Temple Bar Travel Guide

If you only have 48-hours in Dublin, you have to make sure that the Temple Bar District is on your map. In a city known for pubs overflowing with Guinness and talented musicians, the Temple Bar District stands above the crowd. With cobbled streets, live music pouring out of every doorway, and pubs pouring the smoothest Guinness outside of St. James Gate, it’s the perfect place to soak up the city. 

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My hotel, Wren Urban Nest, was perfectly positioned just steps from Temple Bar District, and made the prospect of returning each evening irresistible. From sipping Guinness at the legendary Temple Bar Pub to exploring the variety of restaurants here, each evening offered a fresh adventure. And with the streets being pedestrianised, it’s easy to wander safely from one venue to the next.

On the ride into the city from the airport, my taxi driver had mixed feelings about the Temple Bar. “It’s worth a visit” he said “but you’ll pay nearly €10 for a pint of Guinness.” My Dublin-based friend echoed his sentiment – pricey, yes, but still a must-see. After a sunny walk through St Stephens Green, we decided it was time for our first pint in Dublin. A quick check of the map showed that the Temple Bar District was a short walk away – where better to kick things off?  

On our way we passed a Quays Irish Pub and checked out the menu. With nine of us on the trip, booking a table made sense. The food looked fantastic and the location couldn’t have been better, so we locked it in. Just a few doors down, we found the Temple Bar itself. The first thing I saw was the gift shop – full of the usual knick-knacks and gifts tourists love. Normally I love a good gift shop, but with a bar? It felt off to me. From a place like this, you should take home memories… and perhaps, at most, a small hangover.

Standing outside, we saw other tourists posing outside every entrance – and yes, we joined in. Looking at its exterior, you could be forgiven for thinking it was actually several pubs. Each doorway was unique, and inside tells a similar story. Instead of a large room, I found a maze of smaller spaces, each with its own style. 

The building itself is beautiful, especially with its quirks. One room will have low ceiling and the next soaring heights. A tiny courtyard tucked inside keeps the place cool, whilst still adding to its charm. Each room was densely packed, with patrons standing shoulder-to-shoulder. You had to squeeze through groups just to get to the bar. I lucked out and managed to grab a table just as the previous group left, settling into one of the high ceiling rooms with a statue watching over the revelry.

Here I was in the very heart of the Temple Bar. The atmosphere is electric – everyone there to enjoy themselves. As is typical with Dublin, live music played in the corner. Patrons sang along to classics like “The Belle of Belfast City” pints of Guinness in hand. I opted for a Hop House 13 – a crisp lager from the Guinness family – not the traditional stout but a lager, but still fitting for the moment.

Tourist bars have always given me an heir of hesitancy. Too often, they lean on reputation to justify inflated prices without delivering an experience to match. I’ll be honest- I didn’t eat here, so I can’t speak for the food. But Guinness rarely disappoints, and with the Storehouse just down the road you know it will be fresh. 

The taxi driver who took us to our hotel mentioned that during COVID, with no tourists, only locals could visit Temple Bar – and most chose not to, simply to avoid the prices. That stuck with me. 

Still, it’s hard to deny though that the atmosphere is enticing. We found ourselves returning a few times across our 48-stay in Dublin. Whether it was a quick pint before dinner or a spontaneous stop on the way to our next activity, the place had a magnetic pull. With each entrance styled like a separate pub, it felt like discovering a new spot every time. It’s nearly enough to take the sting out of the prices. Nearly.

But beyond Temple Bar itself, the District is filled to the brim with bars and restaurants, all competing for your custom. I ate here both nights, the first night at the previously mentioned Quays Irish Pub. It’s quite a tight space, filled with as many tables as they could fit in. Despite us booking in advance I had to wait at the bar as our table was currently taken by a rather drunk hen party, with every girl interrupting one anothers speeches, whilst simultaneously insisting they start their own. 

I won’t lie, at this stage in the evening I was starting to get hangry. There was a TV displaying items from the menu, which only worked to make me hungrier. With one in every corner and another over the bar it was hard to avoid them. But the food did look so good it made me reluctant to leave so it’s a tactic that worked and eventually we were sat down. It was worth it though, I ordered a steak that had been cooked to perfection. Unfortunately by this time we were all knackered, so after paying the bill we called it a night.

This would be my first night in the Temple Bar District, but not my last. I’d return a few more times even in my short 48 hours. Whether that was for a quick pint, the live music, or simply the irresistible energy than seemed to pull us in every time we passed.