I do not eat lamb, so every time I come across shepherd’s pie made with beef, I have to try it.

Most shepherd’s pies I have tried in the past have been heavier on the mashed potatoes. This was not the case here. If anything, I wish there were more mashed potatoes on top, but overall, it was a nice balance. The mashed potatoes did not have too much of a taste, allowing for the beef and vegetables to shine. The recipe on McGillin’s website says it has mushrooms, so keep that in mind if you or someone you are going with has a mushroom allergy.

The service was a bit on the slower side in my opinion, but I got there a bit after they opened, and there was a family a few tables away who got there first. I am chalking it up to the fact that maybe there is only one chef when they first open, since it did not seem like a busy time of day.

Overall, McGillin’s is a neat little spot with an amazing history. It is a perfect spot for anyone who loves history and pub food. The prices were affordable compared to other restaurants offering similar food options. If you go, be careful as there is a step going in and out of the restaurant. 

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Irish Pub Review: Harrigan's

 

Harrigan’s Pub is located on County Line Road in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. It is located in a shopping center with a bank and some stores. They offer a variety of food and beverage options as well as music and events. There are what looked like slot machines or other types of games next to the bar.

I went to the pub around noon on Sunday, August 3^rd, 2025. This was my first time at this restaurant, though I have driven past it several times. When I walked in, I saw a bunch of people in military uniforms at the bar. I realized that the restaurant is near Bittleton Air Base. Still, I could not help but feel like I was walking in on some important meeting. After I looked around, I realized there were other patrons there as well, so I felt better about going in.

The room of the restaurant was a bit darker than other places I have been. There were short strings of green lights hanging from a section of the ceiling, but they did little other than provide ambience and make it seem like they are an actual Irish pub.

While at first glance it appears to be an Irish pub, especially with the name and branding, they do not have any Irish food on the menu. The pub also does not play Irish music. Instead, they played rock music on the Music Choice station on TV. There were also no Irish décor items except for a few four-leaf clovers and the branding.

It would have been nice to have at least a few Irish items on the menu next to the American pub options. However, since there was none, I opted to go with the pulled pork tacos. I had them without the jalapeno ranch that comes with it, as I am not a big fan of spicy food. I am glad I decided to go that route because the other things on the tacos were a bit spicy, and the jalapeno ranch would have been overwhelmingly spicy for me. The taco shells were soft shells, and there were three tacos in the order.

Overall, the food was decent and reasonably priced. However, they did not have any Irish food, and the décor items were not authentically Irish. I felt like an outsider since the bartender knew the others at the bar, and I was barely talked to. This could very well be because it was my first time going there, so I did not have a rapport with the staff.

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Irish Pub Review: Garvey's

Garvey's Irish Pub is located on 41st Street in New York, New York, right off 7^th Avenue in the heart of Times Square. It used to be called Gleason's before it changed to Garvey’s. It is right down the block from the Hampton Inn and other hotels, as well as a few Broadway theaters.

If you are looking for the restaurant on Google Maps, it might not show up unless you search for it yourself. When I was planning where to eat this past weekend while in NYC, I was looking up Irish pubs to eat at (shocking, I know). I was staying at the nearby Hampton Inn and found several in the Times Square area, but did not see Garvey’s until I was going to Carnegie Pizza.

When I walked in, there was a musician singing and playing guitar. Katelyn Richards usually plays music there on Sunday. She performed mostly popular music, but she was playing the Cranberries when I got there. I got there right when she was wrapping up as she usually plays until 6:30 pm on Sundays (I got there around 7).

I was considering ordering a cocktail, but decided not to. Instead, I ordered a Pepsi. They have Pepsi products, not Coke products. One thing to keep in mind is that they use paper straws instead of plastic straws. While this is not the most comfortable thing, I do appreciate their willingness to help the planet!

I had the shepherd's pie as my meal. When it arrived at my table, there was a bit of orange-colored liquid on one side. It looked like it was coming from the carrots. It did not change the taste of the shepherd’s pie at all, and it did not make me ill. The shepherd’s pie was not the best I have ever had, but it was pretty good. It costed me $28, which I felt was a bit overpriced, especially since they did not give you a whole lot. When I was trying to figure out where to eat dinner ahead of my trip, I was looking at the prices of other Irish pubs in the area. Most of their shepherd’s pies cost $22, with the next most expensive being McDaid’s at $25.

The service was pretty quick to start out with, but it took a while to get my check. I sat at my table for a good 15-20 minutes after finishing my food before my waiter came to check on me and get me my check. I would understand if it were busy, but there were not that many people there.

Overall, Garvey’s Pub had a cozy atmosphere. They had pictures and décor from Ireland hanging on the walls. However, the food is a bit overpriced for the quality and the amount, even compared to other places in New York City and Times Square specifically. However, in my case, it can be viewed as paying for the convenience since it was right near my hotel. I would like to go back sometime to try some of their other foods. 

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