Sports and Guinness are the main attractions at this Irish haunt. The walls are coated in chunks of memorabilia and the fireplace crackles in winter.
This pub is a pretty much a sports bar - and if you have half a day to spare you might get to inspect every autograph, picture, jersey, cartoon and piece of memorabilia cramming the walls. It's also one of those pubs that feel as though they should be smoky. The roaring fireplace and deep window-ledge benches lend themselves to that old English tradition of puffing away and watching the outside world through the window's glass. It's not really smoky, but it is kept a bit dim and closed up, which goes some way to creating the same mood.
Despite its location right in the CBD, the Shamrock Hotel is more like an old regular pub than an office workers' haunt or a tourist stop. The restaurant has had a recent renovation; it's a complete change from the bar area and is located well away from it.
Evenings are pretty lively (the main entertainment being loud arguments about sport) It's a good afternoon spot, if you want to nab a spot on the couch and sink a few quiet ones.
The Irish theme tends to begin and end at the name; there are no leprechauns or Irish politics crowding out the cricket. That said, there are usually a few Irish backpackers wandering about, so tread carefully on subjects Eire.
Robert Stevenson
