Bray in County Wicklow is home to the famous Harbour Bar – the pub once voted the world’s best by Lonely Planet – and the Northern Irish Traveller went to find out if it still lives up to the hype
A content creator explored a beautiful coastal town less than 40 minutes from Dublin, before sampling a pint of Guinness in a venue once crowned the world’s finest pub.
Bray in County Wicklow boasts a seafront promenade and a stunning coastal cliff walk, offering some of Ireland’s most breathtaking vistas.
Dubbed the Gateway to the Garden of Ireland, the town earned recognition in 2023 when Time Out listed it among the globe’s “underrated travel destinations”.
Mark Rowan, a YouTuber also recognised as Stumpy or the Northern Ireland Traveller, set out to experience it firsthand.
Addressing his audience, he remarked: “Hello everyone, what’s the craic? So, today I’m in the beautiful little town of Bray in County Wicklow, Ireland. And today I’m here to do a pub crawl and see if I can find myself a good pint of Guinness.”
The popular excursion spot sits just 20km south of Dublin, and one particular establishment caught Stumpy’s attention.
He noted: “There’s a bar down there called the Harbour Bar. So I’ll have to try a pint of Guinness in there. It’s actually voted Ireland’s best bar I think. So that’ll be interesting to see how good the Guinness is.”
Prior to visiting that establishment, he sampled beverages at six other Bray watering holes, with his opening venue proving particularly noteworthy.
His initial destination was The Boomerang Bar, where a pint of Guinness set him back €6.60 (approx £5.72). Stumpy observed that the head contained not a single bubble after being served. Taking his first sip of the day, he declared: “Really really really off to a good start, a really really nice pint. If every pint is like this today, I am going to be a happy boy, that is nice.”
Sandy, who alongside her husband has run the establishment for almost three decades, confidently told Stumpy: “We have the reputation, and I am boasting, and I am saying it now, we have the best pint of Guinness in Bray, and ask any of our customers. That’s why our WiFi code (bestpintinbray) because people say it to us all the time. So I challenge you to find a nicer pint anywhere else.”
Stumpy took up the gauntlet but appeared charmed by the local pub where regulars all seemed acquainted with one another.
One willing participant spoke to the camera, introducing himself as a neighbourhood personality: “My name is Johnny, Johnny Choo Choo they call me. That’s me name because I worked on the train, and everyone’s welcome in Bray because we just do our own thing, we have a drink and we enjoy ourselves.”
Upon departing, Stumpy praised it as a “great pub” filled with exceptionally welcoming patrons, expressing his considerable admiration.
While wandering through the streets, he once more commented on how the residents of Bray were “super super friendly” and noted the town’s remarkable cleanliness.
He was also captivated by the “unbelievable scenery” before finally arriving at Harbour Bar.
A notice welcomed him proclaiming “Guinness is good for you” and Stumpy mentioned how numerous individuals had suggested he visit.
In 2010, this distinctive coastal establishment earned recognition from the Lonely Planet Guide as the globe’s finest pub, with the publication noting: “This bar has an amazingly diverse crowd and a unique look.”
The guide continued: “The bar is littered with original antiques and interesting bric-a-brac, accumulated over 80 years, by three generations of the O’Toole family. The Harbour Bar offers a truly authentic Irish pub experience as an antidote to the sterile atmosphere of some modern pubs.”
Over the decades, the venue has welcomed numerous celebrity patrons, with Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleeson, Bono and Cillian Murphy amongst its notable visitors.
During his visit to the establishment, Stump was accompanied by content creator Wendall, who shared his verdict on the €6.80 Guinness.
Wendall commented: “Look, in Ireland, Guinness is good in nine out of 10 pubs for an Englishman. Yeah, it’s not the best pint I’ve had in Ireland, but you know, for a seaside town, it’s belting. I would give it a seven out of 10.”
While Stumpy acknowledged it wasn’t his finest Guinness of the day — possibly referencing The Boomerang Bar — he maintained it remained a “great pint”.
Wendall further observed: “With all due respect to Dublin, I’d rather hang out by the seaside here and have a €6.70 pint than be in Dublin and pay €7.50. It’s nice, clean fresh air, clean streets. No grief.”
Having departed the snug watering hole, Stumpy, whose full video is available to watch here, remarked: “This place was voted by Lonely Planet the best pub in the world. It’s a great pub but it’s definitely not the best pub in the world.”
Wendall concurred, though offered a measured counterpoint: “It’s subjective, every man’s idea of a great pub is different.”
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