Given my last name and Irish pride, a visit to this South Broadway outpost was a must.

For two years, Dougherty’s Restaurant and Pub has been serving up classic Irish whiskeys that no doubt contribute to the place’s friendly neighborhood atmosphere, which is helped along by an intimate dining room with soft lighting and cozy tables, as well as paintings of the beautiful Irish countryside and shamrocks adorning just about every windowsill.

The bar is in the middle of the restaurant, and a much more lively spot to sit, drink, and people-watch. If gaming is your thing, to the left of the bar is a game room with a pool table and a jukebox, which played Beatles music on a recent visit.

Dougherty’s weekday, 4-7 p.m. happy-hour menu comes complete with buy-one-get-one drafts and 25-cent wings, but I recommend combining your pre-dinner drink with a post-dinner treat. To complement a dark, frothy draft, try the “Sunday, Buddy, Sunday” Irish sundae made with Guinness ice cream, hot fudge, Bailey’s whipped cream, and crushed walnuts on top of a brownie.

5 E. Ellsworth Ave., 303-777-5210