Hogan's

You'll spot the crowd spilling onto South Great George's Street before you even see the sign – that's how you know Hogan's is doing something right. This towering Victorian corner pub has been a proper Dublin institution since the '90s, back when it helped transform this stretch into one of the city's best nightlife strips. The ground floor gets absolutely rammed most evenings, but that's part of the charm – you're here for the craic as much as the pint. Head upstairs if you want a bit more breathing room, though the energy stays infectious throughout all three floors. The Guinness is spot-on (as it bloody well should be), and they pour a decent cocktail if that's more your style. Weekend nights turn into proper sessions that stretch well past midnight, making this one of the few places in the city centre where you can actually stay out late without heading to a nightclub.