Nightlife · Dublin · Ireland
Dublin nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Dublin, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sheila1988, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dublin's nightlife centres on the pub, from Victorian bars with snugs to music pubs with nightly trad sessions. Most pubs close around midnight, with late bars and clubs running into the early hours at weekends. The main areas are Temple Bar, Camden Street and Wexford Street, South William Street and George's Street and Smithfield.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Temple Bar
- Local drink
- Guinness
Where to go out
Temple Bar
The busiest cluster of pubs and live music, popular with visitors and groups; expect crowds and higher prices.
Camden Street and Wexford Street
A long strip of bars, late venues and music pubs south of St Stephen's Green, with a younger local crowd.
South William Street and George's Street
Cocktail bars, wine bars and the city's best-known LGBTQ+ venues around South Great George's Street.
Smithfield
Pubs known for traditional music sessions, plus the Light House cinema on the square.
Nightlife tips
- Trad sessions in pubs are usually free; buy a drink and settle in near the musicians.
- Taxi ranks on Dame Street and around St Stephen's Green get long queues at closing time, so book an app ride early.
- Many clubs and late bars apply dress codes and ID checks; carry photo ID.
Evening sights
Neighbourhood · Temple Bar
Temple Bar
Hear the music here, then walk five minutes to pubs on Dame Street or in Smithfield for a better-value pint.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Food
- Iconic
Landmark · Temple Bar
Ha'penny Bridge
Cross at dusk when the bridge lamps come on, then follow the Liffey Boardwalk east to O'Connell Bridge.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- After dark
What to drink
- Guinness — The dry Irish stout brewed at St James's Gate since 1759, poured in two stages and left to settle for its creamy head. Many Dubliners insist it tastes better here than anywhere else.
- Irish whiskey — Usually triple-distilled and smooth, from blends to single pot still whiskeys made with malted and unmalted barley. Several distilleries have opened in the Liberties since 2015, reviving the city's whiskey history.
- Irish coffee — Hot coffee with Irish whiskey and brown sugar under a layer of lightly whipped cream, sipped through the cream rather than stirred.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 12°C (54°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:36 | 3°C (37°F) | 13 |
| April | About 20:25 | 5°C (41°F) | 10 |
| July | About 21:46 | 12°C (54°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:29 | 7°C (45°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- Walking — From Trinity College you can walk to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, the national museums, Dublin Castle and Christ Church in under 15 minutes; the Guinness Storehouse and Kilmainham are 25–40 minutes west.
- Tram — Buy a ticket from the platform machine or tag on with a Leap Card before boarding.
- Bus — Drivers do not give change for cash fares, so use a Leap Card or the TFI app.
- Taxi — Licensed taxis run on the meter and can be hailed in the street, found at ranks or booked through ride apps.
Late-night bites
- Fish and chips — Chippers across the city, including long-running ones near Christ Church, and the harbour in Howth.
Staying safe at night
Dublin is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing and phone snatching happen around Temple Bar, O'Connell Street and on busy buses and trams. Some city-centre streets north of the river can feel rough late at night, so stick to busier routes or take a taxi.
- Emergency number
- 112 or 999
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for nightlife, first-timers and solo travellers
Temple Bar
Between Dame Street and the river, Temple Bar's cobbled streets are packed with pubs playing live traditional music from the afternoon onwards, plus restaurants, galleries and the Irish Film Institute. It is central to everything, but pints here are among the most expensive in the city and weekends are loud with hen and stag parties.
- Good
- Live music every night; Central for all the main sights; Easy late-night food
- Watch out
- Very noisy at weekends; Drinks and food priced for visitors
- Nearby
- Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Dublin?
Temple Bar, Camden Street and Wexford Street and South William Street and George's Street. The busiest cluster of pubs and live music, popular with visitors and groups; expect crowds and higher prices.
+Which area of Dublin is best for nightlife?
Temple Bar: Cobbled lanes of pubs, live music and late-night crowds by the Liffey.