In 2006, when I began to take Thai classes in Bangkok, Thailand, after class our group would eat lunch together on Soi Convent in the Silom area of the city. It was then I first discovered Molly Malone’s Irish Pub, or as it was known back then, The Irish Exchange. Renovated soon after and re-opened under the name Molly Malone’s Irish Pub, today it’s still one of the best pubs in Bangkok – whether Irish or British – and there are many reasons why.
Where is Molly Malone’s? – Easy to find, Molly Malone’s Irish Pub is right around the corner from the Sala Daeng BTS sky train station in the Silom area of Bangkok. Just a two minute walk from the sky train, and you entire a warm, cozy world where the food is great, the beer on tap superb, and the staff incredibly friendly. It’s a true home away from home.
Food and Drink at Molly Malone’s – Of course, if you’re like me, you don’t repeatedly frequent a bar or pub for the friendly staff, not if the food isn’t good. But, no worries here, Molly Malone’s serves some of the best pub grub in the city and the on tap beer (and the bottled stuff) is pretty darned fine too.
The menu at Molly Malone’s is absolutely massive, with every Irish or British style pub specialty food you could ever want and a few you’ve never seen anywhere else.
To show how popular this place is, they’re open by 9am every day and serving one of the best British/Irish breakfasts in Bangkok. Try their Early Bird Pub Breakfast – fried egg, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast, grilled tomatoes and a pot of tea or coffee. Price during the week? Only 99 baht – $3. Now how can you possibly beat that? It’s also a fun place to meet people as it gets quite busy, even this early in the morning, with a variety of expats some of whom love a good natter.
For lunch and dinner, the food gets even better – cottage pie, bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), incredible cheese burgers, lamb burgers, fish burgers, steak and kidney pie, Irish lamb stew, pork chop, rib eye steak and Indian chicken curry. They also make some amazing baked potatoes with loads of fillings and toppings. I’ve had many a one of these, with a pint of Chang beer, and what a great lunch that makes.
Plus, if you’re with Thai friends or spouse and they don’t like western food (you know how picky a lot of Thais can be), then there’s also a good selection of favorite Thai dishes. They should find something they like.
Food prices at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub are not cheap. An average sandwich or entree is between 300-390 baht ($10-$13), which is extremely steep in Bangkok, where your average street side meal is still only 30 baht ($1). But, the food is so good, I don’t mind splurging a couple of times a month. Plus, they do have one meal every day that goes for only 199 baht ($6.75) – cottage pie, beef stew, fish and chips – so if you want to save a bit of money, start here first.
Beer at Molly Malone’s is wonderful, as they’re known to have one of the largest selections of on tap imported beer in Bangkok and, I’m no beer expert, but the keg always seems to have been tapped just right. The best time to go is during Happy Hour as, the pub is packed and the beer is cheap. Only 85 baht ($2.80) for draft Chang, Heineken or Tiger and house spirits are only 75 baht a glass ($2.35).
You’ll find Molly Malone’s Irish Pub at 1/5-6 Soi Convent Silom, Bangrak in Bangkok.
