The Kilkenny Irish Pub has been an institution in Berlin-Mitte since 1992. The pub is located directly in the Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station below the S-Bahn viaduct. Thanks to its ideal location, the Kilkenny Irish Pub is always well frequented and also very popular with tourists.
During our visit on a Saturday evening, the pub was already bursting at the seams. There was already a lot going on outside the pub and when you walked in, you were almost breathless as it was very stuffy with so many people.
However, it also felt like you were actually in a pub in Ireland. It was full, it was loud, there was a football match on … it couldn’t have been livelier.
Right at the entrance is a brewery-style bar with a copper brewing kettle dome. Here you can sit directly at the bar, enjoy a Guinness and watch a football match on one of the large screens.
The middle room was designed in Victorian style with polished mirrors and gleaming brass fittings. There is a stage for live bands.
The third room was inspired by Gaelic culture. Celtic murals decorate the walls and the floor in the style of a cobbled street creates a very authentic feel. In addition, the vaulted and cobbled ceilings are due to the location directly under the S-Bahn viaduct. In the seating area, robust and somewhat sticky wooden tables invite you to enjoy a cozy pub evening.
With a bit of luck, we were able to get a small table in the third room shortly after our arrival and the evening could begin.
As there was a football match on when we arrived, the pub was very busy. Each of the three rooms is equipped with several televisions, so you really can watch sports broadcasts from anywhere. This makes the Kilkenny Irish Pub a top location for sports fans. The sports program is published every month so that you can always see which games are being broadcast on which days.
There was also live music from 21:30. The band played many well-known hits from Nirvana to Green Day and “Sweet Caroline”. The music could be heard throughout the pub, so you didn’t have to sit right next to the stage to enjoy it. The atmosphere was very lively, people sang along and sometimes danced.
Friendliness
The waitress was very overwhelmed when we arrived. So definitely allow some time if you go to the pub on a very busy evening. Luckily, we already knew what we wanted to order, so we were able to call someone over relatively quickly and place our order. As we ordered both drinks and food, we may have slightly overwhelmed the staff. Although the food arrived after about 20 minutes, we still didn’t have our Guinness after 45 minutes. We had to ask the staff twice before our Guinness order arrived. Not exactly ideal for an Irish pub. However, we have to say that they were very apologetic and we even got two baby Guinnesses on the house. Our mood was right back at its peak.
The service staff were friendly at all times despite the large crowds. As the pub emptied over the course of the evening, the orders went faster.
It is also possible to leave a tip in the toilets in the Kilkenny Irish Pub. However, this is not required for guests of the pub and is probably due to the fact that many non-pub visitors also visit the pub. Nevertheless, the toilets were not particularly clean throughout the evening. The men’s toilet in particular was not clean very early in the evening and the doors to the toilets could not be locked.
Drinks
The selection of drinks includes the basic elements of a good Irish pub: Guinness on tap and, as befits the name of the pub, Kilkenny Irish Ale. You pay €6.00 per half liter of Guinness in the Kilkenny Irish Pub. The cider selection is varied and includes Stowford and Strongbow on tap as well as Bulmers from the bottle.
There are also the typical mixed beer drinks, such as Poor Man’s Black Velvet or Snake-Bite. The Baby Guinness Shot that we received on the house was a little wish come true, especially for Christiane. She had always wanted to try this shot.
The verdict: this mixture of Baileys and Kahlua is absolutely delicious. You have to try it!
Nico once again dared to try the Irish Flag Shot. Just like at the Europacenter, it was served in a shot glass and contained three layers. As the menu didn’t say exactly what the Irish Flag Shot consisted of here (it’s different in every pub so far), Nico was in for a surprise. For the first time, the Irish Flag Shot had a lot to offer. Due to the mixture of peppermint liqueur, whisky and Grand Marnier (our guess), the shot was very strong and unfortunately not quite as tasty as in the Europa Center.
The whiskies on the menu are mainly Irish and Scottish varieties.
Food / Snacks
As we had already looked at the menu online before our visit to the pub, we were already looking forward to the good selection of typical Irish dishes, as well as general bar & comfort food. Nico ordered the steak sandwich, which, as so often, came with a side of potato chips. Although the sandwich tasted good, it was unfortunately almost completely cold when it arrived. In our opinion, however, it doesn’t quite justify the price of €14.50.
Christiane was finally able to try the long-awaited Irish stew. It was absolutely delicious and even the bread served with it was slightly crispy and perfect. If you have an appetite for tender meat and a meal that fills your stomach with warmth, then the Irish stew is the right choice for you.
Pros & Cons
- Attractive ambience
- Sports broadcast
- Live music
- Dog friendliy
- Good selection of food
- Breakfast
- Very long waiting times when it's full
- Dishes do not quite justify the price
Rating
Ambience
Friendliness
Drinks
Food / Snacks
