Best Irish Pub in JVC? McCafferty’s, Circle Mall Reviewed
McCafferty's is a landmark in JVC and one of the best Irish pubs in Dubai. The size alone makes it worth a visit, the food is solid, the atmosphere carries genuine Irish cheer, and the Circle Mall location makes it easy to get to.
First impressions
McCafferty’s is one of the largest Irish bars in the world, and it is right here in JVC at Circle Mall. I went in on a Sunday morning and was genuinely amazed by the size of the place. It is massive. What struck me straight away was seeing people already settled in and relaxing for the day – it has that kind of energy where you could easily lose a few hours without noticing. There is a huge terrace outside, but I chose to sit inside and watch some sport on the TV, which felt like the right call.
The food
I ordered the Eggs Benedict and a coffee. The Benedict was solid, well put together, and the coffee did the job. The bill came to about 80 dirhams, which is reasonable for a pub of this size and reputation. The menu overall has plenty to choose from, so there is no shortage of options whether you are in for breakfast, lunch, or a late one.
One small disappointment – they do not currently serve the Full Irish. For a pub of this stature, that feels like a miss. Hopefully they bring it back, because it would be a winner on a Sunday morning.
The atmosphere
This is where McCafferty’s really delivers. The place has proper Irish energy to it – friendly, welcoming, and it carries that familiar warmth you would expect from a good pub back home. A few of the staff are Irish too, which adds to the authenticity. During the day it is a relaxed spot to settle in, and at night it can get properly lively. It is a pub that works at any time of day.
The verdict
McCafferty’s is a landmark in JVC and one of the best Irish pubs in Dubai. The size alone makes it worth a visit, the food is solid, the atmosphere carries genuine Irish cheer, and the location in Circle Mall makes it easy to get to. Would definitely recommend trying it out at least once if you are in the area – and if you are Irish in Dubai, it will probably become a regular.
The ratings
Location 8/10
Food 7/10
Atmosphere 8.5/10
Value 7/10
Overall 7.6/10
A JVC institution. Get the Full Irish on the menu and that score goes up.