Dublin - Nightlife

Sink a pint of the black stuff at any pub in town or choose a chic southside bar for a cocktail or two.

For a pint, an Irish folk session, a cool cocktail in a leather barstool hangout or the most fashionable clubs, Trinity and Temple Bar have the most good-time venues. You can also seek out a peaceful hotel bar.

Never mind the décor, the locals' favourite places for a pint and chat are Camden Street, Baggott Street and around St Stephen's Green. They might not know how to mix a mojito behind the bar, but the Guinness tastes good.

North of the Liffey used to be a barren area for nightlife, but thanks to the sprucing up of the quayside it has been changing over the past decade. O'Connell Street's pubs have a new lease of life and some have music, and the North Quays and Phoenix Park area boasts a mix of modern bars and some of Dublin's oldest taverns.

Unless you want to hang around with legless English beer monsters, avoid the stag and hen parties around Temple Bar. Dress up if you want to get past the doorman at precious clubs, otherwise casual is fine.

Step out in the sunshine to Beautiful Day by Dublin boys U2; gaze at the statue of Phil Lynott to Thin Lizzy's cover of Whiskey in the Jar; and feast on cockles and mussels alive, alive-o to Molly Malone, the locals' favourite 'tart with the cart'.