Molly Malones

Walk past the university buildings towards Alexandra Place and you'll find yourself in Molly Malones, where the vibe is unashamedly traditional Irish pub without any of the tourist tat. It's the sort of place where you'll see geology students nursing hangovers next to retirees who've been coming here for decades, all united by decent Guinness and food that actually tastes like someone cared. The crowd's mixed—some nights it's rammed with undergrads, other evenings it's surprisingly intimate—but there's a warmth here that feels earned rather than performed.