Dublin’s gay nightlife area just happens to overlap with the general mayhem of Temple Bar—the cultural epicenter and party capital of the city. It’s almost like they planned it, right? Tourists flock like birds to breadcrumbs, especially when the sun dips. Pubs, clubs, and more Guinness than you can imagine.
Plus, Temple Bar isn’t just about boozing; it’s also crammed with museums, trendy shops, and selfie-worthy landmarks like Dublin Castle and Trinity College. Everything you need for a proper Dublin escapade, including that quintessential stumble back to your nearby gay hotel Dublin options.
The paradox of Dublin! The most tourist-packed spots are also brimming with budget-friendly hotels, including the occasional quirky gay hotel Dublin options. Most of these hotels and hostels offer no-frills in terms of facilities—think Spartan chic meets IKEA showroom—but who cares when they’re decked out with cool designs and often house fun traditional bars right downstairs?
And don’t worry about the noise; pubs usually close by 12:30 AM. So unless you’re above the one bar that hosts all-night Irish jigs, you should be able to snag some sleep—even if it’s just a few feet above the revelry.
Are hotels in Dublin gay-friendly?
Legally yes, all hotels in Ireland are gay-friendly.
Ireland has seen a dramatic change in LGBT attitudes and policies within the space of a generation. For many years, Ireland was a conservative country with a strong religious influence, but in 2015 it became the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage on a national level by popular vote. People have the right to self-declare their gender, and there are strong protections from discrimination and hate crimes on the basis of sexuality.
What are the most popular neighborhoods for gay travelers in Dublin?
Most gay visitors to Dublin book hotels around the Temple Bar area. This area includes most of Dublin’s gay nightlife and is also the most popular part of the city for tourists in general. As well as all the gay nightlife, the bulk of Dublin’s general pubs and clubs are located here, as well as the city’s museums and shops.
♥ Convenient and picturesque location
♥ Classic, old-school luxury
♥ Fabulously comfortable beds in every room
♥ Well-equipped Fitness centre
The College Green Dublin Hotel, Autograph Collection (previously The Westin Dublin) has a beautiful location overlooking Trinity College, under a 10-minute walk to the gay bars in Temple Bar. Rooms are decorated in a classic style, with luxe materials and high-quality furnishings. The Heritage Rooms, with their large windows and decorative touches inspired by Irish nature, are especially attractive, while the luxury suites go all-out with the old-school elegance – think patterned wallpaper, towering headboards, and vintage furnishings. The Presdiential Suite even has direct views of Trinity College (as well a private steam room, marble bathroom, and balcony). Facilities include a well-equipped gym, an upscale steakhouse, and a lovely atrium serving lunch and afternoon tea.
♥ Unique and colorful decor
♥ Amazing amenities for music lovers
♥ Uber-cool Rockstar Suite available
♥ 1-minute walk to gay bar and sauna
The surest way to feel like a rockstar during your time in Dublin, the Hard Rock hotel is a fabulous option for music and design lovers alike. The rooms are stylish and colorful, with unique artwork and furnishings. The main draw, however, are the top-notch amenities: in-room yoga classes on your TV (mat included), content casting capabilities, designer toiletries, curated playlists, a vinyl player with a selection of records – you can even have a Fender guitar sent to your room if you’re feeling inspired. Spring for a Luxury King or a Silver Suite room for large bay windows with sweeping city views, or go all-out with the Rockstar Suite, which comes with your own terrace balcony with BBQ overlooking the city. The hotel houses a stylish Peruvian restaurant and a swanky lobby bar, and is located just around the corner from Street 66 and The Boilerhouse gay sauna.
♥ Trendy hostel with industrial design
♥ Awesome room options, including a Jacuzzi private dorm
♥ Cool shared spaces for socialising
♥ Discounted entry to Jameson and Guiness tours
This branch of trendy hostel chain Generator is directly adjacent to the Jameson Distillery, which is good news for Irish whiskey lovers. Its industrial architecture is cool and contemporary, with large shared spaces and minimalist rooms with custom-made furnishings, colorful accents, and wall art. The rooms come in a wide range of styles and sizes, from Deluxe Doubles that would look at home in a design boutique hotel to large dorms – you can even book a private dorm room with a Jacuzzi, for the ultimate group experience! There are plenty of social spaces to meet people, including a fun bar and a cool bar and restaurant. Plus, as a perk, guests get discounted entry to both the Jameson Distillery and Guiness Storehouse tours.
♥ Bright, airy, modern rooms with upscale amenities
♥ Luxurious suites available
♥ Complimentary access to state-of-the-art fitness facilities
♥ Ideal Temple Bar location
The Morgan Hotel offers sleek minimalist rooms with a relaxing white and grey palette, upscale amenities, and power showers. All the rooms are bright and airy, with the Deluxe rooms being especially spacious. For extra luxury, book a suite with freestanding tub and super king size bed – the Aston Suite even has its own terrace with city views. Guests at the hotel get complimentary access to the nearby Westwood Club Pool & Gym, which boasts first-rate fitness facilities including a 20M pool, spa, and a huge gym over two floors. Meanwhile, the hotel bar and restaurant serves delicious food and even more delicious cocktails. The Morgan is located in the heart of Temple Bar, with all of the area’s gay bars under a 5 minute walk away.
♥ Large hostel, awesome for socialising and meeting new people
♥ Choice of private rooms or dorms of various sizes
♥ Range of cool hangout areas
♥ Nightly pub crawls and daily free walking tours
This sprawling hostel is located on the northern banks of the River Liffey, about a 10-minute walk across the picturesque 19th-century Ha’penny Bridge to the Temple Bar nightlife. Choose between a private room (which can sleep up to four people) or a small, medium, or large dorm. The largest dorm sleeps 34 people, making it incredibly easy to make new friends, but you may want to choose one of the smaller dorms for more peace and quiet. The hostel boasts several cool hangouts, including a games and music room and a relaxed lounge with hammocks, and the walls are covered in original murals. The bar is lively and reasonably priced, and they even let you bring in your own drinks. There are daily free walking tours and a pub crawl every night, so you’ll always have people to go out with.
♥ Fantastic location on Dublin’s shopping street
♥ Stylish and relaxing rooms with first-rate amenities
♥ Fabulous luxury suites available
♥ Beautiful hotel restaurant
This five-star hotel is located right on Dublin’s Grafton Street, one of the city’s main shopping streets, making it one of the best-located luxury hotels in the city. Rooms are bright and airy, with a classic decor in muted tones, fabulously comfy beds, and luxury toiletries. Opt for a Deluxe Room for extra space and more upscale design, or a Suite for added luxury with a four-poster bed, city views, and designer furniture. The hotel boasts a gorgeous restaurant filled with greenery, a trendy all-day-bistro, and a swanky 1930s-themed cocktail bar. The Temple Bar nightlife and gay bars is under a 10-minute walk away. The Westbury Hotel is the most booked luxury gay-friendly hotel in Dublin.
♥ Bright and relaxing all-white rooms
♥ Fantastic beds
♥ Luxurious suites with river view available
♥ 2 minutes from PantiBar
This DoubleTree by Hilton hotel offers clean, all-white minimalist rooms with incredibly plush king-size beds and spacious layouts. The Suites are especially roomy and comfortable, with an added seating area, bathtubs, Nespresso machine, and casting capabilities on the TV – you can even book a suite with a lovely river view. The hotel boasts the usual Hilton DoubleTree hospitality – including the famous warm cookie on arrival – as well as an excellent grill restaurant and a Fitness centre. The location on the north bank of the River Liffey is under a 5-minute walk to the Temple Bar gay bars like The George and Street 66 – PantiBar, a popular gay hangout owned by Dublin’s favorite drag queen, is just around the block.
♥ Authentic rock n’ roll pedigree – owned by Dublin rock legends Bono and The Edge
♥ Gorgeous decor with pastel and art deco touches
♥ Luxurious penthouse suite with panoramic terrace available
♥ Lovely riverside location, with River View rooms available
The Clarence benefits from a beautiful location, right in the heart of Temple Bar and on the banks on the River Liffey. This gorgeously decorated boutique hotel also has a unique claim to fame: while the hotel dates back to 1852, it has been owned by U2 frontman Bono and lead guitarist The Edge since the 90s. Each room and suite has been carefully and individually designed, and each features bespoke art and cozy furnishings – the king-size double beds are amazing. For true rock n’ roll indulgence, book the Penthouse Suite, which comes complete with a panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking the river and a piano. The hotel bar is stunning, with a pastel-hued art-deco style straight out of your Instagram feed, and serves coffee, pastries, and drinks all day long.
♥ Chic boutique design
♥ Range of rooms to suit everyone
♥ Excellent Temple Bar location
♥ Cool bars with live music, sports, and games
Temple Bar Hotel is a popular gay-friendly hotel in Dublin, offering chic boutique-style accommodation a short walk from Dublin’s main shopping streets and from its gay bars. The decor is polished and modern, featuring minimalist furnishings in a cool palette of greys and blues with pastel yellow accents. The rooms are exceptionally comfortable, and there are options for every budget and every type of traveler: the compact pod rooms are great for solo travelers or couples on a short break, while the Deluxe Doubles and the Suites are ideal for a more luxurious romantic getaway, and the triple and quadruple rooms easily accommodate a group of friends. There is a cool bar with live music on the weekends, as well as a sports and games bar. Temple Bar Hotel is one of the most booked gay-friendly hotels in Dublin.
♥ Refurbished in 2019
♥ Elegant decor with vintage influences
♥ Fantastic beds
♥ Great Temple Bar location, a couple of minutes from Trinity College
The Fleet is a stylish boutique hotel, located on the eastern end of Temple Bar a few minutes from Trinity College. Thanks to a recent refurbishment in 2019, all the rooms and common areas of the hotel are looking great. The hotel bar, lobby, and cafe offer classic old-school elegance, using original features of the early 20th century building, while the rooms are more contemporary yet still have vintage touches. There are rooms to suit every budget, but even the simple Double Rooms are exceptionally comfortable and stylish. One of the highlights of every room is the bed, topped with memory foam and guaranteeing a fantastic night’s sleep.
♥ Very good value – cheap, comfortable rooms in the very heart of Temple Bar
♥ Legendary Temple Bar pub just next door
♥ Compact room options ideal for short stays on a budget
♥ Plush, colorful rooms
This boutique hotel offers excellent value, with a quiet location right in the middle of Dublin’s busy nightlife district. The iconic Temple Bar pub is just next door, while all the gay bars of Temple Bar are under a 5-minute walk away. The rooms are cozy and comfortable, with colorful decor – fans of crushed velvet will feel particularly at home. The compact Lightbox Double Room and Pod Bunk Room are especially good value, although there are bigger options if you would like some more space.