Live your best Dua Lipa life.
When Footloose hit cinemas in 1984, it was a campy, synth-scored rallying cry against small-town moral panic. Kevin Bacon moves to a town where dancing is banned and rallies the local youth to overthrow the joyless regime. It was a pop-cultural manifesto against puritanical overreach, disguised as a teen drama.
Forty years later, we’re living out footloose because the slow erosion of night culture means we are being priced out of dancing. Inflation means we’re slipping into a new wave of prohibitionism, with alcohol and nightlife bearing the brunt of the crackdown. But we can fend off this conservatism by voting with our euro and hitting the clurb with the fam.
So here’s a few ideas if you need them.
23. The Sound House
Location: Eden Quay, Dublin 1
Go for? Live DJs and late-night events
22. D2
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A lively crowd and strong cocktails
21. Doyle’s
Location: Fleet Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Upstairs dance floor with indie and pop classics
20. House
Location: Leeson Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A cocktail bar that turns into a dance spot
19. Krystal
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A glamorous clubbing experience
18. Dicey’s
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Affordable drinks and a packed dance floor
17. Buzz Venue
Location: Red Cow Complex, Dublin 22
Go for? A big dance venue with themed club nights
16. Yamamori Tengu
Location: Great Strand Street, Dublin 1
Go for? Underground electronic music and late-night sushi
15. Button Factory
Location: Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Go for? A mix of live gigs and club nights
14. Street 66
Location: Parliament Street, Dublin 2
Go for? LGBTQ+ friendly dance nights and themed parties
13. Whelan’s
Location: Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Indie music and an upstairs dance floor
12. Izakaya Basement
Location: South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Hidden underground bar that gets lively late at night
11. Copper Face Jacks (Coppers)
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? The nostalgia factor
10. The George
Location: South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Drag shows and LGBTQ+ club nights
9. Seek
Location: Lemon Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A high-energy night out in a stylish setting
8. L’Gueuleton
Location: Fade Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A bite to eat before hitting the dance floor
7. Xico
Location: Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2
Go for? A fiesta-style clubbing experience
6. Envy
Location: Swords, Co. Dublin
Go for? A nightclub experience outside the city centre
5. The Jar
Location: Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Throwback tunes from the last decade
4. Wigwam
Location: Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1
Go for? Drink deals and diverse music nights
3. The Workman’s Club
Location: Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
Go for? A Zaconey & Coke in a laid-back setting
2. Café en Seine
Location: Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A glamorous night out
1. Mother
Location: Secret location, Dublin
Go for? A legendary old-school club night
Quick Tips
Check social media – Clubs like Xico and Seek post event updates online.
Arrive early – Some spots get busy fast, and queues can be long.
Hydrate & refuel – L’Gueuleton and Yamamori Tengu are great for pre-dance bites.
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