Sleeping Near the Pubs: Smithfield vs Capel Street for a Dublin Night Out

Two northside quarters sit within a ten-minute walk of each other but suit very different evenings — here is how to choose where to book.

Smithfield: space, breweries and a quieter walk home

Smithfield is the broad square just north of the Luas Red Line stop of the same name, roughly 15 minutes on foot from O'Connell Street and about 12 from Temple Bar across the river. The old fruit and fish market building now holds the Lighthouse Cinema and the Generator hostel, and the surrounding streets — Queen Street, Benburb Street, Blackhall Place — mix apartment blocks with pubs that stay busy without turning into a crawl. Because the square is wide and the blocks are long, sound carries less into bedrooms than it does off Capel Street's narrow terraces.

Pub-wise you are close to the bars around the old Jameson Bow Street distillery and the cluster towards Stoneybatter, which begins where Smithfield ends at the North Circular Road. The walk from Smithfield to Capel Street is about 12 minutes via Mary Street or along the river to Ormond Quay. For a couple or solo traveller who wants one good pub and an early night, I would book here: the streets empty quickly after closing, and the Luas gets you to Heuston for a morning train without a taxi.

Capel Street and its lanes: the densest run of bars in the north inner city

Capel Street runs from the Liffey at Grattan Bridge up to Bolton Street, and it has become the busiest evening strip on the northside — a long terrace of pubs, Korean and Vietnamese restaurants and small shops, with Parliament Street and Ormond Quay at its foot. The Ha'penny Bridge is two minutes away across the river, and Jervis and Abbey Street Luas stops are both under ten minutes on foot. The trade-off is noise: the street is narrow, the buildings tall, and front rooms on the first floor above the bars pick up conversation and closing-time chatter until well past midnight.

If you book here, ask for a room at the back or on a higher floor, and be realistic about Friday and Saturday. The upside is that everything is walkable: Temple Bar is eight minutes across the bridge, the Smithfield breweries around 12 minutes north-west, and Connolly Station about 15 minutes east for trains to Howth and the coast. This is the choice for a group who want to move between four or five pubs without planning taxis. Sunday and Monday are notably calmer and often easier to book at short notice.

Prices, timing and what each area does not give you

Neither quarter is a budget district. Expect mid-range doubles in the roughly €150–€220 band on ordinary weeknights, rising steeply for Friday and Saturday and during the Six Nations at the Aviva in February and March, when the whole north inner city tightens. Smithfield tends to undercut Capel Street slightly because it sits a little further from the river and has more apartment-style stock alongside hotels. Book four to six weeks ahead for spring and summer; for autumn, three weeks is usually enough outside match weekends.

What you give up in Smithfield is choice on the doorstep — a handful of pubs rather than a street of them — and the walk back after midnight passes some quiet stretches around the markets. What you give up on Capel Street is sleep if your room faces the street. Skip hotels that advertise themselves as 'Temple Bar' when they sit east of Parliament Street; you will pay a premium for a location that is a 15-minute walk from the pubs you actually came for. Late November and early December are the busiest weeks of the year here for group bookings, so decide early.

Getting in, getting around and the morning after

From Dublin Airport, the 16 bus and the Aircoach serve the city centre; a taxi to either quarter takes around 25–35 minutes depending on traffic. Heuston is the nearest mainline station to Smithfield, a 20-minute walk or one Luas stop. Connolly and Tara Street cover the DART coast line, and both are within 15–20 minutes of Capel Street on foot. The Luas Red Line links Smithfield directly to Connolly and to Heuston, which matters if you are arriving with a bag on a Friday evening.

For the morning after, both areas are well placed for a late breakfast: Smithfield has cafés around the square and towards Stoneybatter, while Capel Street and its side lanes have plenty of places opening by nine. If you want to combine the evening with sightseeing, the Liberties and Guinness Storehouse are a 15-minute walk west of Capel Street, and St Michan's Church and the Jameson Bow Street distillery sit between the two. Give yourself two nights if you can: one for the pubs, one for the city without a hangover.

Questions, answered

Is Smithfield or Capel Street closer to Temple Bar?

Capel Street is closer — about eight minutes on foot across Grattan or Ha'penny Bridge. From Smithfield it is a 15-minute walk via Ormond Quay. Both are far enough away to avoid Temple Bar's late-night noise and prices while staying walkable.

How noisy are hotel rooms on Capel Street?

Front rooms above the bars can be noisy until closing time, especially at weekends. Ask for a back-facing or upper-floor room when booking. Smithfield's wider streets and longer blocks generally mean quieter rooms, though the square itself can be lively on summer evenings.

Do I need a taxi to get between the two areas?

No. The walk between Smithfield and Capel Street is around 12 minutes via Mary Street or the quays. The Luas Red Line also connects Smithfield to the Jervis and Abbey Street stops, which are both a short walk from Capel Street.

When is the cheapest time to book a hotel in this part of Dublin?

Midweek nights outside match weekends and the Christmas party season are usually the best value. Avoid Six Nations weekends in February and March and the last weeks of November and early December, when group bookings push rates up across the north inner city.

Can I walk from Connolly Station to Capel Street with luggage?

Yes, it is about 15 minutes on foot via Talbot Street and Marlborough Street, mostly flat. With heavy bags, the Luas from Connolly to Jervis or Abbey Street is a short hop and saves the walk.

Which area is better for a group of friends on a pub evening?

Capel Street, because you can move between several pubs without planning transport and still reach Temple Bar or Smithfield on foot. Smithfield suits smaller groups or couples who want one or two good pubs and a quieter walk home.

Are there late-night food options near both areas?

Capel Street and its side lanes have food available later into the night, including takeaways. Smithfield is quieter after closing, with most options around the square shutting earlier. Plan a stop before midnight if you are staying in Smithfield.

How far is the Guinness Storehouse from these hotels?

It is roughly a 15-minute walk west from Capel Street via Thomas Street, and about 20 minutes from Smithfield. Allow two hours for the visit, and book a timed ticket in advance during summer and around St Patrick's Day.

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