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14 Of The Best Nightclubs In Dublin For A Bop This Saturday Night

14 Of The Best Nightclubs In Dublin For A Bop This Saturday Night

When it comes to Dublin nightclubs are a plenty.

And, as is the case with the many pubs in Dublin, the capital’s nightclubs are a mix of good, bad and ugly, when it comes to reviews.

From the famous Copper Face Jacks to the often-missed Izakaya Basement, there are Dublin nightclubs to tickle most fancies.

In the guide below, you’ll find the best nightclubs in Dublin, with a mix of old-school late-night clubs to funky, retro bars on offer.

What we think are the best nightclubs Dublin has to offer

37 Dawson Street

Photos via 37 Dawson Street on FB

The first section of our guide is packed with what we think are the finest Dublin nightclubs. These are places that one or more of The Irish Road Trip Team has been to, and enjoyed.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from Opium Live and Flannery’s to Coppers, Izakaya Basement and more.

1. Opium Live

Opium Live

Photos via Opium Live on FB

Opium Live, situated on Liberty Lane, is an amazing club inspired by Japanese culture. Its interiors are brightly decorated and neon lights and manga drawings can be found on almost every wall.

This newly refurbished club features two bar areas, a rooftop smoking area, LED screens as well as a large dance floor. Opium live has hosted artists such as Sasha, Todd Terry, Maya Jane Coles and The Magician and Dublin’s best DJs and international artists perform here regularly.

Opium Live also features a large cocktail lounge area that can fit up to 120 people. Here you’ll be able to choose from a vast selection of cocktails inspired by the flavours and colours of the East. 

2. Izakaya Basement

Izakaya Basement, at 13 South Great George’s Street, will keep you up all night with its live music. This nightclub is inspired by Japanese culture and its interiors are in fact decorated with Japanese’ motifs such as ideograms, dragons and red paper lamps.

The name, ‘Izakaya’, is a Japanese term that refers to an informal bar where people tend to have a drink and relax after a long day of work. Here, however, unlike the Japanese ‘Izakaya’, you will also get the chance of going wild on the dance floor! 

If you want to get a real taste of Japan, make sure to try one of the many Japanese whiskeys served at their slick Whisky Bar.

Related read: Check out our guide to 13 pubs pouring the best Guinness in Dublin (well known spots and hidden gems)

3. Copper Face Jacks

Copper Face Jacks

Photos via Copper Face Jacks on FB

Copper Face Jacks on Harcourt Street is arguably the best-known out of the many nightclubs Dublin has to offer. This place is wild!

The main floor is the perfect mix between a contemporary club and an old Irish pub. If you want a more modern atmosphere, make sure to check out the nightclub, situated in the basement.

This floor has an award-winning EAW/RCF sound system, a 22ft LED video wall and a cocktail bar serving all the most popular cocktails.

Here you will also be able to listen to a great mix of music, from the old classics to the current hits and some sing-along tunes!

4. Flannery’s

Flannery’s bar

Photos via Flannery’s Dublin on FB

Flannery’s on Camden Street Lower, like Coppers, is one of those venues that tends to attract a good crowd from ‘the country’, as you’ll hear people from Dublin say.

When you walk through it’s doors, you’ll be greeted by an old-school style pub. During the early evening, this is a handy spot to kick-back in before the action begins.

Once the lights dim, the upstairs, large outdoor area and much of the ground floor is taken up by people bopping away. This is another lively spot.

Fancyish Dublin nightclubs

Now that we have our favourite nightclubs in Dublin out of the way, it’s time to see what else the capital has to offer.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from Krystle and 37 Dawson Street to some other Dublin nightclubs worth considering.

1. 37 Dawson Street

37 Dawson Street

Photos via 37 Dawson Street on FB

37 Dawson Street is one of the fanciest nightclubs Dublin has to offer! The uniqueness of this club can be immediately seen from its golden entrance.

This elegant nightclub has a main floor where you will be able to enjoy a delicious meal or simply choose a refreshing cocktail from the Whiskey bar. 37 Dawson Street also features a small dance floor in the back.

The whole club is decorated in a chaotic retro style. Here you will find deer’s heads on the walls along with zebra’s skins as well as historic posters of the most famous jazz and swing albums of all time.

2. Krystle

Situated at 21-25 Harcourt Street, Krystle is another club that tends to fall into the ‘fancy’ category, and it has gone after the ‘celeb haunt’ image since it first launched.

It’s for this reason that you’ll see some pretty negative reviews online (see Google!). However, this is a great option (if you can get in) for a night spent dancing the night away in the capital.

According to reviews, you can expect a mix of r&b, hip hop and dance music! The dance floor is spacious and every Saturday night there’s a DJ bopping away.

Related read: Check out our guide to the finest rooftop bars in Dublin (from swanky restaurants to quirky cocktail bars in Dublin)

3. The Black Door

The Black Door

Photos via The Black Door on FB

The Black Door is a late venue, and you’ll find it at 58 Harcourt Street, exclusively welcoming people over 28s.

Its interiors are elegantly decorated with red leather couches, cosy lighting and a gilded baby piano. Here you will find great DJs and live music from Thursday till Saturday.

The Back Door is one of those places that people flock to at around midnight (and later!) when the pubs start kicking out, so expect it to fill up around then.

More popular nightclubs in Dublin

The final section of our guide to the best nightclubs in Dublin is packed with more popular clubs, with a mix of new and old.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from The George and Pygmalion to the Workman’s Club and some of the livelier nightclubs Dublin has to offer.

1. The George

The George

Photo left: Google Maps. Right: via The George on FB

When it comes to gay bars in Dublin, none compare to the The George – this place has been rocking since 1985 and the place has long since achieved iconic status.

Here you will find not only a great nightclub in which you can dance all night long but also drag contests, live music and special celebrity appearances such as RuPaul’s drag race queens!

The George also features a huge dancefloor and a daytime bar. If you’re looking for gay nightclubs in Dublin, get yourself to the George.

2. Pygmalion

Pygmalion

Photos via Pygmalion on FB

Pygmalion is another of the more lively nightclubs Dublin has to offer, and you’ll find it at on South William Street.

This nightclub is decorated with hundreds of plants that will give you the illusion of being in a tropical forest! According to reviews, this is one of the best clubs in Dublin for house music.

International DJs from all over Europe regularly perform on Pygmalion’s huge terrace. Make sure to also try the last addition, the new Malfy Gin Bar, an great bar serving delicious cocktails inspired by the flavours of the Amalfi coast.

Related read: Check out our guide to 7 of the oldest pubs in Dublin (or, for something fancier, our guide to the top wine bars in Dublin)

3. Four Dame Lane

Four Dame Lane

Photos via Four Dame Lane

Four Dame Lane, unsurprisingly situated at 4 Dame Lane, is a great location to enjoy a night of fun! This nightclub features two spacious areas, the bar and the loft.

The former is an urban space featuring a great bar with a vast selection of craft beers and cocktails opening at 3 pm every day. The loft, on the upper floor, has been newly refurbished and features foosball and ping pong tables along with several board games.

This area is open from Thursday to Sunday from 4.00 pm. DJs perform here every Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss Old Fashion Fridays, when you will get free entry. 

4. Bad Bobs

Bad Bob's

Photos via Bad Bob’s Temple Bar on IG

Bad Bobs is a live music bar situated in the heart of Dublin in Temple Bar. This huge building has five floors of which the second one is a dedicated nightclub.

Every night during the week, from 6.30 pm, you will find upbeat acoustic live music with free entry and special drink offers (2 cocktails for €12 – note: prices may change).

On Friday and Saturday, great DJs perform here while on Sunday you will find live acts on stage and acoustic covers of the most popular songs. 

5. The Workman’s Club

And last but by no means least in our guide to the best nightclubs in Dublin is The Workman’s Club – a live music bar situated at 10 Wellington Quay and is open every day from 3.00 pm to 3.00 am.

This historic nightclub has been the setting for the recording of one of the Villagers’ live albums!

This multi-floor location has six different areas from the venue bar to the rooftop terrace and the main room featuring a brand new state-of-the-art PA system. Here you will find all types of live performances from indie to house and disco music.

Dublin nightclubs: Where have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant nightclubs in Dublin from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about the best nightclubs Dublin has to offer

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What Dublin nightclubs are open the latest?’ to ‘Which are the most exclusive?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What are the best nightclubs in Dublin?

In our opinion, the best Dublin nightclubs are Opium Live, Izakaya Basement, Copper Face Jacks and Flannery’s.

What Dublin nightclubs are more on the fancier side?

The Black Door, Krystle and 37 Dawson Street are some of the fancier nightclubs in Dublin.

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