Dublin's nightlife is all about the pubs - its renowned for its excellent pub-to-person ratio, with over 1000 watering holes spread across the city, making it great for pub crawls. No matter what atmosphere, budget or music you’re after, you’ll find a pub for you in Dublin.
The number of pubs is one of the best things about the city, but it can make deciding where to get a pint pretty tricky. So we’ve selected some of the best pubs that Dublin has to offer, so you can quit searching and spend more time drinking. To find out more about what Dublin has to offer, visit The Highlights
The Brazen Head
Best pub for tradition
Renowned as the oldest pub in Dublin, The Brazen Head has been an Irish favourite for over 8 centuries. For a uniquely Irish experience, you can enjoy a Guinness in the cobblestone courtyard or listen to the live Irish music performed here each night. It's a true Dublin landmark.
Website
O’Donoghues
Best pub for authentic Irish music
Head to O’Donoghues for some traditional Irish music. Well-known for launching the career of the folk band ‘The Dubliners’, O’Donoghues is a firm favourite for music lovers and hosts live performances each night. Located just off St Stephen’s Green, the pub is very large but quickly fills up with charming locals and tourists alike.
O’Donoghues
15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, Ireland
McDaids
Best pub for a good ol' Irish craic
Situated just off the busy Grafton street, this pub is a pretty spectacular place to enjoy a pint. With an ornate ceiling, dark wood interiors and original stained glass windows, this pub hasn't changed much in the past few decades. On weekends, McDaids is heaving, filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter and good ol' Irish craic. It’s got a great atmosphere and great pints.
Mcdaids
3 Harry St, Dublin 2, Ireland
The Porterhouse
Best pub for big groups
Located on the edge of the renowned Temple Bar area, Porterhouse is a great drinking spot for big groups with three spacious floors. It’s known as the oldest microbrewery pub in Dublin and sells its own delicious beers. Try their oyster stout, it’s made onsite using fresh oysters and tastes pretty damn tasty.
The Porterhouse
16-18 Parliament St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland
Toners
Best pub for a Guinness
Located a little bit away from the rush of the city centre, this traditional Irish pub is worth a visit as Rory Guinness (a Guinness family member) claims that it “serves the best pint of Guinness in Dublin”. Toners also has a great outdoor heated beer garden, which catches the Irish sun from morning till evening (when it makes an appearance).
Toners
139 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland
The Palace
Best pub for Irish whisky
If you're after a traditional Irish whisky bar, your best bet is Palace bar. It’s Located on Fleet Street at the edge of the touristy Temple Bar area, but this pub is a firm favourite with the locals too. The bar has an entire upstairs room dedicated to Irish whisky, and regularly hosts live folk music performances, creating a truly authentic Irish experience.
The Palace Bar
21 Fleet St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Ireland
Against the Grain
Best pub for craft beer
If you want craft beer, head to Against the Grain. A more modern take on the average Irish pub, this large pub offers an enormous range of international and local craft beers. It serves a delicious menu of pub grub too and shows sporting events on the big screen TVs. It’s the perfect spot for a really good pint.
Against The Grain
11 Wexford St, Dublin 2, Ireland
The Bernard Shaw
Best pub for a beer garden
This pub has it all: a large bar, regular DJs, street food, a pool table, weekly flea markets and arguably Dublin’s most popular beer garden - not to mention the double-decker blue bus parked in the back which serves homemade Italian pizza. It's even got onsite an art gallery thrown in for the ‘craic’.
The Bernard Shaw
11-12 Richmond St South, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 2, Ireland
The Cobblestone
Best pub for an old-school Irish experience
Away from the touristy areas, The Cobblestone is a pub that hasn’t changed in years, it’s a real Irish bar. Although it looks a bit rough around the edges, this pub is a true gem and describes itself as a ‘drinking pub with a music problem’. It's one of the best places to see free traditional Irish music in Dublin, with performances all week.
The Cobblestone
7 King St N, Smithfield, Dublin 7, Ireland
