The International is a traditional Victorian-style bar that you would easily walk by if no one drew your attention to it. The interior is nothing fancy, its quite small and a little dingy (it’s still looking well for 200 years old!) but it has a homely comfortable feel that’s hard to find in the city centre. They have some of the original Victorian décor and hand-carved wooden fixtures still on show. They serve a selection of beers, wines and spirits, again nothing with notions but exactly what you’d expect. They also have a small menu consisting of toasted cheese and toasted ham sandwiches put straight into the toaster behind the bar.

Upstairs is where the real magic happens. They have a small ‘event space’ which is hosts to comedy, music, spoken word, improv and short plays, with events on every night of the week. The shows are often free and always reasonable priced (€5 max) and you’ll see some of Ireland’s finest talent on the comedy and theatre circuits trying out their new shows, as well as newbies dipping their toes in for the first time. In fact, Ireland first and longest running comedy club has been housed in the International Bar for over 25 years. It has become an institution on the Irish drinking and comedy scene.