10 Best Pubs In Temple Bar (For Music + Guinness) (2024)

Most Dubliners would turn their nose up at the topic of ‘the best pubs in Temple Bar’, dismissing the area as a tourist trap where bars charge a small fortune for a pint.

However, based on near-constant conversations with tourists visiting the capital, it’s clear that time spent in Temple Bar tends to be a holiday highlight for many.

The reason? Many, if not all, of the Temple Bar pubs tailor their offerings to the tourist market, providing packed live music schedules, shows, and top-notch service.

Below, you’ll discover the best pubs in Temple Bar, from the tourist favorites to hidden gems that many tend to miss. Cheers!

The best pubs in Temple Bar

The map above will give you a sense of the lay-of-the land of the Temple Bar district and where the different pubs are located.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from The Porterhouse and Merchant’s Arch to some of the best pubs in Temple Bar for Guinness!

Disclaimer: Personally, I’m not a big fan of Temple Bar. I think there aremanyother pubs in Dublin more worthy of your attention.

1. The Palace Bar

Romantically described by novelist and poet Patrick Kavanagh as the “most wonderful temple of art”, The Palace Bar on Fleet Street is certainly one the most aesthetically pleasing pubs in Temple Bar.

It’s also one of the oldest pubs in Dublin! With its ostentatious adornment of flowers and carved wood facade, you can’t help but be impressed before even setting foot inside!

Dating back to 1823, its high walls are strewn with paintings of famous local figures and it also houses one of the city’s finest whiskey bars – the ‘Whiskey Palace’.

It’s also been a popular gossip and pints spot with journalists over the years as the offices of The Irish Times are located only a few minutes away.

2. The Temple Bar

Yes it’s the tourist pub and yes, the prices here are sky-high, but can you really say you’ve been to Temple Bar if you haven’t had a pint at its namesake pub?

Despite its popularity with tourists, the Temple Bar dates all the way back to 1840 and you can’t knock anywhere that offers over 450 different types of rare whiskey.

You’ll first notice its famous red facade from afar, adorned with old pub memorabilia and vibrant hanging baskets overflowing with flowers.

Inside you’ll discover an old-world-style pub with plenty of nooks and crannies and live music 7 days a week.

Related read:Check out my guide to 10 of the best hotels in Temple Bar

3. The Auld Dubliner

If you’re looking for Temple Bar pubs that host lively music sessions, look no further than The Auld Dub.

Originally a ‘grocer and spirit dealer’ owned by Thomas Hunt, and later by Thomas Murphy in the 1890s, the building has been in constant use for over 170 years.

The Auld Dub’s exterior is very impressive and it still features its original timber sliding sash windows.

Aside from a packed music schedule seven nights a week, there’s a great menu on offer here for those looking for Irish food in Dublin, featuring dishes like coddle and beef and Guinness casserole.

4. The Old Storehouse

Located on Crown Alley, The Old Storehouse was built around 1830 as an eight-bay, three-story warehouse.

Many original features remain intact, such as its vertically arranged loading bays, brick walls, and carriage arches.

The interior of The Old Storehouse features warm wooden paneling, vintage framed pictures on the walls, and comfy chairs, creating a traditional and inviting Irish pub atmosphere.

One of the more famous pubs in Dublin with live music, it offers tunes 7 days a week, Irish dance performances, and great food.

5. The Foggy Dew

With an evocative name inspired by an old Irish ballad, The Foggy Dew is a wonderful old Victorian pub with a penchant for great live music.

You’ll find The Foggy Dew on the edges of Temple Bar, at Central Bank Square, where it has stood since 1901.

Inside, the pub offers a cozy atmosphere with rich wooden paneling, stained glass accents, and vintage decor.

The snug seating areas and intimate size make it an ideal spot for a quiet pint or to kick back and listen to live music with friends.

This tends to be one of the less-touristy pubs in Temple Bar that’s more popular with the after-work-crowd.

6. The Quays Bar

Regarded as one of the best pubs in Temple Bar by many visiting tourists, the Quays Bar is one of the more visually impressive bars in the area.

The exterior of The Quays features a striking facade with rich green and gold tilework, arched windows, and ornate details, creating an entrance that’s very hard to pass!

Inside, you’ll discover dark wooden paneling, intricate mosaic tiled floors, high wooden stools, and vintage-style booths, all complemented by brass fixtures and mirrors.

Music is on the menu every day at the Quays as is a fine offering of traditional Irish dishes. The only problem I’ve encountered here is that it, like many of the Temple Bar pubs, gets very busy.

Related read:Check out our guide to 13 of the best restaurants in Temple Bar

7. Porterhouse

Opened in 1996 as Ireland’s first pub brewery, Porterhouse Temple Bar could arguably be seen as something of a trailblazer for the plethora of craft beer bars that now seem to be in every city.

The interior of The Porterhouse is warm and inviting, with copper piping, wooden beams, ornate ceiling tiles, and a bustling bar area.

There’s live music running throughout the week and it’s a 5-minute stroll from both Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral, making it the perfect pitstop!

Although you won’t find the best Guinness in Dublin here, the Porterhouse Stout is worth a bash.It has a slightly bitter edge and a smooth, full-bodied, aromatic twang to it.

8. Oliver St. John Gogarty

While the name is something of a mouthful to say, the Oliver St. John Gogarty’s name pales in comparison to its elaborate exterior.

Decked out with an elaborate green facade with a ton of enormous flags hanging above, it’s certainly one of the most prominent pubs in Temple Bar.

Taking its name from the Irish poet, author and politician Oliver St. John Gogarty, it’s a handsome place inside and outside that contains an award-winning Irish restaurant upstairs.

This is one of the most popular of the many Temple Bar pubs amongst visiting tourists, mainly due to it’s beautiful exterior and its outdoor seating area.

9. The Norseman

With a history going all the way back to 1696 (the year it was licensed), The Norseman claims to be the oldest of the many Temple Bar pubs and they say there’s actually been a watering hole here since the 1500s!

That’s only 500 years or so after when the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Dublin, is said to have started its life in the city.

As well as a great choice of craft beers, this is a pub that also takes its whiskey very seriously and they serve everything here from rare bourbons to Japanese single malts.

And if you’re looking for a feed there are extensive (and hearty!) lunch and dinner menus to peruse.

10. Merchant’s Arch

Overlooking the historic Ha’penny Bridge on Dublin’s south side, the Merchant’s Arch is in a great location as it’s only moments from Temple Bar but far away enough to avoid the noise when it’s at its rowdiest.

While there’s only been a pub here since 2010, the listed building dates back to 1821 when it was once a Merchant Guild Hall and is now one of only two 19th-century Guild Halls still standing in Dublin.

Inside it’s all Victorian elegance and includes quirks such as a huge model airplane hanging from the upstairs ceiling and a stunning stone spiral staircase.

Explore Dublin beyond the Temple Bar pubs

Now that you have a sense of the best pubs in Temple Bar, it’s time to tackle themanythings to do in Dublin:

• Key attractions: Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness Storehouse and Trinity College
• Itineraries: 1 day in Dublin, 2 days in Dublin and 3 days in Dublin