- Dublin
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Ireland
This is a fab little Cuban place in Ballsbridge. We took our children there early evening and the waiter was delightful, couldn't do enough to make us comfortable and well fed, and the other diners were graciously accommodating of the added fuss. Far more important - the food was fantastic, authentic Cuban grub, and the service duly attentive; and to boot the tab was very reasonable.
11 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4
I found the write-ups here helpful before I visited Dublin for my recent outing - a group of us went over for a weekend a few weeks ago. We were aware rooms could be pricey, but we found a great hostel about a mile from the city called Morehampton House. It's a massive Georgian and not much of a walk to the centre, but most of all it's great value. We only paid 20 per night for each person, so I wanted to let those who want budget rooms to know about it. Its clean and friendly.
I would like to recommend a bed and breakfast we found by accident while in Dublin, we were taking the Ferry back to the UK from Ireland from Dun Laoghaire so we had to stay the night nearby. Found Tara Hall B&B and it's run by an English lady called Margaret, it was great and so is she.
It's a lovely house near the sea in a place called Sandycove and an Irish writer used to live in it, its different and good fun and relaxing.
I stayed around Baggot Street a few weeks ago. A great location, there are great pubs and restaurants and it's just a few minutes' walk from Trinity College.
I can recommend Dohney & Nesbitts pub, a very traditional pub and great fun and then across the street is Toner Pub, different crowd, but again traditional. Stayed in Baggot Court Townhouse and then for a change moved to Fitzwilliam Square and stayed at Fitzwilliam Townhouse, great places to stay, Georgian buildings and, most of all, good value.
www.baggotcourt.com
www.visitdublin.com (see bars)
www.fitzwilliamtownhouse.com
www.bangcafe.ie
The Pav is Trinity College Dublin's only drinking hole at the moment, and as the summer approaches is really the only one needed. The bar itself is horrid.
I'm recommending it on the strength that it is the best place to drink outside in central Dublin, legally.
On a Thursday and more so on a Friday there will be literally thousands of people, students, office slaves and more, sitting in the sun drinking. Drinks can be bought at the bar- 4 cans of larger for €8 - or more often brought in. Sometimes there's cricket on, and you can laze and look at that, or the stunning Berkley Library full of studying students, all wishing they were down on the grass next to you.
Other activities might include an impromptu kick about, impromptu sing-a-long, frisbee game, streaker and other studenty type activities.
Food and other drinks available and there's a very limited selection of beers and stouts on tap, but buying drink in there seems against the whole spirit of the thing.
The Pavilion Bar,
Trinity College Dublin,
It's the yellowish building facing on to the cricket pitch.
Great little burger bar on the Rathmines Road, great selection of organic meats, three different types of veggie burger and great imaginative and tasty options for the garnish.
There's a DJ booth in the corner and the crowd is young and hip. Alcohol is available and they have a great South African beer. Costs around €12.50 a burger and €5 a beer so not cheap, but is good value. Open quite late on the weekends.
Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6
www.joburger.ie/
Charlies popped up a few years ago as a sort of fast food Chinese restaurant and there are now three or four of them about the centre of town. The food is standard Dublin prices, or in other words a bit more than it should be, and is all right if you get it when the place is quiet. Other than that stay the hell away from them. It's a magnet for the drunk and serves up the vilest food when it gets busy. I've been ill the last two times I've eaten there, and won't be returning.
The main problem is that for the same money you could get a decent enough meal elsewhere.
Around Temple Bar
It has a Spar and a Centra.
Northside
It's an hilarious Dublin guide filled with serious tips.
The Bernard Shaw is one of a number of pubs catering to a youngish, trendyish crowd. There's a massive smoking area with a pool table, a dj booth, and decently priced if limited selection of beers.
Decent music nights, recent ones were Dubstep and a celebration of the Rio Carnival with drummers and cheep Brazilian beer. Usually packed at the weekend, always a laugh.
Richmond Street,
Dublin
Because you can wave at your friends at home, dance a jig, kiss a dublin gal, lay down for a nap or do just about anything else that's legal -- and appear on the World-Link live webcam (www.nci.ie/ispy)
If you prefer a more traditional spot - they also have a cam aimed at O'Shea's front door.
Talbot Street across from the World-Link Call shop (big blue building on the corner of Talbot and Gardiner)
Fun, fresh and boho. Cool shops, cafes and people. So cute.
George Street, South City parallel to Grafton St - few over.
Fish and chips in Clontarf. I've lived here three years, and have scoured half the city for fish and chips in crunchy batter. They excel. They also do pretty hot fish cakes.
It's 30 yards from the sea. Go for a walk along the seafront first, afterwards, or even during!
Vernon Avenue. Directions: Next to the Spar in Clontarf village, North Dublin.
Huge bookshop with a vast, if slightly populist, selection and decent discounts. Certainly one of the best in town for scale and economy, there's a decent if slightly overpriced second hand section as well.
Parnell Street, North of the river
New York style (how did you guess?) diner in the docklands development next to the IFSC. Next to the financial district, so I expect it's worth avoiding during the week. On a Sunday, though, it's a pretty chilled out place to get Eggs Benedict or a vast array of bagels. Next to the river (by the Jeannie Johnston boat).
Lower Mayor St.
Opposite NCI (National College of Ireland). A short walk from Busáras (the main bus/coach terminus) or Connolly Station (DART [rail] / LUAS [tram])
Every time I go there I discover something new: open spaces, extensive rose gardens, cool playground, woods, streams, ponds, ruins, pitch'n'putt next door, nice coffee, small Saturday market.
North Dublin, next to Coast Road. Killester Dart station's probably the closest - about 5mins walk (but we usually drive or bus it - Coast Road has lots of buses)
Get the train from Dublin to Wexford for one of the most relaxing and pleasant trips you can enjoy on a train.
The Enterprise train which runs between Dublin and Belfast has a number of first class carriages with huge, reclining seats at one end of the train for First Class ticket holders only.
However, 50% of the trains have a first class carriage which can be used by standard ticket holders at the opposite end.
Nepalese restaurant: really interesting food. Another of the rare restaurants where you can have a short set menu for an excellent lunch or early evening meal for 20 Euros.
28 Eustace St,Temple Bar,Dublin 2.
Phone:(01) 670-4911
Lebanese restaurant with some interesting and different dishes. One of the relatively few places where you can get a quality early evening meal for less than 20 Euros - but it goes up a lot after 7pm.
11a St Andrew Street Dublin 2 (01) 677 2121
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