Temple Bar Alternatives. Six Better Places Than Temple Bar
Six Better Places to Drink Than Temple Bar
What Is Temple Bar Anyway?
It's the Times Square of Dublin with bars full of tourists paying extortionate prices to hear worn-out musicians singing Galway Girl for the 10th time today.
Dubliners never go to Temple Bar. Ever.
Is Temple Bar Worth Visiting?
I've accepted that everyone wants to go look at it. Ok, walk through it during the day, tick it off the list, but don't spend all night there.
You could go to any Ye Olde Irish Bar in your home town and get the same fake Irish atmosphere without the jet lag.
I'm being negative but I want you to see the best of Dublin. And this isn't it.
Alternative Areas to Temple Bar
Here are six much better areas than Temple Bar. Places filled with Irish people, the friendliest people in the world. Meet Irish people here, not other tourists.
They're all close to Temple Bar. I've grouped each one around a street to make it easy to navigate, important after a few drinks🍸. And they're close enough to each other that you can explore more than one in a night.
The six areas you should go instead of Temple Bar are: Grafton Street, the Creative Quarter, Dawson Street, Baggot Street, Camden Street, and Capel Street.
1.Grafton Street
Best for: Traditional pubs with character
Grafton Street is the main shopping street in Dublin so it's easy to find. There's no bars on the street itself, instead the magic for the drinker is on its side streets. Duck down Harry Street, Chatham Street or Duke Street and you'll find them.
The bars here are civilised, no mad parties, but always busy. The kind of places I treasure in my stage of life.
The Best Bars Near Grafton Street
- Kehoes, McDaids, Neary's: These are legendary pubs in the city. Guinness doesn't get poured much better than these places.
- The Duke, The Bailey. Davy Byrnes: When you want food with your drinks. Stop in for lunch, dinner or just drinks.
- Bruxelles is a very social place and your late night bar. Often my last stop of the night.
Where to stay nearby
🛏️ The Grafton Hotel. It doesn't get any more central than this.
The Grafton Route
2.The Creative Quarter
Best for: Everything. It has it all.
This is an area rather than one street. George's Street, Dame Court, Wicklow Street, Exchequer Street are the streets to follow. This is my favourite area of Dublin in general and it is filled with bars & restaurants.
Just about every third door is a bar, explore and find your favourites or try mine.
The Best Pubs in Dublin's Creative Quarter
- The Long Hall, the Old Stand, Stag's Head & Grogan's are your traditional pubs
- The International has music & comedy every night.
- Hogans gets very lively late night with a sometimes younger crowd.
- Thomas Moore Inn is becoming my new local in town. Quieter but beautifully done. Good trad session on Sundays.
Where to stay nearby
🛏️ Brooks Hotel is in the heart of the Creative Quarter. With 101 rooms, I still think it should be called the Dalmation. I'll stick to the day job.
The Creative Quarter Route
3.Camden Street
Best for: A proper Dublin night out
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 Best Pubs in Camden Street
- 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.
- The Bleeding Horse: It's been there since the 17th century.
- The Sitting Room at Delahunt. Classy cocktails in a top restaurant
- The Barge: On sunny days, half the city gathers outside after work.
Where to stay nearby
🛏️ The Green — Absolutely superb hotel that could charge a lot more than they do. Excellent value and location is perfect for Camden Street and all of Dublin
The Camden Route
Go On A Pub Crawl Tour
Let someone lead the way and go on a pub tour in Dublin.
Group Tours
Go on a group tour and make new friends over drinks.
- How about early drinks with scenery? Do the afternoon pub crawl in the Dublin mountains.
- Want music? Go on a traditional music pub tour
- See the authentic pubs on this tour of the traditional pubs of Dublin.
- Food & Drinks? This tour with seven food & drink tastings is for you.
Private Tours
I will be your guide as we go to my favourite bars in Dublin. If you've read this far, you've seen that I know a few things about Dublin bars. As we walk between the bars, I tell you about Dublin. And we always find some traditional Irish music. More about my private pub tour here.
4.Dawson Street
Best for: Cocktails and upscale
This is a new addition to my list. I've been spending more time here recently and it's growing on me. There are some beautiful bars here and sneaky little cocktail spots too. It doesn't feel quite Dublin, that's not a criticism, just that things are different here. They rip up the classic Irish pub formula and go big (or tiny) here.
The Best Bars on Dawson Street
- 9 Below and Peruke & Periwig are two of Dublin's best cocktail bar.
- Cafe en Seine & 37 Dawson are big, come for dinner, stay for the party
- Dawson Lounge is Dublin's smallest pub. Walk down the stairs. Too claustrophobic for me, but good for a one stop pint and photo.
- Lennan's Yard is a place that I can't quite categorise, Part cosy pub, part big open outdoor space.
Where to stay nearby
🛏️ The Townhouse on the Green. Stunning and overlooking Dublin's version of Central Park.
The Dawson Route
5.Baggot Street
Best for trad music & good pubs
This is my favourite part of town to stay. Very close to everything, but away from the crowds.
But back to bars. There's an intersection here with all these lovely bars on it. Each with a different vibe so if you're not sure what you're in the mood for, walk up here. You'll find something you like.
The Best Bars on Dawson Street
- O'Donoghues is the trad music place. Tap your toes along to the Irish music. It looks small, but walk through it and you'll be shocked.
- Toners is worth visiting just for their sign outside that simply states "Toners, A Bar". No need to waste money on copywriters when your Guinness is as good as theirs. Another one that looks small, but look for the beer garden in the back.
- Doheny & Nesbitt is the pre-game stop off for many fans heading to the nearby Aviva Stadium. But it's busy all the time with many regulars. It has four floors, go explore them all.
- Cellar Bar in the Merrion & No. 27 Bar in the Shelbourne. I love luxury hotel bars. I can feel rich for the price of a pint. The people watching is always fascinating.
Where to stay nearby
🛏️ Spoilt for choice here. The five-star Shelbourne & Merrion, or the 'only' four-star the Davenport
The Baggot Route
6.Capel Street
Best for when you are staying on the Northside of the city
Capel Street used to be a traffic clogged street until the city pedestrianised it and transformed it. It's turned into an ethnic food hub, you could taste food from 10 different countries here, but we're focusing on drinks and they have plenty of that too.
The Best Bars on Capel Street
- Bar 1661 is Dublin's best cocktail bar period. It was brave to open on a side street. If you see a Dubliner following directions on their phone around here, they're trying to find Bar 1661. Follow them.
- Slattery's, The Boar's Head & Jack Nealon's are the old timers on this street. True Dublin pubs that quietly tolerate the quirky new bars on the street.
- McNeill's Pub is the music bar. It's tight quarters, but seven nights a week, they have traditional Irish music. I like it and stop in occasionally.
Where to stay nearby
🛏️ Stay at the wonderful Ruby Molly or the modern Motel One
The Capel Route
More Reading For Your Trip To Dublin
Gallery
Be warned. The following photos will make you very thirsty.
