Wondering what are the best pubs in Temple Bar? We have you covered. The five on this list are the greatest, offering you everything you could want!
Temple Bar is Dublin’s leading tourist area and does have some of the most expensive pints of Guinness in Dublin. It has earned the fair title of Dublin’s “cultural quarter”, and with its old cobblestones, buskers lining the streets, bars serving Guinness left, right, and centre, it seems only fitting that a trip to Dublin includes a tour of this area.
Set alongside the River Liffey in the heart of Dublin, Temple Bar is as easy to access as you can get. In fact, it’s the heart of the city, sitting alongside the Ha’penny Bridge that links the Northside to the Southside of Dublin.
As one of the oldest areas in Dublin, it’s packed with character and charm and offers nightlife in abundance with a steady string of traditional pubs, bars, eateries, venues, cafes, and coffee shops lining the streets.
Here is our top pick of watering holes in the famous drinking district.
5. Bad Bobs – quirky and full of character
Bad Bobs is a bit of everything. And, when there’s so much choice in the area (which can be a tad overwhelming at times), it’s convenient to end up somewhere that is a late-night pub, bar, club, music venue, and restaurant. With quirky vintage living room décor and eccentric accents throughout the venue, it’s certainly a memorable setting for a night out in Temple Bar.
Perfect for a post-work pint on the rooftop terrace or cocktail and dance on a girls’ night out, Bad Bobs is the kind of place that wanted to offer something for everyone, so it did just that.
Address: 35-37 Essex St E, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 Y891, Ireland
4. Porterhouse Temple Bar – a top spot for locals and visitors
This ultra-popular venue is one of the best pubs in Temple Bar and is bound to be bustling any night of the week. It weighs out equal in tourists to locals who choose this as their watering hole of preference.
This chain venue (there is also a Porterhouse on Nassau Street and another in Drumcondra at Cross Guns Bridge), offers its own fine ales and lager, perfect for a beer aficionado looking to try a local brew.
With a never-ending selection of live musicians on rotation, you’re not likely to get too bored in this hangout. Bonus points go for its menu, which offers traditional Irish dishes as well as catering for special diets, also.
Address: 16-18 Parliament St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 VR94, Ireland
3. The Vintage Cocktail Club – sssshh… it’ll be our secret
On the search for something a little trendier? Look no further than the Vintage Cocktail Club (or VCC as it’s known by the locals).
Hidden in plain sight, behind a black door marked only by its acronym in the centre of Temple Bar, this Dublin gem is a favourite of locals and celebrities who have been known to frequent the venue when visiting our fair city (Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad was spotted there not too long ago!).
Behind this mysterious door lies floors of 1920’s prohibition-inspired, art-deco interiors with lush, low-lit bar areas serving the most exquisite cocktails on offer in Dublin, alongside an artisanal menu.
Address: 15 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 E229, Ireland
2. The Old Storehouse – one of the best bars in Temple Bar
This top spot is bound to be one of the highlights of your visit to the capital. Bustling with live music seven nights a week, traditional Irish food, Irish dancers, solid pints of the “Black Stuff” (slang for Guinness), and tonnes of banter all around, The Old Storehouse never falls short of expectation.
With Victorian architecture giving this venue a charming, traditional ambience, this is an ideal spot to rub shoulders with the locals and get some great tips of where to trek off the beaten track.
Check out its website for a full line-up of entertainment to come; running all day, every day, you’re never going to get bored at The Old Storehouse.
Address: 3 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 CX67, Ireland
1. The Temple Bar – iconic and the best
This is an ultimate must-visit bar in Dublin, not to mention one of the best pubs in Temple Bar. It is a bar that is always mentioned on Dublin travel itineraries. Serving loyal patrons as far back as 1840, this iconic pub is home to the quarter’s only fully-licensed beer garden, making it the best shout on a sunny day in Dublin.
It is also home to one of Ireland’s most extensive collections of whiskey, with over 450 bottles of whiskey and bourbon on offer. Whether it’s Guinness you’re after, a classic Dublin dish, some live tunes, or banter with the locals, The Temple Bar is always the best bet!
Address: 47-48 Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 N725, Ireland
