Gay Dublin: our complete travel guide for LGBTQ travelers

Home of the Shirley Temple Bingo – one of Dublin's best drag shows. Every Sunday evening, Ms. Temple takes over and entertains the crowds…we lapped up every minute – tip: just don't sit too close to the front or she will pick on you! The George is an institution on the Dublin gay scene. By day it's the city's top gay bar. By night, especially on weekends, it's the capital's best gay club (more on this below). Find out more about this awesome place on The George Instagram.

Owned by the Irish Queen of Drag herself, Ms. Panti Bliss, Pantibar sits at the top of Capel Street. From the giant rainbow flag to the massive outdoor sign that spells out the bar name in glittering lights, you know you’re going to be in for a fun gay time. The bar staff here are super-hot and beyond friendly. Cocktails are surprisingly cheap, by Dublin standards, and delicious. During weeknights, it’s a relatively quiet place while on Saturdays, they often have drag performances – which can sometimes include cameos from Ms. Bliss herself! Also pro-tip: They offer free STIs testing on Saturday afternoons.

Throughout the day, Street 66 is a café/bar – great for meeting friends over a coffee or day drink. As it moves towards the evening, Street 66 becomes more raucous and party-centric. It attracts a young crowd, who show up for the Top 40 hits, classic pop tracks, and EDM. When we went, there was a drag DJ glammed up for the gawds, churning out gay bop after gay bop. They have a wide selection of drinks, with our personal favorite, the espresso martini! Nothing like a good mix of alcohol and caffeine to give you a perfect buzz for the evening…

Sitting right across the street from Pantibar, Pennylane is a chic cocktail gay bar, also owned by Ms. Panti Bliss. It opened its doors in 2019 and is a relatively demure spot for the Dublin queer community to chill out in. It’s more sophisticated than some of the other bars and clubs we’ve noted on this list. The décor features a red brick wall, marble statues, and plants. The staff at Pennylane are lovely and sure know how to whip up a delicious cocktail. We say grab a drink here and head off for a dance in Pantibar or Street 66 afterward.

The heart of the Dublin gay scene, The George is our favorite gay club in Dublin. We love coming here for drinks first (see bar section above), then a few dance moves later in the evening when it becomes a club. The George is the place to go for all things drag, pop music, and dancing. The crowd is a great mix of young and old, bear and otters, Irish and international. Spread across two floors, there is plenty of space for dancing, chatting, and flirting. They regularly host drag shows in the evenings, featuring legendary Irish queens like Paul Ryder, Pixie Woo, Davina Devine, and Victoria's Secret. It’s where the Drag Race girls perform on their UK and Ireland club tours as well, so you never know what icon you might come across when visiting.

Euphoria is held in The Button Factory in Temple Bar two Fridays a month. In terms of music, Euphoria is more house and techno-based than pop or dance. It’s been known to hold themed parties, as well as the Sexy Snowball. So, if you’re over moving to the same old Beyonce and Gaga songs, then a trip to Euphoria might just be for you. I mean, with a name like Euphoria (Loreen at Eurovision 2012 memories anyone?) it already promises one hell of a good time!

Mother is an LGBTQ club night held on Saturday nights at Lost Lane on Grafton Street. It was set up in 2010 as a way for disco and EDM lovers to reclaim their space in the gay community. It is also the mother of all Pride events every June during Dublin Pride with a massive dance party, for which tickets always sell out super fast. In 2019, they hosted the first-ever LGBTQ music festival in Dublin, with tons of performances from queer artists and famous drag queens.

We know the name of this one caught your eye… and the gay event itself is just as scandalous as you’d expect. It’s only on a few times throughout the year on the Sunday before a bank holiday. You can check when these dates are but it’s roughly in March, April, May, June, August, and October. It’s when the hardcore loving subsection of the LGBTQ community comes out to play in the 4 Dame Lane club. On their Facebook page, they note how it’s the perfect event for “fabulous freaks and party monsters”…Why didn’t they just @ us…?!

The DADDi parties take place monthly, so the crowd always comes out in full force to make the most of it. This themed gay dance party is held for bears, leather lovers, and daddies. The music is heavy and pulsing, so expect to get very sweaty on the dancefloor. Men on the cruise will be sure to pull as the place gets packed to the brim.

Held every Friday in “The Hub” in Temple Bar, the Sweatbox is Dublin's best gay club for house music. At each weekly party, you just feel obliged to join in and take it off. And by that, we mean your shirt! It’s a night of great music, hot men, and sweaty dancing. What more could you ask for? Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned the infamous darkroom… If you’re looking for some fun with a mysterious (anonymous) lover, then you know exactly where to go…

Profile parties happen once a month on a Saturday and celebrate everything gay! From Drag Race premiere parties to Valentine's speed-dating events, Profile always likes to add some fabulous theme onto their night. They often have DJs from around the world performing so expect an eclectic mix of music. This is what we love about Profile parties – you never know what flavor or genre you’ll be getting! The men are hot, the drinks are delish, and the night is always guilt-free fun…

This is one of the most high-end restaurants in Dublin – we’re talking Michelin stars here! Its wide-open interior and high ceilings mixed with excellent service add to the cosmopolitan buzz. It’s very much on the pricey side, but worth it if you’re looking to treat yourself, perfect for a celebratory dinner. Serving up scrumptious meals that feature the best of Irish produce, Glover’s Alley is the epitome of fine dining. It also has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. The restaurant faces St Stephens Green, which makes it super convenient to get to if you’re staying in the middle of the city.

Based in the trendy Smithfield area, Oscars Café Bar is a high-end restaurant with modern cuisine. The interior is very chic and contemporary, pulling together the feel of a classic Irish pub, yet with an urban flair and polish. It has outdoor dining, which is fabulous to sit in when the sun is out, especially as it overlooks the bustling square where there is always a hive of activity.

Of course, you can find up-scale restaurants anywhere in the world. What you can’t find is the traditional Irish bar but J.P. Mooney's encapsulates just that. With cheeky wait staff, classic Irish dishes, and tons of Guinness (there is even a stew dish infused with the black stuff on the menu), you can’t get any more Irish if you tried. Based on Nassau Street, a stone's throw away from Grafton Street, it’s close to tons of main attractions like Trinity College and St Stephen's Green.

One of the all-time greats in the literary world, Oscar Wilde was beloved for his sharp wit and powerful storytelling; two attributes that this walking tour uses in abundance. We particularly loved this tour because we got an inspiring history about this legend's life at Merrion Square. This is where you can find the Oscar Wilde statue, where the man himself lies suavely over a rock. Our guide gave us the all fascinating history of Oscar Wilde here, along with details about other ‘rogues' from Dublin. A must for all LGBTQ travelers to Dublin!

They say no trip to Ireland is complete without sampling some of the black stuff. So why not go to where the precious nectar is created? The famous Guinness Storehouse is situated slightly outside of the main city, close to Dublin Zoo and Heuston Station. It’s about a 10/15-minute bus ride from the central part of the city. In the factory, you’ll be caught up on all the history and legacy of the infamous stout. You’ll learn how it is made, as well as delivered to all the corners of the world. If you’re a lightweight, then you better make sure you arrive on a full stomach, as you’ll get your own drink at the end of the tour. If you think you can handle it, you could even do a combined tour of the Guinness Storehouse AND the Jameson Distillery!

During the Famine and subsequent periods of economic decline, Irish people abandoned their shores for places like the UK and the United States. Exhibits at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum delve into the social and political make-up of Ireland through the years that drove citizens to emigrate. This includes video testimonies of emigrants, delving into their personal stories of leaving home and the life they found abroad. Other exhibits look at the contributions Irish emigrants have made across the world, from music to literature. It's absolutely fascinating and a must-visit.

The world-famous “Book of Kells” is on display in Trinity College in the Long Room, which is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The book was made in 800AD and is thought to contain the four Gospels of the New Testament. As such it's so famous that people travel from all over the world visit to see the incredibly intricate illustrations – it receives around 1 million each year! It's so impressive that it even inspired the Oscar-nominated movie, “The Secret of Kells”. Even if you're not religious Trinity College and the stunning Long Room is worth a visit, you can even combine it with a tour of Dublin Castle.

As the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the most important places of worship in Ireland. Built on the grounds where Saint Patrick baptized people into the Christian faith, the cathedral itself was constructed in the 12^th century. Tours are available that take you around the cathedral, going into the history and cultural significance of the cathedral – or you can do a self-guided tour. A choir can regularly be heard singing here – a tradition that dates back to the 1400s when people would meet here to sing together.

What was once one of the most famous prisons in the country has now become one of the most popular tourist attractions of Dublin. So much history occurred in the walls of Kilmainham Gaol, including the execution of 14 men who led the Easter Rising rebellion. You can only visit the gaol as part of a tour, where your guide will tell you all about the history of the building, the type of prisoners who were sent there, and the conditions they had to live in. Even though it's grim, we definitely recommend experiencing it.

Home to hundreds of paintings from Irish and international artists, a trip to the National Gallery is a fantastic way to fill an afternoon. Especially for art lovers as it has a wide array of both natural, Victorian, and contemporary paintings. This can be done alone, though you can join tour guides that will take you through the displays, or do a combined tour of the National Gallery, National Library AND National Museum to learn all about Ireland's colorful history.