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O'Byrne's Irish Pub
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
26 reviews for O'Byrne's Irish Pub
Review Highlights
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"My only complaint was the live music." In 4 reviews -
"...nice folks enjoying a lively, Saturday night on Whyte Ave." In 10 reviews -
"...or you can enjoy the picnic tables on the patio watching..." In 3 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Keegan W.
Edmonton, AB
4/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
O'Byrnes is my go-to place on Whyte. I have had my 18th, 19th, and 20th birthday celebrations there and will make it four years straight this summer coming up. I've never had a bad time no matter when I'm there. In a day and age where bars are crowded with over-drunk, obnoxious people with little if any respect for others O'Byrnes is on its own level. Everyone working there is always friendly, the Irish music is just the right volume to allow for talking and there certainly is a lot of that.
It is also one of my favorite places to sit down for dinner. I ALWAYS order the "Fat Boy"... essentially a burger with two grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. They're delicious every time, despite feeling like I am about to die after consuming.
With more and more bars and pubs turning to the Lucky 13 business model of loud club music, flashing lights and huge dance floors, O'Byrnes is a breath of fresh air with comfortable booths, good food, good drinks and GREAT energy. I highly recommend it to any and all! -
Review from Maggie D.
Edmonton, AB
3/11/2012 ROTD 3/28/2012
I went here for lunch today with my Mom..it was a nice little pub, the food was tasty, the service was really good, and the atmosphere was really good. My mom had the potato soup and lambwhich..and I had the butter chicken curry with green onion cakes. The food was good and reasonably priced.
Definitely a great place to hang out on a warm Sunday in spring :) -
Review from John S.
1/29/2012
This bad review isn't based on the food or the beverages of O'Byrnes, it's based on the horrible and unfriendly service I received on my last two visits.
A few months ago, I hit O'Brynes with the gf and we found the last free table (at least the last free one without a "reserved" sign - but more about that later). It was 7:30 and we were glad to make it before the end of happy hour. The problem was our server didn't come to take our order until 5 minutes to 8. I asked what pints we could get while happy hour was still in effect and she looked at her watch and told us that we had to order them RIGHT NOW or we wouldn't get happy hour prices. I explained that we had actually sat down 25 minutes before and had been waiting for service, at which I was given a dismissive shrug from her before she walked away.
STRIKE ONE.
We decided to give O'Byrnes another try on Friday night. We walked in and it didn't seem that busy until we realized that every one of the empty tables had a "reserved" sign. Long story short, the bar was half empty but there was no free tables. I pointed out to the waitress that one small table had a sign stating that it was "Reserved for 7:30". I asked that since it was almost 8:30, could we sit there 'cause the people who were granted the table were obviously not showing up, and was told quite snottily that the table was reserved and we couldn't have it. Hmmm...two paying customers, there and ready to order, or someone who reserved the table but was not there an hour after their time? You'd think a business would make the obvious choice, but instead I just got another dismissing shrug* from the waitress and told that we'd have to wait for a table to open despite the large number of tables sitting empty except for their lonely, handwritten reserved signs.
STRIKE TWO
With all the great pubs withing walking distance (The Next Act, The Pour House, etc.), there is no reason to give O'Byrnes a chance to earn their third strike. I'll just learn from these two previous unpleasant experiences and take my business elsewhere.
*I'm guessing that the ability to give dismissive shrugs must be a prerequisite to being hired at O'Byrnes. -
Review from Karlie M.
12/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My low rating for O'Byrne's is only based on Friday/Saturday nights. I've been a couple of times in the past couple of months and not enjoyed it at all. They do that standard (and annoying) thing where they try to turn from pub-to-club on the weekends and it doesn't work. First of all, the layout of the bar is kind of confusing to me. The bar is quite big, but all the rooms are almost sectioned off like a house rather than a big open space. It gets so crowded in there it's almost impossible to move around comfortably.
The DJs are hit and miss... I've heard some good hip hop and dance tunes, but then they'll be followed up by Spice Girls or some weird rock song. Not good flow. I was there last night and they were playing the Grease medley and other tunes you might hear at a wedding or junior high dance. And they play the music way too loud. Obviously it has to be a decent volume so people can dance and whatnot, but it's just deafening. You can't hear the person next to you who's screaming into your ear. There is a dance floor but I've never been on it!
I know almost certainly that if I went to O'Byrne's on, let's say, a Wednesday night for a casual beer and maybe some food that my experience would be better and my rating would be higher. It's a nice, big place, but the pub-to-club thing just doesn't work for me here.Listed in: I love the nightlife
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Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
12/4/2011
O'Byrnes is a fairly standard Irish Pub in a fairly standard space. But they have drink specials ($4 20 oz. Pints) from 2-8 every day.
And they serve a hamburger in between two grilled cheese sandwiches called "The Fatboy." I ordered one and there was too much bread and not enough cheese.
My wife greatly enjoyed her spinach dip that she ordered, but found her buffalo veggie burger to be too spicy. However, she enjoyed O'Byrne's' homemade hamburger bun.
But it seems that they try here, and it can be fairly cozy as well, if you can get a table in one of their many nooks.
My mother in law ordered a pork tenderloin that was at least a foot long. I finished a chunk of it and found it to be both bland and salty. But it was plentiful. -
Review from Johnson T.
Edmonton, AB
7/28/2011
A friend and I got one of those great Groupon things and proceeded to went on the murderous rampage on their menu.
Already being a regular O'Byrne's customer. None of the decor, food, or drinks on tap were a surprise especially the framed corkscrews, old signs, and European memorabilia.
There are obvious things not to try: Baked Brie, per example. You're not supposed to expect Baked Brie to be good at a bar.
Otherwise, the standard British and Irish fare was great. From Fish and Chips to Bangers and Mash, I absolutely adore the classics.
The beer, oh the beer. Harp, Guinness, Kilkenny, Smithwick's. The only thing that kept me from enjoying it more was the trouble getting to and from the washroom. (The pub is a maze.)
I'm a regular, I think that stands for something. -
Review from Harry V.
Edmonton, AB
10/12/2011
Every time I've come here the patio is full which is kind of annoying. Their pricing/daily deals don't match up to competitors', but the food is really good. Very dark inside with some sectioned off rooms and a small cozy upstairs so I guess it would be good for groups, I just prefer an open setting. The bar and decor is gorgeous and of course celtic inspired.
Generally an older crowd on both weekdays and weekends and they feature live music a lot. The line to get in on weekends usually isn't too bad either. -
Review from Mike W.
2/25/2011
(A mans tale)
The man has no say as the wife guides him to and fro through the mystery stores along white avenue,,,,they slowly tromp from store to store,,,,but the man eye balls the true goal of the day,,,he sets his heat sensors but she tries in vain to dull his senses and get them to waver,,,as we near the true goal nothing seems to distract him except her ace in the hole, a stop at Chapters,,,hmmmmm she thinks she has him wavered now,,,,he waits until she finds some prize and escorts her quickly to the til,,,,out the doors as we trudge on,,,the hunt is on again,,,alas the goal in sight and the yearning of the brew is powerful,,,he grabs her arm and directs her into the goal of man,,,,,
O Byrnes Pub!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta love beers and pub grub at O Byrnes after a day on whyte ave. The food is average pub grub and the service is OK. The Irish setting inside makes for a comfortable atmosphere or you can enjoy the picnic tables on the patio watching people along Whyte ave. It does get pretty busy and crowded in the evening though. Definitely worth stopping here for a pint or two.Listed in: Manly Places, BEERS & PUB GRUB
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Review from Alex P.
7/28/2011
You know, O'Byrne's used to be good. I went here a few times in the first couple years of my undergraduate degree and I really liked it. The fries were delicious, the wings were cheap & tasty, and I liked the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, over the last few years they've made too many menu changes for my liking. I've tried stuff as simple as a loaf of bread at the place recently, and it was awful! Dry, tasteless, blech! They also got different french fries a couple years ago, so they went from being some of the best near campus to undercooked, lifeless and sock-tasting. They used to make their wings fresh, and now they've turned to cheap freezer crud. And the drinks got more expensive as well! There's pretty much no point to going here anymore.Listed in: Dibs Out, Dining Near Campus
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Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been to O'Byrnes Irish Pub every time I've been to Edmonton, and while I don't mind the atmosphere and they have a really decent patio their beer isn't very good, their selection of beer quite sad and I'm not a fan of the food.
This place gets three stars for a) being in a great location b) serving relatively cheep cold beer and c) having a patio. -
Review from Farees K.
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
When you think of Irish Pub, this place definitely fits the bill.
Nooks and crannies everywhere, open spaces if you want to meet people and little rooms if you want some quite. A long bar with a modest amount of beers on tap and drink and dinner specials almost every night.
They have quite a bit of live music to offer many nights and I would recommend visiting their website in case you are looking for some or if you want some quite as it can get loud.
The food is Irish pub food, nothing too exciting and on an all you can eat fish and chip night or their wing specials it can be great value. They specialize in comfort food and do a reasonable job, but truthfully nothing that you would remember or consider a signature dish.
If it weren't so close I would probably not make a specific trip, but if you are on Whyte ave it won't do you wrong. -
Review from Yo U.
2/11/2012
O'Byrne's offers good service and it's clean enough. Why only three stars, then? Well, it's the patrons of the place. It's not that they're a rowdy or a rude bunch, but rather that they didn't seem to be all that friendly on the night that I visited.
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Review from Nicole B.
Edmonton, AB
2/18/2010 1 photo
O'Byrne's is a unique place to go. It's sooooo Irish!
First reason to go to O'Byrne's: Great Specials
These guys have some awesome food and drink specials throughout the week. Don't miss them!
Second reason to go to O'Byrne's: Entertainment
The live music here is great. I've experienced a couple acts that were somewhat sub par, but for the most part, they are really good. Local talent at it's finest. Also, every Monday they have dueling pianos. It's great!
Third Reason to go to O'Byrne's: Experience
Like I said, this place isn't just a pub, it's an experience. It is a culture all its own. The atmosphere is great and it's always a lot of fun. -
Review from Will H.
Edmonton, AB
10/18/2011
I've been here multiple times. I love it during the afternoon, and like it during the evening/night. Food is good, a bit overpriced, but good. The beer selection is good, but again a bit overpriced. It's a great place to get lunch, and a fine place to grab some beers in the evening if it's not too full.
They also have TVs and subscribe to Sportsnet World (formerly known as Setanta), however they only have it in SD, not HD. They were happy to put the match I wanted to watch on for me.
Overall, it's nice, and the food and beer is good. It gets a little too busy -
Review from Paula K.
10/8/2008 1 photo
O'Byrne's is a traditional Irish pub along the main strip of Whyte Avenue. From the music to the decor, O'Byrnes has got it right. It's a great place to drop by after work to relax with a beverage of choice -- needless to say, Guinness is on tap. There is also a full line of other beers and spirits.
The menu is a small step above typical pub grub. Also with an Irish flavour, there are items traditionally found at these sorts of establishments intermixed with Irish dishes. I enjoyed a boxtie for supper one evening - a large potato pancake topped with beef, vegetables, and gravy. At another time, I had the "hangover breakfast" (even though I did not require it for medical purposes) - it was a generous helping of steak, eggs, and hash browns that served as my lunch, rather than breakfast.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Christopher W.
Calgary, AB
12/17/2008
O'Byrne's is a terrific little Irish pub. We stopped in for a drink on a Friday night and the place was jam-packed. People were lounging about in every direction, but the service was quick.
The place was fun. We had a good time fighting back the hordes of people and the spilled drinks. There's a great atmosphere at this place and I look forward to going back next time I'm in town. -
Review from Francesca K.
Edmonton, AB
2/6/2010
Where do you go and party for St. Patrick's day?
Wherever you WERE partying, you were not at the right place.
O'Byrnes is the place to be on March 14th. It opens up early and stays open late and truly marvels in the "holiday spirit."
On all other days, this Irish bar on whyte is a good place to go for a pint and some food. Their patio is one of the best, come summer season but it sure does fill up fast, so if you see a seat - nag it!
Service is usually good at O'Byrnes and food is good pub food- nothing special.
If you can't make it down to O'Byrnes for St.. paddy's day, go any other day of the year to experience it. -
Review from Jessica D.
Edmonton, AB
2/2/2011 1 photo
Now I'm not into the whole St Patricks Day madness or the kiss me cause I'm Irish shirts because I know they probably aren't even Irish. But this place really tickles my fancy. I've never sat outside because summer is way too hot for me to be just hanging out on Whyte ave (sweat is generally not attractive) and well, winter is self explanatory. But I've been in here many times and I figure its about time I write something pleasant about it.
I've never had a bad experience here, waitresses have always been superb, food has always been superb (the wings god damn!) But my most recent visit I had a 2 for 1 coupon, so when you have one of those, why not get your moneys worth and order the two most expensive things on the menu? We ordered the "Fat boy" ($14.99) and the Almost Stuffed Chicken ($14.99). For those of you who don't know what the Fat boy is, it's a burger but instead of the two buns you have two grilled cheeses ( I have mouth to burger pictures coming soon don't fret ! ) This was greasily awesome. A bit dry but nothing a bit of ketchup won't fix. My hands smelled like grilled cheese for so long it was awesome. The Almost Stuffed Chicken was OK.. My favorite part was the generous amount of cheese baked on top. It was basically a lazy stuffed chicken. A breast with all the stuffing on top then cheese melted on top. Everything was pretty good service was awesome as usual. My only complaint was the live music. We chose to go on live music night. Now don't get me wrong I applaud anyone that has the courage to go up in front of a bar and sing their selves to death but I'm seriously getting sick of hearing Wonderwall. -
Review from shawnna p.
Edmonton, AB
5/15/2011 1 photo
The third stop on our last night pub crawl was O'Byrne's. We refer to it as the scene of the crime as this is where hubby and I met seven years ago on a cold Winter's night. Last night started out as sunny and warm despite the wind gusts. We spotted an empty space on patio amid the crowded picnic tables. The heaters were going, so we were quite comfy. The daily beer special was to our liking so we consumed many of them. We met some really nice folks enjoying a lively, Saturday night on Whyte Ave. The staff was superb. Mind readers they are. We should have eaten dinner here last night. Somehow food slipped our minds. I always enjoy the food here. Why oh why didn't I eat dinner last night?
Listed in: Best Happy Hour
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Review from Amy W.
Medicine Hat, AB
3/18/2011
I came here in the summer with some friends from out of town and it was alright. I was kind of baffled that we asked for two different types of beer (I think Keiths and something like Kokanee..nothing exotic anyways) and they didn't have it. The waitress was nice though and she always made sure we had a full glass. We went in the early evening and it was busy but everyone seemed kind of bored (we were the only table actually laughing and having fun). I guess if we would have waited another hour for the other peoples beer to kick in we would have seen a more lively, pub atmosphere. And the music is out of place there. I think at one point they were playing Sarah MacLachlan..I don't need fiddles and the Irish tenors, but some sort of lively music to wake the crowd up would really help with the atmosphere.
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Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
12/31/2009
As everyone else has stated, O'Byrne's is an Irish pub located on Whyte Ave. Everything about this place feels authentic and Irish. Many people stop here after work for a quick drink or ten, and on Friday's they might not leave til the place closes.
The place has a great vibe going on. Everyone is here to enjoy themselves and is very friendly. This was a bit surprising cause many club on Whyte Ave are packed with people that just want to look and act as cool as they possibly can. I hate those people.
The menu is nothing special. It is pretty much what you would expect with no surprises. -
Review from Garnett S.
Edmonton, AB
10/5/2010
About as Irish as it gets in Edmonton I suppose.
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Review from Natalie M.
Edmonton, AB
12/20/2009
I know the older you get the harder it is to find a whole place to hang out with your buds, have a few drinks and, if the feeling is right, dance a little. Well, Whyte Ave can be a crazy, hip street filled with bars and pubs but they are also filled with "kids." We like a place where we don't feel our age when we go out. O'Byrne's Irish Pub helps us out with that. It seems like most of the people who hang out there are in the twenties and not in their teens. It might suck if you're a guy hoping to meet a young fox but I know us twenty something ladies like hanging out there with other guys who are our age. If you don't want to wait in the line I suggest you get there a little early, before 10. If you get their early enough you might be able to snag a table either at the back of the joint or on the second floor landing. On that second floor area there are some couches and some booths if you have larger groups. If you call you may be able to reserve that area. If you like to dance they do have a small dance floor.
It can get pretty crowed there so if you want a drink you need to practice your bartender flagging techniques. If you are a girl it could help if you wore a really low cute top; if you're a guy, try finding a girl with a low cut top to order you a drink. LOL, no I'm just kidding, but it might help quicken the ordering process. They people who wore there are pretty cool and the servers are nice.
Oh, their bathrooms are also pretty good! For women this is a big plus when going to a bar! -
Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
10/2/2008 1 photo
If it's warm enough outside and I happen to be down on Whyte Ave. I head over to O'Byrne's patio. It's one of only a few good patios on the commercial strip. There are lots of picnic tables and umbrellas and the western exposure makes it possible to tan all afternoon while quenching your thirst with a few cold bevvies. Good times and good friends flow together at this place, "enhanced" by the spirits. The Irish sure do it right. There's an atmosphere of conviviality in this place, and when the mercury rises everyone seems to catch the wave. (Or maybe it's just the beer.) The menu's pretty good. There is some good Irish grub but I've mostly sampled the appies. They have an amazing Guinness-infused poutine, the perfect treat for a wee hangover.
Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Orion S.
2/18/2010
O'Byrne's pub gets it done. Guinness on tap here is the best and a very warm pub feeling. Food here is decent but don't expect the works. Cool crowd on the weekends. Being on Whyte its sure to be a good time. The patio is the place to be during the summer and just a mellow place to be. Hell even when its cold, they have heaters blasting. I came here often and not remember leaving most nights. LOL
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Review from Adam S.
7/21/2009
meh. dated and oppressive music selection is my best recollection of this typical edmonton bar in a place that looks like an irish pub.
