Sextons Bar

Just what Limerick needed - another pub slinging pizzas and pints. When I first heard about Sextons Bar, I assumed it was yet another desperate attempt to cash in on the craft beer and artisanal pizza trend that's infected every corner of Ireland. But like that one friend who won't shut up about their CrossFit transformation, sometimes the annoying success stories turn out to be... legitimately impressive.

Let's address the elephant in the room - a pub in Limerick serving pizza sounds about as authentic as a leprechaun doing Pilates. Yet here I am, reluctantly admitting that Sextons Bar has somehow cracked the code. The pizzas emerge from their ovens with crusts that achieve that perfect sweet spot between Neapolitan tradition and Irish practicality - thin enough to be respectable, but sturdy enough to hold up after your third pint of Staropramen.

Speaking of pints, the bar setup at Sextons would make even the most jaded publican crack a smile. They've managed to balance the traditional dark wood and cozy corners expected of any self-respecting Irish pub with enough modern touches to avoid feeling like a tourist trap museum piece. The staff possess that rare combination of actual competence and authentic friendliness - a welcome departure from the surly or overly performative service that plagues so many Limerick establishments.

I tried to find fault with the place, I really did. But every time I thought I'd caught them out, they'd do something annoyingly impressive. Take the atmosphere - it somehow manages to work for both quiet afternoon pints and livelier evening gatherings without feeling schizophrenic. The back area handles groups without turning the whole place into a stag party wasteland, while the main bar maintains its dignity even on busy nights.

The pizza menu deserves special mention, if only because it had me prepared to write a scathing critique of cultural appropriation gone wrong. Instead, I found myself facing down what might be some of the best pizzas in Limerick. They've wisely avoided trying to out-Italian the Italians, instead creating their own style that works perfectly in a pub setting. The combinations manage to be interesting without crossing into the realm of pretentious food crime.

Their pricing sits squarely in the "fair enough" category - you won't feel like you've discovered the bargain of the century, but neither will you need to remortgage your house for a night out. The pizza-and-pint combinations are particularly reasonable, especially given the quality of both components. You're paying for proper ingredients and skill, not Instagram-worthy plating or manufactured ambiance.

The outdoor seating area provides a decent escape when the weather cooperates (which, this being Limerick, means about three days per year). They've done what they can with the space, though you'll still be dealing with the urban symphony of passing traffic and local characters. Inside, the acoustics somehow manage to handle both conversation and background music without forcing you to choose between shouting yourself hoarse or sitting in awkward silence.

Parking follows the standard city center ritual of circling the block a few times before eventually finding a spot that may or may not be legal. The good news is they accept all major forms of payment, so you won't have to waste your carefully hoarded cash on the meter. They also offer delivery and takeout, though the pizzas are definitely best enjoyed fresh from the oven with a properly poured pint at hand.

For those keeping score at home, Sextons Bar in Limerick has achieved something I thought impossible - creating a genuine pub that serves genuinely good pizza while maintaining its soul. The place has earned its impressive Google rating not through social media manipulation or temporary trend-chasing, but by consistently delivering quality where it matters.

Go ahead, mock my conversion if you must. But next time you're in Limerick and the choice is between another mediocre gastropub or another soulless pizza chain, do yourself a favor and head to Sextons. Just don't blame me when you find yourself becoming one of those annoying regulars who won't shut up about their favorite local. Trust me, I've been there.