Grand Khaan Irish Pub
Grand Khaan Irish Pub is Ulaanbaatar's most established expat venue, occupying a prominent corner on Seoul Street in the downtown core. The pub spreads across a single large room with a horseshoe-shaped bar as the centerpiece. Dark wood paneling, Guinness mirrors, and framed rugby jerseys cover the walls. The draft system pours both Mongolian beers (Chinggis, Khan Brau) and imported options. A stage at one end hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights, typically cover bands playing rock, pop, and blues. Seating accommodates around 120 people across bar stools, booths, and freestanding tables. The kitchen serves Irish and Western pub food. The crowd is roughly half foreign (NGO workers, English teachers, mining engineers, embassy staff) and half English-speaking Mongolians, making it the most linguistically accessible venue in UB.
What to Expect
Walk through the door and the sensory shift from Seoul Street's chaos to a warm, familiar pub interior is immediate. Draft beer in hand within 60 seconds. The barman speaks English. The TV shows sports you recognize. For expats in UB, this is the pressure release valve.
Warm, pub-like, and genuinely friendly. The expat regulars create a welcoming vibe that makes solo travelers feel less alone in a challenging city.
Live cover bands (rock, pop, blues) on weekends. Background rock and pop on weeknights.
Casual. Anything from business clothes (after-work crowd) to jeans and a t-shirt.
Expats and travelers wanting a comfortable, English-speaking environment. Anyone needing a reliable starting point for a UB night out.
Cash (Tugrik) and cards accepted.
Price Range
Draft beer MNT 8,000-12,000, Guinness MNT 15,000, pub meals MNT 15,000-30,000, cocktails MNT 15,000-20,000
Draft beer ~USD 2.40-3.60/~EUR 2.20-3.30, pub meals ~USD 4.50-9/~EUR 4.10-8.30
Hours
Mon-Thu 11 AM to midnight, Fri-Sat 11 AM to 2 AM, Sun 12 PM to 10 PM
Insider Tip
Friday nights after 9 PM are the busiest. The live bands are hit or miss, but the crowd energy compensates. The booth near the back offers the best combination of view and noise level. Staff speak English fluently.
Full Review
Grand Khaan has been the anchor of UB's expat social life for years, and for good reason. It does exactly what an Irish pub abroad should do: provide a familiar environment, decent beer, and a reliable social scene.
The interior is larger than most Irish pubs, reflecting the Mongolian tendency to build spaces that can handle groups. The horseshoe bar is the social center, where regulars perch and conversations flow across seats. Booths along the walls offer more privacy for dates or small groups. The overall feel is warm and lived-in without being worn out.
The draft selection is the best in UB. Six taps rotate between Mongolian craft options and imports. The Guinness pours reasonably well for this latitude. The kitchen turns out burgers, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie that aren't trying to win awards but satisfy the craving for Western comfort food. Portions are large.
Friday and Saturday nights transform the space. Live bands set up on the small stage and play three-hour sets of covers. Quality varies. Some bands are genuinely talented local musicians who've learned Western rock catalogues with impressive accuracy. Others struggle. Either way, the crowd is forgiving, and the energy that live music brings outweighs the occasional wrong note.
The crowd dynamic is what makes Grand Khaan special. Mining engineers trading stories with Peace Corps volunteers, Mongolian university graduates practicing English with Irish backpackers, embassy staff loosening ties. It's UB's social crossroads. If you need information, recommendations, or company, start here.
The downside is that it's an expat bubble. You won't get the raw Mongolian nightlife experience here. For that, you need to move to Metropolis or Mint. But as a starting point, meeting place, and safety net, Grand Khaan is invaluable.
The Neighborhood
Located on Seoul Street in central UB, surrounded by restaurants, shops, and the Central Tower mall. The State Department Store is a 3-minute walk. Chinggis Khaan Square is a 5-minute walk west.
Getting There
Walk along Seoul Street from Chinggis Khaan Square (5 minutes) or the State Department Store (3 minutes). Taxi from anywhere in UB costs MNT 3,000-8,000.
Other Venues in Seoul Street
Metropolis
The largest nightclub in Ulaanbaatar with multiple rooms and a big main dance floor. Electronic and pop music. Draws a young Mongolian crowd on weekends.
Lux Lounge
Upscale lounge bar near Chinggis Khaan Square. Cocktail-focused with a more mature crowd than the clubs. Leather seating, dim lighting, and a curated drinks list.
Mint Club
Popular weekend nightclub on Seoul Street. Two dance floors, mainstream pop and hip-hop playlist, and a young crowd. One of UB's busiest spots on Saturday nights.
Corner Pub
Casual local pub just off Seoul Street. Draft Mongolian beer, simple food, and a low-key atmosphere. A good spot to start the evening before the clubs open.
Sky Lounge at Blue Sky Tower
Rooftop bar on the 23rd floor of the Blue Sky Tower hotel. Panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar and the surrounding mountains. Premium cocktails and a dress code.