Dublin and traditional Irish music go together almost too well.

You can spend the afternoon exploring the city, grab some food, then walk into a pub and suddenly find yourself sitting a few feet away from a fiddle, bodhrán and uilleann pipes.

And the best trad sessions often don't feel like formal performances at all.

Musicians gather in the corner.

People squeeze in around them.

Someone starts a tune.

Someone else joins.

And before long the whole room is listening.

If you're looking for a proper traditional Irish music session in Dublin, these are five of the best pubs to try.

1. The Cobblestone, Smithfield

If you're visiting Dublin specifically for traditional Irish music, The Cobblestone would be our first choice.

The Smithfield pub has become one of the city's most respected traditional music venues and is very much a music-first kind of place.

The Mulligan family have been associated with Irish music for generations, and traditional sessions take place here seven nights a week.

You'll often find musicians squeezed into the corner of the front bar playing:

Fiddle.

Uilleann pipes.

Flute.

Tin whistle.

Banjo.

Bodhrán.

Concertina.

There is no elaborate stage.

That's the point.

It feels much more like you've walked into a genuine traditional session than a performance designed specifically for visitors.

The pub also hosts gigs, singing, dancing, music classes and special sessions in its back room.

Where is The Cobblestone?

Address: 77 King Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7

The pub is only a minute or two from the Smithfield Luas stop.

Best for

The most authentic all-round trad experience in Dublin.

Our tip

Arrive before the main evening session really gets going.

The pub can become extremely busy and good viewing spots disappear quickly.

2. O'Donoghue's, Merrion Row

Few Dublin pubs have a stronger connection with Irish folk music than O'Donoghue's.

This is the pub most famously associated with The Dubliners.

Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly and other musicians gathered here during the early 1960s, helping to create the group that would become one of the most influential acts in Irish folk music.

That musical tradition is still very much alive.

Visit Dublin continues to recommend O'Donoghue's as one of the city's classic trad pubs, with regular sessions attracting a mixture of musicians, locals and visitors.

The walls are packed with photographs connected with Irish music history.

And when a good session gets going in the front bar, there aren't many places that feel more like old-school Dublin.

Where is O'Donoghue's?

Address: 15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2

It's only a short walk from St Stephen's Green.

When is the music?

Visit Dublin currently highlights sessions on weeknights from around 9pm and on Saturdays from around 5pm.

Session times can change, so it's worth checking before making a special trip.

Best for

Irish music history and a classic Dublin pub atmosphere.

3. Pipers Corner, Marlborough Street

If you're particularly interested in the music itself, Pipers Corner deserves a place near the top of your list.

As the name suggests, the pub has a special connection with the uilleann pipes.

The venue was established with involvement from Seán Potts, a founding member of The Chieftains, and has developed a reputation for serious traditional music.

Unlike some busier tourist pubs where live music becomes part of the general background noise, people actually come here to listen.

That makes it a particularly good choice if you want to hear accomplished musicians in a relatively intimate setting.

Where is Pipers Corner?

Address: 105–106 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1

It's close to O'Connell Street and the Abbey Theatre.

What to expect

Depending on the session, you might hear:

Uilleann pipes.

Fiddle.

Flute.

Whistle.

Concertina.

Traditional singing.

The emphasis is very much on the music.

Best for

Serious trad fans and anyone who wants to hear uilleann pipes in Dublin.

4. Devitt's, Camden Street

If you're after great trad music but also want food and a lively Dublin pub atmosphere, Devitt's is a brilliant option.

The pub hosts traditional Irish music seven nights a week upstairs.

Current advertised session times are:

Monday–Thursday: From 6:30pm

Friday–Saturday: From 7:30pm

Sunday: From 2pm

Sunday includes an open traditional session, where musicians are welcome to join in.

There is no cover charge.

The atmosphere can become lively, with musicians, singers and customers all getting involved.

You may hear traditional instrumental music one moment and the entire pub singing together the next.

Where is Devitt's?

Address: 78 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2

It's within easy walking distance of St Stephen's Green.

Best for

Trad music combined with food and a lively night out.

Our tip

Sunday afternoon is particularly worth considering if you prefer an earlier session rather than waiting until late evening.

5. Darkey Kelly's, Fishamble Street

If you want traditional music but also enjoy a pub with a good story behind it, try Darkey Kelly's.

Located beside Christchurch, the pub hosts live traditional music every evening and has become one of the more reliable central Dublin options for visitors who want food, drinks and music in one place.

The location itself is fascinating.

Fishamble Street has an extraordinary musical history and is associated with the first performance of Handel's Messiah in Dublin in 1742.

Darkey Kelly's also leans into some considerably darker Dublin folklore involving ghosts, crime and local legends.

So you get traditional music with a bit of Dublin storytelling thrown in.

Where is Darkey Kelly's?

Address: 19 Fishamble Street, Dublin 8

It's only a short walk from Christchurch Cathedral and Dublin Castle.

Best for

Trad music, dinner and a lively central location.

Which Dublin Trad Pub is Best?

If you only have time for one, we'd choose The Cobblestone.

It's the pub that most consistently delivers what people are looking for when they come to Dublin for traditional Irish music — a genuine, unforced session in a pub that clearly cares about the music above everything else.

But all five are worth your time.

Dublin is one of the best cities in the world for live traditional music, and any of these pubs will give you a night you won't forget.

Planning a trip to Dublin? Find places to stay below.