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The Best Airport Bars in Dublin

Pre-flight drinks at Dublin Airport, made smarter.

You're flying out of Dublin Airport, you have 90 minutes to kill, and you'd like to do better than a Pret. Good news: airport drinking has improved more in the last five years than the previous fifty. Pre-flight drinks at Dublin Airport range from chain reliability to surprisingly polished hotel-style bars in the airport hotels. This is barsforKings's editor-curated guide to drinking better at Dublin's airports.

We don't pretend airport bars compete with what you'll find in Dublin proper. The list below is honest about the trade-offs. We highlight terminals where the rooms actually try, the chains that are reliably better, and the precise terminal location for each pick. Save this before your next flight.

Want a real drink before flying? The fastest play is to get to airport hotels next door — most run polished bars that beat anything post-security. We list them at the bottom. If you've got 60 spare minutes pre-airport, see our shortlist of bars in Dublin proper at the end.

Where to Drink at the Airport

By terminal, ranked

Plays for Dublin Airport: post-security, pre-security, lounges, and the airport-hotel cheat code.

No. 01 · Pick
Terminal 1 / International Departures
Dublin Airport · Pre-flight
The most reliable post-security cocktail option at Dublin Airport. Look for hotel-affiliated lounges and full-bar restaurants over chain coffee shops.
No. 02 · Pick
Pre-Security Concourse
Dublin Airport · Pre-flight
Skip the duty-free champagne bars. The independent operators near check-in run smaller lists but better drinks. Worth the early arrival.
No. 03 · Pick
Airline Lounge
Dublin Airport · Pre-flight
If you have access via airline status or Priority Pass — these consistently beat the public bars at Dublin Airport on speed, polish and pricing.
No. 04 · Pick
Airport Hotel Bar
Dublin Airport · Pre-flight
The single best play at any airport. Hotel bars at the Dublin Airport hotels are typically the most polished drinking within five minutes of the terminals. Cab fare back is the only catch.
If You Have 60 Spare Minutes

Better drinking in Dublin proper

Skip the airport entirely. These rooms are worth the cab, even with luggage.

No. 01 · Hotel Bar
9 Below at The Stephen's Green Hibernian Club
Saint Stephen's Green · $$$$
9 Below at The Stephen's Green Hibernian Club draws a steady local crowd in Saint Stephen's Green. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are us
No. 02 · Hotel Bar
Anseo Dublin
the present tense: no nostalgia play · $
Anseo changes its craft selection regularly. Ask what is on and follow the recommendation. The bar team knows their stock and will steer you toward whatever is
No. 03 · Hotel Bar
Bar Rua Dublin
City centre · $$$
Bar Rua is Dawson Street's most precise classical cocktail bar — opened in 2022 by former Peruke & Periwig bartenders. The 24-seat counter bar is dimly lit with
No. 04 · Hotel Bar
Bow Lane Social
Saint Stephen's Green · $$$
Bow Lane Social draws a steady local crowd in Saint Stephen's Green. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening
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Photos via Google Places. Editorial selection by Bars for Kings editors. Source