The Chelsea Drugstore
Royal Exchange B, Dublin
Bar in Dublin, Ireland
Book with PearlWhy go
A practical Dublin 2 pick for a central, styled bar night rather than a food-led or awards-led booking. Choose The Chelsea Drugstore for dates, small groups, later drinks when location matters; cross-shop specialist bars if the priority is a documented cocktail, wine, or dining program.
About The Chelsea Drugstore
The Chelsea Drugstore is a Dublin venue with evening and weekend opening hours, including later closes on Friday and Saturday. Use it as a direct Dublin option when the key facts you need are opening times and dress code rather than an award, chef, cuisine, price point, or named drinks program.
A Dublin venue with late opening on weekends
The practical appeal is its schedule. The Chelsea Drugstore opens from 5 PM Monday to Friday and from 12:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Closing is 10:30 PM on Monday, 11:30 PM Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 1:30 AM on Friday and Saturday.
The dress code is smart casual. For details such as food format, cocktail specialties, awards pedigree, seat count, or service style, check the venue's official channels before committing, or browse our full Dublin bars guide.
Who should pick it, who should trade down or across
Pick The Chelsea Drugstore when you want a Dublin venue with evening hours, weekend late-night potential, a smart-casual dress code. It is less useful as a research-led choice if your decision depends on a specific menu, price range, drinks list, outdoor setup, or dining credentials. For broader planning, our full Dublin restaurants guide and our full Dublin hotels guide may be better starting points.
The verdict: use The Chelsea Drugstore when the hours and smart-casual code fit the night. If you need a different type of Dublin stop, compare it with Farrier & Draper - Bar & Restaurant, Loose Canon, P. Mac's, The Bar With No Name, or The Long Hall, depending on what kind of evening you are planning.
Planning details
- Location
- 25 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2, D02 XY71, Ireland
- Website
- thechelseadrugstore.ie
- Phone
- +353 1 613 9094
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Chelsea Drugstore presents itself less as a fashion statement and more as a personality on the street. It leans on its address and the physical fabric of the building to create a sense of place, attracting curious, locally literate drinkers who prize atmosphere over trend-chasing. Rather than chasing a social-media-ready makeover, the bar earns its presence through character and the ability to hold a room across a long evening. The result is a quietly authoritative spot that feels rooted in its block—classic and charming, with a lived-in quality that rewards lingering and local knowledge.
Best For
This is a bar for milestone and celebratory evenings that fall between a restaurant dinner and a nightclub. The write-up explicitly points to birthdays and late nights after shows as common reasons people head to South Great George's Street, and The Chelsea Drugstore inherits that gravity. It suits groups and small parties looking to stretch an evening rather than move quickly through rounds, and it reads as a destination for nights that prioritise atmosphere and continuity—an alternative to formal hotel bars for those marking an occasion in a more relaxed, characterful setting.
Ordering Tips
Expect the draw here to be atmosphere and longevity rather than gimmicks; the copy warns that the street’s customers are 'unlikely to be swayed by a chalkboard special or a social media-optimised interior.' Visit for a long evening—after a show or for a birthday—and plan to linger. The bar rewards a slower-paced, group-friendly outing where the company and setting are the main event, so come ready to stay and soak up the room rather than chase a one-off, trend-driven moment.
Venue details
Ambiance
Sophisticated bohemian vibe blending vintage charm and modern design with stylish decor and warm lighting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Dj Sets
Signature Pours
- Becky's Cobbler
- Mid Morning Fizz
Planning details
Location
25 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2, D02 XY71, Ireland · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Bar With No Name, Notable alternative
- Loose Canon, Notable alternative
- The Long Hall, Notable alternative
- P. Mac's, Notable alternative
- Farrier & Draper - Bar & Restaurant, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares in Dublin
Choose The Chelsea Drugstore over The Bar With No Name when the plan needs a more polished city-centre room and a flexible late-evening feel. The Bar With No Name is the better cross-shop if you want a more casual, less dressed-up night, while The Chelsea Drugstore makes more sense for a date or group that wants the room to feel planned.
Loose Canon is the stronger pick for wine-led drinking, especially when the bottle or glass is the reason for going out. The Long Hall is the traditional-pub alternative: better for heritage atmosphere and a classic Dublin pint, less suited to anyone looking for a styled bar setting.
For groups, compare it with P. Mac's and Farrier & Draper - Bar & Restaurant. P. Mac's is the easier low-pressure choice, Farrier & Draper is better when the plan includes bar-and-restaurant flexibility, The Chelsea Drugstore sits in the middle: book it when location, visual polish, late-night momentum matter more than a specialist drinks identity.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Chelsea Drugstore guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Chelsea Drugstore
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Chelsea Drugstore | Dublin | No published awards |
| The Bar With No Name | Dublin | No published awards |
| Loose Canon | Dublin | No published awards |
| The Long Hall | Dublin | No published awards |
| P. Mac's | Dublin | No published awards |
| Farrier & Draper - Bar & Restaurant | Dublin | No published awards |
How The Chelsea Drugstore Dublin compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Chelsea Drugstore good for a date?
It can work for a date if these details suit your plan: Dublin location, smart-casual dress code, evening hours that run later on Friday and Saturday. If you need a quieter, more traditional, or more food-led setting, compare with another Dublin option such as The Long Hall before deciding.
What's the best time to go to The Chelsea Drugstore?
Use the posted hours as your guide. It opens at 5 PM Monday to Friday and at 12:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Closing is 10:30 PM on Monday, 11:30 PM Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 1:30 AM on Friday and Saturday. If you want a different Dublin stop, Loose Canon is another option to compare.
Is The Chelsea Drugstore open late?
Yes, on some nights. The Chelsea Drugstore closes at 1:30 AM on Friday and Saturday. It closes at 11:30 PM Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, at 10:30 PM on Monday.
Does The Chelsea Drugstore have outdoor seating?
Do not plan around a terrace or pavement setup unless you confirm it directly before you go. If outside space matters, compare it with The Bar With No Name or P. Mac's and check each venue's official channels for the latest details.
Is The Chelsea Drugstore good for groups?
For group capacity, booking rules, private areas, or seat count, confirm practical details directly before arranging a group visit. It may still be worth considering if the Dublin location, smart-casual dress code, later Friday and Saturday closing times fit your plan. For another Dublin comparison, consider Farrier & Draper - Bar & Restaurant.
