The Best Pubs in Temple Bar
- Temple Bar is Dublin’s most iconic nightlife district — but knowing which pubs in Temple Bar are worth your time (and money) is everything. With pints now reaching €11+ in some venues and a viral €107 receipt making headlines in 2025, first-timers need an insider guide, not a tourist brochure.
- This guide cuts through the noise with over 20 of the best pubs in Temple Bar, from legendary Irish music institutions and craft beer pioneers to hidden Victorian gems and locals’ favourites that the tour groups haven’t overrun yet.
- Whether you’re planning a pub crawl, a solo adventure, or a group night out, the pubs in Temple Bar covered here offer authentic craic, live traditional music and unforgettable atmosphere — along with honest advice on what to avoid and how to get the most from every euro you spend.
You’ve Arrived in Temple Bar. Now What?
You’ve seen the cobblestones on Instagram. You’ve heard about the live music, the Guinness, the craic. You’ve got one, maybe two nights in Dublin and you want to experience the pubs in Temple Bar the way they’re supposed to be experienced — not as a wide-eyed tourist who pays €11 for a pint and ends up in a venue blasting the exact same playlist you’d hear in any airport bar in Europe.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth that most travel guides won’t tell you: navigating the pubs in Temple Bar without preparation is how travellers routinely end up having a mediocre, overpriced night. The area draws an astonishing 3.5 million visitors per year and a small number of high-traffic venues have quietly optimised themselves around that footfall — not around quality, authenticity, or value.
In April 2025, a pub receipt from a Temple Bar venue went viral after a modest round — a pint of Heineken, a Coke, two Malibus and six Baby Guinness shots — came to over €107, with a 23% VAT charge alongside fees for live music and entry. The image sparked heated international debate about Dublin’s tourist pricing culture.
A probe by Irish media visiting six pubs in Temple Bar found three were charging in excess of €9.50 for certain pints, with Ireland’s first ever €10 pint reportedly sold in the area. Meanwhile, just a short walk away on Tara Street, O’Reilly’s sells all pints — including Guinness and Heineken — for a flat €5, all day, every day.
The gap between the best and worst experiences in this neighbourhood is enormous. The good news? The best pubs in Temple Bar are genuinely extraordinary — historic, atmospheric, musically alive and worth every cent. You simply need to know which ones they are.
This guide gives you 20 of the finest, most memorable pubs in Temple Bar Dublin, with honest context, practical details and the insider intelligence to ensure your night in this legendary district is everything it should be.
1. The Temple Bar Pub — The One Everyone Comes For
📍 47–48 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 N725
Let’s start with the most famous of all the pubs in Temple Bar: the pub that is Temple Bar. Instantly recognisable by its vivid red exterior and cascading flower baskets, this Victorian institution dates back to 1840 and has become one of the most photographed buildings in Ireland. Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it’s touristy. And yes — it absolutely earns its legendary status.
The whiskey collection here is the largest in Ireland, with over 450 varieties lining the walls. Live music starts at 10:30am every single day without a cover charge, which is remarkable for a venue of this stature. The Temple Bar has won Irish Music Pub of the Year numerous times and despite the crowds, it delivers something genuinely authentic — the kind of experience that feels like proper Dublin even amongst the tourist buzz.
The honest caveat: pints are on the expensive side. The bar hosts daily live music sessions, alongside over 450 different kinds of whiskeys and can get very crowded — visiting on weekdays or before 9:30pm significantly improves the experience. Go once, order a Guinness, soak in the walls of whiskey and the live music and tick it off your list with a genuine smile.
Best for: First-timers, whiskey enthusiasts, bucket-list Guinness moments
Tip: Visit midweek before 7pm for the best seat and most relaxed service
2. The Oliver St. John Gogarty — Named After a Poet, Feels Like One
📍 58–59 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 K540
Named after the celebrated Irish poet, surgeon and wit — and immortalised in Joyce’s Ulysses as Buck Mulligan — this bright yellow pub is one of the most characterful pubs in Temple Bar. Spread across several floors with a lively ground-floor bar and an upstairs restaurant, it hosts what many consider the most authentic traditional Irish music sessions in the entire district.
The session musicians here are serious. This isn’t background performance music; it’s the real thing — fiddles, bodhráns, tin whistles and the kind of spontaneous, collaborative playing that you don’t buy or produce to order. Food is hearty and well-priced by Temple Bar standards and the staff are warm and professional. There is also hostel accommodation upstairs, making it a genuine hub for budget travellers who want to be at the centre of everything.
Best for: Traditional music lovers, first-time Dublin visitors, groups
Tip: Arrive before 7pm on a Friday or Saturday to guarantee a seat near the session
3. The Auld Dubliner — Warm, Cosy and Reliably Good
📍 24–25 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 V970
The Auld Dubliner is what many travellers picture when they imagine the ideal Irish pub — warm wooden interiors, low lighting, a genuine buzz of conversation and live music playing nightly across two relaxed floors. It hits all the beats without ever feeling manufactured and the menu of traditional Irish pub grub — fish and chips, Irish stew, chowder — is genuinely decent.
This is one of the pubs in Temple Bar that attracts a healthy mix of visitors and locals and the ratio leans more towards the latter than you might expect. The singalongs that spontaneously develop around the live music are a highlight of any visit. It’s the kind of place you go for one pint and leave two hours later, perfectly satisfied.
Best for: Mixed groups, couples, Irish pub first-timers
Tip: The upstairs area is quieter and better for conversation — grab a spot near the rail for views down to the bar
4. The Old Storehouse — Dublin’s Best Trad Pub in Temple Bar
📍 3 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 CX67
Housed in a building dating from the 1830s, The Old Storehouse is widely regarded by regulars as the finest traditional music pub in Temple Bar, full stop. It has the look — original wooden floors, exposed brick, vintage snugs — and crucially, it has the substance to match. Live Irish folk music plays every single night, performed by musicians who are clearly there for the love of it.
The downstairs snug is one of the most intimate drinking spots in the entire district, perfect for a quieter conversation between sessions. The menu leans into Irish comfort food with real care — the coddle (a slow-cooked Dublin sausage and potato stew) is excellent. If you’re choosing one pub in Temple Bar that best represents the authentic spirit of the place, this is a very strong candidate.
Best for: Trad music fans, couples, those seeking atmosphere over mayhem
Tip: Book a dinner table to guarantee your spot before the evening sessions fill up
5. The Quays Bar — Traditional, Lively and Centrally Located
📍 10–12 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 EW63
Right in the heart of the cobbled streets, The Quays is one of those pubs in Temple Bar that simply works. Timber everywhere, live Irish music every day, a proper Guinness and a good-natured crowd that makes even strangers feel welcome. The upstairs restaurant is a genuine step up from most pub food in the area — the fresh fish and chips and the Irish stew are both reliably excellent.
The Quays draws a notably younger crowd in the evenings, which suits the 20–35 travelling demographic perfectly. It’s big enough that you won’t feel squashed even on a busy Saturday and the multiple bar areas give you flexibility to find your own pace and volume level.
Best for: Groups, late evenings, those wanting food alongside their session
Tip: The upper bar area tends to be slightly less hectic than the ground floor during peak hours
6. Buskers Bar — Live Music All Day, Modern Energy
📍 13–17 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 WD51
Buskers Bar brings a contemporary edge to the pubs in Temple Bar scene without sacrificing the live music culture that defines the area. The décor is modern and the cocktail menu is more ambitious than your standard pub fare, making it a good option for those who want something beyond a pint of stout. Live music performances run throughout the day and into the evening and the quality is consistently high.
For groups that include both dedicated Guinness drinkers and cocktail-sipping friends who aren’t quite sure about the whole “traditional pub” thing, Buskers bridges that divide elegantly. The atmosphere is energetic without being overwhelming.
Best for: Mixed groups, cocktail drinkers, younger visitors
Tip: Check the live music schedule online before visiting — some evenings feature particularly strong acts
7. The Button Factory — Temple Bar’s Premier Live Music Venue
📍 Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 Y527
Strictly speaking, The Button Factory sits at the more music venue end of the pub-to-gig-venue spectrum, but it’s an essential part of any proper account of the best pubs in Temple Bar. Located on the atmospheric Curved Street, this intimate venue has hosted hundreds of significant Irish and international artists, with acoustics that put much larger venues to shame.
Check the programme before you visit — The Button Factory is at its best when there’s a ticketed show on and tickets are rarely expensive. Even on nights without a headliner, the atmosphere on Curved Street itself (lined with bars and spilling with sound) is worth the stroll.
Best for: Music enthusiasts, gig-goers, those who want a proper live event
Tip: Book tickets in advance for weekend shows — capacity is limited and good gigs sell out quickly
8. Fitzsimons Bar — Multi-Floor Fun With a Rooftop Terrace
📍 21–22 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 YK79
Fitzsimons is the wildcard in the pubs in Temple Bar lineup — it’s a multi-floor venue that transitions from pub to club as the night progresses, with live music, DJs and the best rooftop beer garden in the district. In summer, the rooftop offers views across the River Liffey that are genuinely spectacular. It’s one of the few pubs in Temple Bar where you can comfortably spend an entire evening without needing to move on.
This is the go-to recommendation for groups on a big night out who want variety under one roof. It can get extremely busy on Friday and Saturday nights, so arrive before 8pm to stake your claim on a good spot.
Best for: Large groups, big nights out, summer evenings
Tip: The rooftop terrace fills up fast on warm evenings — arrive early or you’ll spend your time on the ground floor
9. The Porterhouse Temple Bar — Where Ireland’s Craft Beer Revolution Began
📍 16–18 Parliament Street, Dublin 2, D02 VR94
The Porterhouse holds a genuinely unique place in the story of pubs in Temple Bar — it was here, in this multi-floor brick-lined building on Parliament Street, that Ireland’s craft brewing revolution effectively started. The Porterhouse brews all of its own beers on site: stouts, IPAs, lagers, red ales and seasonal specials that you genuinely cannot get anywhere else.
For anyone who associates Irish drinking culture exclusively with Guinness, The Porterhouse is a revelation. The quality of the brewing is exceptional, the portions of food are generous and the live music every evening keeps the energy high without it ever tipping into chaos. The building itself is a pleasure to be in — exposed brickwork, big shared tables and a warm industrial aesthetic that feels genuinely crafted rather than designed by a branding agency.
Best for: Craft beer lovers, groups, those wanting something different from the standard pints
Tip: Ask the bar staff which seasonal brew is on — the specials are often exceptional and change regularly
10. Bad Bobs — Big Energy, Big Fun, Rooftop Included
📍 35–37 Essex Street East, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 Y891
Bad Bobs is one of the most energetic of all the pubs in Temple Bar — definitely one of my favourites in Temple Bar. A multi-level venue with a cocktail bar on the ground floor, a live music stage in the middle and a rooftop terrace at the top that draws a brilliant crowd on summer evenings. The range here is broader than most: you can come for a quiet pint in the early evening, then find yourself swept into a proper dance-floor situation by midnight.
It skews younger than some of the more traditional pubs in Temple Bar and the cocktail menu is genuinely creative. The live music acts cover a broad spectrum — from trad sessions to cover bands to DJ sets — meaning there’s rarely a dull moment regardless of when you visit.
Best for: Younger groups, big nights out, those who want to end up dancing
Tip: The rooftop terrace has a fire pit — it’s usable even on cooler Irish evenings with the right clothing
11. The Wild Duck — Quirky, Cultural and Brilliantly Unpredictable
📍 17–20 Sycamore Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 YK79
Not all the pubs in Temple Bar are there simply to serve drinks and play trad music — The Wild Duck is proof that the area can still surprise you. This eclectic, independently-spirited bar hosts everything from live theatre performances to music gigs, spoken word events to comedy nights. The decor is deliberately unusual, the crowd is creative and mixed and the vibe is decidedly more bohemian than its neighbours on the main strip.
If you’re the type of traveller who prefers a night of genuine cultural stimulation to a predictable pub crawl, The Wild Duck is one of the pubs in Temple Bar that speaks directly to you. Check their social media for upcoming events before you visit.
Best for: Solo travellers, creatives, culturally curious visitors
Tip: Follow their Instagram for event listings — the themed nights and live performances are worth planning around
12. The Workman’s Club — Dublin’s Most Beloved Alternative Venue
📍 10 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 VX36
Technically a members’ club (membership is cheap and sign-up takes two minutes at the door), The Workman’s Club has become one of the defining cultural venues of modern Dublin. Spread across multiple floors on Wellington Quay, it offers live music, comedy shows, club nights and a record shop in the basement that alone justifies the trip.
The atmosphere here is the antidote to every overcrowded, overpriced complaint about the pubs in Temple Bar — it’s affordable, genuinely diverse and fiercely independent. The ground-floor bar is a proper, unhurried drinking space with exposed brickwork and comfortable seating. Upstairs, the venue transforms for evening events. This is where Dublin in its 20s and 30s actually hangs out.
Best for: Music lovers, alternative culture fans, those who want to drink with locals rather than tourists
Tip: Check the event calendar at workman.ie before you go — the ticketed shows are a highlight but the free downstairs bar is also excellent on its own
13. The Stag’s Head — Victorian Perfection, One Street Back
📍 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2, D02 TW84
Tuck down Dame Court — a narrow alley just south of the main Temple Bar strip — and you’ll find one of the most beautiful Victorian pubs in Ireland. The Stag’s Head is everything the oversaturated main drag is not: unhurried, architecturally stunning and populated by a mix of students, office workers and discerning travellers who’ve done their homework.
The interior is extraordinary — stained glass windows, polished mahogany, ornate chandeliers and a magnificent stag’s head presiding over the bar. It’s a pub that genuinely has not tried to be anything other than itself for over 140 years, which is exactly why it endures. The upstairs room hosts a brilliant comedy night and the pint of Guinness here is superb.
Best for: Architecture lovers, couples, those wanting a quieter alternative to the main pubs in Temple Bar
Tip: The pub can be tricky to find on your first visit — look for Dame Court alley off Dame Street and follow the signs
14. The Palace Bar — Literary History in Every Corner
📍 21 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 H950
Today it remains one of the finest traditional pubs in Dublin: unhurried, beautifully preserved and with an exceptional whiskey selection. It’s a pub for people who appreciate substance over spectacle, and the staff tend to match that energy — knowledgeable, friendly and never rushed.
Best for: History enthusiasts, whiskey lovers, solo travellers, literary Dublin fans
Tip: Ask the bar staff about the pub’s history — they are uniformly excellent on the subject
15. The Long Hall — Victorian Grandeur at Its Most Magnificent
📍 51 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, D02 DV74
Technically a short walk from the core of Temple Bar but absolutely essential to any serious guide to pubs in this part of Dublin, The Long Hall is one of the finest Victorian pub interiors anywhere in Europe. The name refers to the extraordinary long bar — all polished wood, gilded mirrors, antique clocks and warm amber light — that stretches the full length of the building. It’s genuinely breathtaking.
The Guinness here is poured with religious patience and served as close to perfect as you will find anywhere. Prices are noticeably more reasonable than the main Temple Bar strip. And crucially, the atmosphere is authentically Dubliner — this is where actual people come for an actual pint, not to perform having one for social media.
Best for: Pint quality, architecture, authentic Dublin atmosphere
Tip: Arrive before 6pm on a weekday to get a spot at the bar and appreciate the interior fully — it fills quickly
16. The Foggy Dew — Victoria-era Atmosphere, Honest Prices
📍 1 Fownes Street Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 WP21
Established in 1901, The Foggy Dew sits slightly off the main pulse of Temple Bar and is significantly better for it. Named after a famous Irish rebel song, it has beautiful Victorian bones — rich wooden panelling, vintage décor, soft lighting — and an atmosphere that rewards those who seek it out over those who stumble in by accident.
Live music runs regularly and the pub attracts a crowd that’s meaningfully less tourist-heavy than most of its neighbours. Prices reflect this. It is one of those pubs in Temple Bar where a second pint feels natural rather than reluctant, which says everything about the quality of the experience.
Best for: Those wanting authentic atmosphere without peak-hour prices
Tip: The beer garden at the rear is a quiet gem in summer — not many people know it exists
17. Merchant’s Arch — Views of the Ha’penny Bridge, Food Worth Staying For
📍 48–49 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 EY65
Located directly opposite Dublin’s iconic Ha’penny Bridge, Merchant’s Arch occupies a building that dates to 1821 and offers one of the most enviable settings of any of the pubs in Temple Bar. The views from the upstairs restaurant across the River Liffey are exceptional, particularly at dusk. The combination of Victorian elegance and genuinely good food makes this a strong choice for a longer evening.
Live music runs regularly on the ground floor and the bar offers a decent range of Irish craft beers alongside the standard options. It’s slightly better known than some of the true hidden gems, but it’s earned that recognition honestly.
Best for: Couples, food-focused evenings, those who want a view with their pint
Tip: Book a table upstairs for sunset — the view of the Ha’penny Bridge from the restaurant window is one of Dublin’s finest
18. The Ha’penny Bridge Inn — Small, Intimate and Musically Rich
📍 42 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 XW64
Directly alongside its more famous neighbour, the Ha’penny Bridge Inn is one of the smaller, more intimate of all the pubs in Temple Bar — and that intimacy is entirely its point. Regular live music sessions in a space this size create an immersive, almost participatory atmosphere that larger venues cannot replicate. When the music is right and the pub is full, it’s one of the best experiences the district offers.
The crowd here tends to be older and more local than the bright-red venues on the main strip and the pace of the evening is noticeably more relaxed. It is exactly the kind of pub that rewards wandering rather than planning.
Best for: Spontaneous evenings, solo drinkers, those who love intimate music sessions
Tip: There’s no booking and limited seating — arrive early or be prepared to stand, which is honestly fine
19. Peadar Kearney’s — Named After Ireland’s National Anthem Composer
📍 64 Dame Street, Dublin 2, D02 RT72
Peadar Kearney wrote Amhrán na bhFiann — the Irish national anthem — and the pub bearing his name on Dame Street is a fitting tribute: unpretentious, warm and deeply Irish in its bones. It sits just on the edge of what most people consider Temple Bar proper, which means it benefits from the district’s energy without suffering all of its pricing excesses.
The interior is all warm wood and friendly staff, the live music sessions are genuine and the Guinness is well-poured. It’s one of the pubs in Temple Bar that Dubliners themselves will actually recommend when asked — a significant endorsement in a neighbourhood where locals are typically reluctant to direct tourists.
Best for: Those wanting a local recommendation, history-minded visitors, value-seekers
Tip: Ask the bar staff about Peadar Kearney — the history of the pub and its name is a great conversation starter
20. Brogan’s Bar — Next Door to the Olympia, Perfectly Understated
📍 75 Dame Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 WN62
Adjacent to the magnificent Olympia Theatre on Dame Street, Brogan’s Bar has been serving pre-show and post-show pints for generations. Its unvarnished wooden interiors and extensive collection of vintage Guinness advertisements give it an authenticity that can’t be manufactured and the lack of a live music act or a themed evening means the conversation is the entertainment.
This is the kind of pub that makes you understand why Dubliners are so protective of their city’s drinking culture. It’s quiet enough to hear yourself think, well-run enough to get a good pint reliably and completely free of the performances — musical and otherwise — that can make some of the more famous pubs in Temple Bar feel slightly exhausting.
Best for: Quiet evenings, theatre-goers, those who just want a proper pint without the circus
Tip: Perfect spot for a pre-show drink if you’re attending a gig or performance at the Olympia Theatre next door
Common Mistakes to Avoid (Including the Tourist Trap Pubs)
Paying €10+ for a pint without checking the menu first. Temple Bar attracts 3.5 million visitors per year and some pubs in the area have priced accordingly, with certain venues charging in excess of €9.50 to €10.45 for a standard pint. Always check the price before you order at any bar in Temple Bar — there is significant variation and the most expensive pubs are not necessarily the best ones.
Spending your entire Temple Bar visit on the main strip. The cobbled streets between Temple Bar Square and Crown Alley are the tourist nucleus, but the finest pubs in Temple Bar are often one or two streets back. The Stag’s Head (Dame Court), The Palace Bar (Fleet Street) and The Foggy Dew (Fownes Street) are all superior experiences to much of what sits directly on the main drag.
Confusing the pub called “The Temple Bar” with the Temple Bar area. The Temple Bar Pub is one specific, famous pub. Temple Bar is the whole surrounding district. Many visitors assume they’ve “done Temple Bar” after visiting the red pub. In reality, they’ve visited one of 20+ excellent venues in a much larger, richer neighbourhood.
Visiting exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights. Weeknights tend to be less crowded, offering a cosier atmosphere where you’re more likely to mingle with locals than with tour groups. The pubs in Temple Bar are genuinely different — better — on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. The music is the same; the elbow room is significantly greater.
Assuming a cover charge means a better experience. Viral receipts from 2025 revealed that some Temple Bar venues were adding charges for live music and entrance fees on top of already elevated drink prices, without making this clear upfront. If a venue charges a cover, always ask what’s included before you pay it.
Missing the craft beer scene entirely. Too many visitors to the pubs in Temple Bar default to Guinness and never explore The Porterhouse’s own-brewed selection or the craft options available at several venues. The quality is excellent and the range is genuinely impressive.
Leaving Temple Bar to find “real” Dublin without actually exploring it first. Yes, locals often avoid the main strip. One Reddit user summed up local sentiment bluntly: “Dublin has over 700 pubs. They are not all in Temple Bar.” That’s fair — but it doesn’t mean the area has nothing to offer. It means you should explore it smartly, not avoid it entirely.
Visiting only the pubs with the longest queues outside. Queue length in Temple Bar is more a measure of Instagram reach than pub quality. The Stag’s Head, The Long Hall and The Palace Bar regularly outperform their louder neighbours on every metric that matters — and you can usually walk straight in.
Expert Tips for Getting the Most From the Pubs in Temple Bar
Do a self-guided pub crawl starting at the edges and moving inward. Begin at The Long Hall or The Stag’s Head (slightly off the main Temple Bar strip), work your way through The Foggy Dew and The Palace Bar, then hit the more central pubs in Temple Bar — The Old Storehouse, The Auld Dubliner, The Oliver St. John Gogarty — as the evening builds. By the time you reach the busiest spots, you’ll have the context and the glow to fully appreciate them.
Arrive at any Temple Bar pub before 6:30pm to guarantee a seat. This isn’t an exaggeration — the district fills dramatically from early evening on weekends. Arriving early means the best seats, more relaxed service and often a quieter first session before the energy ramps up naturally around you.
Order a Guinness properly. A Guinness in a good Dublin pub — poured in two parts, allowed to settle, topped up to the rim — takes around two minutes. If a bar pours you one in 30 seconds and hands it to you immediately, walk away. The best pubs in Temple Bar will pour it correctly. If in doubt, watch the bartender.
Use the Workman’s Club as your “escape hatch.” When the Temple Bar pub crawl energy becomes overwhelming, The Workman’s Club on Wellington Quay offers an affordable, local, genuinely alternative atmosphere just minutes away. It’s the perfect venue to decompress while staying firmly in the neighbourhood.
Check for hidden entry fees before you enter any venue. Most pubs in Temple Bar are free to enter unless there’s a live music performance or a DJ event. It’s always worth asking at the door whether there’s a charge for the evening’s entertainment, particularly on weekends.
Eat before you start, or eat at the pub. The combination of a long flight, unfamiliar alcohol strengths and the pure excitement of being in Dublin makes for a potent mix. Several of the best pubs in Temple Bar — The Old Storehouse, The Oliver St. John Gogarty, The Quays Bar — serve excellent traditional Irish food alongside their drinks. Making dinner part of the evening pacing is a genuinely good strategy.
Talk to the musicians, not just about them. The session musicians in the best pubs in Temple Bar are often extraordinary players who perform for the love of it, not for a fee. Between sets, they’re almost always happy to talk about what they’re playing, where they learned and which other venues have the best sessions. It’s one of the warmest cultural experiences Dublin offers.
Compare pint prices before you commit to an evening. A short walk from the most tourist-heavy pubs in Temple Bar can save you several euro per round. Just outside the district, venues like O’Reilly’s on Tara Street sell all pints for a flat €5 — roughly half what you’d pay in the most expensive Temple Bar venues. Factor this in when planning a longer night.
Plan Your Perfect Temple Bar Night Out
The pubs in Temple Bar are among the most storied, atmospheric and musically alive in Ireland. The key to loving them — rather than merely enduring them — is the same as the key to loving any great neighbourhood: go prepared, move beyond the obvious and treat the experience as an exploration rather than a checklist.
Whether you’re planning a solo adventure to find the perfect pint, a group pub crawl through Temple Bar’s cobbled heart, or a quieter evening with genuine trad music and good food, this guide gives you everything you need. Discover also where to eat cheap in Dublin.
Dublin’s pub culture is one of the great pleasures of European travel. Do it properly and it will be one of the best nights of your life.
Sláinte.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
- 1. What are the best pubs in Temple Bar, Dublin?
The best pubs in Temple Bar include The Temple Bar Pub, The Stag’s Head, The Porterhouse, The Oliver St. John Gogarty, The Old Storehouse, and The Palace Bar. Each offers its own unique blend of live music, great Guinness, and authentic Irish atmosphere — making Temple Bar the ultimate destination for a proper Dublin night out. - 2. Are the pubs in Temple Bar good for live traditional Irish music?
Absolutely. Temple Bar is one of the best places in Dublin to catch live traditional Irish music. Pubs like The Oliver St. John Gogarty, The Temple Bar Pub, The Auld Dubliner, and The Old Storehouse host live sessions daily — often from lunchtime right through to late evening. - 3. Is Temple Bar worth visiting for a pub crawl?
Definitely. Temple Bar is one of the most compact and walkable nightlife districts in Europe, making it perfect for a pub crawl. You can comfortably visit four to six pubs in a single evening without covering much ground at all. Just be sure to pace yourself — there are 29 brilliant options to choose from! - 4. What is the most famous pub in Temple Bar?
The Temple Bar Pub on Temple Bar street is arguably the most famous pub in the area — and one of the most photographed pubs in all of Ireland. Its bright red exterior, enormous whiskey collection, and daily live music make it an iconic Dublin landmark that’s hard to miss and even harder to walk past. - 5. Are pubs in Temple Bar expensive?
Pubs right on the main Temple Bar strip can be a little pricier than elsewhere in Dublin, particularly at weekends. However, walking just one or two streets away — towards Dame Street or Parliament Street, for example — will often get you a cheaper pint without sacrificing atmosphere or quality. - 6. Which Temple Bar pubs are best for groups?
For larger groups, The Porterhouse, Fitzsimons Bar, and Bad Bobs are all excellent choices. They offer plenty of space across multiple floors, great live music, and a lively atmosphere that works brilliantly for parties, birthday celebrations, or big nights out. - 7. What time do pubs in Temple Bar open and close?
Most pubs in Temple Bar open around 10:30am and close between midnight and 2:30am, depending on the venue and the night of the week. Some venues with late-night licences — particularly those with DJ nights or club events — stay open until the early hours at weekends. - 8. Are there any hidden gem pubs in Temple Bar that locals love?
Yes! For a more local experience, head to The Stag’s Head on Dame Court, Brogan’s Bar on Dame Street, or Peadar Kearney’s Pub. These spots tend to attract more Dublin regulars than tourists and offer a wonderfully authentic Irish pub atmosphere that’s well worth seeking out. - 9. Do I need to book a table at Temple Bar pubs?
For food, particularly at weekends, it’s worth booking ahead at pubs with restaurants, such as The Quays Bar or Merchant’s Arch. For simply grabbing a pint and enjoying the atmosphere, most Temple Bar pubs operate on a walk-in basis — though arriving early on Friday and Saturday evenings is strongly recommended to secure a good seat. - 10. What is the oldest pub in Temple Bar?
The Norseman on Essex Street East is one of the oldest pubs in Temple Bar, with roots going back to 1696 — making it over 300 years old. The Palace Bar, established in 1823, is another historic favourite with a rich literary heritage. Both are well worth a visit for anyone interested in Dublin’s pub history.