Pubs Near the 3Arena
Sorted for pints before doors and after the encore.
19 pubs ranked by locals
The 3Arena sits out on North Wall Quay, and anyone who has queued for a gig there knows the catch: the arena's immediate neighbours are apartment blocks and office glass, not snugs. The nearest proper pints cluster around Grand Canal Dock across the water and back along the quays towards town — and the red Luas line runs door-to-door, so the smart pre-gig session happens one or two stops up the line.
This is the locals' round-up of the rooms worth your time before doors: the Docklands options you can walk from, then the best of the north city centre within a few minutes of The Point stop. Every pub is scored on the pint by the people who drink in it, so you can pick the best Guinness on the route rather than chance the first bar you pass.
Top-rated pubs near the 3Arena
Distances are straight-line from 3Arena.
Frequently asked
- What's the closest pub to the 3Arena?
- The quays right beside the arena are thin on pubs — the nearest reliable pints are around Grand Canal Dock, a short walk over the East Link, or a couple of Luas stops back towards Connolly and the north city centre. The list above shows the current top-rated rooms on that route.
- Where should I drink before a gig at the 3Arena?
- Most gig-goers drink in town and ride the red Luas line to The Point — it drops you at the arena door. Pick a pub near an early red-line stop from the list, watch the clock, and you'll skip both the arena bar queue and the crush at the stop after the encore.
- How do I get to the 3Arena by public transport?
- The red Luas line ends at The Point, right outside the arena, and Dublin Bus and commuter trains connect through Connolly a few stops away. On big nights the last trams fill fast — many locals walk the first stretch back along the quays and board further up the line.
- Are there pubs open after a 3Arena show?
- Plenty — the north city centre pubs a Luas hop away serve until normal closing, and late bars around the city centre go later still. Check the hours on each pub's page here; the ratings tell you which rooms keep the pint standards up at the busy end of the night.