Erin Lanahan 
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish bar + restaurant is planning its grand opening in Jersey City for March 2026. Dagda will be pulling pints and serving good craic 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. The plan is to open in March 2026. Here’s what we know so far about the Irish pub, Dagda, opening 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. There is a large mural on the wall just inside the bar of the Celtic god, painted by artist Cristal Maze.
One of the owners, Ben Prior, grew up in Dublin, Ireland, before calling Hudson County home for the last 18 years. His love of Celtic mythology is evident throughout the pub, including the name. 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 for the space is to be an upscale neighborhood dive bar, with a pool table and darts. It can’t be an Irish bar + restaurant without some Irish brews, 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 space. 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.
Any good dive bar has good bar food. The Dagda menu highlights include smashburgers, wings, and some vegan options as well. Think food in one hand, pool cue in the other.
“We want to blend a good, solid, warm, wooden, Irish bar with a neighborhood dive feel,” Ben tells HG. The plan is for Dagda to open in March 2026.
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