The Stag's Head on Dame Court in Dublin is the 1895 A.J. McLoughlin Victorian pub James Joyce drank at, with stag-themed stained glass and carved wood snugs.
Tip: Walk down the alley off Dame Lane, the back entrance avoids the front pavement crowd. The upstairs cabaret hall hosts comedy most nights.
Address: 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2
Bow Lane on Aungier Street in Dublin is the late cocktail bar and dance room with a DJ programme that runs disco and house until well after 02:00 most nights.
Tip: The bottomless brunch crowd peaks at 15:00, walk in then for a table or after 21:00 once the dance floor takes over.
Index Dublin moved into the former Opium Rooms on Middle Abbey Street and is now the city's serious techno and house room with Glitterbox residencies.
Tip: Doors hard close around 01:00 on the busy nights, get there before midnight or queue the rest of the set out on Abbey Street.
The Workman's Club on Wellington Quay in Dublin runs the 1888 working men's hall as a live music room with the Vintage Room basement programming club nights.
Tip: Buy your gig ticket and you stay in for the late club room, do not waste the cover by leaving at 23:00 like the tourists do.
Bow Lane on Aungier Street in Dublin is the late cocktail bar and dance room with a DJ programme that runs disco and house until well after 02:00 most nights.
Tip: The bottomless brunch crowd peaks at 15:00, walk in then for a table or after 21:00 once the dance floor takes over.
Lost Lane opened in 2019 off Grafton Street in Dublin with a 320 capacity live music room and a Friday and Saturday club programme anchored by the Mother residency.
Tip: Use the Adam Court alley entrance off Grafton Street, not the Porterhouse door. Friday club nights pre-sell, do not chance a cold walk-in.
Whelan's on Wexford Street is the canonical Dublin live music room, three venues across the building running seven nights, with Hozier and Glen Hansard alumni.
Tip: The main venue is the upstairs room, not the front bar, ask at the door if you have a ticket. Sundays are the trad night and the bar pours till 01:00.
Vicar Street on Thomas Street in Dublin opened in 1998 and has hosted Bob Dylan, Adele and Ed Sheeran in a 1,500-standing Liberties room that touring artists prize.
Tip: The cabaret-table seated layout is the best one in the room, book direct on vicarstreet.com and pick the bottom tier for sightlines.