The Temple Bar Pub
The Temple Bar Pub sits at 47-48 Temple Bar Street and has been in operation since 1840, making it one of Dublin's oldest surviving pubs. The building's red-painted exterior is the single most photographed facade in Ireland, drawing crowds who queue outside just for a selfie. Inside, the pub spreads across two floors with a ground-level bar and an upstairs room that hosts live music every night of the week. The whiskey collection runs to over 450 bottles, displayed behind the bar and in glass cases along the walls. Capacity sits around 200 across both levels, though weekend nights pack in considerably more standing bodies. The ground floor stays loud with conversation and music bleeding from the stage area near the back. The upstairs room runs its own separate music program, typically rock and pop covers while the ground floor leans toward trad sessions.
What to Expect
Walking in you hit a wall of noise, warmth, and the smell of stout. The bar is directly ahead with taps lining the counter. Bodies press in from all directions on busy nights. Music comes from a small stage toward the back, and you can feel the floor vibrate from the bass.
Loud, crowded, and unapologetically touristy. The energy is genuine even if the crowd is mostly international.
Traditional Irish music sessions on the ground floor, rock and pop covers upstairs
Anything goes. Tourists in rain jackets stand next to locals in suits. No dress code enforced.
First-time visitors to Dublin who want the classic pub experience, whiskey enthusiasts
Cards accepted everywhere, contactless preferred. Cash also fine.
Price Range
Pint EUR 8-9, cocktails EUR 15-18, whiskey EUR 7-15 depending on age, pub food EUR 14-22
Pint ~$8.50/~8 EUR, cocktails ~$16/~15 EUR
Hours
10:30-01:30 Mon-Thu, 10:30-02:30 Fri-Sat, 12:00-01:00 Sun
Insider Tip
Arrive before 8 PM on weekends to get a seat near the trad session. The upstairs bar is less crowded and has its own atmosphere. The whiskey menu is worth exploring if you like Irish whiskey, ask staff for recommendations based on your taste.
Full Review
You can dismiss The Temple Bar Pub as a tourist trap, and plenty of Dubliners do. But writing it off entirely means missing something that, for all its commercialism, delivers an authentic slice of what makes Irish pub culture work.
The ground floor on a Saturday night is controlled chaos. The bar staff pull pints with practiced speed, trad musicians play in the corner with the kind of casual excellence that comes from doing this seven nights a week, and the crowd is a cross-section of the world. You hear German, Spanish, French, and American accents competing with the fiddle and bodhran. The whiskey collection behind the bar is genuinely impressive, and the staff know their stock well enough to make recommendations that go beyond the obvious Jameson pour.
Upstairs operates as almost a separate venue. The music shifts to rock and pop covers, the crowd thins slightly, and you can actually have a conversation without shouting. The bar up here moves faster too, which matters when you are paying EUR 8-9 per pint and don't want to spend half the night queuing.
Is it overpriced? Yes, by EUR 1-2 per drink compared to pubs three streets away. Is it worth visiting once? Also yes. The atmosphere on a good night has a genuine warmth that transcends the tourism machinery. The music is consistently good, the staff are professional, and the building itself has character that no amount of commercial polish can fake.
The Neighborhood
The pub sits at the western end of Temple Bar Street, right at the heart of the district. The Porterhouse, Auld Dubliner, and Foggy Dew are all within a two-minute walk. Merchant's Arch and the Ha'penny Bridge are steps away.
Getting There
Walk south across the Ha'penny Bridge from the northside, or east from Dame Street. The nearest Luas stop is Jervis (red line), about 7 minutes on foot. Bus routes along the quays stop within 100 meters.
Address
47-48 Temple Bar
Other Venues in Temple Bar
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.
The Auld Dubliner
Traditional pub with a large upstairs venue hosting live bands and DJs. The ground floor keeps a classic pub feel, while the upper level gets louder and more energetic after 10 PM.
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.