Dublin is host to a pulsating night scene with every type and genre of club imaginable. The following is a guide to some of the best clubs in the city with a brief breakdown of what they have to offer.
BEST CLUBS - DJ'S / DANCE
Located close to the city centre, Spirit is one of Dublin's largest and funkiest dance clubs. It is divided into 3 floors, each dedicated to a particular aspect of existence.
BODY
This is where all the dancing takes place. International guests have in the past included: Roger Sanchez, Junior Vasquez, Frankie Knuckles, Tom (Jedi) Middleton, and Erick Morillo to name but a few.
SOUL
Soul is the floor where many guests start their evening. "Revelation in Soul" regularly features the RnB DJ Frank Jez of FM 104. Drop into the Cinema in Soul & check out the movies.
MIND
From 11pm to 3am Friday and Saturday, MIND, in the basement, opens its doors, and asks everyone to open their Minds to the healing, serene atmosphere. Furnishings are restful and relaxing and the gentle murmur of the bubble bar soothes and de-stresses. Avail of Aromatherapy massage, reflexology, Swedish or Sports Massage, Psychic Tarot and so much more in the gorgeous atmosphere of the Museum of Alternative Healing.
The POD ("Place of Dance") first opened in 1993 in the vaults of the old historic Railway Station on Harcourt St and it swept the boards at many International Awards that year.
The cutting edge design juxtaposed the preserved stark grey stone walls of the vaults with colourful soft furnishings and shimmering candlelight.
At the forefront of garage and house music in Dublin, the hallowed DJ box has wooed many a superstar DJ including Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, Grandmaster Flash and Boy George.
The POD is as loud as it is dazzling. It opens from Wednesday to Saturday from 11pm until at least 2am. The latest renovation has renowned Austrialian architect and designer Andy Martin at the helm.
Renards was the first late bar in Dublin to turn itself into the funky three tiered bar/niteclub, it is still as poular and hip now as it was ever was.. Regulars include Bono of U2, actors Colin Farrell and Gabriel Byrne, and the Corrs, while out-of-towners like Mick Jagger pop in regularly. The look is modern on all three floors. Renards Cafe bar on the ground floor is open from 10:30am Mon - Fri for breakfast. You can also enjoy cocktails here. The Bubble Lounge on the first floor has an impressively expensive slection of alcoholic beverages.
Dance the night away in the basement Plu+ club, which pulls in the crowd with live music -- everything from acid jazz to Latin beats -- Sunday to Thursday. Renards is open nightly from 11pm to 3am.
Uptairs is the place to get to in Renards as you never know who you might bump into!
Located off Grafton St, Lillie's Bordello is one of the more exclusive clubs in Dublin. Paintings of nude subjects hanging on red walls is the look that made Lillie's a surprisingly unraunchy icon of kitsch. There's a well-deserved reputation for posers and boy-band celebrities. It's like the set of Footballers Wives only less classy!! Open daily from 11pm to 3am. You may spot some celebrities but weigh this up against the costs of the drinks and the atmosphere.
Rí-Rá means "uproar" in Irish. This club has a nice
grungy bohemia feel
about it. The DJ's are well above average and the music pretty cool but if you are after a stylish night out this is not the place. This club is open nightly from 11:30pm to 4am or later.
Lobo,
within the Morrison Hotel, is a club with atmosphere and bang, especially on nights when it pulls in the crowds.
Designed by John Rocha, the relaxed minimalism of the decor - dark, oak and cream with the comfiest leather sofas -
goes well with top class cocktails and excellent service. Overall a great place to chill, enjoy yummy cocktails, and dance the night away. It's a fresh alternative to Lillies Bordello and Renards. The crowds are more mixed than other places in town and the club usually has a compliment of hotel guests from around the world.
Dublin is home to its fair share of music stars and celebrities. Many spring to the limelight from humble origins at local "live evenings" and can be seen for the first time at many of the live gigs around the city. With gigs ranging in price from 15 euro, a night out at an event can be a "cost effective" evening. If you decide to visit one of the pubs below, remember to search our restaurant offers section to find value for dining in the area you are visitng. Use our event guide to find an event of interest and make a night of it!
For the best live gigs visit Whelans; an old fashioned pub with bands playing almost nightly in the attached "music warehouse". Whelans is an intimate venue with a relatively small stage. There are good vantage points from the bar, the main floor area and from the balcony.
The Village is a new building at 26 Wexford Street. This pub/club is a sister venue of Whelans, the well known live music venue next door. The Village comprises over 1200 square metres of bars and entertainment space on three floors.
A striking wall frontage sets The Village apart on Wexford Street and inside the finish and fittings are to the highest standards with warm brick, natural wood floors, comfortable leather seating in matching colour tones and subtle lighting.
"It's a venue to die for. Wood panelled walls, plush banquette seating and a pristine sound system render the rest of Dublin's night-life cruddy in comparison." The Irish Times, 15th Jan '02
The Sugar Club is a cabaret-style club with scrumptious cocktails and a variety of shows. This venue places emphasis on the following 3 elements:
Comfort and Style; provided by the tiered banquette seating adorned in plush velour, surrounded by beautiful wood-panelled walls.
Size, Range and Duration of the bar; key elements for anyone’s night out. The vastly extended bar which boasts an award-winning cocktail menu is open late every night when the club itself is open.
Quality Entertainment a must for any fun lovin’ revellers; The Sugar Club hosts an eclectic choice of excellent live music ranging from Indie Rock, Jazz, Funk, Ska, Blues and Latin with a choice of regular DJ’s, comedy and world cinema.
Friday and Saturday Nights at The Gaiety Theatre are not to be missed. The theatre itself is divided into various sections on club nights and the entry fee is relatively cheaper than most other city clubs. The Gaiety also stays open longer, and there's more going on. The building itself is impressive; the richness of the Gaiety's décor is reminiscent of a time when there was more lavish attention given to a true union of music and environment, a trait often lost in modern venues.
The strange and exotic Gods of Salsa, Hot Latin Beats and the finest World Music possess Friday nights. While Saturdays serve up the slickest rock steady Soul. Open 11.30 'till 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, admission costs approximatley €10 and allows you access to three levels, five bars, DJs and a live salsa band.
4 Dame Lane is a late night bar open seven nights a week. The bar serves until 2.30am from Monday till Saturday and until 1am on Sunday nights. This bar is located on a quite lane off Dame Street just down around the corner from The Stag's Head. The first sight you will see are the 2 torches above solid wooden double doors. Revellers really pack this bar, especially on the weekends.
Downstairs a New York minimalist style is predominant with a long bar to your right and large tables to your left. A DJ, elevated above the dancing crowds, is resident most nights playing hip hop, alternative and dance.
Upstairs is a small loft type area with a bar, small dance floor and couches.
With DJs spinning discs downstairs from early in the evening until 11pm, 4 Dame Lane is very popular with trendy clubbers as a pre-club bar.
Cafe en Seine is a popular superpub situated on Dawson Street just off Grafton Street and St Stephens Green. Cafe en Seine is spread over three floors each with its own bar. The ambience and style of the bar will transport you back to the decadence and glamour of 19th century Paris.
For a fun Friday / Saturday night head to Cafe en Seine where DJs play and the drinking and dancing continues not stop till 2.30am.
SamSara is a funky oriental themed superpub situated on Dawson Street just off Grafton Street and St Stephens Green. At over 10,000 square feet, SamSara is one of the largest bars in the city. Decorated in a Moroccan theme, Sam Sara is excitingly atmospheric with Morocco furnishings, hand painted décor and mystical palms.
This bar comes alive at night with a DJ providing a mixture of dance, ambient and rock music. If you want to rub shoulders with Dublin's most fashionable and trendiest thirtysomethings, head to Samsara.
The Odeon offers art deco elegance in spacious and airy surroundings and is filled with comfy sofas and armchairs. Its huge bar runs almost the entire length of the building. The Odeon is built in what used to be the Harcourt Street train station but the new, space-age tram that stops on the street outside its main door is the only sign of public transport around this old station now.
There's usually a mixed young/middle aged crowd at the Odeon and the "vibe" is especially lively at the weekend. The music and noise volume is generally pumped up as the night progresses - it can get very loud! The bar really comes into its own on Sunday afternoon when it becomes the ultimate chillout bar, with free newspapers, comfort food, re-runs of classic movies, and dim lighting to soothe those bruised retinas.
