Dublin’s Temple Bar District: A Locals Guide

Temple Bar in Dublin is often regarded as a ‘tourist trap’ by locals, but many fail to look beyond the overpriced pints sold by a few pubs.

While it’s arguably best-known for its lively pubs and cobbled streets, the Temple Bar area has a rich history, dating back to the 17th-century.

In this guide, you’ll learn about:

• History: The area’s often-overlooked past
• Pints: Discover the best pubs
• Food and sleep: Find the best food and hotels

Some quick need-to-knows about Temple Bar in Dublin

Although a visit to Temple Bar in Dublin is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. It’s an area, not just a pub

Everyone knows the Temple Bar pub with its famous bright red exterior, but the name actually refers to the Temple Bar district.

Bounded by the Liffey to the north and Dame Street to the south, the Temple Bar neighbourhood covers a small but lively patchwork of streets.

2. Why it’s famous

Temple Bar is famous for being promoted as a cultural quarter. The area’s colorful pubs and cobbled streets have featured prominently in Ireland’s marketing materials for decades.

As a result, many first-time visitors are already familiar with the distinctive red exteriors of the area’s most renowned pub.

3. Tourist trap

Many Dubliners, myself included, regard the Temple Bar area as a tourist trap, often unaware that we’re lumping all of its pubs and restaurants in with a select few that charge outrageous prices.

The reality is that the likes of The Temple Bar Pub and Gogarty’s often give the rest of the place a bad name (note: I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with these two, just that they’re very pricey).

4. Safety warning

Temple Bar is, in my opinion, one of the areas of Dublin to avoid in the late evenings.

Those drinking in the pubs often overindulge and the area attracts ‘undesirables’ looking to pick-pocket and, sadly, worse.

The history of Temple Bar

While thousands saunter along its cobbled streets, few visitors take the time to discover the history of Temple Bar.

The areas past is often overshadowed by its recent history as the go-to spot for tourists visiting Dublin.

Beginnings

Though it was originally settled by the Vikings, it wasn’t until some 800 years later in the 17th-century that the Temple Bar area began to experience some real activity.

That came in the form of Sir William Temple, whose house and gardens were located there in the early 1600s and from which the area now derives its name. 

The marshy land below the Liffey was then reclaimed by various wealthy English families who began to build houses and streets, beginning the formation of the area we know today.

The first mention of the name ‘Temple Bar’ is in Bernard de Gomme’s Map of Dublin from 1673, which shows the reclaimed land and new buildings.

The 18th and 19th centuries

The arrival of a new customs house in 1707 – on the site where U2’s Clarence Hotel stands today – brought money and a flurry of activity into the once pastoral area.

Warehouses were built at every corner and taverns, theatres and brothels followed suit, bringing all sorts of characters to an area previously occupied by wealthy types!

However, when customs officials decided to move into newer and larger premises on the Northside of the Liffey in 1791, the bubble burst and the Temple Bar district fell into a rapid decline.

Thus began a period of urban decay and degradation that would last almost 200 years.

Regeneration

Unbelievably, the famous regeneration of the Temple Bar area almost didn’t happen and was close to being turned into a huge bus depot!

While waiting for planning permission for that grotesque endeavour in the 1980s, state transport company CIE decided to let out Temple Bar’s derelict premises at cheap rates. 

Attracted by the bargain rent prices, artists, fringe boutiques and alternative bars and cafes started to shoot up all over the Temple Bar district.

The lively, buzzing quarter was well received by locals and resistance against CIE’s plans to raze the area grew.

Eventually, everyone saw sense that something great had happened here and it’s been a vibrant home of culture ever since. 

Pubs in Temple bar

Although there are plenty of  Dublin pubs worthy of your attention, it’s the pubs in Temple Bar that I’m focusing on here.

Personally, I think the Palace and the Auld Dub are the pick of the bunch, but there are plenty to choose from:

1. The Palace Bar

Once described by novelist and poet Patrick Kavanagh as the “most wonderful temple of art”, the handsome Palace Bar on Fleet Street is one of Dublin’s stand-out bars. And if you’re in the mood for something stronger, it also doubles as one of the city’s finest whiskey pubs.

2. The Auld Dubliner

Located in the heart of Temple Bar, The Auld Dubliner is the sort of place you could spend an entire day in. With a great menu serving favourites like Irish stew and music on seven-days-a-week, you’ll find it hard to pass.

3. The Foggy Dew

With an evocative name inspired by an old Irish ballad, The Foggy Dew is a cracking old Victorian pub with a penchant for great live music. Also, when you’re inside take a closer look at the walls and check out their impressive collection of rock memorabilia. 

4. The Temple Bar

Yes it’s the tourist pub and yes the prices are sky-high, but can you really say you’ve been to Temple Bar if you haven’t had a pint at its namesake pub? Step into the famous red pub, get yourself a Guinness and embrace the atmosphere (don’t feel obliged to buy a t-shirt, however).

Restaurants in Temple Bar

Although I’ve a guide to the best restaurants in Temple Bar in Dublin, I’ll give you three that never fail to impress below.

There are heaps of restaurants in Dublin, but these are up there with the best of them:

1. The Old Mill

Located in the heart of the Temple Bar area, The Old Mill attracts tourists with its warm, cozy ambiance and high-quality Irish cuisine, featuring classic dishes like stews and fish and chips in a setting adorned with Irish memorabilia.

2. Mongolian BBQ

The Mongolian Barbeque is home to a casual, diner-style setting where guests can customize and enjoy fresh, high-quality meats, seafood, tofu, and vegetables cooked on a cast-iron grill.

3. Rosa Madre

One of Dublin’s top Italian restaurants, Rosa Madre offers a sophisticated ambiance with warm wooden decor, shelves of wine bottles, and elegantly set tables.

Hotels in Temple Bar

If you want to stay at the heart of the action, you’re in luck – there are some excellent hotels in Temple Bar, as you’ll discover in this accommodation guide.

Note: if you book a hotel through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. The Fleet

Situated conveniently next door to one of Dublin’s best pubs (The Palace), The Fleet is a classy hotel that’s recently undergone a major refurbishment to make your stay even more enjoyable. 

2. Temple Bar Inn

Just a little further down on Fleet Street is the Temple Bar Inn, a relaxed boutique hotel in a deadly location. Everything feels fresh here and their breakfast selection is great too. 

3. Clarence Hotel

Dating back to 1852, the 4-star Clarence Hotel is a Dublin icon that offers great views over the Liffey. It was once owned by Bono and The Edge of U2, though don’t expect to bump into them. 

What to do around the area

One of the beauties of the Temple Bar district is that it’s a short spin away from some of the best things to do in Dublin.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Temple Bar in Dublin!

• Trinity College: Home to the ancient Book of Kells and the gorgeous Long Room at the Old Library
• The Ha’penny Bridge: A slice of old-world-Dublin that takes you across the Liffey
• Cathedrals and castles: Within 10 minutes you can check out the 800-year-old Christ Church Cathedral or wander over to Dublin Castle
• Itineraries: See my guides to spending 1 day in Dublin, 2 days in Dublin or 3 days in Dublin