Cairns has welcomed a new Irish pub, Murphy’s, bringing a fresh take on the traditional Irish sports bar to Sheridan Street. Opening in June 2026, Murphy’s combines Irish hospitality, live sport, music and hearty pub food. Come along as I try several Irish dishes including the Irish spice bag!
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Alongside traditional Irish fare, Murphy’s also serves the Irish spice bag. Despite its name, this isn’t a traditional Irish dish but a modern favourite born from Ireland’s Chinese takeaway culture. I’m finally getting to try two versions of this much loved Irish dish!
Murphy’s is a stunning pub with generous outdoor seating and gorgeous green hues that perfectly capture the spirit of Ireland, creating a welcoming atmosphere with a touch of Irish charm.
I love the spacious interior, which feels welcoming and relaxed, while the staff are super friendly and add to the overall experience. Naturally, much of the menu is inspired by traditional Irish comfort food, bringing a taste of Ireland to the tropics.
The sticky stout chicken wings were enjoyable, sadly though, I found them a little underwhelming. They had the familiar flavour of home crumbed chicken wings, which may appeal to some, but I was hoping for more of the rich, distinctive stout dressing to come through.
I’ve been dreaming about this ever since I had it. The loaded baked potato is divine — comforting, indulgent and exactly the sort of thing you’d make at home, only better. The potato is wonderfully soft, fluffy and buttery, with the skin crisp, while the cheese adds texture and the pulled beef richness. Those little pops of crispy, salty bacon took it to another level, making every mouthful incredibly satisfying.
The corned beef toastie sounded delicious, but I have to admit I was a little let down. I was expecting thick slices of tender, fall apart corned beef with that lovely salty flavour. Instead, it was more like a thin slice of supermarket silverside, tucked between toasted bread with smoked cheese, mustard and pickles. There was nothing actually wrong with it, the flavours worked well together — it just wasn’t what I expected from a $24 sandwich.
Who can go to an Irish pub and not try a beef and Guinness pie with all the traditional trimmings? Let’s start with the vegetables. The mash was incredibly smooth and so buttery it felt almost sinful to be eating it. Minted peas are something I’ve never particularly enjoyed, but these were different. They were buttery, with crispy mint leaves scattered throughout, so they weren’t overwhelmingly minty. Instead, there were little bursts of mint every second mouthful, which I really enjoyed. And then there was the pie. A layer of shortcrust pastry formed the base, topped with a gorgeous, shiny, crispy puff pastry lid. Inside were generous chunks of tender beef in a rich gravy that was slightly bitter, slightly sweet and wonderfully umami. I absolutely loved it!
But lets talks about the real reason I am here – the Irish spice bag! It’s a popular Irish takeaway dish generally featuring crispy fried chicken and chips tossed with a spicy seasoning blend. It’s typically served with onions and capsicum, with the seasoning adding a salty, savoury and mildly hot flavour.
The mild curry sauce, served on the side, is poured over the contents of the pice bag, and it’s delicious! I can’t get enough of the crispy chicken and chips, while even the capsicum and onions are fantastic.
I headed back a couple of days later for another spice bag, this time with crumbed prawns—and these prawns are huge! They’re again crispy, generous and make an already delicious spice bag even more interesting.
The combination is just as delicious, with the crispy prawns adding another layer of crunch and flavour to the dish. Overall though, I think I prefer the chicken over the prawns, but still a fantastic dish.
I’m quite fond of Murphy’s, it’s a great pub serving traditional Irish food. If you’re up in Cairns, pay it a visit for some hearty Irish fare, a delicious spice bag, and a proper taste of Ireland here in Far North Queensland!
