Dublin

*Vicar Street *(James’s St. Dublin)

When Vicar Street opened its doors five odd years ago in a run-down part of Dublin’s city centre, the locals were quietly chuffed that such a swanky joint had joined their neighbourhood; no one else knew quite how to take it. Those days are long gone and today, Vicar Street caters for sell-out gigs, week in week out, enjoyed by all.

Household names such as Damien Rice and David Gray have graced the stage here along with a variety of comedians such as local comedic duo D’unbelievables and imported sensation Des Bishop. Actually it doesn’t matter who is playing, this is a great venue with a great atmosphere. Check out gig guides like www.entertainment.ie and pop down guaranteed of a good night.

Café en Seine (Dawson St. Dublin)

Referred to by some as ‘Café Insane’, this bar earned its reputation the hard way. It began its life ten or more years ago on Dublin’s plush Dawson St. as one of the city’s first super-bars. Its majestic interior, which features an imposing centre-staged oak panelled bar, an upper level with balcony, a staircase with gold railings, heavy gilt-framed paintings and palm trees, signifies the shameless opulence of ‘90s Dublin.

Throughout this decade it attracted yuppies and bunnies, brats and businessmen from all over the world to mingle with the offspring of the Celtic Tiger. But as the tiger matured, Café en Seine lost some of its former decadence and was found wanting of a suitable clientele. These days the yuppies have returned. No longer in their twenties; single, cash rich and career indifferent, they are on the hunt for a more fulfilling life or just a fun-filled night. This lends a palatable air of desperation to the atmosphere. Even if you do fit comfortably into above category, this bar is best avoided.

Voodoo Lounge (Ormond Quay, Dublin)

It’s not a bar; it’s not a club but you can drink and dance till dawn. And if you are lucky, you may just bump into Huey of Fun Lovin’ Criminals fame, who happens to be the owner. Voodoo has only been in Dublin about four years, but in that short space of time and despite its odd location a mile down the River Liffey on Ormond Quay, it is a staple on the weekend circuit.

Dark and moody inside, music and the dancefloor are the cornerstones of this bar’s existence. Hip-hop, soul, funk, R&B and drum ‘n’ bass; live DJ’s spin the best of old and new tunes. Dress cool, arrive fashionably late and shake your bootie ‘like a Polaroid picture’.

Buskers (Temple Bar, Dublin)

This bar is any normal person’s worst nightmare. Tacky décor, fluorescent lighting, plastic flowers and loud chart music; its strictly for teeny boppers, wayward tourists, hen and stag parties. As the evening wears on the crowd gets pretty raucous. The bar becomes impenetrable, drinks spill; the dancefloor turns primal, boys sweat. If a trip to the ladies is called for, you are better off popping into the hotel next door as you will never make it past the line of boob tubes and tiger prints blocking the way. This bar is for the hopelessly drunk or hopelessly lost.

And not a busker in sight.

Eamon Doran’s (Temple Bar, Dublin)

OK, it may not look very inviting, but Eamon Doran’s is what you might call a pillar of Dublin’s bar scene community. Despite the sea of change, which engulfed Temple Bar in the 1990s, Doran’s managed to retain an air of tradition. A crumbling exterior belies its cutting-edge interior. On the upper level, a restaurant serves food a la carte in a comfortable lounge while the well-fed or the waiting-to-be-fed enjoy a drink at the bar. Downstairs doubles as a sound proofed cave and a dancefloor where an ample stage showcases the best of home-grown groups and DJ’s.

By midnight the diners are gone. In their place comes an eager crowd whose appetites can only be satisfied by live music or dirty dancing or both. A wild party ensues that sees revellers swoop from floor to floor, mingling with a mishmash of party-lovers all enjoying a proper knees up ‘Dublin style’. And as a popular promoter of up and coming talent, this venue has garnered respect from the music industry too. U2 played here in the past. Eric Clapton and Van Morrison are regulars. Doran’s is less of a bar and more of an institution.

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