The Ultimate Dublin Hen Do Guide 2023

Lillie is the sort of girl you want on your hen do. She’s glamorous, fun and seriously exclusive. Her boudoir on Grafton Street is widely regarded as one of the most premium nightclubs in the city, a real Footballer’s Wives style haunt, with deep red hues, booths, grand chandeliers and dark wood bookcases. The venue has four bars and boasts Ireland’s only micro-distillery, Lillie’s Laboratory – where every single distillation is unique and fresh. Lillie’s cocktails are out of this world (you can even make your own in a Lillie’s Bordello cocktail class), with the likes of as Ketel Cup Ice Tea and French Sour, alongside house cocktails – including the likes of the Choc-Tini, Blue Ivy (not Beyoncé’s kid) and the lethal Zombie on offer. They even sell the infamous Green Fairy (absinth) – well, in honour of St. Paddy, it would be rude not to, wouldn’t it?

You don’t get much louder, prouder or bolder than Dtwo. Actually located within the Harcourt Hotel, this two-floor nightclub is a hen and stag party institution. If you’re staying in this lively hotel, you’ll be here every night and if not, you’ll definitely make the trip to Harcourt Street to see what all the fuss is about. There’s an all-weather terrace with a 500 capacity and even a backyard BBQ, where you can get yourself a burger at 2am. There are three bars and the club is open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays – those Irish folk sure know how to party.

Ditch the 3D glasses and salted popcorn, this is like no Odeon you’ve ever known. Also located on Harcourt Street, Odeon Bar is nestled within the Grade I listed, former Harcourt Street Railway – yes, it really is as grand as it sounds. With high ceilings, plush interiors and a huge, central bar, Odeon is an excellent warm up act for Dtwo, which is just metres down the road.

Cocktail lovers, listen up. Set slap-bang in the middle of the city’s most popular shopping thoroughfare, Harry’s on the Green is an award-winning cocktail bar which offers a slice of New York City, in the heart of Dublin. This cosy cocktail joint has elaborate bars and discreet lounges, perfect for the tastes of all groups and the talented mixologists run cocktail workshops throughout the day and evening.

Even if you’ve never been to Dublin, you’ll recognise the iconic corner building surrounded by cobbled streets and everything Irish, The Temple Bar. Not just an excellent spot for live music and soaking up the local culture, it’s a tourist attraction in its own right. There’s a huge and impressive drinks list, but be warned, prices in the Temple Bar nightlife area dramatically rise as the day wears on – which is something to bear in mind if you’re watching that hen party kitty. Temple Bar even has one of the busiest beer gardens in the whole city, where you can top up the tans while enjoying some infectious Irish craic.

Bob is the sort of guy your mother warned you about. He’s the party king of the Temple Bar, with five floors of crazy lighting, vintage paraphernalia and rowdy stag and hen groups having a good old Irish knees up to a backdrop of live music. Speaking of music, there’s live musicians and artists performing every night of the week and there’s even a lovely rooftop terrace where you can take the party al fresco and get some stunning hen party selfies. Badbobs is so good, that when we went over to Dublin, we couldn’t resist checking it out – here’s what we thought.

A drink or two in The Chelsea Drugstore is just what the doctor ordered. The building in which The Chelsea Drugstore is housed is well known for its long, illustrious past, and has been the site of much Dublin debauchery over the years. At the turn of the 1900s, the healing power of cocoa was discovered and sold for its medicinal uses, where nowadays, the bohemian haunt is used to prescribe a different form of medicine completely – booze. The massive range of creative, awe-inspiring cocktails will have you picking your jaws (and fellow hens) up off the floor ‘til 3am.

Celebrating 25 years of live music in Dublin, Whelan’s is a must visit. Located on Wexford Street, this deceptively large venue is the real origins of music in the capital, having seen the likes of Ed Sheeran, Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party showcase their stuff on the big stage. Due to its atmospheric vibe and unique intimacy, it’s even been the set of many films – you might remember it from P.S. I Love You when Hilary Swank visits Dublin and watches live music in a traditional bar. However, whilst live music is its bread and butter, the club also has a lot more to offer – including an impressive cocktail list and an enviable location on the Wexford, Harcourt and Camden Street strip.

You already know that you and your fellow hens can enjoy a tour around the iconic Guinness Factory on your hen weekend in Dublin, but did you know that the bar at the very top of the pint glass shaped building is considered to be one of the very best bars in Dublin. Making up the ‘head’ of the pint, the completely glass sided walls of the bar offer stunning views over Dublin – just grab your Guinness (don’t worry, they serve other drinks, too), six back and take in the scenery.

When it comes to cocktails, you don’t get much fancier than The Liquor Rooms. Set beneath the Clarence Hotel, this award winning speakeasy/French-boudoir/underground bar boasts a clandestine vibe amongst its rabbit warren of stylish rooms. The extensive drinks menu (and by that we mean a whopping 28 pager) has creative cocktails such as Pistachio Moustachio, Fishwives Fancy, Quick Question and El Gringo Diablo. All coming in picture perfect drinking vessels, any drink in The Liquor Rooms will send your Instagram into overdrive.

Quoting classic literature is a failsafe way of sounding like you’re a highbrow lass who knows her stuff. But how about going one better and telling people you’ve actually visited a location in James Joyce’s Ulysses? Now that’s impressive, you culture vulture, you. The shop is maintained by volunteers, dedicated to preserving the shop as it was in Joyce’s time. It’s packed full of second-hand books and the lemon-scented soap from the book that made it famous. Basically, it’s the 1904 version of Lush… Plus, there are daily readings of Joyce’s work, period dress nights and a lunchtime Joycean Cabaret.

You can’t visit The Emerald Isle’s capital without a trip to the Guinness Factory – it’s basically a rite of passage. Even if you’re not a fan of the ‘black stuff’, the Guinness Factory tour will give you and the girls a fascinating insight into the brewing process (one to tell the Hubby-to-Be once you get home) and will lead you through the pint glass shaped building, to the Gravity Bar at the top (the head of the pint, if you will). If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll have seen this bar featured in our top 10 hen-friendly bars in Dublin and will know exactly why it’s so special; the 360 degree panoramic views of the city make this the most enviable drinking spot in Dublin.

If you’re a retail loving hen, the chances are that you’ll be visiting Grafton Street for the huge range of fashion, jewellery, boutique and high street shops. However, this particular well-trodden thoroughfare in Dublin dates back to 1708, where it began as an affluent residential street in which the original architecture can admired today. Absorbing the local culture and history whilst shopping for a new outfit? This is our kind of history lesson. This street is also a great place to celeb spot - Ed Sheeran famously ‘met her on Grafton Street’, after all.

Known for its iconic cobbled streets, big name pubs and 24/7 party vibe, the Temple Bar nightlife district’s reputation precedes it, and you won’t be disappointed. Apart from being a hub of live music and free flowing booze, the Temple Bar is widely regarded as the city’s cultural quarter. Anywhere that ticks the cultural box and serves drinks is a definite yes in our book.

Hidden behind a black iron door, VCC (for the select few in the know) is regarded as one of Dublin’s best kept secrets. The award-winning cocktail menu is where this place gains real notoriety; including drinks inspired from the early 1400s to 1600s (a history lesson whilst you’re at it), and all the way through to the roots of the Tiki craze. You’ll have to ring a doorbell to gain entry, but once you do, you’ll be transported to the vintage-age of speakeasies and glamorous movie starlets.

Mixing drink with cultural tourist attraction (the Irish are good at this), The Old Jameson Distillery is definitely a must visit on any hen weekend in Dublin. Even if you’re not a fan of whiskey, the enchanting distillery is packed full of history, interactive exhibits and insights into producing the liquid nectar. It’s also got a huge bar where you can sample your favourite whiskeys – don’t worry, you can get other drinks, too.

Nestled in the heart of Dublin city centre, St. Stephen’s Green boasts nine hectares of plush green parkland, ideal for chilling out after a night on the cocktails. The pretty scenery is the perfect backdrop to a picnic or a classy hen party selfie. Plus, as you’ll be located just a stone’s throw away from many of the main central nightlife areas, once you’ve recharged your batteries, you can get right back on the wagon.

Buckle up, as you’re in for a bumpy ride into the wonderful world of contemporary wine. Located on South Willian Street, the Da Vinci-esque, dark and cosy Bagots Hutton was originally opened in 1829, where business ran for 150 years until the family closed its doors in the 1980s - this building has serious amounts of history. Newly reopened, this part of the building’s history boasts 30+ old world wines all by the glass or bottle, professional wine tasting and a great munch during your lunchtime.

Giving you an easily digestible rundown of Dublin history, right up until the 20th century, visiting the Little Museum of Dublin is a failsafe way of expanding your local knowledge quickly and easily, so you can at least pretend you’ve done something that’s not just boozing on your Dublin weekend. Similarly to St. Stephen’s Green, The Little Museum of Dublin is just seconds from many of the main nightlife areas – meaning you won’t have to travel far for your next cocktail. This is our kind of museum.

This one’s only for the very bravest of hens. Montpelier Hill, home to The Hellfire Club, is Ireland’s scariest location. Fact. The ruins of the building which now stands upon the hill, was originally built in 1725, and used ancient burial stones as part of the building. Big mistake. This cursed building had its roof blown off in its easy days, which was regarded as the work of the Devil. Stories of wild behaviour, occult practices and demonic manifestations on Montpelier Hill became widespread, and this spot is said to be the home of the most paranormal activity in the city. Only travel here if you’re sure you’re brave enough, or you’ve had enough to drink…