In the 18th century the area now known as Temple bar was home to many insalubrious characters as Fownes Street which at the time was noted for its brothels. Skilled craftsmen, such as clockmakers and printers, lived and worked around Temple Bar until post-war industrialisation leading to a decline in the area's fortunes.

But in the 1970s, the national transport authority began to but pieces of of land in the area so they could build a major bus depot. While the authority waiting to acquire the land needed, they rented out most of their properties, on cheap leases, some of the old retail and warehouse were given young artists and to record. Soon after clothing and book shops began to emerge. The area developed an "alternative" identity and a successful lobby by local residents persuaded the authority to drop their plans.

At time some cynical Dubliners stated, the area had become the city's "officially designated arts zone".  Till this date Temple Bar is still an exciting, atmospheric and essentially very young place. Organisations located here include the Irish Film Centre (IFC), the experimental Projects Arts Centre and around a dozen art galleries. The area is also host centres for music, multi-media and photography as well as a Children's Cultural Centre. While at night the area become alive due to the large number of restaurants, pubs and clubs in the area.

If Temple Bar sounds like your scene Cheap Hotels Dublin has a large number of hotels in area, including the Arlington Hotel Temple Bar.