Dublin Pubs

Welcome to the Dublin Pubs Section, a guide to the best pubs in and around Dublin. Instead of just listing all of the pubs around the city we've decided to just pick some of the best ones(at least ones we recommend) and break them into different categories, such as traditional, dance, superpubs, etc.

Below are some of the ones we recommend...

Traditional Pubs - General pubs for sitting down and having a chat or some 'craic'

• The Auld Dubliner - One of the temple bar 'traditional' tourist bars. Always good craic in the temple bar kind of way, with mixed crowds and live music occasionally.
• The Boars Head - A tiny little bar located on Capel St. Has a nice atmosphere and good for a few pints and a chat. It is very small though
• The Brazen Head - The oldest pub in Dublin, and possibly Ireland and Europe, which supposedly dates back to the 12th century. Very much a tourist haunt now, though you will find all sorts. Located on Bridge St, about a ten minute walk down the South Quays.
• Brogans - Brogans is a nice relaxing pub located on Dame St, perfect for a few relaxed pints. Located right next door to the Olympia. Very mixed crowd.
• The Dame Tavern - A tiny little pub located off the beaten track behind Dame Street on Dame lane. A really friendly and lively little pub with live music most nights. Does get very crowded but great craic.
• Doyles - A decent, quiet, out of the way pub which is good for a few pints. Located on College Green.
• The Firestone - Used to be the Plough, this is a real traditional Dublin, if not Irish, pub. Has live music most nights and a very mixed crowd. Located across from the Abbey theatre you can occasionally spot the odd actor in for a pint.
• The Foggy Dew - Popular bar in temple bar just beside the central bank, which is always a good place to visit and with a very mixed crowd.
• The Ha'penny Bridge Inn - Like the Dame Tavern, the Ha'Penny is another of Dublin's great little pubs. Always good craic with entertainment including an open mic comedy night on tuesdays. Not the best decorated of pubs, but well worth a visit.
• Johnnie Fox's Pub - Way Way Way off the beaten track (located in the Dublin Mountains) this had to be included as its one of Dublin's most famous pubs. Has different types of live music and dancing on different nights. Well worth a visit at least once. Costs about €25 in a taxi from the city centre.
• The Long Stone - A nice pub located just beside Trinity College, it obviously attracts a lot of students. A good place for a few drinks, but seats can be at a premium.
• Messrs Maguires - Spanning four floors and has its own brewery, offering its own beers as well as the usual suspects. Always seems to be packed and a pretty good night out.
• O'Neills - A very popular pub located on Suffolk St in the city centre. Nice place for a few pints and a friendly atmosphere.
• The Thomas Read - A very nice relaxed pub which is larger than it looks, can be a good night out with mostly rock / indie music.

Tourist Pubs - Popular pubs which mostly cater for tourists

• Fitzsimons - A good place for a few drinks with live music and/or Irish Dancing most nights. Located on Eustace St in Temple bar.
• Knightsbridge - Probably the only traditional styled of the newer super pubs, Knightsbridge is well worth a visit. Includes live music and dancing some nights during the week.
• O'Briens - AKA 'The Mercantile' this is a very popular pub located on Dame st. Alway worth a visit and usually pretty full.
• Oliver St John Gogarty's - Sister pub of the Left Bank, this is yet another of the temple bar tourist pubs. Alway gets pretty pack and you will meet all sorts, pretty much the same as all temple bar pubs. Live music upstairs some nights or evenings.
• The Quays Bar - Probably the best of the temple bar pubs, it always attracts good crowds. Has live music most nights and is usually good craic.
• The Temple Bar - Yet another of the temple bar tourist haunts, the temple bar will always be full due to its location and name, it is however one of the better pubs in the area.

Modern/Posh Pubs - Popular new modern and posh bars in the city

• AKA - Newly renovated (was Rasher's) this is a popular weekend spot with good music. Can be a bit dead during the week however. Located on Wicklow St just off Grafton St.
• The Bailey- Very nice modern (and slightly posh) bar on Duke Street just off Grafton Street. On the slightly small side but does have tables outside for the good weather.
• Cafe en Seine - Not exactly as French as its name, it is a very stylish new bar. Very relaxing and quite large, definately where to be seen. Located on Dawson St.
• Cocoon- Used to be the Buttery Brasserie, this is a very classy modern city centre bar. Full of style and good looking people. Located on Duke Lane parallel to Grafton Street.
• Dakota - Stylish and trendy new bar in the Grafton Street area. This is a real cool chilled out kind a place. Well worth a look. Located on South William Street.
• The Mint- Another brand new, slick and stylish pub. Is part of the Westin Hotel. A place to be seen. Located on Westmoreland St.
• The Odeon - Another of the brand new modern bars, used to be a railway station. Is nicely decorated and full of stylish people, Located on Harcourt St.
• Q Bar- Newly refurbished (used to be the infamous Harp bar) to a higher standard. Very stylish and always pretty crowded. Located on O'Connell Bridge.
• Cafe en Seine - Situated on Abbey St in the city-centre, this is a large and popular club. With a huge capacity and 2 floors with varying music, usually house upstairs and R&B downstairs.
• Samsara - Another modern new super pub. A very posh and trendy place and definately where to be seen, but tends to have a poor atmosphere, Located on Dawson St.

Live Music Pubs / Venues

• The Dame Tavern- A tiny little pub located off the beaten track behind Dame Street on Dame lane. A really friendly and lively little pub with live music most nights(where the musician is nearly on top of you). Does get very crowded but great craic.
• Eamonn Dorans - Famous old venue with live music most nights. Located in Temple Bar.
• Oliver St John Gogarty's - Sister pub of the Left Bank, this is yet another of the temple bar tourist pubs. Alway gets pretty pack and you will meet all sorts, pretty much the same as all temple bar pubs. Live music upstairs some nights or evenings.
• The Olympia Theatre - Although this is not a pub, it does have 8pm and Midnight shows which include live bands, comedians, etc. There are a number of bars and usually a great atmosphere (depending on what your going to see of course). You can book tickets and view upcoming events at Ticketmaster.
• The Sugar Club - Trendy club located on Leeson Street with live music every night and late bars at the weekend.
• Temple Bar Music Centre - Large music venue in Temple Bar with live music every night, sometimes with world reknowned artists, and a late bar.
• The Village - Located just beside Whelans on Wexford Street, this like Whelans has live gigs most night and also a late club/bar.
• Whelans - Probably Dublins most popular and famous live music pub, Whelans is a great place to go and catch a live band with a late club/bar after. Located on Wexford St.

Early Houses - Pubs that open at 7am every morning except Sundays

• The Boars Head - Situated at the bottom of Georges St in the city-centre, this is Dublin's most famous and oldest Gay bar and nightclub. The George has operated for 22 years as a gay venue in Ireland where homosexuality was illegal until 1993.
• Slatterys - Situated on Abbey St in the city-centre, this is a large and popular club. With a huge capacity and 2 floors with varying music, usually house upstairs and R&B downstairs
• The White Horse - Early House Dance club that opens at 7am on Saturdays.