Sometimes you want to get out and about, but you’re not in the mood for a crowded place. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the five best alternative things to do at nighttime in Dublin.
Ireland’s capital city has widespread renown for its nightlife. Every night of the week, its pubs and clubs are awash with hundreds of revellers.
While this undoubtedly brings with it the guarantee of a fantastic night out, we understand that sometimes, you don’t want to deal with the masses.
For nights like that, we bring you the five best alternative things to do at nighttime in Dublin.
5. Visit the Lidl on Aungier Street – yes, really
Ok, perhaps heading to the supermarket isn’t the first thing on your mind when you think about things to do at nighttime, but hear us out.
The Lidl on Aungier Street sits atop some relics of Dublin’s history, and you can see it all thanks to glass panels in the flooring.
One such panel offers a glimpse of a Hiberno-Norse storage structure that dates back to the 1070s. Yet another reveals the staircase of the 18th-century Aungier Theatre.
Informational plaques accompany each window, making for an educational trip to the shop and a great alternative nighttime activity in Dublin.
Address: 71 Aungier St, Dublin 2, D02 YD68, Ireland
4. Thursday Lates at the National Gallery of Ireland – late-night art
Admittedly only available on Thursday evenings, it would be remiss of us to omit Thursday Lates at the National Gallery from our list of the best alternative things to do at nighttime in Dublin.
The National Gallery normally shuts its doors at 5:30 pm, but on Thursdays, it extends its opening time by three hours.
During this extended opening, visitors can avail of five-euro admission to the gallery’s permanent collection as well as its ever-changing temporary exhibitions.
What sets a Thursday evening visit to the National Gallery apart from a normal visit is the atmosphere. A buzz fills the air with the help of live bands and DJs in the courtyard, while there are several art, crafts, and design events if you like to get involved.
Address: Merrion Square W, Dublin 2, D02 K303, Ireland
3. Attend a reading in Sweny’s – not just for Bloomsday
In James Joyce’s Ulysses, protagonist Leopold Bloom “strolled out of the shop, the newspaper baton under his armpit, the coolwrappered soap in his left hand”. The shop in question is Sweny’s – a pharmacy on Lincoln Place.
The pharmacy closed in 2009. In its stead, though, is a second-hand bookshop selling Joyce volumes and related ephemera alongside works by other Irish writers. They even still stock the lemon soap that Leopold Bloom bought on 16 June 1904!
As cool as the bookshop is in its own right, it’s what goes on after hours that make this place so special.
Most evenings, they host readings of Joyce’s opus in English and in other tongues, as well as dedicating Monday evenings to other selected writers.
Address: 1 Lincoln Pl, Dublin 2, D02 VP65, Ireland
2. Irish Film Institute – the home of Irish cinema
You’ll find the Irish Film Institute (IFI) right in the heart of the least alternative area in Dublin – Temple Bar. But this beautiful little building provides a welcome sanctuary from the raucous pubs outside.
In 1945, Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuoid established the IFI (then the National Film Institute (NFI)) to protect the good Christian folk of Dublin from having their minds corrupted by the amoral films of Hollywood.
As time went by, the country edged closer to secularism, and the NFI followed suit. It soon became the great cultural resource you see today, with its aim to preserve and exhibit films and educate the cinema-going public.
It should go without saying that the cinema’s three screens constantly display the latest in Irish and international independent films. You’ll also find a beautiful café bar and a shop stocked full of important releases, as well as books on all manner of cinema theory.
Address: 6 Eustace St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 PD85, Ireland
1. Pirate Studios – studios for beginners and veterans alike
Pirate Studios is a godsend for those with nocturnal creative impulses, as their state-of-the-art space stays open 24 hours a day.
Yes, you read that right. At Pirate, you have unrestricted access to DJ studios, music rehearsal spaces, and recording studios. Contactless access is gained using a unique PIN code, but staff are always on hand via live chat should you need assistance.
Its DJ studios are packed with some of the best audio equipment Pioneer has to offer, including CDJ-2000 digital decks. Rehearsal facilities vary depending on the studio, but common to each is a five-piece drum kit.
Further to the excellent audio equipment, Pirate also offers high-speed Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and kitchen facilities. All things considered, it’s one of the best alternative things to do at nighttime in Dublin.
Visit PIRATE.COM to find the closest location and book studio time.
Address: 11, Moyle Rd, North, 69, Dublin Industrial Estate, Dublin, D11 X06W, Ireland
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