Gallagher’s

This place has seriously gone down hill! In 2013 we would of told you it was a great places– also it was being run by someone else which I know that because the man running it now came up to me and a friend and said that he was watching us by camera in the back then to go on and explain he that he’s running the place. I on average before spent at least once a weekend getting a drink here and would recommend it to people all the time, I even had a jacket with the business’s logo on it. The last two times I’ve been in there it was awful. I have had a bartender completely disrespect me and my family. I was so embarrassed for her but she’s always had a terrible attitude before though the place was great so I could look past some tattooed chick with a crappy attitude working at possibly one of worst bars I’ve ever been. Secondly while I was here for a birthday party I sat there and watch a man so drunk he could hardly stand and was walking at an angle, falling everywhere, screaming I’m not drunk– first if you’re in the business you know that if someone is that drunk he should of been cut off which is the bartenders responsibility to refuse service or not let in to begin with ALSO– he was privately escorted out of the back which is ridiculous. Here nor there if you’re in OB, there’s lot of other places with drink specials, that are CLEAN and have great music!

For a classic Irish pub in the heart of OB, this is your spot. Decent prices, or join the mug-​club if you will be here alot and save even more. Loud and crowded most nights. They have a Touch-​Tunes jukebox (pick and play songs from your smartphone).

I’ll start by saying I’ve never had a bad time at Gallagher’s. I can also say Gallagher’s has never been my 1^st choice bar when I’m getting ready to go out for the evening. I’d describe it as the bar where you wind up at the end of the night when you really should go home, but someone in your crew (me) just wants to dance.
It’s a smelly, sweaty, armpit of a bar, your classic OB dive complete with a live band on most weekend nights, strong drinks, and of course a wide selection of very drunk people unsuccessfully attempting to dance and hold a beer at the same time.
The bartenders know how to pour a drink, the music is loud and dance-​able, the floor is sticky, the bathrooms get pretty gross by the end of the night, if you get too close to the patio you will reek of cigarette smoke when you leave… I mean, it’s a dive. But if you go with a good crew you’ll have a fun night and you won’t leave thirsty.

This is a pretty cool Irish bar with life music. At least sometimes from what I have heard. We went there last night and had lots of fun. The service was fast and as friendly as it gets in an average bar scene. The band was amazing and animating. They have an outside area for smoking and a very long bar so it’s easy to get a spot and to your beer quick even if it is crowded.
I feel like the security could have done a slightly better job looking for trouble makers that were right next to them all the time. Maybe they kept an eye on them, but some guys bothered many others (who knew how to deal with them — so that’s good).
All in all it is a great bar and when you are in Ocean Beach I think you should check it out. Pretty authentic and California at the same time.

Pretty standard as far as dive-​y Irish bars go. It’s actually quite a large place and I was there Halloween weekend so it was appropriately busy. I wasn’t overly impressed so I thought 4 stars was appropriate, then I subtracted 1 star for being a bit grimy and gave it right back for properly pouring a Guinness. I’ll be back.

I was here one night and some kind of birthday or event had taken place and there were balloons everywhere. I was happily dancing with a balloon I found, when a security guard comes up snatches it from my hand and pops it. Then he says «you’re going to get them caught in the fan» and walks over to the other balloons and pops all of them.
ASSHOLE!!!

Cool, non-​pretentious bar. Great live music. The bar is run like a pub would be run in Ireland. Live music, friendly owner, friendly regulars from the UK, bar games, dancing, audience singing along to music, contemporary Celtic rock music as well as regular music.
People expect it to be like an American bar on St. Patrick’s day, but that’s not how pubs are in Ireland.
The bar has a good selection of UK beers and cider which brings in a lot of Britts. Very popular with foreign visitors and UK transplant. Lots of actual Irish people go there.
The owner aspires to create a fun, welcoming environment, which can be seen when he is there chatting up the customers and buying people drinks.
I recommend checking out the bar when they have live Irish music.

It is a dive bar, but they sometimes have a live band, which automatically makes it cooler. The service can be slow but the people watching is almost always good. It is in OB and that is one of the best places for people watching, if you ask me. It can be a cool place to hang out — and if you decide you don’t like it … it is right next to so many other bars that you have plenty of options.

The doormen and bartenders had shitty attitudes, it was enough to make me not only never come back here but to avidly tell people to AVOID this place

My husband and I met here so it has a special place in my heart. But that aside its a fun bar. They get GREAT live music at least four days of the week, thursday night reaggae night is a consistant. After midnight when the bands shut down it typically turns into a dance club with a DJ, which is when i usually exit since it can get sloppy and I’m no longer in my 20s. But I recommend the bands highly and if your looking for a fun night out on the town this is a place to go.

Bartenders know how to pour a Guinness does anything else matter??? Don’t know if they serve food don’t care come for a Guinness that’s all that matters!

Reggae night is always fun and packed. The $ 3 beer of the month is always Rolling Rock. BTW.

Anthony Bourdain once said, «The dive bar, unfortunately, is an endangered species in Manhattan. By dive bar, I mean a real dive, irony free, not hipstery, no overpriced PBRs from some sockhead mixologist with a goatee». Sadly, this is true for many more places than Manhattan. But Gallagher’s is a REAL dive (and I mean that in the most loving way)! It’s not trying to be anything it isn’t and it definitely isn’t a place of judgment. People from all walks of live can be seen drinking here, and as long as you’re drinking, you are a-​okay!
Also the gals that pour your drinks are goddesses! Heavy handed goddesses who pour strong drinks and won’t leave your wallet aching in the morning.

We went here on 3÷25÷15 for my birthday and I’m glad we did! Eugene was the greatest! I will definitely be coming here again really soon! Thanks Eugene!

This is a great joint, easily four stars, but I’m giving it five because they are committed to keeping Thursday Reggae Nights a recurring event. Live reggae in an Irish pub is pretty hard to beat!

Probably the crappiest service experience ever. Stood at the bar waiting to be served. The servers just kept saying someone else would take care of me. Finally a guy stood next to me and he was served right away… Well that’s my first and last time there. This bar needs bar rescue and to fire their servers!

The bouncer /​doorman bodily prevented a woman from leaving the bar on 12÷6÷2014 at around 6 PM which is a CRIME– battery. Luckily she was able to finally get past him. Its terrifying that people like that work there. Never again will anyone we patronize this bar. OB DOUCHE BOUNCERS ARE JUST AS BAD AS PB BOUNCERS. Horribly bullying people on power trips.
Also the bartender told me one price and charged me another prices which is fraud.

Gawd I hate dive bars and Irish music. I got myself lulled into this place for a local band playing and decided to go along. Big mistake. Just not my taste whatsoever. Sure it’s easy to hookup here and take home something, but eh… no thanks. I’ll pass. The ‘dance floor’ is just a continuation of the bar area. It’s tight. Crowded. I’ll pass.

The pub closest to the beach in the OC is where you can find a reggae band play. Off kilter this place is, we’re not avid Gallagher’s patrons so I cannot give this place a fair rating cause:
1. did not try the beer or any of their welcoming libations
2. do they serve food? I don’t even know if I noticed any food on the tables
3. was there just to support our friends band playing that night.
4. During the break the DJ was playing hip-​hop which was fun while waiting but really out of place for an Irish themed pub. But what can I say, I may be expecting stereotypical «Irish» jam and jigs.
It was a great crowd though, no bad vibes. However, if you see a short Asian woman standing and watching the band and you’re a 6″ and taller white male… don’t be mean and stand in front of me with your bros. Clearly you can stand behind me and still see perfectly.

Q: What makes an Irish pub a real Irish pub?
A: The sights?
B: The sounds?
C: The tastes?
D: All of the above?
For me the answer is D and after reading the banner posted on the front of the building I thought I was in for a true Irish treat…
The banner read as follows: «Voted Best Irish Pub In San Diego»
The people can’t be wrong! The people can’t be wrong?
Disclaimer: This review from this point forward is assuming the tone of extreme sarcasm.
A few reasons I adored Gallagher’s…
As expected from a true Irish pub, the six-​piece reggae band really set the mood and had the crowd in the room dancing a proper jig. It was just like being in Ireland! Wait, it only got better, lads and lasses. When the band took a break the DJ was dammed to be upstaged and continued blowing things up in between sets with Irish classics from performed by famous American rappers… unreal! The whole crowd was drinking shots of the traditional cinnamon Irish whiskey and patrons were dressed in green from head to toe. The place screams pure Ireland!