Beautiful selection of whisky and the owner (who also owns and runs Allen's next door) is awesome. The live music and unique atmosphere really make this place special.

Dora Keogh is a pretty tough name to pronounce, but nonetheless it's an Irish pub that looked to be set in the early part of the 20th century. The place itself has a rustic old look and feel that I was actually digging. As soon as you walk in, you get a sense that you transported through time a bit. The ordering can be done at the bar as they dont have servers come by with menus to take your... more

There perfect place for a genuine pub night with friends. The atmosphere is fantastic!

music and atmosphere great. but please please get new benches. the current ones are narrow,puffy (the back) and uncomfortable. pints r very good.didnt eat there,but Allen's next door has amazing food!!

I ended up here last Saturday night after a full day of events. This place is your typical Irish pub in the area. It had the live band, full packed bar, and tons of people. We arrive around 11 which at that point was too late. After a few we managed to find a place to sit in the little closed section off to the side. I enjoyed what they were trying to acheive with the space but found it very... more

Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, Dora Keogh is a diamond in the rough. In the sidebar it says this Irish pub is not suitable for kids, but boy is that wrong. Many kids were underfoot and enjoying the live music on Saturday. We stopped in to meet some friends and their newborn. Their toddler (and another two) were enjoying the music, dancing and socializing. The bar even has juice boxes!

We... more

I don't really like pubs as I don't drink, and this one looked quite expensive. Still, I went there because a friend wanted to go to a Irish pub and it was his birthday. Well, I got instantly happy when I got there and listened to some group playing really good irish folk music! Really, I never saw something like that live, and I love this kind of music, so most of the rating is because of... more

A lot of fun! You will think you've been transported to an Irish Pub

This is a surprising find but what a quaint place to grab a drink. They have a small stage with some authentic music - a lot of regular patrons who add flavour and fun. They have a small space outside which if it's a nice evening will be packed. The staff are friendly. This is a BUSY place but there's... more

Dora Keogh's is my second favourite Irish bar in Toronto, just behind PJ O'Briens.

We dropped by for a drink last night and to enjoy the live music. The drinks were good and I was excited to see they had Keogh's Irish chips, although they were almost past their expiration date and were $4.50 a bag!

The service here is predictably Irish which makes me feel right at home. During the summer they... more

Five stars for an authentic Irish pub with live music and an excellent pint of Guinness! We came here during the Taste of the Danforth and were star-struck at how amazing this place is. All staff were Irish, the stage was huge, and there was plenty of space inside and out. Pro tip: There's even Irish crisps (chips) served here, so get them with your pint of beer! Fast service and cold pints. A... more

Really lovely atmosphere. Some nice beers on tap. Bartender was good looking and friendly.

DO NOT COME HERE FOR FOOD. My friend and I ordered the soup and polenta chips. I got less than a tea cups worth of soup and she had like 8 chips. Each of those items cost near $10. I am a woman for gods sake, not a child! Where is the rest of my app!!

We had a group and booked a table IN THE KITCHEN. This was a great and authentic Irish experience.

This was a couple of years ago, but I have recommended this experience to numerous people who have all enjoyed.

I highly recommend.

Most authentic irish pub in downtown toronto. A cracking pint of Guinness. Hushed, old-school feel, decked out in mostly wooden furniture. Best part: live music and traditional irish sessions. The best irish musicians in toronto can be found playing together here on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons. You might not realize what a treat this is, but for those of you who understand the... more

Very Authentic Irish Pub

Went here for some late night Friday drinks. The place has a snug and the stand up bars running through the middle of it like a good Irish pub should have. The staff were friendly and the beer reasonable. Note that they don't serve you at the table - you have to go up to the bar to get your... more

Has the feel of a proper Irish pub. Our Irish Canadian neighbour says it is, so there's that. Love when they have live traditional music. I'm a sucker for a hurtygurty and fiddle and drum.

Two seating areas that form rooms--they remind me of cars on a train.

The seating that you sit on is not the most comfortable. The bench seats are too narrow and the backs are super puffy; I'm always... more

Ah Doras....

So the food isn't consistent and the beers are expensive.. .so why am I giving Doras 4 stars? Well quite simply, this bar is as close as you are going to to get to a proper pub in Toronto. There are no flat screen TVs to be seen, the bar tables are encased in copper and all the bartenders are from Eire. There is a two proper snugs (little enclosed room for chatting) as well as a... more

At the right place at the right time

This place is the BEST place to be if you time it right. When is the right time?
- The odd weekend or at times week night when there is a great band playing. There is no cover and it is a magical place for that sponteneous musical act.
- There might be some fun dancing happening - Irish? Pop?... more

We ended up here as Allen's next door was filled to capacity (they are apparently a sister concern to Allen's). For starters its hard to even spot the name of this establishment and I had to ask the servers what is it called (for Yelp Check in of course ;) and once you get in you get this strange vibe as something is of with the setup. There is open space in an area which seems like its setup... more

Great Irish Pub

One of the best authentic Irish pubs on the Danforth, if not all of Toronto. So happy it's in my neighbourhood.
A great place to hear local bands on a Friday night - when it's pack to the gills - or to just grab a pint any other time. Friendly bar staff. Limited menu but I mostly go there for... more

I really like this place. It's decorated very much like a traditional Irish pub, and has a similar feel inside to one too. There's a good selection of Irish beers, although I was disappointed they only had the "original" Guinness, and none of the other varieties.
Personally I prefer Guinness Cold and would have liked the option.

We had some appetizers, which were very tasty, especially the... more

I came here on St. Patrick's Day and had sooo much fun!

Previously I would have said this was my absolute favourite pub in Toronto, no doubt. I have happily travelled from the other side of town just for a pint here.

But... I paid a visit this weekend and am sad to report things have gone downhill. Primarily because they don't have the wood burning fire anymore. This was the biggest attraction for me, by a country mile. It was so lovely to sit by... more

Stopped in to see The Swingin' Blackjacks, probably the best Rockabilly band in the city!
Had a great time, nice comfortable place to hang out at.
Very Irish. Good beer. Good atmosphere.

Love it. Fells like being at home in Ireland.
Love the no table service and the great beer selection
My local.
Eric

Alright little pub. Live music, full bar. Nothing spectacular, nothing to complain about. Solid stop for a pint or cocktail.

It's got beer, live music, a couple of separated smaller rooms and old wooden floors.

Feels like an Irish pub without it feeling like a carnival ride (i.e. over the top, try really hard, welcome to Ireland with tartan clad lassie's.. hmm wait. I like tartan clad lassies!!)

That's what they need here.. more lassies!

No servers... go get beer at the bar yourself. At least.. no one was serving... more

I like the Dora Keough. I mainly go here to attend book-related events, mainly launches and readings. The space is small and intimate and perfect for these kinds of events, and I've had fun hearing authors read from their novels and non-fiction books and telling the story behind the book. The bar is well stocked and comfortable to sit at. The food is pretty good. The staff is friendly and... more

Dora's experience fluctuates. There are times the thing rocks like C-Deck on the Titanic and other times it's just a boring, empty place with copper tables, three nose-picking bartenders and a noticeable detergent whiff. I have not found out yet on what days it's packed as opposed to empty but it could have something to do with bands playing or book-signing sessions to bring in the crowds.... more

Come for a Guinness, stay for the snug! There is literally a private room built into this pub with a little window opening directly on the bar, so you don't even have to leave your group's sanctuary to get more beverages. Make sure to call ahead and reserve it though; it's a popular spot.

Dropped by Allens the other night, and noticed that food is now availalbe next door at Dora Keogh. I decided to try it and as it was very busy, Holiday Shopping week, I sat at the bar. The food menu is limited but what I had, Soup and Capon Wings were both delicious.
Certainly, would recommend the place for a lighter meal than Allens.

Tonight (Tuesday) I went to Dora Keogh for drinks.

FRUIT FLIES
This was the one thing I couldn't stand. There were fruit flies all over the place. I was swatting them every couple of minutes. They were even at the bar and at the tables next to us. What was worse was one flew into my drink. I bet I ate some too.

WASHROOMS
ok I had no idea which washrooms were for male or female b/c they used... more

Not just a great Irish Pub but one of the better, smaller pub's in the city.
The best aspect for me is the live music on various nights of the week.
A group of people get together and have a jam session of old Irish tunes and it is unique.
A collection of fiddles, pipes and even a harp get into the action. They all just sit around and play while you sit back and have one of the best pints of... more

dora's has one of the better pints of guinness in the city.

The bartenders know how to pour it, and that helps.

I like dora's alot. It definitely is the most authentic-LOOKING Irish pub in the city. I wouldn't say it IS the most authentic Irish pub in Toronto though..... ;)

The staff are very good, and if you can catch a session, usually thursdays and sundays, then you will certainly not be... more

I have to agree with todd v. in that there is no pretension here. its decked in wood, in brass, in glass, in great beer. ive been to fundraisers here, come in and heard a jig or two and just lulled at the bar for no other reason than to lull and meet a few folks perhaps.

the energy there is always festive, especially with more people present. in addition to the seats at the bar, there are very... more

The sister pub to Allen's (yelp.ca/biz/allens-resta…), Dora Keogh began as an experiment to determine if they could make an authentic Irish pub without the trappings of the tartan-short-skirt pubs that dot the city that start with "Duke of" or cute double-entendre names like The Pour House (yelp.ca/biz/pour-house-i…). In comes Dora, which is by far the most authentic Irish bar that you'll find... more