Erin Lanahan 
There’s a new contender for the best pint of Guinness in Hudson County. Irish pub DAGDA is taking over the space at 123 Newark Avenue in Downtown Jersey City, formerly occupied by Cafe Coretto. It’s run by several Jersey City locals who want to make it the next friendly neighborhood hangout spot. One of the owners tells The Hoboken Girl the tentative plan is to open sometime this summer. Here’s what we know so far about the Irish pub, DAGDA, in downtown Jersey City.
What is Dagda?
The name “Dagda” comes from Celtic mythology. The Dagda was the chief of the Irish ancestral gods. He was associated with several things, including manliness, strength, magic, druidry, and wisdom.
One of the owners, Ben Prior, grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and has always been into Celtic mythology. When he was coming up with the plan for this new spot, he wanted something different from the typical Irish pub names. “I wanted something slightly obscure,” Ben tells HG.
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A Taste Of Ireland In Jersey City
The Irish pub is a short walk from the Grove Street PATH Station on Newark Avenue. Behind the double doors is a large space with green walls and a large bar. The vision is for the pub is for an upscale neighborhood dive bar, with a pool table, darts, and some live music. There will be a small kitchen serving some small bites. It can’t be an Irish pub without some Irish beers, and the owners aim to serve the next best pint of Guinness in Jersey City.
There are other little authentic touches of Ireland in the pub. For instance, there’s a snug at the end of the bar. It’s a semi-private space with a little table and booth seating. If you’ve ever been to a Catholic church for confession, it looks very similar to a confessional. The term, “snug,” was coined in the 1960s in Ireland. Many pubs back then were almost exclusively for men, and women were rarely seen drinking inside. It wasn’t a law, but more of a social convention that bars wouldn’t let women inside. Women would either drink at home or enjoy a pint in a small, screened-off room attached to the bar known as a snug. At DAGDA, all those who are of legal drinking age are welcome to drink inside, whether it’s in the snug or at the bar.
“We want to blend a good, solid, warm, wooden, Irish bar with a neighborhood dive feel,” Ben tells HG.
Ben has been a Hudson County resident for about 17 years. Hoboken locals might recognize him from slinging drinks at Wilton House on 58 Newark Street. He tells HG that when the opportunity arose to open his own bar in Jersey City, he took it. Ben plans to continue bartending at Wilton House until things are up and running at DAGDA.
Previously, Cafe Coretto was at 123 Newark Avenue. It was an event space that did comedy shows, jazz nights, and other private events. It was run by Italian restaurant Roman Nose, which is right next door at 125 Newark Avenue.
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