Not a bar cart. Not a kegerator tucked into a corner. A full-on, Guinness-on-tap Irish pub. And honestly, this secret Irish pub has become a cherished family tradition. The story behind it will hit you harder than you expect.
Paul Rudd’s house in Rhinebeck, New York, isn’t just another celebrity compound in the Hudson Valley. It’s a family home with a deeply personal secret hiding beneath the floorboards — one that started with a grandfather’s promise.
The Real Story Behind Sullivan’s Pub
Most celebrity home features are about square footage and marble countertops. This one’s different.
Paul Rudd’s father, Michael, was a former historical tour guide and an airline executive who’d spent years planning to retire in Kinsale, County Cork. He loved Ireland. And when Rudd’s first son, Jack Sullivan Rudd, was born in 2006, Michael made a declaration that would become a family legacy:
So Michael started building one. In the basement of the family’s Kansas City home, he constructed a full Irish-themed bar, a secret Irish pub named Sullivan’s after his grandson’s middle name.
The plan was simple. Michael would move to Rhinebeck, where Paul had bought a home, and help build a second Sullivan’s in the basement there. But cancer got in the way. Michael passed away in 2008 before he could finish the project.
Paul didn’t let the dream die.
He hired contractors, spent about a year on the build, and finished Sullivan’s in roughly 2010. It was his father’s design, his father’s idea, brought to life in a completely different house hundreds of miles away from where it started.
What’s Actually Inside the Pub?
Rudd has described it as a “full-on authentic Irish pub”. The details, though, are kept pretty private. It’s not open to the public, making it a secret Irish pub known only to close friends and family. You need an invite.
But here’s what we do know:
- Guinness on tap. Rudd picks up the kegs himself in Poughkeepsie, which is about 20 minutes from his place.
- A second tap that he rotates with Tank 7, a darker beer from Boulevard Brewing in his hometown of Kansas City.
- A karaoke setup. Rudd has mentioned hosting karaoke parties down there.
- His Guinness certificate, framed on the wall, right behind the tap, is a photo of actor Paul Rudd enjoying a pint in an Irish pub. Yes, he earned it properly.
The name is painted or carved somewhere, too — Sullivan’s — a constant nod to his son.
The House Itself: What We Know About the Rhinebeck Property
Paul Rudd’s house sits in the Rhinebeck area of Dutchess County — sometimes listed as Clinton Corners, which is just a few minutes away. It’s a small town. Population around 8,000. The kind of place where you can walk down Market Street and actually run into a movie star buying candy.
Rudd has kept the property details private, which makes sense. He’s not selling anything. But a few things have surfaced over the years:
- It’s a family home first. Rudd, his wife Julie Yaeger, and their two kids, Jack and Darby, spend most of their non-Hollywood time here.
- The basement is the star. That’s where Sullivan’s lives.
- It’s not flashy. The house fits the historic Hudson Valley aesthetic — older architecture, property that respects the land. Nothing screams “celebrity compound.”
Rudd himself has talked about organizing his attic with a Brother P-Touch label maker. He does the school run. He’s said he’s usually in gym shorts and hotel slippers doing crosswords when he’s not working.
That’s the vibe. This isn’t a showpiece. It’s a home, but it also serves as a dream bar for family gatherings.
Rhinebeck: Why This Town Fits Paul Rudd Perfectly
Rhinebeck has a long history of famous residents — George Washington and Alexander Hamilton both spent time here. These days, it’s a quiet Hudson Valley village known for its well-preserved architecture, local farms, and the kind of Main Street that feels frozen in time.
Rudd’s been here for years. He’s often spotted on Market Street, the town’s main drag, sharing stories about his family’s dream bar. And he’s not just a name on a deed.
He co-owns Samuel’s Sweet Shop, the beloved local candy store at 42 East Market Street. He bought it in 2014 with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton after the original owner passed away, saving it from closing. He’s been known to work the register. Chat with neighbors. Be a normal guy.
That’s what makes the pub story even better. Rudd didn’t build Sullivan’s to impress anyone. It’s not a status symbol. It’s a personal project, tied to his dad, his son, and a family history that spans from Kansas City to Kinsale to a basement in upstate New York.
