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Day Four: Saturday.

We went back to Foley’s for dinner after the conference because it was so good the first time we went. This time we ate in the lounge on the second floor. I went for the Irish stew since it looked so good when Cheryl ate it on our first visit. At the end of the meal were were all delighted as all of the food was great.

After we ate we went to a Pub that is right around the corner from my hotel. I do not remember the name of but the sign out front said “Perhaps the world’s smallest pub” under the name. After seeing that we had to go check it out. It was small. The pictures below show the inside of it. It was basically a bar with five stools and a small area to the left of the bar with seating for another four or five people with a ledge around the room on the wall so you could have a place to rest a beer. The most you would ever fit in the place is about 25 people if you jammed them all in (see photos below).

The other thing about this place that caught our eye was the freakishly tall bar tender. He was about 7 feet tall manning this tiny little bar.

We spent the rest of the night checking out a few bars in town since it was Saturday night and we had nothing else to do. First we went to the Porter House on Grafton Street. The bar was crowded with College kids and tourist. It took forever to get served at the bar so after only two rounds we decide to jump in a cab and go back to the hotel. Instead the taxi driver had no idea where he was going and we decide to bail on the cab rather then have the meter run up on us.

When we jumped out we were in a neighborhood know as Temple Bar. This area is well known for its bars and nightlife. We happened to jump out in front of The Mercantile Pub. A very old beautifully hand crafted pub. It had three levels with only the lower level open.

Inside they had ornate winding staircases leading to the other floors. The decorative carpentry in the place was equal to that of an old gothic cathedral. You would have to see it for yourself to appreciate it. The Mercantile seemed like it had grown over the years. I looked as if it spread from one building into the next. It looked to me like they took over the bar next door to them and basically cut a doorway from one bar into the next without changing the décor of the place next to it.

When we entered the original bar it was old world and ornate with a big bar and decorative woodwork. Leaving that room down a step into the next room you jump ahead in time and step into what looked like a 70’s disco. A long bar with a mirrored wall behind part of it. The rest of the bar was backed with large coolers with glass doors showing off the selection of bottled beers. A DJ was perched above a linoleum black and white tile dance floor spinning a mix of top 40 hits from the 80’s, 90’s and today.

Exiting from the 70’s bar into the next room was a continuation in time travel. Our journey in time landed us in what could best be described as a trendy yuppie bar with big couches and contemporary décor.

All together the Mercantile took up the first level of three or four buildings on that street. Each with a different flavor and décor.

Around Midnight, Rob and Cheryl grabbed a cab and headed back. I finished the night with a beer in the Dublin City Hotel across from the Mercantile while I waited for the rain to pass.

The hotel had a nice modern bar on the street level and a nightclub with urban dance music and a DJ on the lower level. I waited about 15 minutes for the rain to stop. When the rain ended it was rather difficult to find a taxi and the “Q” outside the hotel for a taxi was rather long. I figured I would wait the duration of one more beer for the “Q” to shrink only to realize the taxi line was not moving at all.

After a quick look at the iPhone I decided to leave on foot. I navigated my way back to the hotel using the Google maps application on my iPhone. Turns out it was only about 10 Dublin city blocks to The Shelburne where I was staying. Given the age of the streets and areas I was navigating a city block was not really that long and I got back rather fast. On my way I walked past numerous pubs, restaurants and a theatre that had just let out as I was passing. The street was a buzz with well dressed people seeking out their next destination.

Dublin has quite a busy nightlife.