O’Ryan’s Irish Pub and the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant in Ashland Oregon

O’Ryan’s Irish Pub and the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant in Ashland Oregon

There are two Pubs in downtown Ashland, one English and one Irish, that are competing for the “biggest dive bar” award. The Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant is an English themed pub upstairs on the Plaza. O’Ryan’s Irish Pub is, you guessed it, the Irish pub/dive bar farther up Main Street with Oregon Lottery machines and two (2) pool tables.

O’RYAN’S IRISH PUB

This is probably the “go to” place in Ashland on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s the “DIVE BAR” downtown. Just like the name says, it’s an Irish Pub bar. It’s dark, dirty and smells like old beer. The pool tables and lottery machines give this place the feel of a basement game room. They have a good selection of beers on draft and a full bar, but I didn’t stay long enough to have a drink. If you like dive bars, you’ll like this place.

O’Ryan’s Irish Pub

THE BLACK SHEEP Pub & Restaurant

Upstairs, behind the double red doors on the Plaza, is the Black Sheep, an English themed pub & restaurant, that is an “institution” in Ashland (and some of the patrons should probably be committed!). Above the Front Door and at the top of the stairs is a Union Jack. There are pictures, art, signs, photographs and tapestries decorating the brick walls. It’s dark, dirty and smells like old beer. They have live music and entertainment (on a previous night they had a drag show), and a good selection of draft beers & ales on tap and a full bar. The also have a pretty traditional pub menu and are open for lunch & dinner and late night dining and drinking.

The Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant

I went upstairs and sat at the bar alone for about 15 minutes without anyone smiling, saying hello, or even acknowledging that I might want to order a beverage. It was loud, and the small crowd was pretty much locals who knew each other. As you can see from this next pic, I might as well have been invisible. After waiting patiently, I got up, walked back down the stairs and went in search of a friendlier and more comfortable place to have a drink.