Dublin

You will hear the word craic (pronounced “crack”) in Dublin. It means “good times,” often associated with drinking. The Irish are definitely fun-loving people who are known around the world for being friendly and approachable.

Irish brews and whiskies are famous, and many and varied are those centers of Irish social life, the pubs. Dubliners in particular have a well-deserved reputation for enjoying a drink. With every round, the brogues become more pronounced and a mischievous humor emerges; queer descendants of ancient Celts and Norsemen can certainly hold their own in the sometimes raucous partying.

But it hasn't been so long ago, since condoms had to be smuggled across the border from Northern Ireland, divorce and abortion were illegal, and being gay was something not to be discussed (it was finally decriminalized in 1993). Things have changed, and quickly. In 2010, the country overwhelmingly approved same-sex civil unions.

 

Getting here

North of the city is Dublin Airport.  Several bus routes will easily get you into the city. Or, if you prefer, taxis are always available. Bus and transit information can be found on the Doublin Airport website.

 

Getting around

Walking is the best and most interesting way to get around the city. But if you need to go a bit farther, Dublin has an efficient bus and tram system. To explore areas around Dublin there are DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) trains from Irish Rail - also with transportation throughout Ireland. Bus Eireann can also get you most everywhere, around the whole country, at a good price: under $18 from Dublin to Cork for example.

 

Neighborhoods

Much of the nightlife of Dublin (or Baile Atha Cliath) takes place in the area around Temple Bar on the south bank of the River Liffey, up St George's Street and around St Stephen's Green. On most evenings the streets are full of people crowding Temple Bar sidewalks and pubs, with plenty of live traditional music, and authentic Irish stew, along with many other international cuisines. With smoking banned indoors, many people congregate outside, and conversations are easy to strike up with most anyone who catches your fancy. Gay bars, dance clubs, restaurants, stores and a bathhouse are within easy walking distance of one another throughout the area.

Just outside the gates of Trinity College the pedestrian shopping district of Grafton Street is lined with every kind of shop and cafe, plus indoor arcades, and malls such as the giant Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, across from Dublin's large city park. Nearby Dawson Street has lots of bookshops, cafes, and restaurants. On the north side of this central district, Fleet Street runs through the heart of Temple Bar, parallel to the river.

Droves of young people flocked to the Irish capital during the "Celtic Tiger" years, among them Eastern Europeans and Asians who settled here, and a fiourishing arts scene and diverse student population add to the mix. Dublin is fun and international, but for a bit more of the "real" Ireland  consider a trip to Cork, with it's own lively gay scene.

 

Currency and Money

Ireland is part of the Euro Zone, so the euro is the official currency.

 

Media & Resources

Gay Community News, or GCN is the informative free gay monthly magazine that's distributed throughout Ireland.

QueerID (aka QID), is a gay online social networking site, with nightlife and events updates.

The website of Béar Féile is well maintained, with events info, photos and videos of Dublin bears.

For info on Dublin's most lively neighborhood check website VisitTempleBar, and for Dublin in general see VisitDublin

Outhouse, in a fantastic building, houses Dublin's GLBT community center as well as a cafe. They provide local information and an opportunity to meet locals.

The Irish Queer Archive  is a Dublin area non-profit group that collects all things Irish relating to homosexuality - now a part of the collections of the National Library of Ireland (2 Kildare St).

For locations and website links to businesses listed below, see our maps & listings section.

 

Going Out

The Dragon (64-65 South Great Georges St) lavish cocktail bar, lounge on two floors, daily from 8pm, regular entertainments, special events, Saturday drag cabaret on stage. Packed weekends, young, stylish, mostly guys, but also women. Open to 2:30am Thursdays through Saturdays. Thursday Prhomo now takes place here too.

Front lounge (33 Parliament St), attitude-free video bar, gay, straight, bi, lesbian, whatever; special events, entertainment, Tuesday karaoke. Lunch and all-day menu, DJs spin wide variety of music.

The George (89 South Great Georges St), friendly locals' pub Bridie's open daily from 12:30pm. Wednesday-Sunday dance club, young and energetic crowd. Nightly acts and shows, alternative drag, dance contests, bingo, karaoke nights. Dancing before and after shows until 2:30am, no cover before 11pm.

Pantibar (7-8 Capel St) owned and operated by Dublin's most-loved drag queen Panti, onstage Thursdays, the most popular night to kick off the weekends with campy escapades. Open nightly 5pm to midnight; quieter pace weekdays as people unwind after work.

 

One night clubs

The Dublin Bears do Honeypot at Turks Head (27 Parliament St, Temple Bar) every first Saturday. Rule fetish nights take place here a couple of times per month.

The bears also do a night at Nealons Pub (165 Capel St), each last Saturday and Furry Glen is at Thomas House Bar (86 Thomas St), each second Saturday.

Glitz is the Tuesday night gay dance event at Dandelion (St Stephens Green Centre-previously at Break for the Border) - still from 11 pm to 3am.

Special gay nights at normally straight clubs come and go frequently. Check local listings to be sure.

Mother at Copper Alley (Arlington Hotel, opposite back entrance of Front Lounge) a weekly Saturday night gay dance party.

Sunday Social at Sycamore (9 Sycamore, Temple Bar) is an ongoing weekly gay dance night from 11pm. The nearby Purty Kitchen, (Essex St, Temple Bar) has dance, trance, house or old-fashioned party music on several flloors.

Stereo Vibe does Studio 54 at various clubs around town  - see their website fot details.

 

Saunas

Boilerhouse (12 Crane Lane), big, popular men's sauna, social club, cavernous cruisy areas, two steam rooms, private rooms, cafe. Loyal regulars keep it busy, especially weekends. Open to 6am Monday-Thursday, non-stop on weekends.

The Dock Sauna (21 Upper Ormond Quay), steamroom, dry sauna, video and dark rooms, internet access, snacks and refreshments. Below Inn On The Liffey guesthouse from which guests have free access to sauna.

 

Lodgings

Dorm beds for as little as 10 euros/night at Barnacles (19 Temple Lane), pleasant Temple Bar hostel. Also with private rooms, double beds, en suite bathrooms, balconies, reasonable prices. Informal international backpacker mix, communal kitchen, 24-hour reception. Drawback: no guest visitors.

The Clarence Hotel (6-8 Wellington Quay; 353-1-407-0800) comfortable general public hotel at Temple Bar beside the River Liffey - owned by Bono & Edge of U2.

Inn On The Liffey (21 Upper Ormond Quay) gueshouse and bathhouse complex overlooking the river banks.

The Merchant House (8 Eustace Street; 353-1-633-4447), heart of Temple Bar, four luxury suites, restored 18th Century merchant townhouse, all amenities. Secure private entrance, reduced-rate parking nearby.

Panti's Pads (7-8 Capel St) comfortable self-catered apartments above Pantibar, each with double bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, Wi-Fi. Free drink when you pick up the keys.

Paramount Hotel (Essex Gate, Parliament St),  64 rooms, warm welcoming decor, close  to gay nightclubs, restaurants, and tourist attractions in central Temple Bar location.

 

Eating out

Dublin is blessed with a variety of restaurants with authentic cuisines from all over the world, as well as basic home-grown offerings. Many of the pubs have daily lunch specials, too.

Juice (73-83 South Great Georges St), innovative, stylish vegetarian restaurant between George and Dragon; natural, organic food, reasonable prices. Fresh juices and smoothies, delicious vegan/veggie lunches and dinners daily till 10pm. Also organic wines and beers, exotic teas, organic coffees, desserts.

Mermaid Cafe (69/70 Dame St), must-try dining option in gayest area. Naturally delicious, wholesome, and hearty food. Daily lunch and dinner, fresh soups, daily specials, big teas and coffee selections.

Other gay-friendly restaurants at the center include: Border Grill (2 Johnstons Pl, Lower Stephens) Mexican cantina and restaurant; Chameleon (1 Lower Fawne's) for Indonesian fare; the Farm (3 Dawson St) affordable, tasty, homemade, locally-sourced food; Juice (73-83 South Great Georges St), vegetarian and vegan meals, juices, smoothies, extensive wine list; the Larder Cafe Bistro (8 Parliament St) good & inexpensive food, early & late hours, brunch, take-out; Lemon Jelly (1, Millennium Walkway), wholesome bagels, panini, and stuffed crepes, both savory and sweet; Monty's of Kathmandu (28 Eustace), award winning Nepalese restaurant; the Tea Room (6-8 Wellington Way) at the Clarence Hotel; and Trastevere (1 Temple Bar Square) for "New York-style Italian."

A little further out: L'Ecrivain (109a Lower Baggot), fine classic French dining, popular enough to require reservations most nights; Saba (26-28 Clarendon), traditional Thai and Vietnamese food with rich authentic flavors; Trocadero (3 St. Andrews Street), theater-inspired restaurant, highly-rated food near St. Stephen's Green; and Odessa (13-14 Dame Court), simple but tasty food, comfortable atmosphere, reasonable prices.

For inexpensive nibbles while listening to street musicians at Temple Bar Square, or watching the river and people flow by, there are  a number places with kabab, dogs, burgers, and pizzas for take-out at the center. These include: Burdock's (Epicurian Hall, 13 Liffey Walk), Dublin's most experienced fish and chip shop (since 1913), just across Ha'Penny Bridge; Di Fontaine's Pizza (4 Crown Alley), at the famous Eamonn Doran's Bar bar and music venue on the square, with big, American-style slices; and Gourmet Burger Kitchen (1 Temple Bar Square), the local outpost of a chain of burger joints.  Half Moon (Crown Alley) is known for crepes, but also serves paninis and toasties, until 2am. Heavenly Food (3 Temple Bar Square) has outdoor seating right on the Square, with light fare and beverages.

The Saturday market stalls at Meeting House Square, just off Temple Bar, are a good place to get fresh produce, local cheese, fresh baked goodies, and various kinds of other finger-food snacks.

 

Shopping

Before a rowdy all-nighter at one of those wild Dublin dance parties, get a makeover from someone who understands the beauty needs of the body-conscious male, offering exfoliation, waxing, massage, facials, and more. Stephen Thomas Beauty Salon (64, Dame Street, Unit 1, Coghills House) in Temple Bar will set you up for the runways of Milan -- or at least the back-alleys of Dublin -- looking your jaw-dropping best.

Basic Instincts (8 Eustace Street), Dublin's only gay-owned store of its kind, with leather PVC, rubber wear, intimate lingerie; adult magazines, greeting cards, DVDs, kinky gifts, Mister B merchandise. All-natural Chinese Viagra comes highly recommended. Basement cruising, cinema complex, private cabins, glory holes.