An Irish pub in a Holiday Inn? Yes, O’Malley’s Pub has managed to squeeze space between the diner and the lobby of the Holiday Inn on Jefferson Davis Highway in Crystal City to create a sports bar. It’s the newest addition to the O’Malley’s chain which includes locations in Tysons Corner and Sterling in Virginia, Gaithersburg, Maryland and Auburn Hills in Michigan. Parking is easy and complimentary in the hotel parking garage.

The room is cozy with a long bar across the left side, fully stocked, high top tables and chairs in the middle and four comfortable booths on the opposite wall, each with its own plasma television screen. There are nine televisions throughout the room, allowing for just about any sport you are interested in. We had the choice of basketball, two baseball games, a tennis match, CNN and the hunting channel.

We ordered Yuengling and the O’Malley’s Ale to start with. Other drafts are Guinness, Bud Lite and a Heffeweitzen. Bottled beers include Bud Lite, Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Coors Light, Amstel Light, Sam Adams, Michelob Ultra and Corona.

For appetizers, we ordered Shamrock Spinach Dip and Leprechaun Wings, which are smaller than the usual wings but tasty with a choice of seasonings and sauce. While the spinach dip was a little thinner than we were expecting the chunks of artichoke and spinach compensated for it.

O’Malley’s features steaks and burgers, so we ordered Eye of Ireland, a fourteen-ounce rib eye steak, served with french fries and a mix of vegetables. The steak was cooked as ordered and seasoned with kosher salt, cracked black pepper and spices. We also ordered O’Malley’s Burger, which is an 8-ounce Angus beef burger, with choice of cheese and fries and comes with, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Both meals were satisfying in ending a busy Sunday afternoon of shopping.

There is a large list of possible burger combinations including, Western Ranch, Jack Dempsey, a black and blue burger, Cinco de Mayo, Guacamole Bacon, Sly Fox and Shroom n’Onion.

In addition to the featured steaks and burgers, there are salads and a selection of pastas, such as Angel Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Chicken Penne Pesto and Blackened Chicken Alfredo.

After beers, burgers and steak, we were not ordering desert, but the choices are Chocolate Mousse Cake, Cheesecake, Walnut Crusted Carrot Cake and Grandmom’s Apple Dumpling.

While the wine list is short and concise the selections are above average for a sports bar and include; Dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon, Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Reel Rock Merlot, Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and Ca’ Montini Pinot Grigio. All reasonably priced.

On a return trip on a Monday evening, the room was filled with families who had been sightseeing, and business guests unwinding from a day of meetings, all enjoying the casual atmosphere, competent service and good quality food. You don’t have to be a guest of Holiday Inn to enjoy O’Malley’s Irish Pub.

O’Malley’s Pub Arlington
2650 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, Virginia
703-842-1224

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