Contemporary Bar entertainment in Dublin
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Café en Seine
The wildly extravagant art-nouveau style of this huge bar has been a massive hit since it first opened in 1995, and while it may not be the 'in' place it once was, it is still very popular with suburbanites, the after-work crowd and out-of-towners. Maybe it's the glass panelling, or the real 12m-high trees; but most likely it's the beautiful people propping up the wood-and-marble bar.
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Davy Byrne's
James Joyce would barely recognise the bar that Leopold Bloom popped into for a gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of burgundy in Ulysses. It doesn't stop Davy Byrne's from making the most of its Joycean connections, even though today's version is strictly for out-of-towners and the rugby crowd.
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Morrison Bar
This is the north side’s version of the Octagon Bar, only far more difficult to get into if you don’t look the part. If you haven’t spent a fortune on your outfit (or managed to fake it), forget it. You wouldn’t have enjoyed the luxurious John Rocha–designed dark-oak and cream interior, the views over the Liffey, and the suave and sophisticated clientele. Nah, you didn’t miss much.
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Odeon
This former train station is light, airy, and jam-packed with art-deco elegance and Red Bull–loaded punters getting ready for a gig next door at Tripod. The comfy sofas are too scarce but this is the kind of place to be parading or standing along its impossibly long bar rather than sitting down anyway. Sunday afternoons are all about indulgence and taking it nice and easy with Bloody Marys, the newspapers and comfort foods.
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Bailey
Perpetually popular with self-appointed shakers and movers – and a few frustrated office workers looking to shake and move – the Bailey has wall-mounted light boxes and comfortable seating, perfect for an evening schmooze. Outside gas braziers allow you to sit on the pavement and observe the street life by day. It also does a mean trade in continental lunches.
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Turk's Head
This superpub is decorated in two completely different styles – one really gaudy, the other a re-creation of LA c 1930 – and is one of the oddest and most interesting in Temple Bar. It pulsates nightly with a young pumped-up crowd of mainly tourists, out to boogie to chart hits. Be mindful of hidden steps all over the place.
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Pravda
As un-Irish as you could probably get, this huge, multilevel Russian-themed bar was all the rage when it opened a few years ago. It has got a party atmosphere and is a great pick-up joint for young tourists, but you can forget about conversation at night (because the music is so loud) and the bouncers seem especially dim-witted.
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Bank
This architecturally dazzling bar occupies the site of a former Victorian bank and has opulent decoration, including a stained-glass ceiling, hand-carved plasterwork and mosaic-tiled floors to occupy your eyes while you wait for your pint of Guinness to settle. The atmosphere is conversational, and the bar staff are excellent.
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37 Dawson St
Antiques, eye-catching art and elegant bric-a-brac adorn this new bar that has quickly established itself as a favourite with the trendy crowd. At the back is the new Whiskey Bar, a 50s-style bar that Don Draper & co would feel comfortable sipping a fine scotch at; upstairs is an elegant restaurant that serves a terrific brunch.
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Thomas Read's
The clientele at this spacious and airy bar, spread across two levels, seems to favour a selection of wine and coffee over beer. During the day, it's a great place to relax and read a newspaper. For a more traditional setting its annexe, the Oak, is still a great place for a pint.
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Dakota
Surprisingly chilled out for a superpub, Dakota is distinguished by dimmed lights, funky tunes, crafty cocktails and a slick modern layout. Unfortunately, we found the weekend bouncers to be goons, the beer patchy and the bar staff so frosty that if you stuck your tongue out at them it might stick.
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Octagon Bar
Temple Bar's trendiest watering hole is where you'll find many of Dublin's celebrities (including mates of the owners, U2) and their hangers-on, swaggering and sipping expertly made cocktails in front of stylish wood panelling and amid perpetual daylight. Drinks are expensive, but if such things concern you, don't even try getting past the bouncers.
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Messrs Maguire
This uber-bar and microbrewery is spread across three levels, connected by a truly imperious staircase, and is a disconcerting mix of young and old, intimate and brash. Its own beers are worth contemplating, but not on the weekend when the place is absolutely jammers.
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Horseshoe Bar
The refurb of the Shelbourne has brought us a brand new Horseshoe Bar, a thoroughly modern version of the old one beloved of politicians, hacks and journalists, where many an important decision was made, celebrated and even regretted around the once-horsehoe-shaped-but-now-rectangular bar.
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SamSara
This huge Middle Eastern–themed drinking emporium is packed at weekends with gorgeous young things and thingies, air-kissing and comparing their designer ware. The seats are too uncomfortable and there's an overwhelming vibe of 'me, me, me!' but you can get through it by meditating on samsara – the endless cycle of suffering and reincarnation. Or just enjoy the eye candy.
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Pygmalion
Currently one of the busiest bars in town, the 'Pyg' caters to a largely student crowd with its €10 pitchers, pounding music and labyrinthine nooks and crannies (perfect for a naughty hideaway). The owner thought it best to line the wall with carpet – perhaps they're worried that the action on the dance floor might get a little too crazy?
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Mercantile
A big, sprawling bar spread across three floors, the Mercantile's stock-in-trade has been tourists, mostly of the stag-and-hen type, who fill the place at weekends and lend it a party atmosphere which then attracts local lads and lasses looking for a bit of 'fun'. The music is as loud as the atmosphere is boisterous – you know what to expect!
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Dicey Reilly's
One of Dublin's most popular bars is this absolutely massive place spread across a couple of levels and with about three different styles, including old-style pub, modern superbar and European beer garden. It is the favourite destination for the after-work crowd, which mixes it up with all kinds of revellers from all over the country who come for the cheap booze, the charty music and the lack of pretention. Which makes us wonder why exactly the bouncers are so notoriously difficult?
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