Temple bar: "the place to be" for partying like a Dubliner

updated on October 24, 2023 at 2:49 pm

You can't visit Dublin without spending an evening in the Temple Bar district. This string of Irish restaurants and pubs is the showcase of Dublin's nightlife. Put on your lights and discover the wild nights of Dublin in the Temple Bar district.

Summary

Temple Bar: one of Dublin's most attractive districts
The chequered history of Temple bar

Temple Bar: one of Dublin's most attractive districts

Although some locals criticise it for being a little too touristy, visitors enjoy having a drink while listening to Irish song and dance, which may be clichéd at times, but is representative of the friendliness and love of the Irish for their culture.

The chequered history of Temple bar

Before it became a meeting place for many tourists and locals, the Temple Bar district had several lives. It all began in 1600, when Sir William Temple acquired the land between Dame Street and the River Liffey and gave his name to the district.

Ideally located in the city's hypercentre, small businesses and shops were established here in the 1800s. Unfortunately, due to a lack of security, the area went through a period of decline and was eventually abandoned by onlookers and Dubliners. So much so that in the 1960s, a building project was envisaged to transform the area into a bus station, but fortunately this fell through and the city decided to reinvent the district and restore it to its former glory. A gamble that paid off when you see what Temple Bar looks like today.

With its narrow streets and colourful facades, Temple Bar has become one of Dublin's most attractive districts, where tourists mingle with locals to enjoy festive evenings in a typically Irish atmosphere. An evening in Temple Bar is a memory you won't take home in your suitcase, but rather in your memory.

Practical information:

🚌To get to Temple bar: nothing could be easier. Just walk along the local river Liffey to see the beginning of Temple Bar. All you have to do is wander down the narrow streets to come across the first Irish pubs. Alternatively, you can take public transport to Temple Bar, as a number of bus routes pass close by, including routes 15, 155, 16 , 27, 39 and 39A.

💰Budget: As Temple Bar is Dublin's tourist district par excellence, the price of drinks is a little higher than in other outlying areas of the city. For an evening including dinner and a few drinks in a pub, you should expect to pay between €100 and €200, depending on the standing of the establishments you choose.

EDITORIAL ADVICE:

⏱️Les The Irish are not "night owls", as they say. They are used to eating early, and therefore to feasting early too. To make the most of the evening and Temple Bar's entertainment, we recommend arriving around 6 - 6.30pm for dinner, so that you can hit the bars just before 8pm.

You should also be aware that establishments generally make a distinction between "having a drink" and "eating at a table". The 2 areas are often separated between the bar and the dining area.

One last little tip: to take advantage of special rates in restaurants or bars, establishments generally charge "early bird" prices. The equivalent of Happy Hours. So starting the festivities early has its advantages!