The Oldest Pub In The World Has Been Around Since Viking Times

Ireland is well-known for its ancient pubs. One establishment, however, has officially existed since 900 A.D. – almost as long as the oldest restaurant – and holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest pub in the world. Imagine enjoying a pint in the same space that potentially was once used by the Vikings.

Sean's Bar in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland, has been welcoming guests from around the world for over 1,000 years. While it's not uncommon to find a pub in Ireland with a history that spans a least a few centuries, Sean's beats all records. Much like in the old, old days, the bar has sawdust strewn on the floors, a fire in the hearth, and often will have musicians entertaining patrons as they enjoy a pint or two.

Inside, you'll find an exposed wall on display that was discovered during renovations. This wall is made of wattle and wicker (also often called wattle and daub), essentially wood and mud building material that was commonly used in the 10th century. As you can well imagine, many artifacts from various times in the pub's history have been discovered at Sean's Bar, including a wall section and coins that now have a place in the national museum.

According to bar manager Timmy Donovan, who spoke to Departures in 2018, the pub's sloped floor is intentional. It allows rainwater to come in one door and out the other, with the sawdust absorbing much of it. The sawdust is still regularly scattered on the floor at Sean's Bar to honor the building's deep history.

Athlope is in the heart of Irish whiskey country, so it makes sense that Sean's Bar sells its own spirits. Currently two kinds of whiskey are available for purchase: a single malt variety called Clonmacnoise and a specially blended Irish whiskey dubbed Luain Edition (in reference to the pub's first builder). Depending on your local laws, the bar may even be able to ship it directly to your home.

Sean's Bar is located about halfway between Galway and Dublin, so it's easy to include a stop here on your next trip to Ireland. If you do visit, make sure you know the lingo. When lifting a pint, say "slainté" (pronounced SLAHN-che) instead of cheers and choose an Irish quaff such as Harp or Guinness Extra Stout – not to be confused with a porter. You won't find any food (or green beer, as that's definitely an American thing) at Sean's Bar, but you can pick up some cool merch that will last a lot longer than a bag of crisps.