The Auld Dubliner
The Auld Dubliner sits at 24-25 Temple Bar, right in the center of the district. The pub operates across two levels. The ground floor maintains a traditional Irish pub layout with a long wooden bar, dark paneling, and vintage photographs of Dublin on the walls. Capacity on the ground level is around 120. The upstairs venue is larger, with a stage for live bands and DJs, its own bar, and a standing-room layout that accommodates around 200. The pub has been a Temple Bar fixture for over two decades, and its position on the main street guarantees foot traffic. The upstairs transitions from live bands earlier in the evening to DJ sets after 10 PM on weekends.
What to Expect
Ground floor feels like a proper old pub with low ceilings and warm lighting. Upstairs is a different world, especially on weekends when the DJ takes over and the lights go down.
Split personality: cozy traditional pub below, energetic late-night venue above.
Traditional Irish sessions on the ground floor, live bands transitioning to DJ sets (pop, chart, dance) upstairs
Casual on the ground floor. Upstairs gets slightly more dressed up on weekend nights but no formal code.
Visitors wanting traditional pub atmosphere downstairs with the option to shift to a livelier scene upstairs
Cards and contactless accepted. Cash also fine.
Price Range
Pint EUR 7.50-8.50, cocktails EUR 13-16, pub food EUR 12-20
Pint ~$8/~7.50 EUR, cocktails ~$14.50/~13.50 EUR
Hours
10:30-23:30 Mon-Thu, 10:30-02:30 Fri-Sat, 12:30-23:00 Sun
Insider Tip
The ground floor is better for conversation and trad music. Head upstairs after 10 PM for a louder, club-like atmosphere. Food is decent and cheaper than nearby restaurants for a filling meal.
Full Review
The Auld Dubliner works because it gives you two venues in one building. The ground floor delivers what the name promises. Dark wood, old photographs, a bar that looks like it has been here forever, and the gentle chaos of a busy Dublin pub. Trad musicians set up most evenings and play through sets of reels, jigs, and ballads that sound effortless.
The shift happens around 10 PM on weekends. Upstairs, the live band wraps up and a DJ takes over. The lighting drops, the volume rises, and the crowd changes from families and couples to groups in their 20s and 30s looking for a later night. The upstairs bar keeps things moving efficiently, which is appreciated when you have paid EUR 8 for a pint and don't want to wait 15 minutes for the next one.
Food on the ground floor is solid pub fare. Beef and Guinness stew, fish and chips, burgers. Nothing revolutionary but well executed and filling, which matters when you are building a base for a long evening. Prices are on the high side for pub food but consistent with the Temple Bar location.
The main drawback is the one shared by every pub on this street: on peak weekend nights, the crowd gets dense enough that moving between the bar and a table requires determination. Midweek visits offer a much more relaxed experience.
The Neighborhood
Located on the main Temple Bar street, surrounded by other pubs, restaurants, and the general flow of pedestrian traffic. The Temple Bar Pub is two doors down, and the Foggy Dew is around the corner on Fownes Street.
Getting There
Central Temple Bar location, accessible from Dame Street to the south or the Ha'penny Bridge to the north. Walking distance from all central Dublin transport links.
Address
24-25 Temple Bar
Other Venues in Temple Bar
The Temple Bar Pub
Dublin's most photographed pub with its iconic red facade. Two floors of live traditional and rock music every night, a huge whiskey collection, and standing-room-only crowds on weekends.
The Porterhouse Central
Multi-level craft brewery and bar spread across several floors. Brews its own stout, ales, and lagers on site, with live music on the ground floor most evenings.
Button Factory
Mid-sized music venue and nightclub hosting live acts, DJ nights, and club events. Capacity of around 800 across two levels, with a reputation for booking quality indie and electronic acts.
Vintage Cocktail Club
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden behind an unmarked door on Crown Alley. Dim lighting, creative cocktails, and a dress code that keeps the atmosphere more refined than the surrounding pub chaos.
The Foggy Dew
Late-night pub with a rock and alternative music focus. Screens showing sports during the day give way to DJ sets and a young, energetic crowd after dark. One of the few Temple Bar spots that feels less touristy.