The Best Affordable Pints in Dublin: A Local Pub Guide
Over the past 15 years, I have been to Dublin 7 times.
Whether I was with family, friends, or solo, all of these visits had one thing in common: visits to local pubs for a pint of Guinness.
While Dublin remains one of my favorite cities in the world, and consistently delivers on the food and drinks front, Ireland’s capital city has changed in many ways since my first visit, and one of the most noticeable changes has been the rise in prices.
Dublin has seen drastic rises in costs, and unfortunately, that extends to one of the best things to do on a trip to the city: enjoy a pint in a traditional Irish pub.
Whether you are a regular beer drinker or not, no trip to Dublin is complete without having a pint of Guiness (or local spirit) in a traditional Irish pub. With so many tourists seeking the “pub experience” in Dublin, pubs in the famed Temple Bar area of Dublin have gotten more and more expensive, crowded, and rowdy.
On my most recent trip to Dublin, in September 2026, a fellow traveler told me he was charged €14 for a single pint of Guiness in a popular pub in Temple Bar. FOURTEEN EURO FOR A PINT!
While Temple Bar is iconic and a must visit on any trip to Dublin, if you are looking to enjoy an affordable pint, sink into a traditional pub experience, eat some classic pub food, and listen to authentic and traditional music: get out of Temple Bar.
My last two visits, I really committed to exploring and discovering more affordable pubs, that offer a traditional experience for both locals and visitors. Using recommendations from tour guides, local friends, and my own wandering about, I put together this list of affordable Dublin pubs that are worth visiting.
My criteria also included: proximity to the Dublin city center, entertainment, welcoming to tourists, and traditional charm. At the bottom of this page, you will find an interactive map to find each of the listed pubs or create your own affordable Dublin pub crawl.
While the cost of a pint of Guiness in Temple Bar will run you €10 or more, these Dublin Center City pubs offer a pint for under €8.
⭐Costs as of 2026.
The average pint in Dublin at this time is €7-8 with cheaper pints available outside the city center, and the most expensive pints in Dulin found in Temple Bar
The Cobblestone Pub
Tom Mulligan, the proprietor, comes from a long line of musicians and has often maintained that his goal in life is the same as his father T.P. Mulligan: to leave Irish music in a better state than when he found it. Walk into the Cobblestone any day of the week, and it's easy to see that the goal has been well and truly achieved.
🗺️77 King St N, Smithfield, Dublin, D07 TP22
🕰️Mon-Thurs 2p-11:30p, Fri-Sat 2p-12:30a, Sun 1p-11p
🍲❌Does not serve food
If you are looking to sit in a pub and watch a match or sporting event, this is not the place for you.
This TV-free pub emphasizes conversation, traditional vibes, and local music. Keeping traditional Irish music at the forefront, The Cobblestone is the perfect place for locals and visitors to immerse themselves in history and tradition with nightly live music.
Just over the River Liffey, this affordable Dublin pub offers a pint of Guiness for just €6,50 making it the perfect pub for an affordable pint, meeting locals and fellow travelers, and hearing some of the best live music in Dublin.
The Brazen Head
As the oldest pub in Ireland, we have a colourful history that spans many years.
The Brazen Head is located on Bridge Street. This is the area from where the original settlement that was to become Dublin got its name.
🗺️20 Bridge St. Lower, Usher's Quay, Dublin, D08 WC64
🕰️Daily 12p-11:30p
🍲Food served 12p-9p daily
I have ended up at Brazen head numerous times while visiting Dublin and am yet to leave unhappy… or sober.
The oldest pub in Dublin, the Brazen Head is packed with history and tradition. It also serves up some great pub food, features local traditional musicians every night of the week, and has some really fun bartenders.
This Dublin pub gets busy, but in the best way. It always has an upbeat, jolly vibe with a mix of locals and tourists all looking to soak in the history of this famed spot established in 1198, while enjoying an affordable pint and traditional music.
While there, be sure to take in as much of the decor as possible, there are so many gems and historical significance on those walls, making it not just a pub, but a true piece of Irish history.
Here, a pint of Guiness will run you about €8,00.
The Palace Bar
“It is a treasure house of mahogany and oak, of gilded mirrors that have reflected the story of the city, of clocks that have ticked lazily across the centuries, measuring the gently passing days."
🗺️21 Fleet St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 H950
🕰️Mon-Thurs 10:30a-11:30p, Fri-Sat 10:30a-12:3-p, Sun 12:30p-11p
🍲Light bites (toasties, crisps, nuts)
Established in 1823, The Palace Bar has been a Dublin staple for over 200 years. Just steps away from some of Temple Bar’s most popular (and pricy) pubs, The Palace Bar has a wide selection of beer on tap, as well as locally brewed bottles and wallet-friendly cocktails.
Packed with Victorian charm, this traditional Irish bar is said to be where many of Ireland’s most famous writers, poets, and journalists frequented.
The Palace Bar brings you back in time with its beautifully preserved interior, traditional live music, and a perfectly poured pint for just €7,00.
John Kavanagh The Gravediggers
A love of food & pints. A family run business since 1833.
🗺️1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin, D09 CF72, Ireland
🕰️Mon-Wed 10:30a-10:30p, Thurs-Sat 10:30a-11:30p, Sun 12:30p-10:30p
🍲Serves Food
Located right next to the historic Glasnevin Cemetery, this old-school Irish bar is said to serve the best Guiness in Dublin. It is the perfect place to grab a no-frills, well-priced pint and homemade traditional meal after a visit to Ireland’s most famous cemetery.
For those opting not to visit the cemetery (though you should), this family-run pub dating back to 1833, is still worth a visit. Maintaining much of the original style, both in design and vibe, this traditional Irish pub in Dublin has no TVs and keeps the background music low to encourage conversation.
Toted for its homemade coddle and legendary pours of Guiness, which will cost you just €6,80, The Gravediggers is worth the short trip outside the city center.
O’Donoghues
We like to think that an evening spent at O'Donoghue's is an experience that stays with you. A favourite haunt for Dubliners and tourists from every corner of the world, who come to share the authentic character of one of Dublin's oldest bars, and to admire the artistry of real Irish musicians. At O'Donoghue's the music is live. Seven nights a week, musicians from all over Ireland come together to share their love of Irish traditional music in one of Ireland's most famous bars.
🗺️15 Merrion Row, Dublin, D02 PF50, Ireland
🕰️Mon-Thurs 10:30a-12a, Fri-Sat 10:30a-2a, Sun 12:30p-12a
🍲❌Does not serve food
Dating back to 1789, this famed Dublin pub has lost none of its original charm and history, even as it gained increased popularity amongst locals and tourists. With nightly live music (and all day on Sundays), O’Donohughe’s is a fully immersive Irish pub experience with long time local patrons always up for a chat, incredible live music, a vast drinks menu, and overall cheerful vibe any time of day or night.
This Dublin pub does get busy, with good reason, so be prepared to stand (or dance), or come early to grab a seat.
A pint of Guiness here is €7.50 very well spent.
Mulligan's
No-nonsense 18th century pub with a cast of regulars and a lack of modern pomposity
🗺️8 Poolbeg St, Dublin 2, DO2TK71, Ireland
🕰️Mon-Wed 12:30p-11:30p, Thurs 12p-11:30p, Fri-Sat 11a-12:30a, Sun 12:30p-11p
🍲❌ Does not serve food (just light snacks: crisps)
Mulligans was recommended to me by my Dublin Food Tours guide, and he definitely did not stear me wrong.
This no-frills pub delivers on friendly service, a good mixed crowd, and authentic charm.
I love a good dive-bar and would loosely equate Mulligan’s to a dive bar, but without the sticky floors and dirty bathrooms. Add in that Mulligan’s is considered to have one of the best Guiness pours in the entire city for only €7, and you can’t go wrong with this local Dublin pub.
The Long Hall
🗺️51 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2, D02 DV74, Ireland
🕰️Mon-Turs 12p-11:30p, Fri-Sat 12p-12:30p, Sun 12:30p-11p
🍲❌Does not serve food
Take a step back in time by walking into The Long Hall Dublin.
Established in 1766, and one of Dublin’s oldest pubs. The Long Hall still maintains much of the original 1881 Victorian interior, making it not only an incredible pub, but also a time capsule of Irish history.
When I think it “old Irish pub” this is exactly what I envision, and the addition of the amazing bartenders, commitment to local crafts and spirits, and overall friendly and jovial atmosphere makes this a must visit pub in Dublin.
A pint of Guiness in this Victorian Irish pub will put you back €7.50, but the experience will be priceless.
McDaids
🗺️3 Harry St, Dublin, D02 NC42, Ireland
🕰️Mon-Wed 2p-11p, Thurs 12p-11:30p, Fri-Sat 12p-12:30a, Sun 12p-11p
🍲Serves food
Old-meets-new McDaids is a mash up of touristy and old-school traditional Irish pub, featuring local live music, as well as trivia and “kocktail karaoke” nights, this Dublin pub offers something for everyone.
It tends to be a younger crowd at McDaids, but it maintains an “all are welcome” vibe with super friendly bartenders and overall laid back feel.
While the food isn’t earning any Michelin stars, this budget friendly Dublin pub offers up some tasty classic pub fare at great prices. The €10 lunch specials are what drew me in and paired perfectly with a Guiness for under €8.
Grogan’s Castle Lounge
🗺️15 William St S, Dublin 2, D02 H336, Ireland
🕰️Tues-Thurs 10
🍲Lite Bites. Famed for their toasties (check out the toastie+pint special)
Grogan’s Castle Lounge combines all my favorite things: affordable pints, amazing people watching, local art, and a love of books. What else could you ask for from a Dublin pub? Oh! I know! Toasties!
This Dublin city center pub is a mecca for art and literature, with its walls lined with local art and frequent book events and has the exact vibe you would expect from a pub that centers art. The location also offers some of the best people watching in the city, so be sure to grab an outdoor seat.
A pint at this fun Dublin pub will cost you €7.20, but you can add a toastie to make it the special for just €12.
The Celt
Located smack-bang in the heart of the City Centre, The Celt Bar offers everything that you will need to experience your most memorable nights in Dublin; drink, food, live-music and the best of craic. Live World-class Irish Music 7 nights a week, with two bands playing simultaneously in separate spaces on Fridays and Saturdays.
🗺️81 Talbot St, North City, Dublin, D01 YK51
🕰️Mon-Thurs 11:30a-11:30p, Fri-Sat 11:30a-12:30p, Sun 12p-11:30p
🍲Serves food
The Celt is one of my favorite pubs near Connolly Station for a pint, bite, good chat and great music. The crowd is always fun and chatty, making it a great spot for solo travelers or anyone looking for good banter with both locals and other travelers.
The bartenders are always a good time, the food is delicious (with huge portions), the live music is always a vibe, and a pint will only cost you €7.
Keohes
“A country pub in the heart if the city”
🗺️9 Anne St S, Dublin, D02 NY88, Ireland
🕰️Mon 10:30a-11:30p, Tues 11a-11:30p, Wed-Thurs 10:30a-11:30p, Fri-Sat 10:30a-12:30p, Sun 11:30a-11:30p
🍲
When I stepped in to Keohes, I had to remind myself I was still in the middle of Ireland’s capitol city. This classic Irish pub, dating back to 1803, truly feels like stepping in to a small town, local pub.
Beautifully preserved and honoring the true authenticity of the quintessential Irish pub, Keohes is a true gem in Dublin. It is no surprise this heritage pub has won numerous awards with its movie scene aesthetic, amazing service, and perfectly poured Guiness.
A pint of Guiness will set you back €7,50 but the experience will be priceless.
Whether you are passing through Dublin for a weekend, or spending extended time in Ireland’s Capital, a pub visit is a quintessential experience for visitors.
While Temple Bar is increasingly touristy and pricy, it is still absolutely worth walking through to take in the beautiful pubs and cobblestone streets, but when it comes time to really enjoy pub Irish pub culture with great live music and affordable pints, head outside or Temple Bar.
Be sure to leave a comment below if you have tried any of these bars or have recommendations for cheap Dublin pubs I should try on my next visit!
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