Castle Hotel

You'll find this north inner city stalwart holding down the corner where Gardiner Row meets Denmark Street, a stone's throw from the Gate Theatre. It's one of those rare beasts in Dublin - a pub that genuinely never shuts its doors, making it a magnet for shift workers finishing up at dawn, theatre-goers grabbing a quick one before curtain call, and anyone who's ever needed a proper pint at an improper hour. The Castle doesn't pretend to be anything fancy, and that's exactly why it works. You're getting solid pub grub, well-pulled pints, and the kind of atmosphere that only comes from decades of serving everyone from locals to tourists who've wandered up from Temple Bar. The 24-hour licence means you'll encounter the full spectrum of Dublin characters depending on when you roll in - from the after-work crowd to the properly committed night owls.