Straddling the River Liffey and home to an array of historic buildings, cultural sites and natural spaces, Dublin is a city like no other. Days spent wandering 13th-century Dublin Castle, 12th-century Patrick’s Cathedral, the National Museum of Ireland and more, turn into nights dining on fantastic cuisine and being entertained at every turn.
When it comes to the evenings, Ireland’s biggest city positively shines. From bars to nightclubs, live shows to theatre performances, top-notch restaurants to gigs, casinos, and comedy nights, visitors to the lively city certainly won’t find themselves bored at any point.
If you’re planning a trip to this delightful east coast city and you’re looking for ways to spend your evenings, then continue reading for the highlights of the Dublin night scene.
Music
Many visitors to the Emerald Isle and the Republic of Ireland’s capital city will be hoping to immerse themselves in the diverse music scene, and luckily for them there are plenty of places where they can indulge. For those who wish to seek out an evening of Irish traditional music, look to Visit Dublin’s guide to the top ten pubs and venues in which to hear the history of the country told through music. From classic pub The Cobblestone to popular Johnnie Fox’s to the famed O’Donoghues, you’ll be in for a treat.
The Academy, The Button Factory, 3Arena, 3Olpympia Theatre, The Workman’s Club and Vicar Street are all popular music venues for local and international acts – a glance at the current upcoming events over the next few months tells us that you can see performances from the likes of Paul Weller to Yungblud to Bob Dylan to Kendrick Lamar, Biffy Clyro, Robbie Williams, Sigur Ros and so many more top musical acts playing across the city.
High-end casinos
For those who enjoy a flutter on a slot machine or at the gaming tables, only a top-notch casino will do. We love a recommendation for the finest establishments and so those in the know at betinireland.ie/casino have pointed us in the direction of Talbot Street’s Playland Casino, Fitzpatrick’s Casino in Aungier Street, The Sporting Emporium at Centenary House Anne’s Lane, and premier private members’ club D1 Club Casino.
Try your luck on the roulette wheel, banish the blues at the blackjack table, see how well you hold your nerve during a game of poker or spend some solo time on the slots for some of the best casino experiences in the city.
The best bars
For a late-night tipple, whether that involves a local Guinness, carefully crafted cocktail, dram of whiskey, sumptuous wine or other, head to one or two of the many resplendent bars to be found dotted around the streets of the city. Vintage Cocktail Club is just what the name implies and is an elegant speakeasy-style bar and restaurant with delectable cocktails, another cocktail bar worth visiting is Peruke and Perwig, while tapas, DJs and live music blend expertly at The Black Market.
Others to add to your list include Bar 1661, The Blind Pig Speakeasy, The Temple Bar Pub, Bad Bobs Temple Bar, Bowe’s Lounge Bar and The Bar with No Name, but don’t be afraid to get out there and discover some for yourself on a whim.
Dining delights
Indoor, outdoor, casual, fine dining, however you like to enjoy your food, you can rest assured that Dublin has some winning options. If we look to the ever-trusted Michelin Guide for some highly rated restaurants, we find that Dublin has a lot to offer in the fine dining department. You’ll be seeing double at Patrick Guilbaud and also as Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen as both restaurants hold two of the highly-coveted Michelin stars – it’s best to book early to avoid disappointment – while Glovers Alley, Bastible and Variety Jones all hold a very respectable one Michelin star.
Dancing the night away
If dinners and drinks can only lead to one thing – a night on the dancefloor of an exciting nightclub – then you’ll be reassured to know that you’ll be well catered to in Dublin. Copper Face Jack’s is one of Dublin’s best-known late-night bars and boasts a winning central location, while Dtwo Nightclub welcomes all who fancy dancing the night away to dance, chart music, classics and more. Mother, Bad Bobs Temple Bar, The Sugar Club, Opium, Pygmalion and The Grand Social are some more clubs worth checking out.
