Temple Bar Dublin
Temple Bar is one of the most popular and rowdy tourist destinations in Dublin, and has helped to put the city on the map of the top places to party in Europe! While the term 'bar' is usually used to refer to a pub or club-like establishment, in this case 'bar' is the historical term for a River Walkway, which is where the Temple Bar area is located. This is one of Dublin's oldest areas, and is a virtual maze of streets packed with stores, restaurants, pubs, clubs and cafes.

Take a walk through these historical streets during the day to experience an older incarnation of Dublin. The area contains many cultural centers for film, theatre and music, as well as tons of great little stores for shopping and browsing. In recent years a lot of effort has been put into making this area the hub of cultural activity in Dublin, and the efforts are paying off: Temple Bar has a distinct flavor of fun, history and art in every corner.

While Temple Bar is typically tame during the day, it quickly becomes the party central of Dublin at night, with hundreds of drunken revelers walking the streets and ducking into the many pubs. The Oak/Thomas Read's is one of the most highly recommended of these. This establishment is actually two separate pubs that are connected: The Oak is an older-style pub, while Thomas Read's is more of a cafe/eatery place. Tourists often flock to The Quays bar, which has a great atmosphere and a live band. Brazen Head is an especially busy pub, but the beer here is fantastic, and it boasts tons of character.