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The previous time I visited Dublin was days before the UK and Ireland went into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dublin was eerily quiet, many businesses and tours had already closed and coughing in public warranted dagger-like stares.
This visit, determined to see more and armed with a wealth of recommendations from trusted friends, did not disappoint.
However, being useless with my phone on this trip left me desperately lacking in photos, but I promise Dublin is a beautiful, vibrant city and the people here are delightful.
Word of warning, steer clear of Temple Bar in high season. It’s heaving, expensive and absolutely not worth the hassle when there are so many other nice places available. If you live in London, think Piccadilly Circus but with stag dos.
Recommendations
Below is a combination of places we visited ourselves and recommendations given to us. We know several people who live in Dublin who shared their personal restaurant lists, hence the very long dinner list for a 2-night visit.
I suggest clicking on each to set expectation before you visit as price and atmosphere can differ greatly.
Sights/places worth seeing
- Grafton Street
- Ha’penny Bridge
- George’s Street Arcade (Shopping)
- William Street (Shopping)
- Drury Street (Shopping)
- Powerscourt Townhouse Centre (Shopping)
- The Book of Kells Experience, Old Library
- Molly Malone Statue
- St Stephen’s Green
- Martello Tower Sutton
Out of the centre, but worth a visit as recommended by locals - Kilmainham Gaol
Also slightly out of the centre. Prison museum where many of Ireland’s political prisoners were incarcerated, tortured and executed.
Good food
Dinner
- F.X. Buckley
My personal favourite. Good steak, but the novelty of it featuring in a James Joyce novel gives it extra points. - Bovinity
- Angelina’s Restaurant & Deli
- Little Lemon
- Variety Jones
- Las Tapas De Lola
- Hang Dai Chinese
- Pickle
- Mama Yo
- Masa
- Tang
Breakfast / Brunch
Nightlife
Proper Irish
- The Stag’s Head
- John Kavanagh The Gravediggers
A little bit out of the centre, but probably my favourite. They had trad music on and the locals were very friendly. I made friend’s with a nice Irish man who worked in the airport and explained to me how body scanners work. - Whelan’s
- Grogan’s
Locally famous for toasties, apparently. - Kehoes
- O’Donoghues
- The Cobblestone
Everything else
- The Hacienda Bar
Very quirky, backstreet bar known for attracting celebrities and musicians after their Dublin gigs. You have to knock on the door and the owner will let you in if he likes you. - The Bank on College Green
- The Dawson Lounge
- The Market Bar Restaurant
- Vintage Cocktail Club
- The Shelbourne Hotel
Specifically their three bars, No. 27, The Horseshoe and 1824. - Café en Seine
- 37 Dawson Street
