The Vintage Cocktail Club on Crown Alley in Temple Bar Dublin sits behind an unmarked black door, three floors of speakeasy rooms and a 1600s-rooted cocktail list.
Tip: Ring the bell, the door staff are looking for a booking name. The roof terrace is the prize on a dry night, request it on the reservation form.
Address: 15 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 E229
Peruke & Periwig on Dawson Street in Dublin runs three floors of theatrical cocktail rooms, the Teased & Twirled menu downstairs and Velvet Tresses upstairs.
Tip: The first-floor Velvet Tresses room is the bookable cocktail experience, request the corner booth. The ground floor takes walk-ins for the standard menu.
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.
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.