Johnnie Fox's Pub — Attraction in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

Having previously left a 5 star review here, after visiting multiple occasions, I felt compelled to leave a review about my very unpleasant experience here yesterday evening. My niece is home from Australia after 2 years and my elderly parents and the family are staying in Wicklow for a few days. We drove almost an hour last night for our night out and my niece and parents were very excited. First let down was asking if we could be in the main hall to experience the music, which is why we went. We were advised it was full but given no option or advice to pop in later, or if a seat becomes available etc. instead we were left in another part of the bar and that was fine we swallowed that up and made the best of our time. The food was decent as always, no issues there. The big upset came at the end of our experience, having missed out on the music which my family were excited for, we decided to have a drink in the bar at the entrance, and encountered a very aggressive and very rude staff member, who first mistreated my dad, and older very soft spoken gentleman, only because he brought back a drink that was never ordered, was given a pint of Coors when he ordered a Guinness. This was the first interaction with a man called Charli. He made some rude comment about asking my dad twice, and eventually asked for the drink back which I brought to him and ordered more drinks hoping that was the end of it. We proceeded to sit and enjoy the music that was about to start, and my dad realised we hadn’t been given the Guinness for my nephew, who then went to ask for it. It seemed Charli had forgot about my dad already paying, and made another smart comment to my nephew and proceeded to aggressively run out from behind the bar to ask my nephew for an ID, even though as I later explained to him, we were all served drinks inside with our dinner without issue. I could tell by his demeanour that this was fuelled by aggression, rather than actually checking my nephews id for the right reason. My nephew didn’t have an ID but advised he could show on his phone, and Charli advised that he couldn’t have the drink, after we had already been served a paid. On that note I had enough of he’s very blatant aggression and attitude, having just paid for a dinner for 7 people, I was appalled by he’s disregard for customer service. He made me so angry about how we were being treated as patrons, and I asked him to return all the drinks and give us a refund. He quickly stomped into the bar and came back and aggressively slammed the money on the table (all of this happening in front of other customers, and my confused parents who just wanted to have a drink before we left. Charli was obviously in some sort of bad mood and took this out on customers, which is both vile and unacceptable. We proceeded to request a manager, which Charli stormed off again rudely and continued to show aggression. The manager actually witnessed his behaviour, and for a moment looked like he pulled him up on his behaviour, which was perfectly understandable. I was expecting that he would advise him not to treat any customers in this way, but understand he didn’t see everything. I had apologised to him for calling Charli a dickhead in the heat of the moment, when I had enough of how he was miss treating my family. However, the manager then decided to go down the road of defending Charli and asked me to apologise to him and let him do the same so we could finish our drinks and have a good night. This never happened. For my family and to try and finish the night on a positive note. I went to him, explained that I didn’t like how he treated my family, but apologised for my comment. Charli non surprisingly accepted my apology, but provided no apology in return and did not act in any way positive to resolve the matter. We were then left alone, no offer of drinks to be brought back down or anything, manager disappeared, as did Charli and we were all sitting there with no drinks and no follow up. It was an awful feeling. My parents and visiting niece all very upset and...

Johnnie Fox's Pub, nestled in the scenic mountains of Glencullen, County Dublin, is a quintessential Irish experience that shouldn't be missed. Renowned as one of the highest pubs in Ireland, it offers a perfect blend of traditional charm, great food, and lively entertainment.

The moment you step inside, you're greeted by the warm, rustic atmosphere that makes Johnnie Fox's so special. The pub is filled with an eclectic collection of memorabilia, from old farming tools to vintage signs, giving it a cozy, lived-in feel. It’s like stepping back in time, with every corner telling a story.

The food at Johnnie Fox’s is a standout. The menu features a wide range of traditional Irish dishes, with seafood being a particular highlight—especially the famous seafood chowder. The portions are generous, and the quality is consistently high. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Irish stew or something lighter, there’s something to satisfy every palate.

But what truly sets Johnnie Fox’s apart is the entertainment. The “Hooley Night” dinner show is a must-see, offering a fantastic evening of traditional Irish music, dancing, and storytelling. The musicians are top-notch, and the dancers’ energy is infectious, making it impossible not to tap your feet along with the tunes. It’s an authentic and unforgettable Irish cultural experience that draws both locals and tourists.

The staff at Johnnie Fox’s also deserve a mention for their friendly and attentive service. Despite the pub’s popularity, they manage to make every guest feel welcome and well-cared for.

One thing to keep in mind is that Johnnie Fox’s can get quite busy, especially during peak times and for the Hooley Night, so it’s a good idea to book ahead. The drive up to the pub is also a bit winding, but the stunning views along the way make it worthwhile.

In summary, Johnnie Fox's Pub is a gem that offers everything you could want from an Irish pub experience—delicious food, a unique atmosphere, and some of the best live entertainment around. It’s the perfect place to soak up the spirit of Ireland, and a visit here is likely to be a highlight...

I got a notification that my review wasn't up to the standard of the restaurant. So if they get a bad review they report the problem rather than rectifying the problem. So I’ll say it again. Service non existent. We literally just got thrown to a table, and thrown a bowl of chowder, literally slapped up, messy (as seen in photos) food dumped at us. After travelling around the mountains we decided to stop off here for something small to kill the hunger. It was raining, I didn’t mind eating outside/inside - but I should have stuck to my gut and decided to pass here - but my partner wanted to eat here. We explained we had a dog and the bar staff said it was no problem. From then on, service was awful the man who claims to be a “manager” had a demeanour like we were a nuisance or he didn’t actually we to be working that day. Nothing else was offered. The chowder was dumped on the table and the server flee. We were going to order drinks but that treatment just put us off. No serviettes or additional items like salt were given. No check back was done to see was everything okay. It was only when we pushed the bowls aside we were asked can the bowls be taken. I pointed out to the ‘manager’ in future just make sure fish is deboned properly as I found a bone in my dish. I previously came from a hospitality background and what was exhibited here at this restaurant very unpleasant and lamentable. I would not recommend nor I would advise people to go. The portions are small, €10 for a tiny bowl of chowder was another downfall of this restaurant and half a menu was passed to us (not even a full menu literally a page). Disgraceful. My advice, go here, take pictures only for whatever reason as for service and food plenty of other beautiful places around...