Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant & Bar in Alexandria - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Basing this solely on atmosphere. Although the menu looked amazing, I had a very racist experience in which I never got to try the food. I (black woman) visited this bar on 8/17 around 6pm with my gf and sister (also black). When we went up to the hostess to get a table, while hesitant, they took us to a table that not only was at the top of the restaurant but was also in the deep cuts. We sat there for 15 minutes waiting to be served, acknowledged and received nothing. My gf took it upon herself to go back down to the hostess and let them know that nobody has come to serve us yet, and they told us someone would come up and take care of us. Another 10 minutes passed, so we just walked out. Needless to say, if you are of color save your energy. They don’t want your money, go spend it elsewhere.

Absolutely Delicious Food and Excellent Friendly Service and a Really Great Irish Pub atmosphere!

Service was great, food came fast and it was delicious. Beautiful building.

On a whim, we dropped by and sat on the rooftop overlooking the street. Bangers and mash for me, Corned beef and cabbage for my wife. Very attentive staff, generous portions and absolutely delicious! Wish we could stay and enjoy the inevitable night life!

A great Irish pub in Alexandia on King Street Great food. Terrific local beers & Plenty of Irish beers &Wiskey. Service was excellent.

This is just a big Irish pub. Not saying that's a bad thing that's just what it is. The food was great. Guinness was fresh and poured correctly. There was outside seating. It was hot as blazes so we sat inside and it was heavily air conditioned which was great.

We enjoyed this place. We had the appetizer sampler. It was okay. We did not care for the fried boiled eggs, but the rest was good. Service was good. Decor was nice. I would recommend this place. UPDATE: We went back for drinks and to see a band. It was another good experience.

Great service, Dave. Great live music.

If you’ve been to Ireland, this bar makes you think you’re there. Trust me, Smithwicks is better than Guinness.

Daniel O'Connell's Irish Bar has become a regular stop for my wife and I. Whenever we visit DC for a night we stop in here for lunch on our way home. The food is great. My favs are fish and chips or a burger, while my wife usually gets a salad. Of course it wouldn't be an Irish bar if it didn't have great beer, and they certainly do. What puts it over the top for us is the atmosphere. Daniel's has the feel of a local place that's been there for years. We enjoy eating here and we're sure you will too.

Irish bar in Alexandria with a good s m selection of brews and the rare, and very good, nitro tap of Kilkenny. Bar tenders provide good and friendly service. We came for a couple of drinks, next time I'll come to eat.

Our bartender, Paul, was an excellent host, although his support of Man U caused a bit of some tension! :) COYG! He was friendly and witty. The drinks were cold and served quickly. A must.

Decent Irish bar, with a great atmosphere.

Great pub grub...great service.

I have been here many times. A must stop when on King Street in Old Town, VA. Food is good to great, atmosphere is great, and the location cannot be beat. A fantastic Irish Pub!

Great atmosphere & reasonable prices. We’ll be back soon

Mean staff. Bar was deserted at 11 in the morning, with multiple families and kids sitting at the outdoor tables eating ice cream from next door. Staff came out and kicked everyone out of the tables so that there would be space for the bar’s 0 (zero) customers. Guess this is an Alexandria welcome!

Great pub style dining. Food was excellent and service was just as good. Place has a lot of charm and decorated accordingly.

Nice, feel good Irish restaurant. Staff was wonderful, draft drinks with fish and chips bites during happy hour was amazing 👏🏾

Super nice place for a few beers. We recommend

Fish and chips was one of the best I've had. It's not a difficult meal but many times it's to soaked with the oil. Oconnells was not. I'm not a chef but I believe it has to do w the oil temp. The fish came out smoking hot just perfect.

Have an event here and book the room attached to the balcony! Shout out to Kate B and her crew. My wife and I booked our rehearsal dinner here and everything was beyond fantastic, to the point where the next night at the wedding people were still talking about O’Connell’s. The bartender and servers were great, we came in with a crew and they made quick work of getting people drinks, handling requests and setting up the buffet. When the sun went down and King street came alive, the balcony was the spot to be. Having that to ourselves was so much fun. Given the occasion, I would challenge anyone to book the balcony and TRY to have a better time than us. The location is prime, the staff is great and the food was not only delicious but the portions were incredible (they brought out food like Andre the giant was having a family reunion). Thank you all so much for taking a joyous occasion and making it into an unforgettably fun night with family and friends!

My wife and I recently dined at O'Connell's, and unfortunately, our experience was far from pleasant. While the food was somewhat passable, the cleanliness of the establishment left much to be desired. From the moment we walked in, it was evident that cleanliness is not a priority. The seating benches at the tables appeared as though they hadn't been cleaned in months. We had to constantly shoo away flies from our food, which was incredibly off-putting. At one point, my wife accidentally dropped her water bottle on the floor. When she picked it up, it was covered in dirt and even had a clump of hair stuck to it. It was absolutely disgusting! This level of neglect in maintaining a clean environment is unacceptable for any establishment, especially a restaurant. In conclusion, O'Connell's has a lot of work to do if it hopes to improve its reputation. The food, while not terrible, is certainly not worth the discomfort of dining in such an unclean environment. I hope the management takes these concerns seriously and makes significant improvements. Until then, I cannot recommend O'Connell's to anyone looking for a pleasant dining experience.

Amazing location and atmosphere. It's a maze of an old Irish bar. Food was entirely meh. Not even good bar food. Service was friendly if spread thin. Go for the vibes.

The wait staff were great - thank you! The food, however, was pretty terrible. We got a potpie and it was watery like a thin soup. A potpie should have a thickener in it and therefore have a thick, creamy consistency. It should not be as watery as soup. We also got sweet potato fries and they were VERY undercooked. A few of them were borderline crunchy. Such a disappointing dining experience, and the food was so terrible we will definitely never return. Also, the draft beer selection needs attention. At least the wait staff were nice and very attentive.

The food was widely ranging in quality - some of our group really enjoyed their meals and others did not at all.

Good fish & chips, but only one piece for $22. Adequate calamari. Attentive service. Not sorry we came, but no reason to return.

Delicious food and beer selections. Excellent service.

Authentic Irish bar. Went on weekend they had live band playing. Food was good and drinks were fine 🙂 recommended 👌

Update; they refunded the curry cost and said they retrained chefs. Prompt service. Plenty of booths amongst the variety of seating. Two or more floors with many dining areas. Stage for recurring live 🎸 Front room is stuffy. Some plant-based options--with an Irish approach--would be appreciated.

Great spot. Only complaint is that some food items were just ok. Scotch eggs were good but other things were dry and bland.

Great service for a group of seven. Were accommodating when we had to change our reservation.

The bartenders and management are horrible.

A MUST go to place!! Great food, plentiful drinks, wonderful "Pub" atmosphere, some outdoor seating if desired, give this a top spot on your go-to places for a meal while visiting King Street in d Town Alexandria VA

DELICIOUS shepherd's pie and the bread pudding and icecream were amazing. We will be back!

We ate here several times during our trip. Outstanding food! Lamb burger, chicken pot pie, Shepard pie and corned beef with cabbage. Not disappointed at all!!

Love this place! It's one of just so many wonderful places in Old Town Alexandria!! Burgers, Fisn n Chips, you name it, the food is great! We've been here several times at different weekends and week days, brunch, happy hour and dinner. We've personally never had to wait more than a few minutes. Outdoor dining in nice weather is our favorite! This is a MUST VISIT place indeed!!

The food was not fresh, or at least my steak and cheese wasn't. It was frozen cheesesteak strips. The nachos were a case of tossed together cheese and potato chips. It was once a great place to visit but has fallen on sad times.

In true Irish fashion, they were open and lively even when the streets were flooded! Up The Irish!!

Always reliable. Crowded for good reason: solid bar food, good service (often iffy on King Street), long list of draft beers, pleasant outdoor space and a shockingly nice interior.

Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant & Bar in Alexandria, VA, is my go-to pub when visiting the area. The authentic Irish pub atmosphere, complete with cozy interiors and traditional décor, sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. The Irish fare served here is top-notch, with each dish reflecting the rich culinary heritage of Ireland. One standout dish is the Shepherd’s Pie, an absolute classic that embodies comfort and flavor. Made with hearty ingredients and served piping hot, it's a must-try for anyone visiting Alexandria. Moreover, the great service provided by the staff adds to the overall charm of the establishment. HUGE shoutout to the bartender, Paul, for his exceptional service and conversation. I highly recommend stopping by Daniel O’Connell’s next time you're in Alexandria—it's a shamrock that captures the essence of Ireland right in the heart of Virginia.

It was my first time visiting the restaurant, and I enjoyed my time. My server was awesome. I wanted something off the dinner menu and made it happen. Will go back to try other dishes. I'm not much for crowds, but it was okay. I was seated in a little area by the bar, and that was all I needed to enjoy the time.

Great atmosphere and very fun! Need a place to go after work? This is the place!

Classic Irish bar, including a few curbside tables and an outdoor balcony

Everything is delicious, everything is Super!!!

The benches are very high. It gets very noisy in the evening. My leg of lamb was delicious and cooked to perfection. We had a waitress who was all smiles. The service was very fast.

Nice place. Door staff struggled and the band this past Saturday was horrible. Please do better.

Quality Irish pub. A very loud crowd packs in for the rugby. If that’s your vibe, you’ll love this place.

Food is good. Beer is way too expensive No price on the menu

Everything is super and delicious

The atmosphere was great, and it reminded me of our last visit to Dublin. I love the Guinness stout, Irish shepherd pie, and my husband had lamb stew. I wish the dishes would have come with a side instead of just a small piece of bread.

Very nice place. Guinness tastes good.

Probably the most authentic Irish pub in Alexandria. All the usual favorites are here..Guinness, Smithwicks, and a host of craft beer. The food menu is equally impressive. Do yourself a favor and order the Irish curry. Simply an amazing, especially on a chilly night. This pub looks the part..dark wood bar, subdued lighting, and lots of live music will have you thinking your sitting in a pub in Ireland in no time. Ask for Roy, an authentic Irishman who is friendly and courteous. A must see for a proper pint and a meal!

The place is PACKED and there is one server we've seen once maybe twice. Thats the restaurants fault. The food has zero seasoning like all irish places for some reason. Idk why irish restaurants refuse to make flavorful food. The potatoes tasted like biting into a luke warm potato straight out the ground. My girlfriend always says "anywhere you see old white people just know the food has no seasoning." We're white so its not racist before you write us off.

Excellent food and friendly, polite service. Irish stew and Shepard's Pie were really tasty. The only issue - Mac and cheese side was essentially boxed Mac and cheese with some extra cheese.

This place offers Jameson and other Irish makers of whiskey. Can’t take Jameson anymore due to bad experiences in the past lol… Took a shot of Red Spot whiskey. Was good 👍🏻 10/10 I would come back. EPL games on tv

Great vibe and choices of beers. Hubbie ordered Bangers and Mash and I ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage with Mash. Hands down, my meal was amazing. His was okay. The sausage was pretty bland. We splurged and ordered the bread and pudding dessert with ice cream. Skip this. Very few raisins and more of a "dash" of caramel sauce. I wanted to go into the back and teach them how to make a simple hard sauce that would have made such a difference rather than a commerical carmel sauce. FYI: This was our 3rd attempt this week to eat there. It is hopelessly crowded and loud, once it hits 5PM. So, 1: Time your visit. 2: Stick to the corned beef and cabbage (with terrific parsley cream sauce).

So when I got there the hostess took me and my family and thought it was smart to sit me, my wife and my 6yr old daughter in the bar area with the door opening and closing near the cold and rainy weather day in a booth. It was absolutely ridiculously LOUD INSIDE THE BAR! CURSING! LOUD CONVERSATIONS AND ALOT OF DRUNKS. I understand this is an Irish pub and if you promote that you are kid friendly; stick with it and not sit family’s in the bar area! My wife was very uncomfortable and my daughter just wanted to go. We really did not know if we had a waiter or a bartender serving food our food! My wife had the sea food and she liked it. I had corn beef and cabbage and I have to be honest the corn beef tasted like it came out of Can! The carrots were blend, mashed potatoes were good and the gravy were the only thing on the plate that tasted really good. While we were there a family who came in also about the time when I was about to pay, they got pissed because they did not want to be seated in the bar area and they were moved upstairs. My advice to this restaurant if you see a family especially a little kid; bring the family upstairs to your restaurant not the bar area! I felt like I wasted my time and money at this place and i was on vacation visiting and let’s just say it left a bad taste in my mouth!

We visited over the weekend. The staff was helpful to advise best area to head to and we loved the live music the vibe was fun and great service once inside too!! Fun night for us 50 year olds!

Very great pub-style food, especially the potato leek soup, but the restaurant can get extremely crowded at times.

Cute bar! We sat at the smaller bar, but there was a larger, more happening bar in the back. Group of musicians playing Irish tunes, made the experience!

Love the ambience of this restaurant, it has a lot of charm and character. Service and food have been good the two times we have stopped in. I would suggest getting here early because it gets crowded. We will definitely stop in again next time we are in the area.

Food was good, server was mostly absent but prompt when he was around. Most disappointing piece was where we were sat. Reservation for two and they have us a table in what must have been at one time a coat closet in the bar area, rather than one of the tables or booths in the main part of the restaurant. Between two doorways it was very cold and drafty. We'll return but definitely ask for a different place to sit.

Fun popular pub with a solid range of beers. Often gets quite crowded which can make it a bit tough to get a beer. Didn’t eat there, so I can’t relate the food. Staff are friendly 👍🏻

I came the first time to their running club last Friday. It was fun, clean, and they have a private tables for the runners.

Just went for drinks. Great atmosphere, friendly server.

Had the lamb for restaurant week. Top notch.

Great establishment. Typically I've found Irish restaurants here to have terrible food, but this place is the exception. Great value, great staff, great ambiance.

Place is awesome but don’t bring kids unless you check the sports schedule first. They were kind and tried hard to seat us but the NFL playoff crowd was in. Not their fault, and I did get to order my favorite for take out.

Was completely disappointed in this place. Got there at 9 to find no wait staff and a closed kitchen. Drinks were way overpriced. Was hurried out by the bartender as last call came around 10. Don't waste your time here.

O'Connell's is a very good Irish Pub. We ate there recently and the experience was very nice. I had the lamb stew, which was delicious and my wife had the steak salad which was also very good Service was good but not great, the atmosphere is a little noisy but to be expected in a pub environment.

Love this place. Great fish and chips, great atmosphere, great staff

Great atmosphere and spot at the bar to watch football. Had a lamb burger with goat cheese. Delicious!

Very busy night, food selection was interesting but quality was somewhat lacking on the dish I had (chicken pot pie - watery, crust doughy). Expected better. Reordered bangers and mash. Was good. Atmosphere was fun - Irish pub during Christmas season.

Absolutely phenomenal service and food! My baby shower was here, and the staff went above and beyond to make it a perfect experience. The Shepard's Pie and Salmon with Shrimp were delicious.

It's a beautiful classic building filled with the most delicious food. We had the Irish Cider on tap - which was the best cider I've ever had. We ordered the steamed mussels in a white wine sauce, the seafood linguini, a kid's cheeseburger, and the steak. Everything was amazing. I would order any of it again and be ecstatic.

Great Irish atmosphere. Loved the menu selections.

I had the pork tenderloin sliders and cheesecake dip..omg, would have that for my last meal hands down. Wish i could make food this good every day. #newfavorite #bestdishever #heavenonaplate #getinmybelly

Great lunch at O'Connell's Irish Pub. Amazing service and great food. Such a happy place! It appears that the staff are having as much fun as the customers. The atmosphere is a ton of fun as well. Lots of very different seating options from bar side, tall tables, booths, lower tables for dinner style, Pub setting, etc. Amazing how they have so many different seating options. It's much larger than it appears from the street. I highly recommend stopping for a great meal and a Guinness.

Love this restaurant. The food is always delicious, and the service is great and the atmosphere welcoming.

Great Irish bar with good food. ☘🍺☘

Rude waitress, food had too much sauce and refused to take it off the bill after sending it back with 2 bites. Someone who seemed like the manager was walking around laughing and being obnoxiously loud. All around a terrible experience and won't be going back.

The service is one of the worst I have ever experienced. The servers in upstairs are rude and they acted very unprofessionally. If you ask to clean your table they will do it with a lot of attitude! and make sure to double check your check because they will overcharge you compared to your actual total!

Everything about this place is great. The staff made time to interact without being intrusive. The food is unique and delicious. The pricing was reasonable.

It looks like an Irish Pub. It has a few Irish sounding menu items. They serve Guinness beer. But it has a decidedly chain restaurant feel. There are 2 other Irish Pubs in Alexandria that look and feel more authentic with better Irish Pub menu items. We had the Sunday Brunch. Our food was good. The Potato & Leek Soup was thick and hearty. The Traditional Irish Breakfast was fine, as was the Irish Breakfast Sandwich Platter.

Great service, great food. We expected good and got great.

We had a surprise engagement party here and the O'Connell's staff treated us so, so well. The bartenders were extremely helpful and remembered everyone's individual drink orders despite us keeping them very busy. The atmosphere was amazing and the event managers were communicative and prompt. Everything was better than expected and worth the price!

Live music. Great atmosphere. Harp. Shepard's Pie. Fish & Chips

Nite before the Sittish Walk but you could not tell. The staff kept the orders coming quickly without a dip in quality. My lamb Stew was superb. The half and half pint was poured perfectly

What a fantastic place! Great food and service! We will definitely return. Loved the Irish Breakfast ♥️

Warm, welcoming atmosphere and Staff. Excellent food. great prices.

This place is great. Food was fantastic. I highly recommend this place if in the area. They were able to accommodate Blue Raven Security gathering.

Great service, good food, and a wonderful atmosphere. What's not to like?

Vette niet goed gefrituurde frites. Vette niet goed gefrituurde vis. Onbeschofte en onvriendelijke bediening. De bacon op de kipburger was verbrand.

One of my favorite places to take the family for some good Irish atmosphere and food. Love coming down to catch some soccer games and just relax. Staff is always courteous and prompt.

Great local bar. Come here for the great atmosphere and friendly staff!

Watched RWC final here. Great food and service. Great atmosphere as full.

Nice and cozy Irish pub. The food was delicious and I ordered a Guinness stout obviously

Great selection of beers (Guinness 🔝) and food. We ordered Shepherd's pie (family size). “Family size” is for 4 people. Needed to wait for ~10 minutes to be seated but they allowed to have drinks at the bar. Overall, great experience and looking forward to visiting again!

Loved the atmosphere and they were the most polite server's and bartenders !