Visit 11 Authentic Irish Pubs in Ohio

Ireland is known for its public houses — gathering places that serve up Guinness by the pint, the finest Irish whiskeys and hearty meals like Irish stew, fish and chips, and shepherd’s pie, not to mention plenty of good banter. For Ohioans seeking the fun and flavor of an authentic Irish pub, here are 11 across Ohio that deliver the goods. Sure, these spots get their due each March as St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, but they are great spots to visit all year. 

Dublin Pub, Dayton 
Constructed in the mid 1800’s, Dayton's Dover Building stood proud until a 1931 flood caused its downfall. After the building was torn down, a Shell station was put in its place until 1998 when a staff of 29 opened the doors of an Irish gem in Dayton's Historic Oregon District. A 2013 renovation project saw a 108-year-old church saved from demolition and used to add 2,200 square feet of interior and patio space to the pub where classic Irish dishes and award-winning cheese fries are served. 300 Wayne Ave., Dayton 45410, 937/224-7822, dubpub.com


Dublin Village Tavern, Dublin 
In 1920, the onset of Prohibition killed what was one a lively bar scene on the city of Dublin’s High Street, transforming this historic section of the Columbus suburb into a quieter (and safer) place. The Dublin Tavern opened here in 1996, following preservation and renovation efforts that turned this former 1889 hardware store into an inviting place to raise a pint. 27 S. High St., Dublin 43017, 614/766-6250, thedublinvillagetavern.com

Fadó Pub & Kitchen, Dublin 
Before Ian “Monty” Montgomery opened this Dublin, Ohio, pub, he worked as a police office in Dublin, Ireland. After moving to the United States, he first delved into the food-and-beverage industry working at Fadó Irish Pub at Easton in 2006. This spot, which opened in Dublin’s Bridge Park neighborhood in 2018, features an interior crafted in and imported from Ireland. 6652 Riverside Dr., Dublin 43017, 614/662-4598, fadopubandkitchen.com

Flannery’s, Cleveland
This Irish pub sits at the corner of East Fourth Street and Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland, where a plaque behind the bar pays tribute to Denis Flannery, who opened the spot in 1997. Current owner Doug Petkovic kept the pub’s name and tradition alive after purchasing the place in 2019, while updating the interior to make it an even more inviting space to mingle. 323 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland 44115, 216/718-7782, flanneryscle.com  


Flat Iron Cafe, Cleveland
An Irish pub has operated in this building along the Cuyahoga River since 1910. During the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, the Flat Iron Cafe drew longshoremen and businessmen alike to its cafeteria-style restaurant and 30-foot-long bar. In the late 1980s, work was done to preserve the charm of the place and table service replaced the cafeteria-style approach. 1114 Center St., Cleveland 44113, 216/696-6968, flatironcafe.com


O’Huid’s Gaelic Pub, Lancaster 
This family-owned and -operated Irish pub in downtown Lancaster offers an inviting atmosphere, with fun events throughout the year like live performances of Celtic folk music. The food menu features items aptly named for both Scottish and Irish lore, including the Brian Boru, an Angus beef burger named after the Irish king who fought off the Vikings. 167 W. Main St., Lancaster 43130, 740/422-8850, facebook.com/ohuidsgaelicpub


Parnell’s Pub, Cleveland Heights & Cleveland
Declan Synott came to America in 1994 with $500 in his pocket. After shucking oysters in Boston, Massachusetts, and working at Flannery’s in Cleveland, he purchased The Charles Stewart Parnell Irish Pub in Cleveland Heights from Denis Flannery in 1997, where he can often be spotted behind the bar pouring pints. He opened a second location in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square theater district in 2013. 12425 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216/321-3469; Playhouse Square: 1415 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44115; parnells.pub


Red Leprechaun, Cincinnati  
A hand-carved bar that served patrons at a pub in Malahide, Ireland for more than six decades was saved from destruction when the property that housed it was bulldozed in 2019. After a 57-day journey to Cincinnati in a shipping container, it is now the showpiece of the Red Leprechaun, an Irish pub with a bright-red exterior that operates in The Banks district. 20 West Freedom Way, Cincinnati 45202, redleprechaun.com


Sully’s Irish Pub, Medina  
This former machine shop in downtown Medina now stands as a gathering place that offers food, drinks and community. Plaster walls, tin-stamped ceilings and oak woodwork create the atmosphere, while the menu spans bar-fare favorites (think burgers, sandwiches and wraps) and traditional Irish dishes like beef stew, Guinness-battered fish, shepherd’s pie and corned beef. 117 W. Liberty St., Medina 44256, 330/764-3333, sullysmedina.com

The Blarney Irish Pub, Toledo  
Located in the Toledo Warehouse District, this pub serves dishes ranging from Irish dishes like Smithwick’s-battered fish and chips to burgers in a spot that offers a welcoming place to gather. Live music Thursday through Saturday contributes to that convivial atmosphere, and The Murray Room with its exposed beams and hanging lamps offers a unique space for gatherings of 40 to 50 people. 601 Monroe St., Toledo 43604, 419/418-2339, theblarneyirishpub.com 


The Harp, Cleveland  
The soda bread is made using owner Karen O’Malley’s grandmother’s recipe and the shepherd’s pie and fish and chips are made from traditional Irish recipes at this spot in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Then there’s the Corned Beef Boxty, which stuffs a folded potato pancake with beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese and is topped house-made Russian dressing. The food isn’t the only draw though, as the patio provides great Lake Erie views. 4408 Detroit Ave., Cleveland 44113, 216/939-0200, the-harp.com