244) The Hut (Mohan's) of Phibsborough Road, D7

Marvellous Victorian gem at the heart of Phibsborough, formerly known as Hardy's. Despite the presence of a rock band upstairs, modernity has yet to make any further incursions, and so much the better. The small front bar is separated from the lounge by wooden partitioning. A delectable Beamish can be your reward. A long counter and high ceilings with a more secluded and private 'Green Room' to the side, jam-packed with curios, a burning stove and stuffed animals behind glass – some of the characters at the counter seem stuffed themselves. The lounge has very fine brass lights hanging from the ceiling and an impressive stained-glass skylight. Also, behind the bar sits a small memorial to Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. A mysterious artwork on a wall near the entrance shows two men seated at the counter's corner on a snowy winter's night – upon closer inspection, the unseen hands of one man would appear to be aimed at the other's crotch, while the benefit receiver masks his relish by downing his pint. The innocuous picture thus seemingly depicts a mid-century pick-up.

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