First of all you won’t get a cheap pint in the city centre – expect to pay at least €4 and in some pubs the prices go up the later it gets.

The most touristy area is Temple Bar. It’s a nice area by day but by night it’s overrun with hen parties/stag parties and tons of tourists. I would avoid!

Decent places to eat and drink that I have been to are…

The Market Bar, Fade Street, Dublin 2
http://www.marketbar.ie/
Great pub, good food, well worth a visit. Most things on the menu come as a small (€7) or a large (€10). The patatas bravas should not be overlooked!

Dakota, South Willian Street, Dublin 2
If you’re with a large group of people arrive here early to get one of the huge leather couches. Very laid back pub, with good music and good atmosphere.

The IFI Bar, Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
http://www.irishfilm.ie/centre/index.asp?PageID=119
Yeah I know I said avoid Temple Bar but this place is happily off the main touristy thoroughfare of TB. The IFI is a very relaxed bar, great to start a night off in. THey serve reasonably priced food and drink throughout.

Bruxelles, Harry Street (Off Grafton Street), Dublin 2
(You can’t miss this pub – it has a bronze statue of Phil Lynott outside!) Upstairs is a fairly casual pub with a great relaxed atmosphere. Go down the stairs and on you’re right you’ll find the “indie” bar, to your left is the “metal” bar. Jukebox has a great selection and the DJ is pretty good too. The staff are great, toilets spotless. Good food during the day and decent prices for drinks at nights. Phil Lynott’s mum still visits here.
If that’s your scene you may also like to visit Whelan’s. It’s a bit further out of the city. Visit their site below for more info.
http://www.whelanslive.com

Check out http://www.dublinks.com for more info on pubs, restaurants etc in the city centre.

Have a great 24 hours in Dublin!