The 8 best clubs in Dublin

There aren’t many clubs with musicals named after them. But Dublin’s Copper Face Jacks – or ‘Coppers’ – is one. Best known for its cheesy tunes and exceedingly late licence, Copper Face Jacks contains multiple dance floors, an array of seating areas, and even its own hotel. Avoid Temple Bar and head to Harcourt Street – this is where you’ll find a real local institution. 

The old townhouse setting (complete with vintage wallpaper) makes Wellington Quay’s the Workman’s Club feel more like a house party than a club. Downstairs, you’ll find a large bar and stage which hosts regular live gigs and open karaoke nights on Sundays. The upper level boasts another bar and two dance floors. Come for the cheap Zaconey and Coke and stay for the alternative and rock DJ sets.

You can’t walk through Dublin city centre without at least hearing the Pygmalion beer garden – come rain or shine, it’s always packed. Just off South William Street, this is the perfect place to chill with mates in summer... before heading into the club and dancing (and drinking) the night away. The clientele is a mix of hip students and young professionals, and the soundtrack is mainly house. Don’t miss the two-for-one ‘Pygtails’.

If you like wearing sombreros, drinking margaritas and dancing on tables, Xico is your new fave hangout. This Baggot Street hot spot puts on serious fiestas with regular live music, including a band that blends saxophone, drums and live scratching. The subterranean Mexican-themed club spans three floors and plays feel-good tunes all night. One of the best places to let loose in the city.

This is one of those clubs that fill up every night of the week – mostly because it’s easy on the wallet and is also serious craic. Set in a Georgian hotel, Dicey’s stretches across two dance floors and a large beer garden. You’d struggle to find cheaper drinks anywhere else in the city. The crowd is international, and there’s a live DJ every night. Sets range from pop to rap. For a swisher vibe, head to the high-end Krystle club upstairs.

Smack-bang in the centre on George’s Street, this is Dublin’s most iconic LGBTQ+ venue. The George has been going for 36 years and threw its symbolic weight behind Ireland’s same-sex marriage referendum in 2015. The space boasts an array of dance floors with particularly dazzling light displays. Expect gay anthems, drag nights, live music and (lots of) karaoke. The place to come to be yourself and meet like-minded locals and travellers.

For what’ll feel like three nights in one, head to this versatile club on Wexford Street. Spanning three floors, each playing a different genre, the Opium Club will keep you dancing to deep house, nu-disco and ambient techno into the wee hours. It also hosts live music and themed nights like Tiki Thursdays. The quirky, vibrant décor has the feel of a Manga novel.

Tucked in the basement of a Japanese restaurant, Izakaya plays techno, EDM and house in a simple setting. With a bar at the top, a dance floor in the centre, the DJ at the far side and a cosy smoking area out back, it’s certainly cosy. But frankly, the music’s so good you could spend hours on end here and never want to leave.