An American student’s guide to the best nightlife spots in Dublin city - PHOTOS

PHOTOS - An American student's guide to the best nightlife spots in Dublin - slideshow

When my friends and I arrived in Dublin for our study abroad last fall, there was much we didn’t know.

One night, early on, some drunk men buzzed the intercom for my friend A.’s apartment. Safely inside, we had this conversation through the intercom:
Drunk Men: “Hi, we’re here for the craic!”
A: “Um... there’s no crack here...”
Drunk Man: “We’re here for the craic! Can we come up?”
A: “No...Can you please leave?”
Drunk Man: “God, I love you.”

It took us awhile, but we eventually figured out that ‘craic’ wasn’t an illegal drug. We stopped going to Temple Bar, made Irish friends, carved Barack Obama’s face into a pumpkin for Halloween, served the most un-American Thanksgiving ever (orzo was involved), and fell in love with Ireland.

One of the largest initial hurdles was not having a quality filter for various establishments around Dublin; sure, we could find a pub, but we didn’t know where the good ones were, or where people our age hung out (see the aforementioned period of going to the Temple Bar: Not where Irish college students hang out.)

Through a lot of inquisitiveness - we actually wrote our numbers on slips of paper and forced them into our fellow students’ hands at the end of each class - and some helpful new friends, we found the following nightlife resources for the college student visiting Dublin. We lived near St. Stephen’s Green, so the list is southside (Dublin 2) oriented.

Restaurants -

Salamanca - (St. Andrew's St) Excellent tapas for a low price (try to get there in time for the early bird prix fixe menu).

The Winding Stair - (40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1) one of the best restaurants I visited in Dublin, in both decor and creativity of menu. It’s pricey. On the northside, a few blocks from O'Connell St.

The Farm - (3 Dawson St) Organic local produce prepared for you.

The Counter- (Suffolk St) If you’re an American missing home, grab a burger at this bastion of California culture.

PHOTOS - An American student's guide to the best nightlife spots in Dublin - slideshow

Pubs and Bars-

Porterhouse - (Nassau St. location) Frat night every Wednesday, but it’s up to American visitors to bring additional frat beyond the DJ playing part of “American Pie”. It's also the largest independent brewery in Ireland, if you're a fan of local brews. Another draw? They stock Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Cider, which will change your life. I’m desolate without it in the States. At Porterhouse it’s 6 euro, but you can find it at Cassidy’s (42 Camden St) for 2.50 if you want to drink it at home.

The Bleeding Horse - (Upper Camden St. and Charlotte) A very old pub at the end of Camden St. Not exceptional for any specific reason, but it’s ancient and beautiful, and became the regular hangout for my friends when we were there.

The Bank on College Green -(Dame St.) Drinks are pricey, but the beautiful ceiling is worth seeing. 20 College Green

The Stag’s Head- (1 Dame Court) A classic old authentic pub.

The Temple Bar- Although this falls under the category of Places Not Worth Visiting, it does so with fond memories. The Temple Bar is a district full of pubs that cater to tourists; if you're going to visit it, try the eponymous pub The Temple Bar and be prepared for crowds.

PHOTOS - An American student's guide to the best nightlife spots in Dublin - slideshow

Looking for your fellow students? We got tired of being hit on by 60-year-old men in the Temple Bar district, and migrated to these places instead.

The Pav - Trinity’s campus bar (but non-Trinity students can often get in). Beer and Bulmers here is comparable to at MacTurcaills and Doyles, but you can also grab cheap cans of cider and beer- ask about their special if you're buying more than one.

MacTurcaills -(15 Townsend Street, Dublin 2) On the North side of Trinity, with prices comparable to the Pav (3.50 for pints), and a frequent venue for Trinity club nights out.

Doyle’s -(9 College Street, Dublin 2) Similar to MacTurcaills, with less sitting room but an area for dancing upstairs.

Ginger Man -(40 Fenian Street, Dublin 2) Recommended to us as a place the Trinity sports teams hit up (other than the Pav).

Workman’s Club -(10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2) Located along the quay, the Workman's club has a rooftop bar open to the sky.

PHOTOS - An American student's guide to the best nightlife spots in Dublin - slideshow

Clubs -(Clubs were not particularly our scene, but we tried a few.)

Coppers - (Harcourt St.)The official name is Copperface Jacks, but don’t refer to it as such. This seedy place is where everyone will ask you if you’ve been. It’s not worth the hype unless you’re looking for an anonymous hookup, which is practically guaranteed with admission.

Whelans - (Wexford St. off Camden) Much more our scene; the sort of club that plays The Smiths, which is a breath of musical fresh air from all that One Direction, but perplexing to dance to.

The Lost Society -(Powerscourt Townhouse, South William Street, D2) Dubstep in an 18th-century mansion, which makes for a bit of a trip.

D2 -(60 Harcourt Street - Dublin 2) This place feels like a high school dance, but sweatier. We might have had an okay time had not both a bouncer and another guest of the club made racist comments to my friend. Also, drinks are expensive and the crowd tends toward the teenage.