Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide
Page 119
NIGHTLIFE
Holy crap. Dublin knows how to party. Temple Bar sees crazy parties every night, and on the weekends the locals come out and things really get goin’. The best cluster of real, honest-to-goodness house-pumpin’, beat layin’ clubs can be found on Harcourt Street and Harcourt Road, up by St. Stephen’s Green. An area with several excellent clubs, Camden and Wexford Streets (referred to as the “Village”) is nearby. South William Street has some great bars and pub options as well.
Temple Bar and the Quays
There’s one neighborhood in Dublin where you’re nearly guaranteed all of the following: public drunkenness, public vomiting, public nudity, a stag party, a hen party, women in high heels and halter tops, men in high heels and halter tops, beer, beer, and more beer. If you’re staying at a hostel here, chances are you’re not planning on making the most of their foosball table. On any given night, Temple Bar’s streets fill with tourists walking about in various stages of inebriation. It might not be the thing you want to do every night, but it’s certainly something you can’t miss.
PANTI BAR
7-8 Capel St.
BAR, CLUB
01 874 0710 www.pantibar.com
Panti Bar gives the Dragon a run for its money at its across-the-river location that fills up quickly on the weekends. Go early to grab a table or show up whenever to mingle. There’s a dance floor downstairs. Just follow the breasted Absolut bottle running down the “Absolut Panti” sign.
From Parliament St. and Temple Bar, take the Grattan bridge over the Liffey to Capel St. The bar will be on your right. Drinks half price on Sunday.
PEADAR KEARNEY’S
64 Dame St.
PUB
01 707 9701
Named for the composer of the Irish National Anthem who grew up upstairs, it’s only fitting that this pub has great live music, seven nights a week. Come in early and score a cheap drink (€3.50), or wait until the band starts up at 9pm. Brian Brody is a one-man musical powerhouse on Saturday nights. Don’t miss it.
On Dame St. on the south side of Temple Bar. No cover. When daily specials end, look for drinks to be approx. €5. Cash only. Open noon-1am everyday. Happy hour M-F noon-7pm, Sa-Su noon-5pm.
ALCHEMY
Fleet St., Temple Bar
CLUB
01 612 9390 www.alchemydublin.ie
While the design of the building may be poor (two flights of stairs to get down to the club?), especially poor for drunks, the interior of the club could have been taken straight from NYC. Top 40 hits blare all night long, and upturned liquor bottles behind the bar get constant use. Students should come on Wednesday, when there are discounted drinks or on Sunday when admission is free.
Cover F-Sa €9. Guinness and lager €5. Open W-Su 10:30pm-3am.
GOGARTY’S
58 Fleet St.
BAR
01 671 1822 www.gogartys.ie
Okay, it’s basically a tourist trap, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a local here, but it’s a pretty cool tourist trap, with three floors, two bars, a beer garden and a very posh a la carte restaurant on the top. Live music from 1:30pm, moving upstairs at 8pm, and continuing all night long.
On the easter edge of Temple Bar. Bar food approx. €5-15, upstairs expect a price jump. AE/ MC/V. Open M-Sa 10:30am-2:30am, Su 12pm-1am.
TEMPLE BAR
47-48 Temple Bar St.
BAR
01 672 5287 www.templebarpubdublin.com
With possibly the best “beer garden” in the area, the Temple Bar (not the neighborhood, we’re trying to be specific here) is a pun-merited hotspot on a sunny day. Expect to pay the TB standard €5 for a pint and slightly more for a mixed drink. Music starts with Traditional Irish songs at 2pm and moves onto U2 at night.
On Temple Bar street, in Temple Bar. If you can’t find it there’s nothing we can do for you.) No cover. Guinness €4.95, lager €5.50. Open M-W 10:30am-12:30am, Th 10:30am-2am, F-Sa 10:30am-2:30am and Su noon-1am.
FITZSIMON’S BAR AND CLUB
21-22 Wellington Quay
BAR, CLUB
01 677 9315 www.fitzsimonshotel.com
A tourist-heavy bar, but with good reason. Located in the heart of Temple Bar, Fitzsimon’s has five different floors, including a nightclub, cocktail bar and open-air rooftop terrace. Hugely popular on the weekends, this emporium of nightlife entertainment is open until 2:30am daily. Be forewarned, there’s no AC in the club downstairs, so it can turn into a sweatbox.
On the corner of Eustace and East Essex St. Fitzsimon’s also has a hotel and restaurant. A €6 vodka and coke and a €5.50 gin and tonic are both available until 11pm. Stout €4.85, lager €5.35. Open daily noon-2:30am.
THE BRAZEN HEAD
20 Lower Bridge St., Merchant’s Quay
PUB
01 679 5186
The oldest pub in Ireland, The Brazen Head was opened in 1198. That’s 561 years before the invention of Guinness and 737 years before the founding of AA. This place knows what being a pub is all about. In fact, it still looks pretty Medieval: walls are covered with pictures of an Irish past, benches are well-worn, and the outdoor courtyard is reminiscent of something you’d find in the Middle Ages. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Guinness, and its founder, Arthur Guinness, in 2009, Tom Jones came to sing at the Pub. How cool is that?
A few blocks west down the Quay from Temple Bar, turn south on Lower Bridge St. No cover. Pints around €5, food €5-20. Open M-Th 10:30am-midnight, F-Sa 10:30am-12:30am, Su 10:30am-midnight.
THE PORTERHOUSE
16-18 Parliment St.
BAR, PUB
01 679 8847 www.porterhousebrewco.com
Imagine it: a three story bar, with live music every night, the wall lined with beers of amber and gold. Sounds like heaven, right? Well, it exists. The Porterhouse is the largest independent Irish brewing company, putting out nine of their own beers year-round and several seasonals. Try the “daily beer promotion,” which allows you to pick up a different brew from around the world every day (€4). Musical acts perform on a stage in between floors, so you can look up from the groundfloor, or down from the third floor balcony.
1 block up Parliment from the Quay. Food available until 9:30pm. Pints run around €4.30-5. Open M-W 11:30am-midnight, Th 11:30am-1:30am, F-Sa 11:30am-2:30am, Su 12:30pm-11pm.
THE MEZZ
23-24 Eustace St., Temple Bar
BAR, CLUB
01 670 7655 www.mezz.ie
Your hard rock option in Temple Bar, the Mezz is actually two different venues: the upstairs bar, where the decor is a magazine and poster collage straight out of your “angsty” phase and the downstairs, which is even louder and more raucous with walls painted by a professional graffiti artist. Don’t be fooled if you can’t hear the music from the outside. The Mezz spent loads of money in the 2009 to completely soundproof the place. Just hop inside and get your jam on.
Head south from the Milennium Bridge up Eustace street and the Mezz will be on your left. No cover Pints around €5. Open daily 5pm-2:30am.
Grafton Street
TRIPOD
37 Harcourt St.
CLUB
01 475 9750 www.pod.ie/venue_tripod.php
Some stone towers hide dragons, this one hides great live music and dance venue. The main hall houses international DJs and other forms of dance music. Early in the morning on a Friday or Saturday night, this place is packed with sweaty dancers. Heading over the Pod around the base of the tower will put you in—well, a pod—that’s running a different beat, with house music and a lightshow to make drugged-out hippies jealous.
Beamish €4. Mixed drinks €5. Mid-week deals for students. Open T-Sa 4:30pm-3am.
COPPER FACE JACKS
29-30 Harcourt St.
CLUB
01 475 8777 www.jackson-court.ie
Rumor has it that the longstanding Copper Face Jacks is a good place for those looking for love. Without saying anything about whether it’s true or not (
gentlemen never kiss and tell), Copper’s, as it’s affectionately called, makes for a great time. With two floors, two dance floors, and two big bars, you’ll have a great time. Say hello to an intoxicated Cupid for us.
20+ only. Guinness €4.50. Lager €4.80. Cover €5+. Ages 20+ only. Open daily 4pm-3am.
WHELAN’S
25 Wexford St.
BAR, MUSIC VENUE
01 478 0766 www.whelanslive.com
The place for Dublin’s alternative music, Whelan’s boasts a large interior, with several bars, a excellent balcony area, and two stages. The main stage hosts the biggest names in up-and-coming music, while the smaller stage upstairs handles local and acoustic acts. Whelan’s is a must. (Note that the view from the main stage balcony may be better, but the sound will not be. Choose carefully.)
Follow South Great George’s street 15min. away from the river. Whelan’s is on the right. Guinness €4.40. Lagers €4.90. €5-10 cover for the club after 10:30pm on weekends. Open M-F 2:30pm-2:30am, Sa 5pm-2:30am, Su 5pm-1:30am.
THE DAWSON LOUNGE
25 Dawson street
PUB
01 671 0311 www.dawsonslounge.ie
Protect yourself from nuclear fallout by climbing down the stairs into “the smallest pub on earth” (or at least, Dublin). A bit of a novelty, it’s a fun place to stop by during the afternoons when you can benefit from its dimly lit, cool ambience. Let it get crowded, however, and you’ll uncomfortably realize that it’s really just a walk-in closet with a Guinness tap.
From the top of Grafton St., walk 1 block left. Turn left again, the pub will be on your left. Tiny packages of peanuts also available for purchase. Open M-Th 12:30pm-11:30pm, F-Sa 12:30pm-12:30am, Su 3pm-11pm.
GRAFTON LOUNGE
Unit 2, Royal Hibernian Way, Dawson St.
CLUB
01 679 6260 www.thegraftonlounge.ie
With weird, funky furniture, a pool table downstairs, and so many people wearing white you might actually need to put on your sunglasses at night: the Grafton Lounge is a place for beautiful people to be seen. Don’t think of showing up looking scruffy. DJs pump out the tunes from Th-Su.
Guinness €5. Mixed drinks from €10. Open M-W 11am-11:30pm, Th-Sa 11am-2:30am, Su 4:30pm-1:30am.
DAVY BRYNE’S
21 Duke St.
PUB
01 677 5217 www.davybrynes.com
Getting a famous mention in James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” this literary pub fills up on Bloomsday with patrons looking for gorgonzola sandwiches and glasses of “burgundy” (the same meal consumed by the novel’s main character). On days that don’t celebrate major Irish writers, the pub is also a pretty great place to get a pint and hang out.
Heading on Grafton St. towards St. Stephen’s Green. Turn left on Duke St. Food runs between €5-17. Extensive wine selection €5-7.50 per glass. Open M-Th 11am-11:30pm, F-Sa 11am-12:30am, Su 11am-11pm.
D TWO
60 Harcourt St.
CLUB
01 476 4600 www.dtwonightclub.com
This is where George of the Dublin jungle comes to get his pint. A popular club, its enormous jungle themed beer gardens is packed on the weekends, especially during the summer. Come in before 8pm and all drinks are €3.50.
Lagers €5. Guinness €4.90 after 11pm.
CAPITOL LOUNGE
1-2 Aungier St.
CLUB, COCKTAIL LOUNGE
01 475 7166 www.capitol.ie
Cocktails are the thing at the Capitol lounge—€5, all day, everyday. With over 100 different variations on the menu, you’re going to have watch yourself to make sure you don’t get sloppy. Head upstairs where the music’s slightly softer to chat with friends or wade through the crowd downstairs as the DJs put out that house music pulse.
21+ only. No cover. Open daily 3pm-3am.
PYGMALION
Powerscourt Centre, South William St.
BAR, CLUB
01 633 4479 pygmaliondublin@gmail.com
An attractive bar with attractive people, the biggest pull for Pygmalion is their half-price drinks on Sundays. Look for it to really fill up then. Drinks at their normal prices are reasonable, and there’s an extensive cocktail menu from €8.50-10. Guinness after church, anyone?
Outside seating available. Guinness €4.70. Lagers €4.90.
DICEY’S GARDEN
21-25 Harcourt St.
CLUB
01 478 4066 www.russellcourthotel.ie
Another club that looks like somebody threw some lights in the hotel lobby— and then you hit the beer garden, or two levels of wrap-around balconies and a dance floor below.
21+ only. Cover: T €2, W €3.50, Th €3, F €4, Sa €5. Open daily noon-2:30am.
THE “NO NAME BAR”
#3 Fade St. (Next to Hogan’s Bar on South Great George’s St.)
BAR
Looking like a sweet Manhattan flat from the early 1960s, this place could have been a sweet beat hangout. The brick walls and sparse furniture in this bar gives the 20-something crowd a chance to mingle. And mingle they do, over much-craved mojitos and homemade Bloody Marys. Get your groove on weeknights as the DJs take over from 8pm til close.
Follow South Great George’s St. until you see Hogan’s Bar; turn left. Guinness €4.50. Lager €5. Barfood on weekdays €10 or less. Open M-W 1pm-11:30pm, Th 1pm-1am, F-Sa 1pm-2:30am, Su 1pm-1am.
THE DRAGON
64-65 South Great George’s St.
BAR, CLUB
01 478 1590 thedragon@capitalbars.com
A heady combination of Paris chic, neon Vegas, and the Addams family, the Dragon is a gay bar popular with a younger crowd than the Georges, and it really gets hopping around midnight. Check out the extremely entertaining drag/dance shows on Monday, Saturday or Thursday and join in under the light of the spinning disco ball.
From Dame St., follow South Great George’s St. up a few blocks. Mezzanine and second dance floor upstairs. Pints €3-6. Open M 8pm-3am, Tu 8-11:30pm, W-Sa 8pm-3am, Su 8-11:30pm.
THE CAMDEN PALACE
84-87 Lower Camden St.
CLUB
01 478 0808 www.camden-deluxe.com
Dear. God. Somebody let out the crazy. The Camden Palace takes everything over-the-top and then throws it overboard. In a huge ampitheater of a club, people get freaky on the light-up go-go platforms (and with each other). Can’t seem to find it? Look for the guys swinging fire-tipped chains outside the entrance on a weekend night.
Follow Great St. George’s street as it turns into Aungier, and then into Camden. The club will be on your right. IDs are a must. Guinness €4.70. Lagers €5. Mixed drinks €8. Cover €10 on weekends. Pool hall and bar open daily noon-3am. Nightclub only open Th-Sa.
THE STAG’S HEAD
1 Dame Ct.
PUB
01 679 3687 thestagshead@fitzgeraldgroup.ie
Established in 1895, the Stag’s Head is the everyman pub of Dublin. Everybody drinks here. Businessmen drinking next to soccer hooligans drinking next to punk rockers. Oh yeah, and there actually is a giant stag’s head in there.
Dame Court has a small entrance on Dame St. Ask around. Guinness €4.55. Lager €4.90.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Theater
THE GAIETY THEATRE
South King St.
THEATRE
01 677 1717 www.gaietytheatre.ie
A beautiful old house theater with three levels of red velvet seating. Student discounts are offered up to 15%, but another good money saving tip (regular prices run anywhere from €25-55) is to go for the “restricted view” seats. Rumor has it that the large drop in price is only coupled with a small loss of stage visibility. Check the website for a complete show schedule. Riverdance comes for two months every summer—Riverdance!
Walk to the top of Grafton St. and turn right. No exchanges or refunds. Doors close promptly when the show begins. Concessions available. Tickets prices vary. Box office open M-Sa 10am-7pm.
BEWLEY’S CAFÉ THEATRE
/> 78-79 Grafton St.
THEATRE
01 086 878 4001 www.bewleys.com
A good place for lunchtime entertainment as well as jazz or cabaret in the evenings.
About halfway up Grafton St. on the right. Call or email the office for booking about. Tickets range €10-20.
PROJECT ARTS CENTRE
39 East Essex St.
THEATRE
01 881 9613 www.projectartscentre.ie