Where to Drink After Swimming the Forty Foot
You’ve done the hard part. You got in the Irish Sea. You stayed in long enough for the cold shock to wear off and the buzz to kick in. Now you’re standing on the rocks at the Forty Foot, dripping, alive, and in need of a drink.
Here’s where to go.
The closest pub to the Forty Foot
Fitzgerald’s of Sandycove. Five minutes up the road. That’s not a marketing claim - it’s just geography.
Walk back up to Sandycove Road from the Forty Foot, turn right, and Fitzgerald’s is on the next corner. Number 11. The Victorian frontage with the gold lettering. You can’t miss it.
LovinDublin called Fitzgerald’s “your only man” for a post-swim pint. They’re right. It’s not the closest option because of some accident - it’s the closest because it’s been there for generations, doing the same thing: serving proper pints to people who just got out of the sea.
What makes a proper post-swim pub
Not every pub works after a swim. You need specific things:
Warmth. You’ve been in cold water. Your core temperature is dropping. You need a pub that heats properly in winter and doesn’t have the doors wedged open in summer. Fitzgerald’s has the kind of warmth that hits you when you walk in - not central heating blasting, but the cumulative warmth of a small room full of people and a bar that’s been there for a hundred years.
No pretence. You’re wearing a towel under your arm. Your hair is wet. You might have sand in places you’d rather not mention. You need a pub where nobody cares. Fitzgerald’s has been serving swimmers since before swimming was trendy.
A good pint. This matters more after a swim than at any other time. The Guinness needs to be right - settled, creamy, not rushed. Fitzgerald’s pours a proper pint. The kind where you settle into the stool and it settles into the glass at roughly the same pace.
No food. Hear me out. A post-swim pub shouldn’t be a restaurant. You don’t want menus and reservations and “would you like to see the specials?” You want a pint, maybe a packet of crisps, and a seat. Fitzgerald’s is drinks only. No food, no frills. Just the bar, the stools, and the company.
The post-swim ritual
Here’s what a Forty Foot swim actually looks like for the regulars:
- Swim. Anything from two minutes (winter dip) to twenty (summer proper swim).
- Get out. Get dressed. Shiver.
- Walk up to Fitzgerald’s. Five minutes.
- Order. The right order depends on the season.
What to order after a cold swim
Winter (October to April): Hot whiskey. Whiskey, boiling water, lemon, clove, sugar. It’s not just a drink - it’s medicine. Warms you from the inside out. If whiskey isn’t your thing, an Irish coffee - coffee, whiskey, sugar, cream - does the same job with caffeine added.
Summer (May to September): A pint of Guinness. The cold water has already shocked your system - now you need something smooth and settling. Guinness after a swim is a Dublin tradition for a reason.
Year-round option: A pot of tea. Don’t laugh. The regular swimmers order tea more often than you’d think. Sometimes you just need to warm up before you’re ready for a pint.
Check the full drinks menu for what’s on - there’s a decent selection of Irish whiskeys if you want to take your time.
Other pubs nearby
Fitzgerald’s is the closest and the most natural post-swim choice. But if you want options, or if Fitzgerald’s is packed (it happens on sunny weekends), here’s what else is around:
The Eagle (Glasthule, ~8 min walk). If your post-swim needs involve actual food, The Eagle is the place. It’s a proper food destination - one of the best spots in the area for a meal. Book ahead if it’s a weekend.
The Forty Foot Bar and Grill (JD Wetherspoon, Dún Laoghaire, ~15 min walk). Yes, there’s a pub called “The Forty Foot” that isn’t actually at the Forty Foot. It’s a Wetherspoon in the Pavilion Centre overlooking Dún Laoghaire harbour. Fine if you want cheap pints and harbour views, but it’s a 15-minute walk from the swimming spot and feels nothing like a proper Dublin pub. Confusing name, though.
Sandycove & Glasthule area has some excellent restaurants worth knowing about. Caviston’s is a Dublin institution for fish. Rasam does Indian food that draws people from across the city. Daata is great for modern Indian. Camille serves Thai. And Daniel’s is a solid local Italian. All within walking distance if you want food rather than just a pint.
How to find Fitzgerald’s from the Forty Foot
Walking: From the Forty Foot, head back up to Sandycove Road. Turn right. Fitzgerald’s is on the next corner, about 200 metres up. Look for the Victorian frontage and the gold lettering. Five minutes.
By car: Don’t. Park up near Sandycove Road or at the DART station and walk. Parking near the Forty Foot itself is very limited.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 10:30am, Friday and Saturday from 10:30am with later closing, Sunday from 12:30pm. Full hours are on the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a drink near the Forty Foot?
Fitzgerald’s of Sandycove is the closest pub to the Forty Foot - a 5-minute walk up Sandycove Road. It’s a traditional Victorian pub with a Joycean theme, well-kept Guinness, and a warm welcome for swimmers.
What is the closest pub to the Forty Foot?
Fitzgerald’s of Sandycove, at 11 Sandycove Road. Five minutes’ walk from the Forty Foot. It’s been there for generations and is the obvious post-swim stop for locals and visitors alike.
Is there a pub near the Forty Foot?
Yes - several. Fitzgerald’s is the closest (5 min walk). The Eagle in Glasthule is also nearby (8 min walk) and is a great spot for food. There’s also a JD Wetherspoon called The Forty Foot in Dún Laoghaire, but that’s a 15-minute walk away and not actually near the swimming spot.
Where do locals go after swimming at the Forty Foot?
Most regulars head straight to Fitzgerald’s. It’s the closest, the Guinness is right, and the bar is usually full of people fresh from the sea. On winter mornings, you’ll find swimmers nursing hot whiskeys. In summer, the crowd spills out onto the street.