Which Irish cities have the best nightlife?
Dublin for depth: the biggest choice of pubs, gig rooms and clubs, with Temple Bar aimed at visitors and Camden Street and Wexford Street where Dubliners drink, and late licences running to about 2.30am. Galway for the pub streets: the Latin Quarter and Quay Street hold the best few streets in the country after dark, with live music every night. Cork for a local's night out, compact and centred on rooms like the Crane Lane Theatre and the Sin É traditional music pub on Coburg Street. Belfast for the Cathedral Quarter, the north's best night, though last orders come at 11pm by default there. Kilkenny is the small city pick, a medieval centre you can cross in minutes with a busy weekend scene. Pub hours across the Republic follow one clock: last orders at 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, 12.30am on Friday and Saturday and 11pm on Sunday. Our Ireland nightlife guide works through the five cities one by one, and adds Dingle and Westport for music-led nights in smaller towns.
Useful pages: Irish food · Irish food and drink experiences · Food and drink basics · Irish pubs and music · What to eat in Ireland · Best Irish souvenirs · Tours · Events · Plan your journey
Sources
- Citizens Information: alcohol licensing hours, citizensinformation.ie
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