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- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 2 am
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 3 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
35 reviews for Doolin's Irish Pub
Review Highlights
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"Best pulled pork sandwich." In 4 reviews -
"Delicious food and great atmosphere." In 2 reviews -
"Met a couple new friends here and had a good time." In 3 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Kevin G.
Vancouver, BC
5/5/2012
We have been here on a few weekdays and weekends and for a Super Bowl Party., All in 2011 and 2012.
We always enjoyed the atmosphere in here. Typical Irish Pub.
The food is great, the beer is cold and the whiskey is good :-D.
The prizes are typical for the Granville location and not too expensive.
The Service staff is always very very nice, even on days when it is not so busy and nearly boring for them.
On the Super Bowl Party it was totally packed and a great evening!Listed in: Food and Drinks
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Review from Rick C.
Ange and I hit up Doolin's off Granville to sample their new spring menu, just in time for the hockey playoffs.
These duck bites appetizers marinated in chipotle and ginger with pickled jalapeños, wrapped in bacon and sweet sesame soy glaze really hit the spot.
I really dug the crab and asparagus flatbread with roasted red peppers, scallions, mozzarella, parmesan, creamy Alfredo sauce. The duck confit one also wasn't half bad, making for good bar food.
Maurice and Dave had the beer can chicken sandwich. It looked pretty good and authentic. Ann's Baja-style fish sandwich with pan-seared mahi mahi on a sourdough Kaiser bun was also pretty tasty and filling with a smokey flavour.
I ate up my pan-seared blackened wild Alaskan salmon with wasabi ginger, sesame crust. Although a tad talky, the blackened flavour and taste was satisfying. Ange had the pan-seared, lightly-seasoned mahi mahi fish steak, served with pico de gallo salsa and cilantro-lime rice pilaf. It was well-cooked and pretty good. I marvelled at how white and pretty it looked.
I was more or less impressed with the variety and options at Doolin's. I probably wouldn't order fish at a bar, but it proved to be quite tasty. The appetizers and sandwiches were particularly satisfying going down. It was definitely bar food with a twist. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
12/20/2011
Eh.
This was yet another place we dropped in on as Santacon. One of our organizers had called ahead and booked a meal there so we could all sit and eat together before moving on to our next pub.
They charged $20 a person and had planned to make enough food to serve us. Now when I hear buffet, I expect a big variety of different things, fresh and yummy. This was not the case here. They had two different kinds of pasta a vegetarian one and a meat one and a ceasar salad. The salad was over dressed and I didn't have any of the pasta.
I understand that it's hard to accommodate a lot of people and it was nice of them to open the Cellar so we could eat and relax but for $20 I expected something a bit better. They also turned off the hockey game when we were watching it, which was a bit disappointing.
All in all, it was great that they accommodated us, but I think next time I'd prefer somewhere else. -
Review from Hazel M.
5/17/2012
I went on a Sunday evening. There was a live set playing some pretty good tunes. It's a nice Irish pub with a lower floor. I didn't hang out in the basement much but there was another set down there as well. Fairly nice sized pub. The drinks were decently priced considering every other club/bar I had been to was a lot more expensive. Definitely worth another visit.
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Review from Kyle B.
Abbotsford, BC
5/11/2012
Really great atmosphere! Especially if you're going before a Whitecaps game! Pulled pork sandwich was awesome! Only negative is no debit! Bring cash or else you will get dinged at the ATM!
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Review from Jim P.
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was in here on a random weekday afternoon, so no music, or anything, but the staff here really impressed me with their friendliness.
Nice selection of beers on tap, that seemed seasonal. (pumpkin, etc.)
Not loving that my $20 US bill is only good for $18 Canadian, but, such are the times. Overall, a good place to take in a game. Nice people. -
Review from Dustin H.
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm a hard sell on pubs... mostly because I rarely drink, so it's all the other things that pubs don't normally focus on that make or break one to me: I want the best service, a really cool decor, well put together entertainment and great food.
I didn't get a single one of these from Doolins. The decor was almost unnoticible - seemingly strictly utilitiarian to the point where I didn't really even get the feeling this place HAD a look as much as it had the necessary ammount of furniture, a bar, etc. The service was "just okay" and the couple TVs in the place were horribly placed, and the music was so quiet we could barely hear it.
The food, however, wasn't even passe - it was just plain bad. Now, I can't speak for the rest of the menu, but I had the chicken strips and fries and neither part was any good. The chicken was over battered and under flavored, and the fries were already cold and so covered in greese, it seemed like I was pulling each one out of a dish of cool water. Just plain gross.
Honestly, of the 5 or 6 pubs I went to on my trip, this was the one that impressed me the least. Maybe I just came on a bad day, but for whatever reason this wasn't worthy of the other reviews on here.
27/30 -
Review from Sheryl D.
10/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I would never say I love a pub, but if I have to, I'd say it for this one. Great, festive atmosphere most times and you'll leave with plenty of entertaining stories for patio circle time with family and friends. For example, me going down to use the washroom, which they also share with The Cellar Nightclub. Girl puking her guts out in the washroom as I go about my business. We both finish up at the same time and she heads back to the bar part of The Cellar and proceeds to do more shots with random guy standing there who looks dressed head to toe in douchy Le Chateau menswear. Me thanking my lucky stars for being older and wiser.
Another plus... Pub patrons who will share a table when it's crowded and actually talk to each other. Very nice pub food I might add. I had nachos and braised lamb shanks the last time I was there and it was pretty pub spectacular.
It's attached to the Comfort Inn so it's easy to discount is as a tourist trap but it's really a pretty decent pub. -
Review from AJ M.
2/27/2012
I liked it! I was only here a couple of times on a recent business trip, but the service and atmosphere were great. I would definitely recommend this spot for a bar-hopping night on Granville.
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Review from Martina M.
Vancouver, BC
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with my fiance on a Friday night to watch a BC Lions game. The pub was pretty busy, but we managed to find a nice table in the back with a great view of a few television screens. The atmosphere of the pub is pretty great, it feels like an authentic Irish pub.
I'll just say right off the bat that the fries here are amazing. They're not greasy, and they are just right when it comes to taste and texture. I ate most of my fries before I even touched my meal. I ordered the blackened chicken wrap, and while I wish it had more flavor, it was pretty good. My fiance ordered the club sandwich and it was great.
It's a bit tough to find the washrooms since they're located downstairs in another venue (The Cellar). Once you do find them though, they're pretty clean compared to many other pubs in Vancouver.
The service was a bit slow and they falsely advertised that they had granville island winter ale available (hence the reduction to 4 stars). However, the beer was good and I had a great time watching the game. I just wish I had entered the draw for BC Lions merchandise since most of the "winners" had left the pub prior to the draw. -
Review from Greg M.
Vancouver, BC
7/14/2011
These guys rock my socks! The food is definitely up to par and love the staff here. Once a year I organize a massive pub crawl and every year they never disappoint with their hospitality. It's a cool chill atmosphere with good people and good drinks. Definitely the best pub style spot on Granville. Not pretentious, not jammed strictly full of the 20-somethings, and not an insane cover to get in.
Highly recommended! -
Review from Cody S.
2/24/2011
This is a great place to have a drink and hang out.
I have been here enough times that I cannot count them. I have always been happy with this place. The environment is always an important part of a pub and this makes the cut. There are alot of very intoxicated people here...the last night we came here (at 9pm) there were several dozen ridiculously drunk people wandering all over the place. At the very least they were having a good time.
The drink prices are normal and it isn't hard to find a seat if you keep a keen eye and look out for a place to sit.
This is a great place to hang out and is almost right on Granville....close enough to your choice of getting home! -
Review from Lindsey S.
12/9/2010
Honestly, I don't remember much about Doolin's while I visited it during my drunken Vancouver vacation.
I was, however, brilliant enough to have typed a note to myself regarding Doolins while drunk: Doolins irish pub, cool.
I believe we had their fries with garlicky mayo, and there might have been some sort of search & rescue mission involving me and finding the damn women's washroom.
(downstairs. in a dungeon.)
also, servers' uniforms. really?Listed in: Over the Border and through…
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Review from David v.
Surrey, BC
11/5/2010
Best pulled pork sandwich... EVER!
Live music was okay, not great, but what do you really expect from a one-man band that only does covers?
The ambiance is good... I absolutely loved the comfy "Waldorf and Statler"-like chairs.
I'll be back, that's for sure. -
Review from Nathan H.
Burnaby, BC
12/17/2011
About as fake an Irish pub as you can get. The management are very self interested and do nothing to support the local Celtic community unless they have a lot to gain for themselves. If you're into a drunken Sat. night, this might be for you, but if you want an authentic celtic homeland experience, forget it.
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Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
10/13/2008
This place is the definition of a "Plastic Paddy" bar - fake Irish to the hilt. It's on the Granville Strip, which means that it has servers in tight tartan uniforms and plenty o' jock types to ogle them. They serve the usual selection of Irish beers on draft, as well as domestic stuff, but it's all overpriced - you'll pay upwards of $6 apiece for beer.
The washrooms are all the way downstairs, shared with the adjoining Cellar nightclub. Not good layout for drunk people. Plus, you'll have to pay extra cover if you want to go into the Cellar to have a dance. Not. Worth. It.
It's a decent place to meet for drinks early on in the night, but not so special you'll want to make an all-night destination of it. Even you get a table, it's crowded and annoying. -
Review from Kim K.
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mostly English beers on tap....but pretty good Guinness. Good amount of tv's for sports and nice authentic Irish crowd.
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Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
5/31/2009
No Irish pub is complete without a drunken, sweaty atmosphere, a back bar with a Dublin-raised bartender (in a kilt), wooden floors and a good Irish jingle to stomp along to. Doolins is the exemplar of Irish pubs and even has the Guinness sponsorship to prove it.
Although there's plenty of room and tables for large parties, it does get quite crowded so be ready to rub up against some sweaty randoms. I've also heard that if you fancy the sweaty random, you can proceed to the basement to check into the Cellar for some booty shakin'.
Otherwise, you can sip on a couple of overpriced but perfectly poured pints of Guinness (I'm a total sucker for a good pint) while tapping your fingers to the rhythms.
Diddle-leet diddle-leet diddle-leet deet dum
Diddle-leet diddle-leet diddle-leet deet dum -
Review from Rodney W.
1/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place!
Had already eaten and had quite a few pints when I stumbled in so I did not get to try the food but the Guinness was cold and plentiful! The Irish band was loud, loud, loud! Perfect for drinking until you can not remember exactly how you got back to the hotel room! This place reminded me a little bit of Fado and since the Fado in Las Vegas is still closed down it is nice to find that feels comfortable. -
Review from Kate S.
Vancouver, BC
4/22/2009
I have had many (too many actually) a drunk night here where I ended up on the floor somehow. I think they pump something into the air that makes you want to drink until you're singing awful songs in groups with people you don't know (and probably wouldn't want to if you were sober).
The bathroom situation is another issue, stumbling up and down steep stairs whilst being wasted isn't my idea of a good time. The last time I was there some chick had thrown up in the middle of the hallway of the bathroom. I didn't see it and wiped out in it and had someone elses puke all over me!! Hah, disgusting.
As stated by others, it's good for a quick early evening meet for a few pints but staying all night is for the hard core Granville strip types. -
Review from Namit M.
11/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Doolin's is pretty good at what it tries. The service is friendly, the drinks ample, the ambiance is pubbish, and the food is oh so decent.
Usually end up having a burger or pulled pork sandwich and they are always good. Last visit had the steak sandwich and it was a decent cut cooked perfectly. -
Review from Lora H.
7/25/2011
Delicious food and great atmosphere. My boyfriend and I visited Vancouver for the first time this past weekend and we were looking for a pub for dinner. We walked in and I felt like I was in a pub on the British Isles. To be fair, I've never been to Ireland, only England and Scotland. But it felt like I had been transported back. The chairs were super comfy and my boyfriend and I had a cozy table for two hidden in a corner.
The wait staff was all very helpful and efficient. We were seated immediately and our drink orders were taken. The food came out at appropriate intervals - neither rushed nor slow service - and was fresh and hot. I discovered a new cider - Growers Sparkling Pear Cider. It was delicious!
We ordered the cheese sticks for an appetizer. Wow. They use Havarti cheese instead of mozzarella which made the melted cheese more creamy than stringy. And Havarti is also more flavorful. Definitely worth trying.
I ordered the Guinness beef pie with mash and veg. My boyfriend had the lamb shank, also with mash and veg. Both of our dinners were fantastic. The beef pie was perfectly flavored with herbs (pretty sure it was thyme heavy) and the beef was tender. It seemed like I had more mushrooms than beef in it but with the rising price of beef, I can understand.
The mash was nicely seasoned, too. The veg was green beans, carrots & broccoli that were cooked perfectly - still had a crisp texture.
All in all, we were very pleased with our choice to have dinner there and we will definitely go back if we visit Vancouver again. -
Review from mandie j.
2/24/2010
I really enjoyed this place, I am from California, was up visiting Seattle to see some family and came to Vancouver for the day. We were there on a weekday, did some walking around Yaletown and ended up at this cool pub. It was very clean on the inside, had some nice decor, and reminded me of an Irish pub that is a couple of blocks from where I live, so in a way... it reminded me of home.
I got a good Canadian pale ale, which I can't remember the name of, but it was a little cloudy like a wheat beer. It tasted really good and I felt really cozy, even though it was 30 degrees outside.
If I ever lived in Vancouver I am sure I would frequent this place often. The only drawback was it seemed the staff was not too attentive, but I am not really sure how attentive they are supposed to be in a bar.
It seemed like it had its regulars, and the music they played was pretty good. It seems like from the other reviews that weekends get pretty crowded. Maybe its just better on weeknights? Then again I am the type of person who tries to avoid going out on weekends.
The beer is cold and tasty and the decor is dim and cozy. Perfect for me!
Go Canada!Listed in: Out of towner
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Review from Kyle F.
10/6/2009
More of a sports bar compared to Morrissey, enjoyed watching the BC football team win on a field goal. Met a couple new friends here and had a good time. Bar girls here had cute skirts on. Beers were expensive, but so are all the other bars in Vancouver.
There is a dance floor downstairs by the bathroom if you want to get your dance on after spending time in the bar upstairs.
BTW, if beer cost as much in Portland, OR as it does in Vancouver, BC - There would be riots. -
Review from Vanessa G.
2/13/2011
Well considering i didn't get in because your monkey bouncers decided that after waiting 30 minutes it was ok to let everyone else behind us in line in but not us in you get a big fat ZERO stars. With no explanation whatsoever .. other then not being able to slip you some cash to pad your pockets. I have NEVER been treated so poorly in a Vancouver in my entire life. It's sad. It's the opposite of everything you think this city is or could be. Shame on you.
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Review from Megan S.
12/18/2008
It is pretty crowded, but it's also pretty big. Tonight we had a large group, and after starting out at a few spread out areas, we were able to get a whole corner- room for about 20.
As noted by others: the beers are expensive, and the waitresses are in short plaid skirts, generic crests cover the walls.
By the way- the waitresses.... ? Not sure how it works. I saw them sporadically through the night, we did all of our ordering at the bar. Which is fine and all- but what are the waitresses doing?
It's nice and loud, fun for a group, but I need a cheaper place if I'm going to stay all night. -
Review from Emily C.
9/3/2009
So much to say about Doolin's, but little space and and so much to censor! Well it's one of the most laid-back, chill Irish bars in town and it never really disappoints. The guy:girl ratio is always in our favour, though you do have to watch out for skeezy perverts galore. But that usually is the case on the Granville strip!
What sucks is the cover they try to rape from you, I guess Doolin's took a page out of the downtown club scene. Beer and drinks are great, atmosphere too. It's one place I'll definitely associate with Vancouver and think fondly upon! -
Review from Rachael M.
10/21/2010
I like the interior of this place a lot. The wooden designs & furniture give the pub a home-type feel, but there's still plenty of bar qualities like the sports playing on TV and copious amounts of beer being served and consumed.
We were starving, so we started off with the Appy Platter, which was basically a sampling of several of their appetizers. We made short work of the wings & cheesebread, but we weren't too impressed by the "nachos". We're from Texas, so nachos to us means something totally different. Still decent, though. For lunch, I opted for the braised short rib sandwich, which came with a ton of fries. The sandwich was served open face with ots of gooey cheese piled ontop of nice, thick bread. The meat itself was tasty and not overly fatty, but the fries were simply alright, though definitely nothing special. All of us seemed to like our food which included the pulled pork sandwich, oven roasted chicken, and some burgers. Pretty surprising for pub food, really. I also really liked the beer selection, especially since there were plenty of local options for me to try. I was a big fan of the honey brown lager, which wasn't too bitter & just dark enough to be delicious.
Overall, there was a nice feel to the place which was enhanced by our server's attentiveness. Our cups were never empty & she even managed to split the check without hesitation. The location made it easily accessible to us and put us smack in the middle of a bustling shopping area, too. Plenty of people watching and entertainment to be had! I'd go back, though maybe I'd go lighter on the food. I seriously could have taking a long nap after all that greasy goodness. That or opt for more beer instead... -
Review from Alex D.
Vancouver, BC
5/2/2010
Sometimes it is nice to go to a pub that is just that, a pub. It is not a resto-lounge or any other hybrid style of nightspot that Vancouver seems to love so much. You can order straight from the bar and wander around at your leisure. Much like the Roxy it attracts a pretty mainstream crowd but always has a lively atmosphere. If you want to crank it up a notch head downstairs for some beats, dancing and a slightly more drug fueled vibe.
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Review from Dean P.
Abbotsford, BC
4/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Although Doolins tries way to hard to be Irish it has decent food and service. The pulled pork sandwich is a pretty tasty choice and worth trying if you're in the area.
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
8/27/2009
used to go here religiously until they got sucked ito the vancouver club scene.
8$ cover BEFORE 11pm at and IRISH PUB?
there is something so wrong wtih that.
still, o inside, you have great servers, a semi-decent crownd and good times. but otherwise..this irish pub has completely sold out. boo. -
Review from Sean M.
5/12/2009
OMG!!! I love this place! You really can't go wrong with an Irish pub, but this place takes the cake for Van. A great atmosphere and friendly, inviting staff make this a great place to go any day of the week. We went in on a Monday night to find a band playing, and a large group of people drinking the night away. Will definitely go back whenever I am in Vancouver.
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Review from Renee S.
Vancouver, BC
8/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is a nice space, decent music, though it's really dark. I came for a fundraiser for a friend, and our tickets included beer and a burger. Great! Turned out that the only beer we could get was a Canadian, the waitress -- who didn't seem to even want to be there -- tried to tell me the ticket didn't include a veggie burger (it did), and when they said burger they meant it - the most basic: patty, lettuce, onions and mayo; no fries or sides, extra for cheese (but the waitress never asked anyway). The bun was not great, the patty wasn't even hot, and the waitress didn't return. So disappointing! I won't be going back.
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Review from Drew R.
12/8/2008
I'll give it an extra 1/2 star. I like this place, fun interior, good drinks, food is decent, good crowd. Don't like the que, sometimes too long with the one out one in method. It is a fun place to finish the evening for a Guinness nightcap...
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Review from Samuel Y.
Vancouver, BC
3/23/2010
I went here on a Saturday night, to celebrate a friends birthday. My friends have been there since 7:30pm and we were a large group there was around 8 of us. I had arrived there around 9:30. I waited around 10 minutes before I was approached by a server. I browsed at the menu for about 5 minutes and the server had come back to the table. Being totally unaware, that my large group of friends hadn't settled their bill The server tells me "You can't order any food, unless your friends settle the bill?" At first I was like what the hell. After another 5-10 minutes she starts clearing the table, accidently knocks my hand on the table without apologizing. I then asked her "Can I order, or should i wait again?" This time, she says in a testy voice, "Okay I'm ready, whats your order?!". I tell her my order and after 15 minutes my food arrives, which was chicken fingers and fries. The food tasted so so, even though it was rated as a Doolins special. To add further insult to injury, without me even asking. The rude server, brings me my bill 5 minutes after my dish was served. At this point, I'm already annoyed at her. She then tells me in a commanding voice "I'd like you to pay for your bill?" At this point, i'm getting fuming mad. I took my credit card out of my hand, slapped it on her hand and said "Here take it!!!" I will honestly never go here again. I should've left a zero tip, after being treated sub humanely by this rude server. Seriously if you end up going here, avoid being served by this brunette server, around mid 30's to early 40's with a single pony tail hairstyle.
