Temple Bar is the pulsing heart of tourist Dublin. The area owes its name to Sir William Temple who bought the plot in the late 16th century and until the 1980s remained very much a run down part of the city. This regenerated district comes to life at night and is the easiest (certainly not the most authentic) place to find Irish traditional music and food. Pubs and clubs galore but watch out for the free lunchtime and evening concerts held at Meeting House Square during May to September and the excellent organic food market held there every Saturday!

If it's a good time you are after or a late-night meal in the City Centre you could do worse than make a bee-line to Temple Bar. What is lacks in culture it makes up for in fun!