Pubs and Bars in Dublin
Dublin’s vibrant pub and club scene is legendary – and justifiably so.
An attraction in their own right, the pubs and bars in Dublin as well as its many continental style cafés are one of the main reasons why Dublin is such a popular choice for a fast-fix, de-stressing weekend break. Locals, too, know their luck; they appreciate that cosmopolitan Dublin is the place to see and be seen socialising.
Craic
The Irish word ‘craic’ defies translation, but those bon viveurs in our midst who are familiar with the pubs, and bars of Dublin understand what it’s all about. Craic is a combination of fun, live music, eating and drinking, good company, light-hearted conversation, just hanging out with friends and meeting like-minded people. Now, the craic across Dublin is tangible!
Pubs and Bars in Dublin
One of the best ways to absorb Dublin’s unique pub life is simply to wander into any of the city’s 1000+ pubs, on a whim; go with the flow as the mood takes you. You’ll find the locals and bar staff are a friendly lot and you can be sure of a genuinely warm welcome.
Try, for example, O’Dwyer’s, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, a traditional style pub, and sample the local brew; The Brazen Head, 20 Bridge Street Lower, Dublin 8, claims to be Ireland’s oldest pub, traditional Irish music, friendly, great ambience; or Davey Byrnes, 21 Duke Street, Dublin 2, a delightful gastro pub with literary associations, immortalised in James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Or why not head out of town for Johnnie Fox's pub, believed to be the highest pub in Ireland and one of its oldest, located in the Dublin Mountains, in Glencullen, County Dublin.
Pub Crawls
If time is of the essence to soak up the atmosphere in the pubs, and bars in Dublin, you could join one of the several guided pub crawls which visit the pick of the bunch of the capitals famous pubs. Possibilities include:
Dublin Traditional Irish Music Pub Crawl;
The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl; (rated amongst the ‘world’s 50 best walks’ by The Times online)
The Backpacker Pub Crawl; great fun, lively and aimed primarily at younger folk.
Top Tipplers’ Tip
For the perfect ‘Guinness experience’, visit the Gravity Bar at the
Clubs & Nightlife
Dublin boasts a huge variety of contemporary clubs, with upmarket entertainment venues to suit all tastes and budgets. The music and dance scene is particularly big in Dublin, with the city playing host to a number of high-profile events.
The prime socialising and partying district is Temple Bar, where you’ll find an enticing array of the most trendy pubs and bars in Dublin, as well as a wide variety of restaurants.
Also check out Leeson Street, off St. Stephen’s Green, south of the Liffey; this area is renowned for its after-hours clubbing scene and has been aptly dubbed, ‘The Strip’.
Popular Dublin nightclub hot spots include:
Club M, Blooms Hotel, Anglesea Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
D Two Nightclub, Harcourt Hotel, 60 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Lillie's Bordello, Adam Court, Grafton Street, Dublin 2
The Palace, 84/87 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
The Village, 26 Wexford Street, Dublin 2.