McKinnons Irish Pub

For a pub it is pretty weak. I thought they would have had a better stout menu, but nothing special. They do have a good list of scotch.
Menu is basic, not much authentic food but what was there seemed to get the job done. Nice pool table and a good place to visit with one friends, not a foodie spot by any stretch.

I recently went to Hartford to attend my friend’s wedding. After the wedding, some friends and I decided to go to a bar to grab a few drinks before heading back to our hotel. McKinnons provided a great bar atmosphere! The music was audible over the noise in the bar but not so loud you couldn’t carry on a conversation, which was great… something I look for in a bar when wanting to sit and chat with friends. The service was great while we were there but even better the next day when my husband and I realized we had left our (rental!) car keys in the bar! We were able to contact the owner of the bar via the contact information on the pub’s website (they are closed on Sundays, like many other restaurants in Hartford) and he drove all the way down on a Sunday morning to open the bar and look for our keys. Talk about amazing customer service! I highly recommend this bar just for the customer service alone!

Great Irish style pub in the heart of Hartford. Never a cover, Good selection of food and beers. Gritty, but nice and clean, good service every time, and one of the few downtown bars that supports live music. Don’t hesitate to get yourself a handful of peanuts, and drop them right on the ground. Great location, good people, and good everything else. A very solid experience every time.

I came here with Thien N. for a quick happy hour drink on a Thursday night. I was surprised that the spot was relatively empty; about 10 – 15 people were at the bar, chatting it up. They seemed like regulars.
$ 5 for a 20 ounce pour is quite generous! It may not have the largest number of beers on tap, but you’re bound to find a couple you will happily drink. I look forward to coming back.

Wings were among the best I’ve had… we went back for them today. Just spicy enough without being overpowering.

This is going to be your typical Irish Pub dive bar with pretty good food… This place is a no frills place with limited bar tap selection and decent food.
I’d expect more beers on tap for a pub like this.
Pros:
Free peanuts while you drink
Cheap beer
Very clean for a dive bar
Cons:
Limited beers on tap

$ 2.50 high life. This is our work dive bar, but it gets the job done. Peanuts and live music. A little officer and gentlemen trivia inside if you can figure it out…

McKinnon’s is an Irish bar right around the corner from the XL center. This is where the true blue blooded huskies go before games and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
They let you throw peanuts on the ground, have pictures of Michael Collins on the wall, broadcast their own radio show in their strange dungeon bathroom, have drink specials every day, trivia every Thursday, live music most days and beer always.
I have never had a bad time here. I don’t think I ever will.

This place used to be my go-​to bar in Hartford and recall a few too many wild times here. Since it was my favorite bar EVER, I thought it would be appropriate to take my boyfriend and friend here to watch a football game. Service has gone downhill a bit and the bar looks a little rough around the edges.
We ordered nachos which were pretty tasty and actually came out immediately because they had made an extra order for another table. We also had the wings which weren’t fried but tasted a little watery. The one weird thing was that the bartenders were trying to fix something behind the bar and had a hose from the bathroom upstairs to the bar. It wasn’t too busy at the time but just kind of weird.
I think people need to smile more here.

Good beer, Martinis, free peanuts, limited menu… The kitchen is really tiny. I like the stews, the knockers

Just had lunch here. Food was just OK and the surely waitress never really came by after delivering my food. I would go elsewhere.

I’ve never been overly impressed. With, in my opinion, two much better and much more traditional options close by (Vaughn’s and Half Door) you would think this place would try a little harder. Doesn’t really embrace anything Irish and represents nothing that I saw in Ireland but is rather a dive bar for those who want to get wasted on a weekend (or weekday) night. Okay if you want to stop in for a quick drink along the way but that’s about it.

A friend asked me to meet him in Hartford at this pub. McKinnon’s is fine, but I do not think I have the menu on my destination list. We had a on «ok» meal but I can think of 10 places that would have done a better job that are within walking distance. Go to this Irish Pub. for the things that they pour so well… They are also a great place to check out on «PARADE DAY!»

This place is disgusting… Wine sucks, so don’t order it, wings were still cold, so stay away from food, bartender told me there was a $ 10 minimum for card however my friend was able to pay for his 2 beers with card $ 7. I got beer splashed all over. Lesson… Go there for st party’s, stick to beer, and bring cash. Honestly I should have known better!!!

Very, very, very, average.
Five stars for the bar layout though. Too many places have bottle necking going on these days. This place does not which is relief.
Came here following an event at the Charter Oak Cultural Center for a few drinks. I opened a tab and by the time I finished my first drink the weather was changing to snow so I decided to close out early. When I asked to close out I was informed they have a ten dollar minimum. A single Shock Top draft for the bucks? Please. Pressuring customers into ordering more alcohol before driving because of their chosen mode of payment is a bad, bad, bad idea. Get it together McKinnons.

Seriously? How has anyone given this place more than a 2? Have you never been to an Irish Pub? If so, ok. you have nothing to compare it to. I get it. But seriously the worst Irish Pub I have ever encountered in my lifetime. Service was less than mediocre. They did their job but like they were on work release and HAD to be there for fear of being sent back «inside». (Im explaining demeanor, not looks). I ordered the Knockers and it sounded good, but was the most flavorless, I hate to call it food, that has graced these lips. Blech. Beer is Beer you cant screw that up. But service and food. why would you come back for this when there are so many others to choose from? This place is like the Kmart of Irish Pubs! Half Door s the Saks Fifth Avenue, that’s all Im saying.

Ah cha cha cha cha! Where’s my sheleleh?!
An Irish bar that doesn’t play Irish music? I prefer Vaughan’s, but this place can be fun when it’s packed

I’ve never been to McKinnons Pub until yesterday. The place reminds me of Half Door but the crowd was different. This place is for the mature crowd. Relatively empty for a Saturday night. Last night there was live music, the guy who had the floor had a fake British accent but the singing was good. Beer was $ 6 which is reasonable for downtown. There wasn’t anything special about the place besides it being laid back. The crowd was older or regulars. I didn’t talk to any of them but I can tell they would be open to conversation if I was up for it. This would be a place to go if you’re wandering downtown or alone on a business trip and wanted a place to chill and meet some friendly people.

Now this is a bahh.
Live music. Good pours. And excellent bartenders.
Everywhere else downtown has a crap DJ after 10pm and is filled with drunk, pretentious 18 year olds. I would much rather go to McKinnons, throw peanut shells on the floor, listen to real music, and drink like the Irish girl I am.

Good Cold Beer.
Good bar food. Sandwiches were all rather good, «knockers» (dough pastries with different fillings) were awesome. Meatloaf sliders also very good. Surprisingly good for a pub.
Nice open front for a nice day. Overall not a huge place, not really any seating for groups larger than 4.
Service loses this bar a star. Waitress/​bartender combo ladies often seemed confused and asked us «is this your food» for other peoples food twice. Also the food service seemed to stop pretty early.