Bonsai Bar on South Great George's Street in Dublin is Dylan McGrath's tiny Japanese-leaning cocktail room, with a tasting menu of bespoke drinks paired to sushi.
Tip: Bookings only, the room holds 24 and the kitchen pairs sushi to the cocktails, ask for the eight-seat counter for the bartender's commentary.
Address: 17 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2
The Black Door on Harcourt Street in Dublin is the Georgian basement lounge that runs over-25s only, with DJs Friday and Saturday and a no-sportswear door policy.
Tip: Strictly over 25s and the dress code is enforced, no trainers and no sportswear, book the bottle-service booth if you want a guaranteed table.
The George on South Great George's Street is Dublin's oldest gay bar, opened May 1985 eight years before decriminalisation. The central LGBTQ nightlife address.
Tip: Sunday Shirley Temple Bar Bingo at 21:30 is the institution, get there by 20:00 for a seat. The back nightclub kicks in from 23:00 Thursday to Sunday.
The Black Door on Harcourt Street in Dublin is the Georgian basement lounge that runs over-25s only, with DJs Friday and Saturday and a no-sportswear door policy.
Tip: Strictly over 25s and the dress code is enforced, no trainers and no sportswear, book the bottle-service booth if you want a guaranteed table.
The George on South Great George's Street is Dublin's oldest gay bar, opened May 1985 eight years before decriminalisation. The central LGBTQ nightlife address.
Tip: Sunday Shirley Temple Bar Bingo at 21:30 is the institution, get there by 20:00 for a seat. The back nightclub kicks in from 23:00 Thursday to Sunday.
Pantibar on Capel Street in Dublin is drag queen Panti Bliss's flamboyant bar, central to the queer scene since 2007 for drag, cabaret and a community pint.
Tip: Friday early evening is when Panti tends to drop in unannounced, Sundays do the long lazy drag brunch downstairs.
Mother is Dublin's central queer club night, running every Saturday at Lost Lane off Grafton Street since 2019 with a disco and electro programme built on guest DJs.
Tip: Pre-buy tickets, the door cuts off around 00:30 once capacity hits. Bank Holiday Sundays are the bigger nights, book early.
Street 66 on Parliament Street in Dublin opened December 2016 in the former Front Lounge as the queer venue between Temple Bar and Dublin Castle. Late licences.
Tip: The late licence runs to 02:30 Friday and Saturday, hold the courtyard tables outside in summer, the inside basement gets dense after midnight.
The Big Romance on Parnell Street opened in 2018 as Dublin's first dedicated audiophile bar, with a custom vinyl-only system and a bartenders-as-selectors policy.
Tip: Sit at the bar in front of the speakers, the booths at the back are for conversation rather than listening. Bartenders take vinyl requests if you bring records.