Temple Bar is Dublin’s most photographed – and most misunderstood – area. It’s the first place most tourists visit and the first thing most locals avoid. As a retired Dublin tour guide, I spent 15 years walking visitors through its cobbled chaos, dodging €9 pints, inflatable leprechauns, and the occasional spontaneous Ed Sheeran tribute act.
Let me clear something up straight away: Temple Bar is not a single bar.
It’s a district. A cultural quarter. A curated carnival. And depending on the day, it’s either oddly charming or a low-grade fever dream involving buskers and fake Guinness hats.
This is the real guide – not from a brochure, not from Google Reviews – but from a man who’s been there more times than he cares to count.
So… What Actually Is Temple Bar?
It’s not religious. It’s not sacred. And it’s definitely not quiet.
Temple Bar is a small neighbourhood in central Dublin – a few cobbled streets packed with pubs, buskers, late-night curry shops, overpriced Guinness, and more “Irish experience” than you probably asked for.
Yes, there is a bar called The Temple Bar Pub, and yes, it’s very red and very famous. But the district came first. The bar just named itself cleverly and leaned all the way into the hype.
Where Did the Name Come From?
A little history to confuse your pub crawl.
The name “Temple Bar” dates back to the early 1600s, when a fella called Sir William Temple built a house and gardens in this riverside spot. The “Bar” bit? That referred to an embankment or riverside path — like London’s own Temple Bar. So “Temple Bar” literally means Temple’s bit of the riverbank. Glamorous, right?
Back then, it was flood-prone marshland — more boots than beers. But over time it grew into a busy area full of homes, shops, and traders. Then it declined. Then it got weird. Then the 1990s came along and Temple Bar got reborn as Dublin’s “cultural quarter” — translation: pubs every ten steps and street theatre featuring lads from Ohio in Viking hats.
The Temple Bar Pub (Yes, the Red One)
You’ve seen the photo — bright red facade, flower boxes, pint glasses stacked like trophies.
This is the most photographed pub in Ireland, and for good reason. It’s lively, loud, and full of tourists asking how to pronounce “sláinte.”
Is it iconic? Sure.
Is it pricey? Absolutely.
Is it where locals go? Only if we’re lost, drunk, or trying to find someone we regret messaging.
If you want the experience, go in, snap a pic, have one pint, and leave before the credit card starts smoking. The Guinness is fine. The vibe is… enthusiastic. Just know it’s more Disneyland than Dublin.
Is Temple Bar Worth Visiting?
That depends. Are you looking for:
- Live music (mostly covers)
- Neon shamrocks and souvenir shops
- Hen parties at 11 a.m.
- Bars that open early and close late
Then Temple Bar will absolutely deliver. It’s a curated Irish experience™ with added noise and plastic hats.
But if you’re hunting for:
- Quiet, old-school pubs
- A conversation with someone who isn’t on a pub crawl
- A pint under €7
- Actual Irish people
Then you’ll want to keep walking. Luckily, the real Dublin is just a few streets away.
Where Locals Actually Go (That’s Still Nearby)
You don’t have to get a taxi to find the good stuff. Within walking distance:
- The Long Hall(South Great George’s Street)
- Victorian pub. Heavy mirrors. Red snugs. Unbothered by nonsense.
- Grogan’s(South William Street)
- Pint. Toastie. Artist in the corner reading Yeats. No music, just chat.
- The Stag’s Head(Dame Court)
- Brass, mirrors, better Guinness, and a chance of actual silence.
- The Lord Edward(Christchurch Place)
- Multi-level, old-school pub. Less noise, more character.
Bonus: If it’s late and you still want music without a conga line of Americans singing “Galway Girl,” try Whelan’s on Camden Street.
Temple Bar Survival Tips (Because You’ll Probably Go Anyway)
You’re going to end up there. That’s fine. But read this first:
- Don’t buy plastic Guinness hats. Not even ironically.
- Eat before you go. Trust me.
- Watch your phone and wallet. Pickpockets adore confused tourists.
- Go early if you want photos and none of the madness.
- Leave when someone starts singing “Wonderwall.”
That’s your cue. That’s always your cue.
Final Thoughts From a Retired Tour Guide
Temple Bar is not where you find the soul of Dublin.
But it is where you see how good we’ve gotten at packaging the soul of Dublin and selling it for €9.50 a pint.
It’s chaotic, funny, overpriced, exhausting — and sometimes, accidentally brilliant.
Go. But don’t stay.
Snap the pic. Drink the pint. Then walk two blocks, find a snug in a quiet pub, and let the real Dublin happen. You’ll know it when the barman doesn’t smile at you — that’s how we show love.
Next time? Maybe we tackle the Spire. Or Bono. Or the time someone asked me if the Cliffs of Moher were visible from O’Connell Street.
(They’re not.)
