This guide was last updated: July 2026.
Table of Contents
A regularly updated guide to Dublin’s music venues, clubs and late-night spots, for visitors and locals alike. For what’s actually on this week, check the gig guide.
Venues map
Music Venues
These are places which are set up for dancing so you are pretty much guaranteed DJs, local or international most nights of the week.
The Workman’s Club (10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2)
Bound to be a DJ or a band on here at any time of the night. A venue downstairs with DJs playing late after local and international bands, plus a bar adjacent. Upstairs has two more rooms, running the gamut from alternative and indie to R&B, disco, house and pop. Smoking garden is always packed, stays open til late. RIP Trev.
Button Factory (Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2)
A mix of live bands and late DJ guests across house, techno and beyond plus it has a smaller space called Curveball.
Bello Bar (Portobello)
One of my favourite small venues. A 150 capacity basement venue that has a genuine intimacy and a mix of seating and standing. All sorts happening here.
Whelan’s (25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2)
Still best known for its live reputation, indie and rock mostly but everything from trad to pop passes through. Three rooms, main venue, an upstairs venue along with the Little Whelan’s intimate space. Also goes late.
Yamamori Tengu – Great Strand Street Dublin, Dublin 1)
One of the best club spaces in Dublin is at the back of a Japanese restaurant. Entrance via the back of the building. Main room capacity 250 and forward-facing club programming.
The Academy (Middle Abbey Street)
A live venue first, with headline acts across genres that can fill a 600-capacity room. Late at the weekend it opens as Index, Dublin’s big room house and techno brand.
The Grand Social (Liffey Street/Hapenny Bridge, Dublin 1)
Two-storey venue and bar just off the Liffey. Upstairs known for live bands and late clubs, downstairs a fine club and live room.
Wigwam (54 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1)
Formerly Twisted Pepper, run by Bodytonic. A mix of local and touring house and techno guests in the basement.
The Sugar Club (Lower Leeson Street)
Live gigs with an emphasis on rap, soul, R&B and jazz, DJs going late in a couple of spaces, plus regular film screenings.
The Pygmalion @ South William
Bar, Restaurant and Venue in Powerscourt Townhouse is always busy even during the week. International guests of note lately have included include Joe Goddard, The Blessed Madonna, Cinthie and local DJs.
The Sound House (Eden Quay)
Music venue and club space on the quays above The Wiley Fox pub and bar (formerly The Pint), a new strain of live gigs and club nights are currently establishing themselves here. See current events for details. 250 capacity.
Opium Rooms (Wexford Street, Dublin 2)
A big main venue for clubs and a smoking garden. Under new management. Anything could be on here from the touring circuit. A lot of hip-hop and dance.
Fibber Magees (Parnell Street)
One of the most renowned rock bars in the entire country, Fibber Magees plays host to a some of Dublin’s heavier bands every night of the week. Filled with leather and Foosball tables, the venue is usually packed with an eclectic variety of patrons.
The Cobblestone (77 King Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7) – Old-time boozer with live Irish trad music and its own live room a little bit outside the main city on the Northside. Worth a trek.
National Stadium (South Circular Road, Dublin 8)
Built in 1939 as a boxing venue and still the home of Irish amateur boxing, but it’s also a proper live music room, 2,000 seats, all within 70 feet of the stage. U2 played here in 1980 in front of Island Records executives, who signed the band that night. These days it swings between gigs (Hayley Williams, Breaking Benjamin), boxing and wrestling.
Arthur’s (28 Thomas Street, Dublin 8)
A 200-year-old pub next to the Guinness Storehouse with a proper trick up its sleeve, upstairs is Arthur’s Blues & Jazz Club, hosting national and international blues and jazz acts most nights of the week on a stage with its own grand piano.
National Concert Hall (Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2)
Ireland’s national home for classical and orchestral music, home to the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, but the programming stretches well beyond that into jazz, folk, world music and the occasional left-field crossover show.
Sin É (14/15 Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin 1)
Dublin’s original late-night alternative live music venue, running since 2001. Free live music most nights from local and touring bands across two floors, plastered in musical memorabilia, plus DJs keeping it going into the small hours.
Anseo (18 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2)
A Camden Street institution and dive bar in the best sense, DJs and vinyl downstairs in an unpretentious room that’s hosted warm-up shows for much bigger names, with a very intimate gig space upstairs.
Hen’s Teeth (Blackpitts, Dublin 8)
Gallery, café and event space rolled into one, and one of Dublin 8’s key independent cultural anchors since crowdfunding its move from Fade Street. Exhibitions, listening parties, club nights and live music share the same room with weddings and pop-up dinners.
Vicar Street (58-59 Thomas Street, Dublin 8)
A mid-size live venue with a cabaret-style seated layout that flips to standing depending on the show, hosting everything from trad and comedy to major international songwriters passing through.
3Arena (North Wall Quay, Dublin 1)
Dublin’s biggest indoor venue, the default stop for the biggest touring artists in the world when they play the city.
Thomas House (86 Thomas Street, Dublin 8)
Dublin’s finest alternative music bar since 2011, punk, rockabilly, psychobilly, indie, ska and metal DJs most nights on the ground floor, with live bands in the basement venue at weekends.
Project Arts Centre (East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2)
A cross-arts venue with a strong strand of experimental and left-field music programming alongside its theatre and visual arts work.
Smock Alley Theatre (Exchange Street Lower, Dublin 8)
A historic theatre space that regularly opens its doors to music, especially where it crosses over into theatre, spoken word and durational performance.
Kirkos (Little Green St, Smithfield, Dublin 7)
Dublin’s experimental new music ensemble, known for immersive, boundary-pushing concerts that lean as much on theatre and visual art as composition. They ran their own DIY venue, Unit 44 on Prussia Street, until it closed last year when the building was sold to a developer. Their DIY venue is up in Smithfield.
Music late bars and music pubs
Hang Dai Chinese (Wexford Street)
A restaurant with late night disco bar vibes and THE best soundsystem in the city. Vinyl-only DJs Friday and Saturday night from 10:30pm. See how and why here.
The George (South Great George’s Street)
The George has grown to be Dublin’s most popular gay bar and just turned 40. Located in the heart of the city centre the bar plays host to a number of weekly nights, including the famed Sunday bingo parties. Expect a friendly atmosphere and some of the best pop and R&B tunes made since the turn of the century.
Pawn Shop (Dame Lane, Dublin 2)
A cocktail and pints bar and techno bunker across two floors on the old Berlin Bar site,Doom Slice Detroit-Style pizza, Funktion-One does the sound. Open seven nights, with DJs running late Thursday to Saturday.
The Circular (South Circular Road, Rialto, Dublin 8)
A neighbourhood bar, café and pizza joint in Rialto with a cosy side bar, The Other Hand, that turns over to jazz bands and DJs at the weekend.
Lucky’s (78 Meath Street, The Liberties, Dublin 8)
A contemporary bar and beer garden that’s become a Liberties fixture, DJs, live bands, jazz, art exhibitions and markets alongside its wood-fired pizza.
Thomas House (86 Thomas Street, Dublin 8)
Dublin’s finest alternative music bar since 2011, punk, rockabilly, psychobilly, indie, ska and metal DJs most nights on the ground floor, with live bands in the basement venue at weekends.
Vinyl listening bars
The Big Romance (Parnell Street)
A listening and vinyl bar and venue located just around the corner from O’Connell street. Since opening the venue has hosted DJs of all persuasions and backgrounds every night from Wednesday onwards. DJs spin vinyl through the Toby Hatchett sound system. Come early to hear the staff spin their favourite albums in full for your listening pleasure.
Fidelity (79 Queen Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7)
An audiophile bar from The Big Romance and Whiplash brewery, built around a custom Hatchett soundsystem and a serious vinyl collection. Programming runs from deep jazz and Balearic early doors to funk, disco and house later on, with residents sharing the booth with touring guests.
Best pubs / bars
The Long Hall (51 North Great George’s Street, Dublin) – Mmmmmmm. Carpets and Guinness. During the week, the perfect place for sneaky pints. It’s an old school pub with no music. manky toilets, but the atmosphere is all good. You can’t miss the red and white exterior.
Grogans – 15 South William Street, Dublin 2 – Best place in the City Centre for Guinness and on-street bums on seats. Always full of weirdos, artists and bums. Try the ham and cheese toasties with a pint.
The Cobblestone (77 King Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7) – Old-time boozer with live Irish trad music a little bit outside the main city on the Northside. Worth a trek.
Pantibar – Capel Street – Best gay bar in Dublin. Friendly, always lots of cool things happening regularly.
What’s on this week
- The Nialler9 Gig Guide, updated weekly
- Follow the venues above directly on Instagram
- For club nights specifically, keep an eye on @thebigromance, @hangdaichinese, @fidelitydublin, @sin_e_dublin, @thomashousebar, @pawnshopdublin, @lovetempodublin and @izakayabasement
Live music
Check the Gig Guide for what’s on this week across the city or the upcoming gig calendar.
Other Dublin resources
Legless In Dublin — wheelchair-accessible information on venues, cafés and festivals.
Food
The Irish Times Food & Drink section
More resources from Nialler9
New Irish Album Releases 2026: Upcoming and Released Albums