Live Music Dublin: 13 Pubs Doing Trad in 2025

Some of the best pubs with live music in Dublin keep the tradition alive, hosting authentic Irish music sessions every night of the week.

These pubs fall into two categories – those based in Dublin City (e.g. The Celt) and those located in wider County Dublin (e.g. Johnnie Fox’s).

I tend to head for pints and trad music in Dublin every few weeks – below, you’ll find the places that I’ve been returning to for many years and that I’m confident you’ll enjoy.

The best pubs with live music in Dublin

Now, a quick disclaimer: if you’re looking for pubs with live music in Dublin tonight, your best bet is to check their Facebook pages (links under each pub below).

The reason for this is that it’s usually on Facebook where you’ll find the most up-to-date events taking place. Right – lets dive on in!

1. The Cobblestone (Smithfield)

Photos via The Cobblestone on FB

Just a minute’s walk from the Smithfield LUAS stop, The Cobblestone Pub is one of the best pubs with live music in Dublin, with trad sessions taking place 7 nights a week.

For over 35 years, The Cobblestone has been at the heart of traditional music in Dublin. Run by Tom Mulligan, whose father T.P. Mulligan was a renowned musician, the pub was founded with a clear purpose – to keep Irish music alive and thriving in the city.

The music takes place in the nook just inside the door on the left, but be warned – it gets busy here, so try and arrive early if you want to nab a seat.

As of 2025, trad sessions take place on Mondays, from 18:30 – close, on Tuesday to Thursday, from 16:30 – close, on Friday, from 14:00 – close and on Saturday and Sunday, from 14:30 – close.

2. The Celt (Talbot St.)

Photos via The Celt on FB

The Celt is one of the well-known traditional pubs in Dublin, and you’ll find it on the north side of the city on Talbot St., close to some of the most central hotels in Dublin.

The pub’s back bar, known as “The Shed,” dates to 1864 and has lived several lives, first as horse stables, then as Ireland’s very first trade union hall. It was here that Jim Larkin, whose statue stands on nearby O’Connell St., held meetings that helped spark the 1913 Dublin Lockout.

These days, The Celt blends history and hospitality effortlessly. Room after room leads you to a lively back bar where hearty Irish dishes are served, including a fine Beef and Guinness stew.

As of 2025, live music takes place 7 nights a week at the Celt, with 2 bands playing simultaneously on Fridays and Saturdays.

3. O’Donoghue’s (Merrion Row)

Photos via O’Donoghue’s on Facebook

Few places capture Dublin’s musical soul quite like O’Donoghue’s Bar on Merrion Row. Established in the 18th century, it began life as a grocery and shebeen before becoming one of Dublin’s most celebrated pubs.

In 1934, Paddy and Maureen O’Donoghue took over, turning it into a nightly gathering place for musicians and storytellers. By the 1960s, its reputation catapulted, with The Dubliners, one of the most famous Irish bands of the time, making it their regular haunt.

The walls are lined with photos of legends who played here, from Luke Kelly to Ronnie Drew, each one part of the living history that unfolds every night as musicians strike up in the snug.

As of 2025, traditional music takes place Monday – Thursday, from 8pm until Midnight, Friday, from 6:30pm until midnight, Saturday, from 5:30pm until midnight, and all day Sunday.

4. Darkey Kellys (Fishamble St.)

Tucked away on one of Dublin’s oldest streets, right across from Christ Church Cathedral, Darkey Kelly’s is both a beloved trad pub and a nod to one of the city’s darker legends.

The pub takes its name from Dorcas “Darkey” Kelly – a notorious madam who ran a “house of ill repute” on nearby Copper Alley in the 1700s.

Inside Darkey’s, it’s all low ceilings, lively crowds, and musicians who keep Dublin’s folk traditions alive. The bar also boasts one of the city’s largest whiskey selections, with over 100 bottles lining the shelves.

As of 2025, music takes place every Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 – 10:30pm, Friday from 7 – 9:30pm, Saturday from 6:30–9:30pm, and Sunday from 3–10pm.

5. The Old Storehouse (Crown Alley)

Photos via The Old Storehouse on FB

Located in the heart of Temple Bar, just behind the old Central Bank, The Old Storehouse occupies a site steeped in Dublin’s commercial past.

Built in the early 1800s as a wine warehouse for Ussher & Clarke, the building later stored tea, coffee, and spirits before transforming into one of the city’s liveliest pubs.

Spread across three bars – including a snug for quiet pints and a main bar for trad sessions – it strikes the right balance between visitor-friendly and authentically Irish.

As of 2025, live music takes place from 3pm Monday – Thursday, 2pm Friday – Saturday, and 3pm on Sundays, running late into the night.

6. The Brazen Head (Lower Bridge St.)

Photos via The Brazen Head on FB

If you fancy sipping pints in some of the oldest pubs in Dublin, one reigns supreme – The Brazen Head. Dating back to 1198, it’s a place where every beam and brick feels steeped in history.

The current building, once a coaching inn from 1754, still holds much of its original character – low ceilings, thick stone walls, and a warren of candlelit rooms filled with photos and artefacts from centuries past.

Rebels, poets, and revolutionaries have all passed through its doors, from Robert Emmet, who plotted his doomed 1803 rebellion nearby, to Brendan Behan, who drank and wrote here in the mid-20th century.

As of 2025, traditional Irish music takes place Monday to Saturday from 9pm until close and on Sundays from 3pm to 6pm.

7. Piper’s Corner

Photos via Piper’s Corner on FB

Opened in 2017 on Marlborough Street, Piper’s Corner replaced the old Sean O’Casey’s Bar and took its name from Seamus Ennis, the famed uilleann piper whose image covers the façade.

In just a few years, it’s become one of the most popular pubs with live music in Dublin City. However, its future is uncertain.

The building has full planning permission for demolition and redevelopment, meaning this much-loved session spot could soon make way for a multi-storey mix of apartments and commercial space.

It’s not clear what time sessions take place, as their website is offline, but they list all events on their Facebook page.

8. Devitts (Camden St.)

Photos via Devitts on FB

Devitts sits on lively Camden Street, just an eight-minute walk from St Stephen’s Green, and it’s one of the few remaining pubs in Dublin where traditional Irish music still rings out seven nights a week.

A pub has stood at 78 Camden Street since the 1870s, when it was first licensed by Christopher C. Clinch and later run by Patrick Ryan, who transformed it into a classic Victorian pub with mahogany fittings and stained glass.

Generations of musicians have gathered here, and the upstairs bar remains a favourite spot for locals who value the real sound of a Dublin session.

As of 2025, live music takes place Monday to Thursday from 6:30pm until close, Friday and Saturday from 7:30pm until close, and Sunday from 2pm until close.

9. Nancy Hands (Parkgate St.)

Photos via Nancy Hands on FB

Next is one of the most unique pubs with live music in Dublin – Nancy Hands. You’ll find it on Parkgate Street, a 5-minute walk from The Phoenix Park and just around the corner from Heuston Station.

It’s named after Nancy, believed to be Ireland’s first female pub owner, who famously found a clever way around Sunday holy hour restrictions – serving pints through a small hatch so that only her hands were visible.

When you walk inside Nancy’s, you’ll be greeted by an authentic Victorian bar that looks more antique shop than public house. Arguably the finest feature here is the staircase, which previously called Trinity College ‘home’.

As of 2025, live music takes place every Friday and Saturday from 8pm until close, downstairs in the cosy Pit Bar.

10. Johnnie Fox’s (Glencullen)

Photos via Johnnie Fox’s on FB

So, some people from Dublin tend to stick their noses up at Johnnie Fox’s, claiming it’s ‘Just a touristy pub’, which isn’t remotely the case.

Yes, it’s a pub tourists love but, speaking as someone that’s lived in Dublin all their life, I’d happily visit here several times each year.

Johnnie Fox’s is the most famous pub with live music in Dublin, and you’ll find it in the Dublin Mountains in Glencullen, where it’s home to the legendary Hooley Show. You can even grab a bus from Dublin City for just €10 return. 

As of 2025, live music takes place Monday – Thursday from 7:30–9:30pm, Friday from 7:30 – 10:30pm, Saturday from 3pm – 12:30am, and Sunday from 2 – 10:30pm.

11. The Merry Ploughboy (Edmondstown Road)

© Donal Cawley_Merry Ploughboy Pub via Failte Ireland

The Merry Ploughboy in Rathfarnham is a beautiful pub, both inside and out, with flowers covering the exterior and a glorious, old-world vibe to the interior.

There’s an award-winning traditional Irish night at the Merry Ploughboy that has racked up rave reviews online over the years.

The fact that the pub is owned and run by a group of traditional Irish musicians clearly helps! As was the case with Johnnie Fox’s, you can grab a €12 return shuttle from Dublin City.

As of 2025, live music takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9:30pm until late, featuring guest performers and members of The Merry Ploughboys themselves.

12. Temple Bar (various spots)

So, there are loads of pubs in Temple Bar that run live music sessions 7 days a week. The most popular are The Temple Bar Pub and Oliver St. John Gogarty’s.

However, the Quays and the Vat House are two other popular spots, too. One of the most overlooked pubs with live music in Dublin is the Auld Dub. Here are a few to consider:

• Ha’penny Bridge Inn: Cosy spot right by the famous bridge
• The Quays: Famous for its tiled façade and daily music sessions
• The Temple Bar: Dublin’s most famous pub with music daily
• Peadar Kearneys: Just outside of Temple Bar. Great, non-touristy music pub
• Gogarty’s: A Temple Bar staple with traditional Irish music on every floor
• The Auld Dub: One of my favourites but not that music is often not trad
• Merchant’s Arch: Overlooking the Ha’penny Bridge. A lively spot with music every night

13. The Arlington (Bachelors Walk)

Photos via the Arlington

OK, so this isn’t a pub… but the Celtic Nights show at the Arlington is well worth a mention if you’re looking for live music in Dublin.

Running in the Arlington, right next to O’Connell Bridge, this is a choreographed show where you can enjoy dinner, drinks, some mighty Irish music and Wold Championship Irish dancers.

With exceptional reviews online, if you’re after a finely put together show and a clatter of live music in Dublin, it’s worth considering.

Avoid the touristy spots: Find great alternatives in my guides to the pubs with the best Guinness in Dublin and my favourite pubs in Dublin!

Explore beyond the live music in Dublin

So, now you know where to catch live music in Dublin tonight, here are some other guides to the capital you should find useful:

• Itineraries: 1 day in Dublin, 2 days in Dublin and 3 days in Dublin
• Accommodation: Where to stay in Dublin and the areas of Dublin to avoid

best pubs in dublin for live music

FAQs about live music pubs in Dublin

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant places to catch live music in Dublin tonight 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!

Keith O'Hara

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.