10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Dublin

The Temple Bar Pub is a legendary venue among locals, especially after the sun sets in Dublin. It’s located in the riverside neighbourhood of Temple Bar, from which it takes its name. It’s the only pub in the district to have a licensed beer garden. If you’re visiting the Irish capital during winter, grab a seat inside to listen to traditional music and up-and-coming bands while sipping a local or international craft beer.

The Temple Bar Pub opens daily until the early hours. However, you might have to wait up to 30 minutes for a table if you plan on visiting over the weekend or on a Friday evening. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming events that showcase the local culture.

Bar hopping in Dublin is on many travellers’ bucket lists, largely due to the reputation that the Irish have for drinking. In reality, being too intoxicated in public is illegal, so make sure to pace yourself while spending the evening hopping around the city’s best bars.

If you want to visit a few quintessentially Irish pubs, we recommend heading to Murray’s on O’Connell Street, The Palace Bar on Bachelor’s Walk and O’Donoghue’s on Merrion Street Upper, which is one of Bruce Springsteen’s favourite dives. Also, head to the centuries-old Stag’s Head on Dame Lane for a pint of Guinness.

The National Concert Hall is one of Dublin’s top venues for live music, arts, and cultural events. It dates back to 1865, and is highly regarded as a national cultural institution. At night, the building’s façade is illuminated a mesmerising purple.

Around 1,000 events take place at the National Concert Hall annually. If you’re looking for something to do before watching an evening performance, we recommend taking a stroll around the Iveagh Gardens, which has a history spanning nearly 150 years. After the show, you’ll find plenty of bars along the nearby Harcourt Street.

St Patrick’s Cathedral is Ireland’s national cathedral. It’s a great place to visit for a bit of traditional Irish culture in Dublin. You can avoid crowds who flock here during the day by visiting in the evening – it hosts a free choral evensong until 7 pm or 8 pm, though we recommend arriving as close to 5 pm as possible.

St Patrick’s Cathedral is just a short walk from several Dublin monuments that are illuminated at night, such as the Molly Malone Statue and Dublin Castle. It’s also around the corner from Temple Bar, the city’s popular nightlife district.

The Irish Film Institute is one of Dublin’s best-known independent film cinemas. Inside, you’ll find 3 screens and a fully stocked bar, making it a great place to spend the evening. Instead of the latest blockbusters, you could watch a wide range of artsy and indie films.

The Irish Film Institute is conveniently located in the Temple Bar district, which has numerous traditional Irish pubs lining its cobblestone streets. For a stunning view of a historic street at night, head over to the nearby Ha'penny Bridge afterwards.

The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is known as Ireland’s largest fixed-seat theatre. Opened in 2010, it’s also one of the most popular performing arts theatres in Dublin. Here, award-winning shows celebrate poetry, literature, and visual performances. Even if you’re not planning to catch a performance, the theatre is worth a visit due to its stunning modernist architecture.

The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is in the heart of the Dublin Docklands area, right next to the Grand Canal. The nearest railway station is the Grand Canal Dock, which is about 10 minutes away on foot.

Dublin Castle, at over 800 years old, is one of the city’s oldest buildings. It looks just as striking and imposing today as it did during its heyday. Thanks to its ridge-top location, the monument can be seen from just about anywhere in the Irish capital. At night, the castle exterior is illuminated, making it an excellent place to take an evening stroll.

Due to its complex past, Dublin Castle is of significant historical importance to Ireland. If you want to relax with a view of the castle, we recommend heading to the rooftop terrace at Chester Beatty, which stays open until 8 pm on Wednesdays.

The Jameson Distillery Bow Street operated from 1780 to 1971, when Irish whiskey manufacturer Jameson moved its distillery to Cork. Today, you can still tour this historic distillery to learn about the manufacturing process and sample a few real Irish whiskeys.

Tours at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street usually last from 40 minutes to 1 hour. At the end of the tour, you’ll receive a Whiskey Taster Certificate. You can reach the distillery by taking the tram (Red Line) to the Smithfield stop, which is a 2-minute walk away.

The ClareHall Shopping Centre remains open until 11 pm daily, making it a great spot for late-night shopping in Dublin. Covering an area of around 200,000 sq ft, the complex has around 28 shops, including Ireland’s first Tesco and a range of entertainment outlets.

ClareHall Shopping Centre is about 9 km northeast of Dublin’s city centre, which means driving is the easiest way to get there. Alternatively, take bus #27 from Busáras, Dublin’s central bus station. It leaves for the shopping mall every 10 minutes or so.

Phoenix Park in Dublin covers an area of 707 hectares enclosed in an 11-km-long wall. It’s home to many attractions and landmarks, including the Presidential and US Ambassador’s residences. At night, most of its footpaths are illuminated.

Our favourite feature in the evening is the illuminated Wellington Monument, which is Europe’s tallest obelisk at 62 metres. It’s near the southwest entrance to Phoenix Park, so you don’t need to trek into the heart of the park to see it after sundown. Also located in the park is the Magazine Fort, which opens 24/7.