Paddy Cullen Public House

There aren’t that many options to grab a quick lunch in Ballsbridge so I was happy to see a food menu for this place. Went into Mary Macs first and it was packed out with after-​work drinkers, but Paddy’s side was nice and quiet. Ordered myself the Korma and it was CLASS! Exactly what I needed, fairly typical pub food but it was excellent and lovely chips too. The menu said it came with naan, which I didn’t get, but I wasn’t complaining, happy out with what I had. The staff all seem lovely, and they left me to my own devices.
Definitely bookmarked as a lunch spot here!

Normally the only time I see any pubs in Ballsbridge is out through the window of a bus on my way to the city but when you work in the area and only have an hour for lunch you tend to find little gems like this, although ironically this is not a place you will get a seat in at lunch time as it is packed to the rafters every day of the week with the work crowd.
It’s quite a cosy pub at night, food is delicious and large portioned although it is a wee bit pricey (well it is D4 dont-​cher-​know) but it’s great quality and at least once a week I nearly get knocked down from a black Range Rover crossing the street (I think they are purposely waiting for me and this stage and the minute they see me they plunge down on the accelerator) but well worth risking your life for if you like the danger… or just want a nice drink after work that is…
Also keep an eye out for the lovely lady that works in this bar and the one next door, she’s constantly run off her feet flitting between the two but always has time to craic a joke, lovin it :)

I’ll have to admit, I never even heard of Paddy Cullen until I started working in Ballsbridge. I have been a couple of times for lunch and its very good value. There have been plenty of times when I have walked in and not been able to get a seat so be warned, lunchtime is busy from Mon — Fri. Bridget mention a couple of items on the menu and I’d just like to add that the jacket potatoes with cheese are mouth watering.
The pub is very Irish and a real traditional pub feel. I’ve been for a few Rugby games and you can’t move — adds to the atmosphere of course so I really do recommend it.

There’s a mixed crowd that frequents «Cullens» on Merrion road, suit ‘n tie types from surrounding offices drop in for a post-​work bevvie; match-​watchers crowd around TVs upstairs and down, and when the neighbouring RDS plays host to bands, home shows or fairs the place is overrun by hungry event-​goers.
The lunch menu is filling — jacket potatoes with cheese, beans or chilli, baseball sized burgers dripping with melted cheddar — but not for the budget-​minded. Soft drinks are pricey as the bar will charge for shorts even in the middle of the day.
Dark wood furnishings downstairs make the front a deep dark cavern when walking in from the bright street outside. Once your eyes have adjusted get a seat in the upper gallery on the first floor –the cushy couches and arm chairs are highly sought after and hard to grab after 5pm.

Named after the former Dublin goalkeeper (look up ‘Paddy Cullen’ ‘Mikey Sheehy’ ‘oops’ on YouTube for a laugh) who used to be the owner. But in the good old Celtic Tiger times of yore he flogged it — and rather wisely if you ask me.
Was there last night for a quiet pint, which turned into something like being inside a radio speaker when the DJ came on c. 10pm. He promised (at full volume) that he’d be with us until 1am and then proceeded to play two Beyonce and two Take That songs in 45 minutes, while linking them as if he was broadcasting to the nation.
If he had been on the wireless we would have been able to turn him off. After Canned Heat came on we called it a night.

Cullen’s is a great after work spot for drinks. Especially on a sunny day, there will be hoards of people standing outside and milling around. Ditto on match day or before a concert.
They also do food. I can recommend the bowl of chilli-​fries — hearty goodness. It’s also the type of place where one drink turns into four, then you need a chicken goujon and basket of chips break before having four more drinks… on a school night.
Good fun whether you intended to stay or not. They also do a good lunch there during the day and have good music playing in the evening to get you in the mood.