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A friend once said to me, “Italians are good at cooking, and that’s why there are Italian restaurants everywhere. The Irish are good at drinking, and that’s why there are Irish bars everywhere”. He had a point. Dublin is heaving with pubs and its nightlife is unrivalled in Europe.

Just as with restaurants, most of Dublin’s pubs are located in Temple Bar, although this part of the city is almost exclusively populated with tourists all year long. On weekend nights it can get particularly rowdy due to noisy crowds of stag and hen parties who sing their way through the streets.

For something different, try Georges Street instead. Located just south of Temple Bar, it has some of the city’s best bars. Two streets parallel away you'll find one of the city's main nightlife strips, South William Street, which has bars from top to bottom. Wexford Street and Baggot Street are also famed for their selection of bars.

One of the biggest changes in Dublin’s social life over the last number of years is the emergence of trendy bars all over the city. But of course, the biggest change is the fact that, just like as in California and New York, you can no longer smoke in the city’s bars or nightclubs.

Entertainments in Dublin

• The Village

  26 Wexford St, Dublin, Ireland

  Located on one of Dublin's liveliest strips, The Village is one of the few venues in Dublin that doesn't have an opinion of itself. Thankfully, neither does its clientele. Instead this is one of the trendiest late-bars in town where all walks of life rub shoulders thanks to a funky mix of dance, funk and soul music.
  
  Open daily from 11am-2.30am.

• Rí-Rá

  Dame Court, Dublin, Ireland

  Open six nights a week, Rí-Rá is another Dublin institution, this time with the city's clubbers. The Irish capital's most diverse club, it features music from the last 4 decades.
  
  Open Mon-Sat from 11pm-2.30pm.

• International Bar

  23 Wicklow St, Dublin, Ireland

  Large saloon with gigs upstairs – mostly rock bands, but also stand-up comedy on Wed nights. Cover charge.
  

• Brazen Head

  20 Lower Bridge St, Dublin, Ireland

  The oldest pub in Dublin, with traditional music most nights from 9.30pm. No cover charge.
  

• The Market Bar

  Fade Street, Dublin, Ireland

  Due to the fact that the owners of this bar have no music licence, all you can hear in this bar and tapas restaurant are other people’s voices. Since it was opened, The Market Bar has built up a loyal set of customers and is usually pretty busy.
  
  Open Mon-Thurs noon-11.30pm, Fri-Sat noon- 1.30am, Sun noon-11pm.

• Turks Head

  Parliament St, Dublin, Ireland

  A late bar and dance club with fantastic sub-Gaudi decor, that also does food. Admission free Tues, Wed & Sun, and before 11pm Thurs–Sat; open till 2am. Closed Mon.
  
  

• Dakota

  South William Street, Dublin, Ireland

  Dakota openend a number of years ago and for a while, was the Irish capital’s flavour of the month. Then its not-so-loyal fraternity packed up shop and began drinking in the latest ‘cool’ pub. But since it has been extended out back in 2004 it has been given a new lease of life and is today one of the most popular bars in the city.

• SoSuMe

  South Great Georges St, Dublin, Ireland

  This (allegedly) Japanese style-pub extends far into the back from its entrance. The bottom floor can get extremely packed at the weekends, while upstairs is more spacious, plus it has a dancefloor if you feel like doing your thang. Good place to go when kicked out of the Market Bar across the road.

• The Oliver St John Gogarty

  57/58 Fleet St, Dublin, Ireland

  Lively tourist pub with Irish music upstairs, the starting point for Dublin's Musical Pub Crawl (Sat–Thurs 7.30pm; €6). The adjoining Left Bank Bar often has live jazz and blues. No cover charge.
  
  

• Hogans

  South Great Georges St, Dublin, Ireland

  For years Hogans was thee in pub in Dublin, but then things changed as more and more bars began opening quicker than you could say ‘pint of Guinness please’. But this is a great place to stick your head into if you want a nice quiet pint in the evening, while it is still guaranteed to light up each and every night also.

• Midnight at the Olympia

  74 Dame St, Dublin, Ireland

  A theatre most of the time, but when the show ends on Fri and Sat, the place opens up for late-night rock and dancing in the aisles, from 11.30pm–2am.
  
  

• Stags Head

  Dame Court, Dublin, Ireland

  Almost opposite the Central Bank. Wonderfully intimate pub, all mahogany, stained glass and mirrors. Good lunches too.
  
  
  

• Mulligans

  8 Poolbeg St, Dublin, Ireland

  Shabby pub that is always packed in the evenings; many believe that it serves the best Guinness in Dublin.
  
  

• Nearys

  1 Chatham St, Dublin, Ireland

  Plenty of bevelled glass and shiny wood, plus Liberty print curtains to demonstrate a sense of style to suit the theatre people who frequent it.
  
  

• Porter House

  Parliament St, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

  Trendy micro-brewery in Temple Bar, serving Oyster Stout (flavoured with real oysters), Wrassler's XXXX (Michael Collins's favourite) and other rare brews.
  
  

• Whelans

  25 Weford St, Dublin, Ireland

  Very lively pub with nightly bands and frequent bar extensions (€5).
  
  
  

• Davy Byrnes

  21 Duke St, Dublin, Ireland

  An object of pilgrimage for Ulysses fans, since Leopold Bloom stopped by for a snack. Despite the pastel-toned refit, it's still a good pub, serving oysters at lunch.
  
  
  
  

• The Duke

  Duke St, Dublin, Ireland

  The starting point for Dublin's Literary Pub Crawl (April–Sept 7.30pm nightly; Nov–March Thurs–Sat 7.30pm; Sun noon all year; €10, €8 students).
  

• Kehoes

  9 South Anne Street, Dublin, Ireland

  Since opening its doors to thirsty Dubliners back in 1803, Kehoe's is a Dublin institution. It's famous for being an old haunt of James Joyce as well as being one one of the best places to sample a pint of Guinness. Thanks to a preservation order, it has retained its character over the years and doesn't look set to lose it any time soon.
  
  Open daily from 10.30am-12.30am.

• McDaids

  3 Harry St, Dublin, Ireland

  Excellent Guinness in Brendan Behan's former local. Often has Irish music.
  
  

• Zanzibar

  Ormond Quay, Dublin, Ireland

  One of Dublin's superpubs. Huge pub with extravagant decor. Cover charge at the weekend.