Willie McBride's. Hoboken, New Jersey.

616 Grand Street

Guinness Tag: $9.00 | Overall Rating: 9.35

Today's Dedicated Pint: Brandon Cole

Willie McBride's curb appeal and storefront of Hoboken, NJ

It's really difficult to find a Pub that has it all; eye candy, patina, Craic, authenticity, music, and tidy toilets. Willie McBride's is all that and a bag of potatoes. They even offer their own limo service to get you to the Pub for free! I mean, come on. That's hard to beat.

The curb appeal is terrific, showcasing the traditional red and black colors with beautiful greenery during the summer months and a heated patio during the chilly months. There's a fun sign outside to give you useless directions, an Irish fire hydrant, and Irish flags overhanging the front door. When you walk in, you'll immediately notice the plethora of authentic signage and decor, including an old shillelagh, old Guinness advertisements, and antiques. They have about 25 TVs to watch Notre Dame games, however, the large number of TVs aren't overbearing and they don't take away from the magic of the building which is nice. The ceilings are very tall and there's a second floor that allows you to look down at the paupers.

When you belly up to the bar you'll notice the incredible craftsmanship of the counter, the shelving, and everything in between. The countertop and the furniture are perfectly worn in. One of my favorite things about the place is the layered stone floors underneath the bar.

They provide a Winmau Blade-6, which is perhaps the best dart board money can buy, and they give you fun signage around the dart board to give you some chuckles as you throw. They used to have a dart team back in the day, however, that unfortunately ceases to exist at this time. There's a payphone in the back to call the wife with and the toiletries are clean with a side order of stank.

The backroom holds a lot of really neat memories and attributes, giving patrons a fantastic live music stage, a separate bar, lounge seating, cornhole, pool tables, and even beer-pong! The backroom can really make for a fun night when surrounded by the right people. I really wish I could have stayed another day to experience it in its full form.

The staff is really friendly and they'll take part in your interests. There's certainly some Craic here from both sides of the bar, although, it may not be as overbearing as some other Pubs out there. Some of the best Craic out in the wild? Mulligan's Pub in Johnson City, Crowley's Highland House in Cincinnati, and Pete's in New Orleans are just to name a few who have notably high doses of Craic.

Willie McBride's is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The food looks tasty, however, we did not partake in the culinary treats during our visit. The Guinness is poured the right way and if you want it to be accompanied by some Irish whiskey then you're in luck because the shelves have a healthy selection to choose from. They offer a great selection of wine and there's enough of beer on tap to keep anyone happy.

If you come alone then you can expect good music and Quick Draw as you warm your cheeks by the open fireplace. The place is quite cozy during the daytime, and as I always say; the best time to go to an Irish Pub is when the sun is still shining.

If you're in Jersey City or Hoboken then I demand you to go to Willie McBride's. It's certainly one of the better Pubs out there and whoever says otherwise is an idiot. Slainte!