Where to eat near The Academy Dublin - Abbey Street and around

The Academy sits on the shopping side of the Liffey, and Middle Abbey Street empties fast after 18:00. The good news: the best pre-gig spots are within a two-minute walk, and Temple Bar is just over the Ha'penny Bridge if you want more choice.

On Middle Abbey Street

• The Oval, 78 Middle Abbey Street. A pub since 1820, badly damaged in the 1916 Rising and the Civil War, and rebuilt. Food from 10:30 to 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:30 to 21:00 on Sundays: bar snacks like goujons and toasties downstairs, an Irish-produce restaurant upstairs. Live music on Saturdays from 21:00. This is the default pre-Academy pint.
• Bóbó's, 74 Middle Abbey Street. A burger restaurant on the same block, with breakfast and dinner menus. Parties of six or more pay a 10% service charge. Fast enough to eat and still catch the support act.

Two minutes away

• The Church, at the corner of Mary Street and Jervis Street. A bar and restaurant inside a listed church building over 300 years old. Open until 23:00 midweek and 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, so it also works for a drink after.
• The Grand Social, 35 Liffey Street Lower. Another music venue with a front bar, useful if you want a drink among gig-goers. Check its listings: it has its own shows most nights.

Over the Ha'penny Bridge

• The Woollen Mills, 42 Lower Ormond Quay, right at the north end of the Ha'penny Bridge. An "eating house" with Irish charcuterie, porterhouse steak and ray and chips, plus cocktails. Open from noon on weekdays and 11:00 at weekends. Book for a Friday.
• Gallagher's Boxty House, Temple Bar. Family-run since the 1980s, serving boxty, the Irish potato pancake, with house beer and Irish whiskeys. About 5 minutes' walk across the river.

Inside the venue

The Academy has bars, but the rules change with the show. The venue says no alcohol is served at all-ages shows, which are usually over-14s. For over-18s shows, bring a passport or Garda ID: the door staff check. If the gig is all-ages, have your drink at The Oval first.

To get here, see getting to The Academy. If you drive, read parking at The Academy before you go, as the nearest car park shuts at 21:00. To choose between the main floor and the balcony, see the best spots at The Academy.

Frequently asked questions

What pub is next to The Academy Dublin?

The Oval, at 78 Middle Abbey Street, a pub since 1820 and the usual meeting point before a gig.

Where can I get a quick dinner near The Academy?

Bóbó's at 74 Middle Abbey Street is on the same block, and The Oval serves food until 22:00 Monday to Saturday.

Does The Academy serve alcohol?

At over-18s shows, yes. At all-ages shows, no alcohol is served, according to the venue.

Is Temple Bar close to The Academy?

Yes. Cross the Ha'penny Bridge and you are in Temple Bar in about 5 minutes.