Irish Pub Amontillado : The Bottom Line
I’m in two minds about Irish Pub Amontillado – it had some decent beers on tap, at decent prices, along with some tasty good; however, something about the atmosphere left me feeling deflated. A shame as a bar does need to have a good atmosphere really to keep me interested. I can imagine that this place, on the right night, at the right time, would be good fun. Still, I’d come back so that says something. The first floor is non-smoking, with the second being smoking and there’s no table charge, with just enough English on the menu.
Irish Pub Amontillado : Background
Irish Pub Amontillado is an institution in Kochi – it’s been around for almost 30 years at the time of writing, having opened in June 1995, and was also the first bar in the area to offer up craft beer on tap. Though it’s supposed to be an Irish pub, the bar itself is styled as offering up some more European fair.
Located in front of the Daimaru department style, Irish Pub Amontillado is around a five minute walk from Harimayabashi tram stop, though you could walk there from Kochi station as well.
Irish Pub Amontillado : Atmosphere & Interior
As you approach the area, it’s easier to spot the front of the bar – nowhere else is as green in the area as the store front. With it being located in the main shopping street, it gets a lot of foot fall in front; however, on the day I went to the bar, there was only one other person in there. And that was after eight in the evening. Two other people did come along later but for an Irish bar, there was zero atmosphere for a bar like this.
It’s quite a large bar as well, with seating on the first floor for around 60 people at various tables and counter seats with this floor being all non-smoking. There is also a second floor with seating for a further 50 people, again at various tables and counter seats, but this floor is smoking only so be careful when you go. And I did check the second floor to see if that was where the fun was happening but alas, that was also dead quiet. There is some free WiFi in the bar; however, if you come after 21:00, then there is a ¥500 table charge for the table seats only, not the counter seating.
Irish Pub Amontillado : Beer & Tap Information
Irish Pub Amontillado has ten taps of beer on, including the only certified Guinness on the island of Shikoku, though we’re here for the craft beer, of which there is five taps which vary with domestic and imports on tap. The beers come in two sizes : half (280 ml) from ¥870, and regular (470 ml) from ¥1,200. There isn’t a beer flight option, nor an all-you-can-drink plan which incorporates the craft beer on tap. I only had one beer – West Coast Starwatcher – as I didn’t fancy getting on the 10% beer so quickly. Finally there is a happy hour where all drinks are 20% before 19:00 but you need this coupon.
Irish Pub Amontillado : Food & Menu Information
The kitchen mixes Irish-style dishes (e.g., Irish stew/Shepherd’s Pie) with steaks, pizzas, pastas and rotating craft beer taps, positioning it as a higher-end, cosmopolitan pub rather than a novelty theme bar. The menus are in both English and in Japanese with pictures of every single thing you can order – so you can always just point at the pictures instead of trying to speak. The prices include tax as well so there’s no nasty surprises at the end. Though the menus are meat heavy, there are vegetarian options on the menu as well to choose from.
Irish Pub Amontillado : Bar Details
- Open : Sunday to Thursday 17:00 – 00:00 (L.O Food 23:00 Drink 23:30) Friday & Saturday 17:00 – 01:00 (L.O Food 00:00 Drinks 00:30)
- Closed : –
- Happy Hour : All drinks are 20% before 19:00 with coupon.
- Phone : 088-875-0599
- Homepage (in Japanese) : https://irishpub-amontillado.owst.jp/
- Social Media : Instagram
