1. There is something about a really comfortable pub that you can’t quite put your finger on that brings you back again and again, until you finally establish your credentials as a “regular.” Is it the ambience, the design or look of the pub? Or the beer or the food or the other regulars? Or good music or all of the above? You never really know, because that is the secret of a good pub. The Irish-owned and managed Dubliner on Sukhumvit Road, fixed right on the cusp of Washington Square is a classic pub on three levels with pool and a small bar in the rafters, a library-feel on the second floor, and a full-on pub on the ground floor. It has live music three days a week, and two nights a week features a superb balladeer appropriately known as Lee Shamrock. And while I ain’t no folk fan, Lee does a great job on vocals, acoustic guitar and harp, and his selection of songs is eclectic to say the very least. But more about him later. The Dubliner is an Irish pub, so on Sunday afternoons they do have Celtic Colours who play in relaxed mode acoustically, attracting quite a following I hear. And if you want more than just a bit of music, there is a big screen for sports and plenty of room to read your newspaper or shoot the shit with your buddies. All the beer you could ask for too with Tiger, Erdinger, Heineken, Kilkenny and of course The Guinness on tap. The coffee is great too! Most days, especially Ladies Night on Wednesdays and when there is live music, the place is usually jumping with diners and drinkers. It’s not a surprise as the food and beverages here are generally of a very high. One unusual thing about this place is the type of menu that you’ll find. The original chef and one of the shareholders was an accomplished fine dining chef and he started the tradition here of serving restaurant dishes as opposed to pub grub. You can get sausages and bubble and squeak and various roast meats and fry-ups and the like but there are also many dishes on this rather large menu that would not be found on almost any other pub menu. How about a roasted tomato and chili soup with brazil nuts, pine nuts and mozzarella? Or prawn tempura with tomato salsa and guacamole from the starters portion of the menu. The main course section includes a roasted seabass with creamy champagne and red wine sauce, jungle chicken curry, a braised shank of lamb with boulangerie potatoes and harissa jus and a grilled sirloin steak among a number of other entries including some Thai-influenced dishes with curry. If you’re in the mood for pastas you can find a penne with ratatouille, mozzarella and basil or a spaghetti dish with chili, scallions, parmesan, tomato and basil. And for more traditional pub fare try one of the pies like cabbage, potato, cheese and leek pie with baby onions and smoked bacon gravy or a chicken, mushroom and honey roasted ham pie. There’s also shepherd’s pie, of course, and a minced beef pie. And you’ll find that the prices here are not low but the portions are extremely generous and the quality high so the value for money equation computes a high score for the Dubliner. As mentioned above Lee Shamrock supplied the live music that night and he’s really quite an interesting entertainer. He’s got a huge repertoire of songs and uses them to good advantage, for example switching with ease from “Stairway to Heaven” to “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “All Along The Watchtower” to “Irish Rover” all on acoustic guitar, harmonica and voice. Lee has been in Bangkok for several years after establishing a great rep in Phuket as a solo artist, and he swings over to Singapore once a month to play at the Dubliner there also. He plays Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 9 pm and playing until midnight. Celtic Colours play acoustic on Sunday afternoons. Check out the Dubliner for the food, the drinks, the music and the atmosphere. Any or all shouls prove to be good reasons to come here. The Dubliner Irish PubSukhumvit Road Washington Square, Soi 2202-204-1841