Nightlife in Dublin

13 clubs, live music venues and late-night spots in Dublin.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Eat
Bad Ass Café
Modern pub and entertainment venue for US-themed food, plus trad Irish beer and live music.
Mon–Thu noon–11:30PM, Fri noon–1:30AM, Sat–Sun 9AM–1:30AM
Do
Leopardstown Racecourse
This has regular meetings throughout the year, flat-racing in summer and jumps in winter. There's a "Pay as you Play" golf course within the racecourse grounds, as well as bars, restaurants and a nightclub.
Drink
Ned O'Shea's
Decent food and live music and dancing. Ned O’Shea (1937-2018) was a famous trad musician from Kerry.
Mon-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri-Sun 8AM-midnight
Drink
O'Donoghue's
With two bars across a courtyard, it's famous for impromptu live music, and where folk group The Dubliners were formed. They have rooms.
Mon-Thu 10:30AM-midnight, Fri Sat 10:30-1AM, Sun 12:30AM-midnight
Drink
O'Donoghues
A comfortable bar with live music and TV sport. It's also a hang-out spot for some of the city's most well-known musicians, actors and DJs.
Mon-Thu 10:30AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 10:30AM-12:30AM, Sun 11AM-midnight
Drink
Palace Bar
Trad bar with interesting decor complete with "snug" (small private booth). Live music upstairs.
Sun-Thu noon-11:30PM, Fri Sat noon-12:30AM
Drink
Peadar Kearney's
Named for Peadar Ó Cearnaígh (1883-1942) who penned Amhráin na bhFiann, Ireland's national anthem, and was uncle to the three Behans, authors and prolific drinkers all. The pub is a great spot for pre- and post-gig drinks next to Olympia Theatre, with a young crowd and live music from up and coming Irish trad bands. Mostly tourists here but a nice spot to talk to other visitors.
Mon-Thu 11AM-11:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-12:30AM, Sun noon-11:30PM
Do
Teeling Distillery
Distillery opened in 2015, primarily for whiskey but with small amounts of poitín.
Daily 11AM-PMTasting tour €25 (pointless going for the cheaper "cocktail" tour)
Drink
The Lotts
Cafe bar, elegant interior with chandeliers, a marble bar and comfortable leather seating. Live music many nights. Small outside seating area.
Sun-Thu 11AM-8PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight
Drink Not mapped
Copper Face Jacks
Legendary club, a post-pub meat-market. Over 20s only, some of the clientele hoping to cop off are going on 120. Rooms available for private events.
Mon-Sat 10AM-2:30AM, Sun 10AM-1AM
Buy Not mapped
George's Street Arcade
Market Arcade
A covered red-brick shopping arcade, with vintage clothing, fabrics, unusual accessories, vinyl and club wear. It also has some small cafes.
Mon-Sat 9AM-PM, Sun 11AM-PM
Drink Not mapped
O'Reillys
Victorian Gothic pub beneath the DART station, with Hell Club Saturday late-night music.
Mon-Wed 4-11:30PM, Thu-Sat 4PM-12:30AM
Drink Not mapped
The Workmans Club
From 1888 to 2003 this was the city's Working Mens Club, turning into a live entertainment venue in 2010. It's on two floors, the main live room is 300 capacity and beside it is the venue bar. It's friendly, relaxing and well-run.
Daily 6PM-3AM

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Dublin (CC BY-SA 4.0).