Dublin

Temple Bar Alternatives

Darragh

21 Jan 2025 — 7 min read

Temple Barred

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Coming to Dublin, home of the greatest pubs in the world, and drinking in Temple Bar is like visiting Paris, walking past the Louvre to see a fake Mona Lisa.

What Is This Temple Bar Place Anyway?

The entire district is called Temple Bar. If you're on cobblestones, you're in the Temple Bar area. It's Disney Dublin designed by the city to herd all the tourist together. Dubliners never go here. Ever.

There is also bar called The Temple Bar. Loved by selfie snapping tourists overpaying for a pint & clapping along to worn out musicians sing Galway Girl for the 10th time today.

The Brazen Head

I include the Brazen Head in this too. It's packed with tourists all because they claim to Ireland's oldest bar. You're not stepping back in time here, it's a modern pub with neon signs and Apple Pay. Oh the power of brazen marketing!

Fun but Fake

Will you have fun at these places? Yes you will! But skip the flight and go to any Ye Old Irish Bar in Times Square. Same fake Irish atmosphere, less jet lag.

I'm being negative but I want you to see the best of Dublin. This isn't it.

Alternatives to Temple Bar

Here are some much better areas to go instead of Temple Bar. They're the neighborhoods with a real Dublin vibe to them.

These are not just places to go for a night but you could stay in them for your time in Dublin too. All within a 10 minute tram or 30 minute walk of Temple Bar. Stay in a more local side of Dublin.

Camden Street

Best for: A proper Dublin night out with plenty of options to bar hop

If I’m out for a big night in the city centre, Camden Street is where I go. The Camden Mile is lined with pubs, restaurants, and late night spots. Generally a younger crowd, yes, but you’ll find all ages mixing here. Dublin doesn't age discriminate when it comes to bars. Some places are open until very late. The perfect conversation starter is "what's this Coppers place I've heard about?"

Pub highlights:

Devitt’s: Lively and packed, in the best way. Easy to strike up a chat.
Cassidy’s: Classic old school pub. Great trad on Wednesdays.
O’Connell’s: Feels untouched in decades. Very Dublin.
The Portobello: Big, open, modern Irish pub.
The Barge: On sunny days, half the city gathers outside after work.

Where to stay nearby:
👉 The Iveagh Garden Hotel — a solid base right on Camden Street.

I'll Bring You On A Private Pub Crawl Away From Temple Bar

We go to very local & authentic bars in Dublin
Far from the tourist trail
I tell lots of stories that get funnier with each pint
3 hours. €150 up to four people

Book Your Pub Crawl

Rathmines

Best for: A mix of dinner, drinks, and cinema in a real Dublin village

Just across the canal from Camden Street, Rathmines is a 20 minute walk from St Stephen’s Green and there are plenty of pubs to break up the walk. This is a real Dublin village where students and young professionals mix with older characters in classic Irish bars. I love start with the Stella Cinema. This is not a mall movieplex. Instead it feels like a 1920s cocktail lounge with red velvet curtains and serious style.

My Rathmines picks:

Stella Cinema: Red carpets, red velvet & cocktails.
Mad Yolks: I go for the name. Stay for the burgers.
Slattery’s: Old school Dublin pub. No frills, just solid.
Blackbird:Younger crowd, quirky vibes, board games and beers.

The food scene is strong & lots of Dublin’s best casual spots are tucked between pubs. Locals genuinely hang out here. You’ll feel it.

Where to stay nearby:
👉 Hilton Dublin – Walkable to Rathmines, but quieter for sleep.

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Want to stay in one of these local neighborhoods instead of city centre? → See my local hotel picks

Ranelagh

Best for: 30s and up who prefer quality, quiet dinner and chat over drinks.

Just a short walk from Rathmines, Ranelagh is the older, more refined sibling with less buzz, but more polish. Think rooftop cocktails, minimalist coffee shops, and upscale but classic Dublin pubs along leafy Victorian streets.

The Luas tram stops right in Ranelagh, so it’s easy to get to.

The food scene here is very good, from modern Irish to great Asian spots.

My Ranelagh picks:

The Butcher Grill: Irish beef grilled to perfection.
Kinara Kitchen: Modern Indian. One of Dublin's best.
McSorley’s or Birchalls: Traditional Dublin pubs with character.

Where to stay nearby:
👉 The Devlin One of my favourite hotels in all of Dublin. Stylish, cool, but local.

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See these neighborhoods with me on a private guided walk
City, three coastal walks, pub crawl & the JetLag Buster walks all available.

Stoneybatter

Best for: Genuine local community atmosphere

In a rare foray to the Northside, head to Stoneybatter, Dublin's original hipster village. It's around the corner from the Jameson Distillery and the guide book's favorite, the Cobblestone Bar. It's just one street and very easy to follow. If you like your food in small & delicious local filled restaurants, you'll love Stoneybatter.

A mix of young creatives and true old timer Dubliners gives Stoneybatter a proper Dublin community feel where they happily blend together. Dublin Past & Future.

My Stoneybatter picks:

Grano: Tiny Italian run by people who care. You'll later dream of their pasta.
Korean Table: No frills, big flavour, top reviews.
Social Fabric Café: Laid back, great coffee, and a brunch menu worth the wait.
L. Mulligan Grocer: I can't decide if the pints or the food are better.

Stay near Stoneybatter at The Hendrick

Dalkey

Best for: A relaxed evening of upmarket food with coastal views

You'll hear me repeat this all over this site, the best of Dublin is not in the city, it's in our coastal villages. That's why most of my walking tours are in villages like Dalkey. Come on an afternoon walk with me and stay for dinner and drinks.

This is a wealthy area so you can be sure of quality food and refined pubs. It's quiet here, don't come here if you're on a stag party.

The train makes it easy to get back to town. But you could also stay by the sea too.

My Dalkey picks:

Jaipur: Exceptional Indian
Ragazzi Restaurant: Italian done right in a stunning setting
Finnegans: Classic Dublin pub

Where to stay:
👉 Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire
👉 Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Dalkey

The Classic Dublin Pubs

Best for: Traditional pubs with character you can't build and the perfect pint of Guinness

I've written about the classic Old Man Dublin pubs in Best Pubs in Dublin page. Take a read of that page to save me typing it all out again.

These are the pubs that every Irish pub in the world is modelled on. They're all in the city centre, so close to Temple Bar and the oblivious folks there who don't know just how close they are to pub perfection.

Stay The Grafton Hotel or Wren Urban Nest