Are Irish pubs, restaurants and hotels welcoming to children at dinner time?
Children are a normal sight at Irish tables, with one legal clock running. Hotels and restaurants welcome families at dinner, and many serve children early and happily. Pubs are licensed premises, so the rules are tighter: children must be with a parent or guardian, and under 15s must be off the premises by 9pm, extended to 10pm from May to September. Teenagers aged 15 to 17 can stay later only at a private function where a substantial meal is served, and the licensee can still refuse. In practice, eat early in pubs, book the table for six rather than eight, and expect the late music session to be an adults only room.
Useful pages: Family friendly Ireland · Plan your journey · Driving in Ireland: the full guide · Food and drink basics · Coming home · Experiencing the Irish coastline · Tours · Places to stay · Travel notices
Sources
- Citizens Information: children in licensed premises and the 9pm rule, citizensinformation.ie
More in Travelling with children
- What are the best Irish destinations for children who need shorter travel days?
- How do I plan an Ireland route with a baby or toddler?
- Which Irish attractions suit teenagers as well as younger children?
- What should families know about child seats in rental cars and taxis?
- What are good rainy day options for families in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Belfast?