Photo: Jay Willett/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — McGonagle’s Pub and Restaurant has only been around for about a year off Neponset Avenue, but it’s already celebrating some big awards.
The Dorchester pub opened in December 2024, and since then, it has become a staple for Boston bar patrons.
The pub not only made the New York Times list for the 50 best restaurants in America, but also Boston Magazine's Best Irish Pub of 2025. The pub’s owner, Oran McGonagle, said a lot of the praise is owed to his hard-working staff.
“Being the first-ever Irish pub on that list was a huge moment for us, personally and career-wise, it’s a big accolade for an Irish pub to get on that list,” said McGonagle.
The pub holds traditional Irish music sessions, where anyone with a fiddle, tin whistle, harp, (or guitar) can hop up on stage and play. One of the musicians performing at McGonagle’s is Jinty McGrath, who has multiple shows scheduled for December, becoming a bit of a local celebrity for the watering hole.
“Oh, it’s been amazing, it’s been better than what we could ever hope for really,” said Aidan McGee, one of the chef's in charge of the kitchen.
Along with the live music, the pub takes pride in its Guinness, which has a special draft line that's commonly found in Ireland but rarely installed in the U.S.
“In Ireland, the Guinness lines are half-inch lines, and they also are separate, and so they’re two degrees higher,” said McGonagle. “It’s very unique, and we’re the first bar in America to do this.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.