Reviewed · DRINKING TOURS

Dublin: Drinking and Painting Party with Art Instructor

★ 4.5 · 12 reviews From $31 Operated by Alternative Dublin · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Book on GetYourGuide →

Trade Dublin sightseeing for a paintbrush tonight. This two-hour party combines step-by-step painting with feel-good music, casual games, and the option to buy a drink at the on-site bar. I like that all materials are ready when you arrive, and that you leave with a real canvas rather than just a few photos.

I also like the friendly, low-pressure setup. You can follow the instructor’s example or take your own artistic route, and past groups especially praised the patient guidance, good supplies, and fun competitions. The main drawback is that drinks cost extra, so the $31 price is not the full amount you may spend.

Key points to know before you book

Dublin: Drinking and Painting Party with Art Instructor - Key points to know before you book

  • A two-hour art party at 3 Queen Street: Find the venue in Smithfield and ask for Drink & Draw.
  • No painting experience required: The instructor leads you through the project one step at a time.
  • Drinks are bought separately: An on-site bar lets you purchase refreshments during the event.
  • Games add a playful twist: Small competitions and challenges may win you fun prizes.
  • Everything needed for painting is supplied: You receive a canvas, paints, and other materials.
  • Your artwork goes home with you: The non-toxic paint can be machine washed if it gets on clothing.

What this Dublin painting party is really like

This is not a quiet art lesson where everyone sits in silence and worries about getting every brushstroke right. It is designed as a social night out, with music, drinks, games, and a guided painting project at its center.

I would think of it as a creative activity with a party atmosphere, rather than a serious studio class. The instructor gives you a clear path to follow, but you are not expected to produce gallery-quality work. That matters if you feel nervous about art. The aim is to have a good time and create something personal.

The experience lasts two hours and takes place in Dublin County, at a city-center venue in Smithfield. You make your own way there, so transportation is not included. At the end, you return home from the same meeting point with your canvas.

The activity is conducted in English. Since it is intended for adults, children under 18 cannot take part.

More Pub and Bar Tours in Dublin:

Arriving at 3 Queen Street in Smithfield

Your starting point is 3 Queen Street, Smithfield. When you arrive, ask for Drink & Draw. This simple instruction is useful because the meeting information identifies the activity by that name, not only by the longer tour title.

The venue has the art supplies prepared before you enter. You do not need to bring a canvas, brushes, or paints, and there is no setup chore that eats into your two-hour session. That makes the activity a practical choice for a birthday outing, hen party, date, or evening with friends.

I would allow yourself enough time to find the address and get settled. The activity itself is fixed at two hours, and the available start times can change, so check the schedule when booking. Since the meeting point and end point are the same, you do not need to arrange a separate pickup or figure out where the group finishes.

Getting settled with your canvas and supplies

Dublin: Drinking and Painting Party with Art Instructor - Getting settled with your canvas and supplies

Once you are at the venue, you receive a blank canvas and the materials needed for the class. The supplies are included in the $31 price, along with the instructor and your finished canvas to take home.

That setup gives the price some practical value. Buying a canvas, paint, and the right tools separately can cost more than expected, especially if you only want to try painting once. Here, you can turn up with no art kit and still take part from the first brushstroke.

The paints are non-toxic. This is reassuring for a relaxed social class where spills are possible, and the paint can be machine washed if it gets on your clothes. I would still wear something casual that you do not mind marking, since creative work and clean sleeves do not always get along.

You are not required to copy the instructor perfectly. The class offers a lesson plan for anyone who wants structure, while more confident participants can change the design or follow their own ideas. This balance is one of the best features for a mixed group, where some people may have painted before and others may not have held a brush since school.

Following the instructor without feeling tested

The instructor guides the painting in stages, helping you build the image rather than asking you to invent everything from a blank canvas. That step-by-step approach keeps the event accessible, especially if you are unsure where to begin.

The guidance also gives the evening a shared rhythm. Your group is working on a common activity, but each finished piece can look different. You can stick closely to the lesson plan, alter colors, add your own details, or let the idea develop as you go.

The supplied feedback gives this part particular weight. The artist was described as friendly, helpful, and patient, and the class was praised for being well resourced. Those are important qualities in a painting party. A rushed instructor or thin supply table would make the event frustrating, but the available feedback points to a class that is prepared and supportive.

You should not book this expecting detailed private tuition. The activity is built for a relaxed group, not for technical training in portraiture, composition, or advanced painting methods. If you want a serious art course, this will likely feel light. If you want a social evening where an instructor keeps you moving, it fits much better.

A few more ways to spend a day in Dublin

Music, drinks, and the social side of the evening

A custom playlist of feel-good music runs through the session. The music helps keep the mood casual and makes the event feel different from a standard daytime workshop.

Drinks are available at the venue’s bar, but they are not included in the ticket. You purchase what you want during the event. This gives you control over your spending, since you can choose to buy a drink or keep the cost closer to the advertised $31.

That arrangement is worth noting before you book. The headline price covers the creative activity, not a drink package. For a social group, bar purchases can add up quickly, so decide in advance how much you want to spend.

The party atmosphere may be ideal for a hen group or friends who want an activity with conversation built in. It may be less suitable if you want a silent, focused painting session. Music and a bar create energy, but they also mean the room is likely to feel more social than meditative.

Games and small competitions keep the class moving

Painting is not the only activity. The instructor adds games and occasional challenges, with the chance to win fun prizes.

These contests give the session a playful break from concentrating on the canvas. They also help people mingle if they arrive as part of a large group or do not know everyone in the room. The activities are not presented as high-stakes competitions, so you can join in without treating the night like an art exam.

This was one of the details that made the experience sound more distinctive to me. Many paint-and-drink classes rely only on the painting lesson. Here, the ad hoc games and challenges add another layer, especially for groups celebrating something.

Still, the exact games and prizes are not specified. You should see them as a possible extra, not the main reason to book. The core experience remains the instructor-led painting session.

Taking your own artwork home

At the end, your canvas belongs to you. You can hang it at home, show it to friends and family, or give it away as a personal gift.

The finished painting will not necessarily look like a polished professional piece, and that is part of the point. You are taking home evidence of an evening spent making something, not buying a ready-made decoration. The personal touches that come from choosing your own details can make the result more meaningful than a standard souvenir.

For a hen party or birthday group, the canvas also gives everyone a physical reminder of the event. Unlike a meal or a night at a bar, the activity leaves you with something you can keep.

Because the paint is non-toxic and machine washable, accidental splashes are less worrying during the class. That does not mean you should treat your clothing as paintproof, but it does make the workshop feel easier and less formal.

Is $31 a good price for two hours?

At $31 per person, the activity sits in a reasonable range for a two-hour organized outing, particularly because the canvas, painting materials, instructor, music, games, and possible prizes are included.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to buy art supplies. You receive a canvas to keep, rather than using materials that disappear into the venue’s storage after class. The instructor also saves you from having to plan a project, gather equipment, and teach yourself from scratch.

The price is less attractive if you are mainly looking for a cheap place to have a drink. Bar purchases are extra, and the experience is built around painting. You are paying for a structured activity first, with drinks as an optional addition.

I would also compare the price with what your group wants from an evening. If everyone is happy to make art, play games, and listen to music, the cost covers several parts of the night. If half the group dislikes painting, the ticket may feel high because the canvas project is the central feature.

There is also useful booking flexibility. You can reserve now and pay later, which lets you secure a place without paying at once. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Check the available start times carefully, since the duration is fixed at two hours but the schedule can vary.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this activity to:

  • Friends who want a social night with more to do than sit at a bar
  • Hen parties looking for a group activity
  • Couples seeking a relaxed creative date
  • Adults who have never tried painting before
  • Groups with mixed confidence levels, since you can follow the lesson or improvise
  • Anyone who likes taking home a handmade souvenir

The strongest match is a group that can laugh at imperfect brushstrokes. You do not need to be artistic, but you do need to be willing to take part in a guided creative activity.

It may not suit children, since the event is for adults 18 and over. It may also disappoint a serious painter looking for advanced instruction or a quiet studio setting. The music, games, and bar make it more of a party than a technical workshop.

Practical details that affect your decision

The experience starts and ends at the same venue, so transport planning is straightforward, but transportation itself is not included. You must get to 3 Queen Street in Smithfield independently.

The instructor speaks English, and the entire session is conducted in English. The organizers provide the canvas and painting materials, so you do not need to carry equipment through Dublin.

Drinks are purchased at the bar rather than supplied with the ticket. The activity lasts two hours, and starting times depend on availability. Children under 18 are not permitted.

The cancellation terms are helpful if your Dublin plans are still shifting: cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which is useful when coordinating a group.

The experience has a 4.5 rating from 12 reviews. The praise centers on the friendly atmosphere, good resources, patient instruction, and the extra competitions. Those details suggest that the human side of the class matters as much as the painting itself.

Should you book this Dublin Drink & Draw experience?

Book it if you want a cheerful, low-pressure evening where you can make something, listen to music, buy a drink, and share a few laughs with friends. The prepared supplies, patient guidance, and take-home canvas make the $31 fee fair for people who value a complete activity rather than just a bar stop.

I would be cautious if you want drinks included, advanced art teaching, or a quiet place to paint. For everyone else, this is a smart choice for a hen party, casual date, or rainy Dublin evening. Wear practical clothes, budget separately for drinks, and arrive ready to accept that your masterpiece may have a few creative surprises.

FAQ

Where does the Dublin painting party start?

Go to 3 Queen Street in Smithfield and ask for Drink & Draw. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The painting party lasts two hours. Available starting times depend on the date you choose.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Drinks are available to purchase at the venue’s on-site bar, but they are not included in the ticket price.

Do I need previous painting experience?

No. The instructor provides step-by-step guidance, and you can follow the lesson plan or create your own version.

What do I take home after the activity?

You take home one canvas that you paint during the session. Painting materials are provided at the venue.

Can children take part?

No. The experience is not suitable for children under 18.

More like this

Drinking Tours, compared.

The full Drinking Tours list →
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
★★★★★★★★★★4.5· 1,607 reviews· from $27

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl

Read our review →
Generation Pub Crawl Dublin
★★★★★★★★★★4.0· 400 reviews· from $16

Generation Pub Crawl Dublin

Read our review →
Dublin Out-Off-Tourist-Path Pub Tour and Tastings with a Local
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 361 reviews· from $50

Dublin Out-Off-Tourist-Path Pub Tour and Tastings with a Local

Read our review →
Traditional Pub Walking Tour
★★★★★★★★★★4.6· 295 reviews· from $48

Traditional Pub Walking Tour

Read our review →
Dublin Coastal Craft Beer and Seafood Trail
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 290 reviews· from $127

Dublin Coastal Craft Beer and Seafood Trail

Read our review →
Afternoon Dublin Mountain Pub Tour(small group pub crawl max 15)
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 259 reviews· from $83

Afternoon Dublin Mountain Pub Tour(small group pub crawl max 15)

Read our review →
Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Pub Tour small group tour max 15 people
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 240 reviews· from $116

Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Pub Tour small group tour max 15 people

Read our review →
Irish Night Show at the Merry Ploughboy Pub
★★★★★★★★★★4.7· 208 reviews· from $39

Irish Night Show at the Merry Ploughboy Pub

Read our review →

Browse the lists this tour appears in

Scroll to Top

Explore Ireland

Every kind of Irish day out, and the best of each.