Editorial

The 10 Best Bars in Dublin 2026

Dublin's bar scene is the most exported drinking culture in the world — every Irish pub from Tokyo to Buenos Aires owes something to the rooms below. The 10 here split between the centuries-old institutions (Mulligan's, since 1782; Kehoe's, since 1803) and the modern cocktail rooms that have emerged since 2010. Most are within a 15-minute walk of Trinity College.

The 10 best bars in Dublin

  1. 01

    Mulligan's

  2. 02

    Kehoe's

  3. 03

    The Long Hall

  4. 04

    Doheny & Nesbitt

  5. 05

    The Horseshoe Bar at the Shelbourne

  6. 06

    The Cobblestone

  7. 07

    Anseo

  8. 08

    The Vintage Cocktail Club

  9. 09

    The Blind Pig

  10. 10

    The Side Door at the Shelbourne

How to drink in Dublin like an Irish person

Pints come first; cocktails later. The historic pubs (Mulligan's, Kehoe's, The Long Hall) are best between 6 and 9 PM, when locals are doing post-work pints. The modern cocktail rooms (Vintage Cocktail Club, The Blind Pig) open later. Most pubs close by 11:30 PM weekdays, 12:30 AM weekends — Irish licensing law shapes the night.

European Editor — based in London. Twelve years across Soho, Marais and Mitte. Strong opinions about ice.

Keep reading

Related guides

Weekly picks

The bars worth going to, weekly.