Located across from the harbour at the north end of the promenade, you can't miss this iconic bright blue pub, opened in the 1870s.
After spending three generations in the O'Toole family, the Harbour Bar is now operated under new ownership. However, it's a listed premises, so the building at least can be expected to stay much the same - and it has been taken over by local hotelier, Joe Duggan, an 'old school' buyer who loved the place as it was, so it should be in good hands..
There are four distinct areas within the pub: the original bar and snug, the lounge, the conservatory (where poetry readings are held) and the performing space in the back, which is home to a wide range of live entertainment, including traditional music sessions. There's also a beer garden area with plenty of picnic tables for enjoying good weather.
A typical traditional Irish pub, it is is filled to bursting, with bric-a-brac and antiques covering the walls and the bar. There’s an eclectic mish mash of furniture too, from the usual bar stools to well-worn sofas and armchairs in the lounge and conservatory, making you feel as if you've stepped into someone's living room.
The Harbour Bar welcomes everyone from its many celebrity customers to tour groups. And after being named the best bar in the world by a popular international guide in 2010, the secret is well and truly out about this gem. But, surprisingly perhaps, it so far remains its atmospheric self and no visit to Bray would be complete without calling in here for a pint.
