Public houses in Spain

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Commonly known as pubs, an abbreviation of public house, this is the term used in English-speaking countries for taverns: a place to have something to eat and drink beer, all at once.

The concept has been brought to Spain, where pubs are also the epicentre for large groups of fans for the widest variety of sport: football, golf, rugby and poker, for example.

Proof of that is the website for Grupo Finnegans, which runs, among other bars, Boffin, in Madrid. A month-by-month calendar shows all the events related to Spanish, Italian, Scottish and French football, just to name a few.

While the big screens grab the attention of the supporters, others prefer to try the baskets of chips (with melted cheese, sausages and chorizo), nachos, breaded mozzarella sticks or, of course, a hamburger. These dishes can be accompanied by Danish, Belgian, Spanish and, of course, Irish beers.

Since 1997, Malaga has been home to Irish Times, a pub with a list of spirits that includes 80 gins, 60 whiskies and 50 rums. It also offers a private room on the top floor, with capacity for 50 people, that is available for work meetings and celebrations.

In Barcelona

, Seville

, Sotogrande

and Zaragoza

you will find Flaherty's Irish Bars. In the first two cities, you can try a traditional Irish breakfast (with bacon, sausages, fried egg, beans in tomato sauce, potatoes, baked tomato, mushrooms and toast with butter and jam). For those who prefer to cut calories, there are salads and grilled meats.

In honour of the famous Irish writer James Joyce (author of one of the most emblematic works of world literature, Ulysses), an establishment of the same name was founded in Madrid, very near Plaza de Cibeles. Although it is far from being from a space dedicated to prose, it does promote other activities: from live music to parties and sport broadcasts (football, rugby, cricket and baseball).

It has a fixed menu and an à la carte menu that include, as in Boffin, baskets of chips. There are also stuffed potatoes, sandwiches, burgers and vegetarian dishes.