Foley's Bar — Restaurant in Dublin

With so many pubs and bars in Dublin, it was daunting at first to narrow down a party venue for my 50th birthday party and to celebrate 20 years cancer-free for Sat, 22nd February. I looked through so many from when I lived in Dublin but ultimately it was an easy decision once I had contacted Gráinne Devenney at Foley’s.

Trying to organise the party from New York with a month and a half to go, I thought this would be difficult. Only for Gráinne, it was a breeze. She was quick with her responses, so helpful, offered suggestions with room and party food choices and timings, that I paid a deposit with her straight away, which went against food and drinks on the night.

Gráinne worked with me by email in answering questions on DJ hire, decorations, cake storage and utensils, closing time, our fundraising for Pieta House for Suicide Awareness and a few other requests. Gráinne even arranged for us to have a reserved area for the Six Nations England v Ireland game for the Sunday afternoon. Everything was seamless and she was very efficient, kind, thoughtful and funny in her communications.

As we could only get to the venue on the party day, Gráinne agreed to meet us in the afternoon to show us the Oriel Room and we went through final details. The Oriel Room is on the 1st floor and it couldn’t have suited our party better as it just exudes fun; apt for our guests and theme of 80’s/90’s night; decorated in bright colours and floral wallpaper, long curtain drapes, all kinds of high and low tables and chairs, a smoking room attached to the room, plus an overflow room.

As it happens, we stayed downstairs and met some of our guests there for a drink before heading back to the Mespil hotel to get ready. The bar area downstairs is equally as exquisite and cheerful, and the food is excellent.

Returning that night, the bar manager, Davy was so attentive, as was all the staff, I only wish I could have remembered all their names, in particular Martin and Gavin were fantastic, always checking up on us, cleaning and clearing things away and worked great with DJ Baz of Dublin DJ Hire. The food served was a mixture of chicken goujons, cocktail sausages, potato wedges, mini fish & chips, mini chicken & chips, spring rolls, veggie samosas; all extremely yummy!

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the night and it went so quickly, as all good things do. We left on a complete high and with a taxi line just outside the door, it was so easy to get back to the Mespil hotel.

On Sunday, we had reserved an area downstairs to watch the Six Nations and because there were 18 of us watching, they opened the Oriel Room again. It was perfect and the room and experience wasn’t like “oh we are here again” but “wow it’s so much fun to be back here again” and we laughed and chatted the whole time. Martin and Gavin were there again to serve us excellent bar snacks and drink and after the game was finished, they saved us a table downstairs for us to listen to some great live music for the rest of the evening.

We can’t wait to go back to Dublin so that we can pop in again. Thank you, Gráinne, Davy, Martin, Gavin and all the hard-working...

Indo-Canadian visiting from Toronto. Not impressed.

Snobby waiters which is odd because it’s not a classy joint. Head bartender (not the guy in my pic but seemed to be Eastern European) seems to forget he’s a bartender. Lots of attitude for no reason. My dude - you’re a glorified waiter - please learn your place.

They were fake nice after I tipped though lol.

Note: The Irish staff were all really nice - seems to be a common thread throughout Ireland: the immigrant staff offer terrible service if you aren’t European; the Irish themselves are lovely. The owner should take note of this if he wants to see better clientele - you will lose out on business if you don’t firmly educate your more recently hired staff. Happy to spend my $$$ someplace that’s actually classy and deserves it.

Food is unusually bad even for pub fare. Couldn’t finish my fish and chips. Good cocktails though. The redheaded girl (cocktail) was my favourite.

Go here if you like bad service and bad food while pretending it’s...

We had my sons 21st birthday at the Oriel Room at Foleys. Éana and the 2 others with him at the bar were charming, courteous, helpful, friendly, efficient, and great at their jobs. Éana in particular went out of his way to help us at every stage... from the initial decorating of the room, to the set up of the projector for our slide show, to keeping the (very heavy) cake fresh and presenting it well for us. The room was gorgeous! It was a perfect size for our party! Even though the party was packed there was never a queue at the bar and the empty glasses were always swept away. The staff gave an air of fun and never seemed to be stressed. The smoking area was fantastic and my son and his friends highly praised this too!

I recommend The Oriel Room at Foleys to everyone! You all helped to make my Son's special night one that he will cherish the memory of...