McCarthy’s Irish Bar
117 S Upper St, Lexington, KY, 40507
McCarthy’s Irish Bar Menu
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Address :
117 S Upper St
Lexington, KY, 40507 - Phone (859) 258-2181
- Website https://www.mccarthysirishbar.com/new/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Wed, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
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Elaine D.
I've gone several times, but only for equine related events, when this dark little place explodes with people from the horseracing industry many of whom ARE Irish. These times, the place has been packed, but I've been lucky enough to secure a seat at the bar. They're very supportive of the industry and it's people, so I've given them 3-Stars for that. Other than these events, I'm not likely to frequent the bar.
(3)Olwen C.
Just a hole in the wall Irish bar. It's dark and dreary inside and the patio out back is nothing special. Just feels very enclosed and stuffy in the bar. I don't care for it. You'd be better off going to one of lexington's many upper scale bars or clubs. This is a typical college bar.
(2)Tayler M.
I actually didn't even go here. Me and friends/buds went somewhere else called like SAMs Hot Dogs I think. But while we were there we could tell, through vibes and astral bodies and such mysticism that this pub wasn't really up to par. Also, Irish? Wow. Very original? Go to SAMs for the milkshakes but beware of
(1)Corey I.
This place is a joke unless your a true Irish and a regular and enjoy rugby. No form of welcoming or feeling welcomed at all. Had a beer and was stared at the whole time. Honestly don't waste your time
(1)Chad C.
Great little pub in the heart of the town. Gets loud and crowded. Really cheap drinks. What is not to love about that?
(4)Erika V.
This place is pretty awesome. This is a legit Irish bar because there's actually a group of Irish men with thick Irish accents (with a smidge of Southern twang) that come in and get kicked out daily for being rowdy with each other. Or so I was told. Either way, THAT is a good way to feel like you're in Dublin without spending a ton of money on a plane ticket. I dig that the bar is dark. I dig that they have equestrian estate name plates lined along the bar's surface. I dig the outside patio area a lot. I dig the little troll doors leading to what looks like nowhere or secret dungeons. I dig that this place has the option of torturing Kentucky boys that drink their bourbon straight with Aqua's "Barbie Girl" for a quarter. That alone is worth the visit. Actually, I got lucky when I went in here because some drunk must have put in a ten dollar bill because I had a ton of credits. Because I'm a bastard and needed entertainment since the Irish guys took their fight outside, I picked every annoying song available on the digital jukebox. Needless to say I don't think anyone liked me for about an hour, but I DID play Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as the last of my annoying song list. There's something strange about that song that unites all walks of life, including the reddest of necks who under normal circumstance would never even say the word "gay" and acknowledge that person that the title may belong to. But hey, sing it, boys. Embrace it. Also, there's a bartender there named Devin who's really cool. He made good suggestions on drinks. He actually gave us strong drinks which made us want to stay longer and buy more booze. He even admitted to thinking my choice of Barbie Girl was funny. WIN. As a side note, the bathrooms there are creepily warm. Like sauna warm. It's weird because the front door into the bathroom looks like this really heavy oak door so you push on it and almost fall in because it weighs nothing. Then you get in there and realize you're sweating bullets when you weren't just a second before and that's because the bathrooms are heated. I know bitches complain about being cold a lot, but a bathroom where women are sharing their stinky assholes isn't a good place to put the women so they can get warm. Sitting on a hot toilet seat is just weird, even weirder than sitting on a warm one from prior usage.
(4)Shawn H.
One of my favorite Irish Pubs! The drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is great. My favorite time to head her is for the downtown St. Patrick's Day festival. The place stays packed and the beer is cold. I need to get my butt here more often when I am in Lexington.
(5)Chris P.
It's a good place to get super hamms. The back patio is legit with Bourbon Barrels for tables and lots of seating. The bartenders are pretty good and the stereo is always blasting, which I like. It gets wild. The location is perfect as well. Parking kinda sucks but whatever. Gotta walk off the Bourbon anyways.
(3)Kirsten C.
Extremely rude wait staff. Some personal items of mine were picked up with the empty glasses and thrown away. Wait staff refused to acknowledge they threw away my stuff and wouldn't discuss it with me. I acknowledge this is a college bar and I slightly older than college (27). Will not come back.
(1)Lee P.
The bar is really two bars in one. Two on the inside and one in the patio area. An Irish Bar that is actually has some Irish people. All kinds of people to see and meet here. Gets really busy on the weekends, especially at night. Great place to hang with friends.
(4)Josh M.
Had Green Beer! What else could I need on Sat before St Patrick's day?
(3)Patrick B.
On a Thursday night during the school year, this place is so packed you cannot move. Drinks are cheap, but I'm not sure it's worth trying to manage the crowd. Does have a nice patio out back, and this is probably the bar I frequent the most, but I always go begrudgingly.
(2)Elizabeth W.
Ok food. Good atmosphere though.
(4)Shelly V.
I LOVE this place. Really, my favorite bar in Lexington. We use to live within stumbling distance so it was perfect! Many locals hang out here and there is less of the college crowd then other bars in the city. I think every Irishman in the city hangs out here. If you want to know about horses, this is the place to pick the brains of the local trainers and jockeys (they are the REALLY short ones). If you are a sucker for the accent, you don't stand a chance in this pub! The drinks are cheap and they flow freely from very the friendly bar staff. The weekends are crazy but the weekdays are more laid back and it's easy to find a place to sit and hang out with friends. It's also easy to get to know the locals and feel like you fit in, provided you don't act like a douche!
(5)Nancy B.
I love this bar, seriously. During my junior year of college I was a NSF undergrad research fellow at UK and this was where we went to hang out, talk research, and wind down. This place has three indoor bar rooms, and an outdoor bar in the back alley (my favorite spot). The beer flows freely and the drinks are cheap. I usually would drink a Guinness and occasionally hear an Irish accent or two. The jockeys come by here too (easy to spot as they are my height which is hella short). I even snagged a drunken kiss from one of them. It gets really packed, but the bouncers, and bartenders know how to handle it. Yeah, not sure what else to put because the McCarthy's experience cannot be put into words, you have to check it out for yourself. I can't wait to revisit it next week!!
(5)Paul K.
I love this Irish Pub. It was a regular stop while I went to school at UK (University of Kentucky for my non southern friends). If you're looking for an Irish pub you can do no better. I highly recommend it for drinks. Not sure about the food, but pub food in general is sub par. Also the weekend crowd tends to be bro'ish, I prefer it on the weekdays.
(5)K.t. W.
Even though we were here in terrible weather on a Monday night, this place was a still a good time. Things I liked: good selection of scotch, nice outdoor patio to sit and smoke (all covered so that even the tropical storm coming through couldn't get us wet), bartender was great, drinks were super duper cheap (I'm from DC where a jagerbomb is 10 bucks. I really dug the decor...all horse themed. There is a great jukebox with a ton of selections. Playing Barbie Girl in a bar in Kentucky = winning. One weird (though not necessarily bad) thing was the fact that the bathrooms were super warm. Like 20 degrees colder than the rest of the bar. And that made the toilet seats warm. That's really not bad but for some weird reason that is a memory that has stuck with me.
(4)Nick W.
Oh, when I think about how many of my brain cells have fallen like the fine boys of Souvla, I would weep if I didn't have such an awesome time doing it. There have been a couple "Irish" pubs to Lexington these days, but the first and foremost has always been McCarthy's. It's got a great feel, a great look, a great location, and a great clientele. There is a sizable Irish contingent to lexington (due to the horses it seems) and if you go here long enough you're bound to hear an authentic brogue eventually. It gets a bit full of the college crowd, and the place is quite often packed, but IT'S A BAR. That's part and parcel of any bar, or at least, any bar that isn't going to soon go out of buisness. Also, every one I've met there has been fabulous. The bartenders are great, the prices are good, and the guiness flows liek water. word to the wise; if you feel the need to get a carbomb, don't refer to it as an IRISH carbomb....they get a bit testy about that. Go with friends, go early so you can grab a table, try to get one out on the back patio if you can, and enjoy yourself.
(5)David D.
Dark and dreary.
(2)Kristen G.
I have many a good memory of McCarthy's. And there almost too many good memories of McCarthy's I don't know if I can write a really objective, good review here. But, I'll do my best. Drinks are good, strong and cheap. There are always friendly faces. You can always meet someone new. You can smoke like a chimney out back. You can dress up, or dress down. No one cares. No one judges you. It's usually ridiculously crowded on the weekends. But during the week, it's almost more fun because there are fewer people and you'll always end up meeting someone new. A year after moving away, I still think I could go and see a familiar face or two in the crowd. I'll spare you the stories of drunken debauchery, my first body shot, a creepy guy who chased me and my friend down the street, meeting many men who subsequently broke my heart, post break up drinking, birthdays, new years, st. patrick's days, Christmases and thanksgivings. And when I said goodbye to Lexington, McCarthy's is where I had my farewell party. McCarthy's has been there through it all.
(5)Eric V.
Ah: the bar, the back room and the patio. Many gallons of Guinness and whisky have been consumed here (by me). In the winter I could take many of the covered ped ways to the bar and not have to get too cold. For some reason the weather was always warmer on my return trip around 12 or one- a mystery. Usually I stuck to the Guinness because of the proper pour and the price. I would avoid the place on weed end nights and on March 17th- but on the other nights, I always had good conversations and a good time. (crack). Oh Farewell the Sweets of Kentucky
(5)Sammy B.
Cheap pitchers, decent juke box, friendly bartenders.
(4)Michael P.
On the weekends, McCarthy's gives me new appreciation for what a cow's life might be like on the transport to the slaughter house. A sad existence. This bar is best experienced during the week, and during the week only. And not during Keenland, ever. With that said, the bartenders are always great. Brandon rules. And when I worked at The Dame, we'd always run out of change because, well, running things in the "cross that bridge when we get there" was just sorta our style. However, McCarthy's was always to the rescue.
(3)J M.
the only place in town that u will know there will always be people drinking!!... it doesnt matter where u go in town u will always end up here....
(5)Jennifer S.
Oh how I miss this place! I had so many good nights here. There are always interesting characters here that you remember for months after. I LOVE the patio during summer. It's one of the best things in Lexington. The bartenders are pretty chill and try to get your order quickly. What's not to love about this place!
(5)johanna a.
just like a one-night stand - cheap, quick and fun. thank you McCarthy's for making my stay in KY a fun one.
(4)John F.
I hate going to McCarthy's it's always packed and I mean packed. This is one of those bars where you can't move it's so packed. During the weak when there are not so many really drunk people crammed into McCarthy's this bar is OK, but there are better options near by. The one good part is the back patio but it's once again always packed.
(1)Katy B.
This is a great little bar...And when i saw little...I mean LITTLE! I can't exactly remember the prices of the drinks....But I do remember the service was great. We became pretty darn close with the bartenders!
(4)Matt J.
Very good beer. Standard selection for any Irish pub. The Guinness is excellent. The beer garden is nice with some good-sized snug-type areas and tables in more open areas. Parking's good and the staff is friendly.
(4)Andrew N.
We came here just to get a car bomb at an irish pub but ended up staying. Friendly atmosphere and even on the weekend there wasnt very many college packs with the gweedo do's. Fun and not very pricey
(4)Peng S.
i frequent this place at least twice a week, i absolutely love it. i would consider my self a regular along with the rest of my rowdy crew. we know the bartenders and bouncers, about half of the people in the crowded place. but there is always someone new to meet, and it's fun, with three rooms and a back patio, always something to do. drinks are cheap, and i love it when it's crowded. if you don't want to drink with other people, then maybe a bar isn't a good place to be. also the fact that is lays in close proximity to Harvey's and Hugos is also amazing, the triangle of fun for me is the underlying structure of my weekend shenanigans.
(5)Lee U.
Miami Mondays with Miami Steve at the Spider's Well next door! No better way to kick off a week in Lexvegas.
(5)Johnny H.
It's a great place for atmosphere. Lots of wood like an Irish Pub should have. Music is decent, and the prices are good. They have a nice patio out back for the smokers. Be warned though that the place gets packed on the weekends. If interested you can check out pictures of the place at drinkprices.com/bar_1374…
(4)M C.
For what's basically a slightly more upscale dive bar that accepts debit and credit cards, this is great. The atmosphere indoors is local and generally friendly-feeling; we are talking Kentucky, after all. I'm not sure if it's really all that Irish, but hey, they sell Smithwick's and by God that's good enough! During warmer weather months, I much prefer sitting out on the brick patio. Cheap and good drinks, good bartenders and service, and relatively clean restrooms considering it gets packed with drunk UK students. I docked one star because TWO forms of ID are required upon entry. So, I guess Lexington is now a red alert target city for terrorists and the suspect is some country boy from Corbin going incognito.
(4)James H.
This review is based on 3 separate visits. The drinks and food aren't the basis, it's the owner and staff. I was treated rudely, and with disrespect; just because I am not from Lexington, and I could care less how the Cats do in any sport I had a large drunk kid punch me in the throat, when I demanded they call the police....nope they shuffled the kid out the door (apparently he played football for UK). I was then asked to leave...I didn't. I finished my Guiness and then refused to pay the tab. Knowing that the only recourse they had was to call the police, which is what I wanted, they forgave my tab. I then left, never to return to this DUMP that isn't even close to an irish pub.
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