You'll find Mary's Bar and Hardware Store just off the bustling Grafton Street, located on the site of the former Wicklow Hotel, which was once the watering hole of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins. Today, patrons can choose from a wide range of beverages, spanning beers to spirits (poitín - "Irish moonshine" - included), to quench their thirst, before sinking their teeth into one of Mary's Bar's signature toasties. For a taste of nostalgia, choose from a selection of 90s confectionery classics (think Mint Crisps and Clove Rocks), or, for a more substantial feed, pop down to the Wowburger outpost in the basement for some lip-smacking fast food.

Mulligan's is one for those after a pint of the black stuff. A classic, old-school pub, this was, in bygone days, visited by notables including Judy Garland, James Joyce and John F. Kennedy. As the story goes, JFK swung by in the mid-1950s (when working a journalist with Hearst Newspapers) to see where Joyce supposedly wrote some of Ulysses.

Situated near Grafton Street, the capital's main shopping area, Grogan's sits at the crossroads between George's Street Arcade and the Powerscourt Centre. Outside seating is available and on a sunny day crowds spill into the streets. This is a very sociable pub and popular with a cross-generational crowd (of mostly locals), so be prepared to chat with those at neighbouring tables about everything from football to art and, of course, Grogan's renowned ham and cheese toasties.

The Temple Bar is the cherry-red crown jewel of the busy quarter of the same name - and it's worth battling the crowds to take in some high-quality traditional music here while in town. Classic staples like The Fields of Athenry and It's a Long Way to Tipperary are likely to be played on repeat late into the night. Established in 1840, it's always busy, always jam-packed and always has great craic, making it figuratively and literally hard to leave.

Brimming with Victorian antiques, The Long Hall is a snug pub with oodles of charm and character. Attentive bartenders add to the atmosphere, but there's no food menu (save for bags of peanuts and Tayto crisps), so don't show up hungry - this is really a place for drinking. Over the decades, everyone from politicians to playwrights have propped up the bar - in 1982, the late Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy even recorded part of the video for his hit song Old Town here. You never know who you might meet…

Located on the corner of the narrow Dame Lane, The Stag's Head is close to Grafton Street and Trinity College, making it an ideal pit stop in between sightseeing and shopping. Look out for the stag-emblazoned, stained-glass windows to find the much-storied drinking den, which has long been associated with film and television - part of Educating Rita was taped here and, more recently, Penny Dreadful - which further adds to its appeal.

Something of a Gemini, Whelan's is a traditional pub on one side - complete with snugs and fireside seating - and a music venue on the other. A bastion of gig culture, it has had everyone from Damien Rice to Glen Hansard take to its stage. For those looking to break into the music scene, Whelan's is a great platform. Scan for bookers in the audience and have a few verses at the ready.

Loved by fans of craft beer, P. Mac's is located on the corner of Digges Lane and Stephen Street Lower, and a visit always spells good fun. Play Cluedo or Connect Four as you snack on complimentary retro crisps like Wheelies and Tayto Snax. Pub grub comes in huge portions and Guinness is available on tap. The interior has a decidedly Brooklynite vibe, with mismatched vintage furniture and a mid-90s indie playlist.