A five minute stroll from the top of O'Connel Street is the recently renovated and extended Hugh Lane, the official Dublin City Municipal Art Gallery. Its bright, naturally lit spaces make it one of the most pleasant places to spend an afternoon in Dublin, especially if it's raining. The highlight is an exact recreation of the chaotic studio of Francis Bacon, which you view through the room's windows and door. There is a wide variety of painting, photographic and stained glass and sculptural work on display, both modern and classical, a well stocked art book shop, and chic (if slightly pricy) cafe. Best of all, it's totally free.

Parnell Square North.

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A stylish cafe with great food and service within the art gallery.

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The food is ok but the wines! A truly impressive and not very expensive collection of interesting Italian wines. They have two places, curiously enough separated by another cafe. Choose the right one where all the wines are! By the way, the brioche (croissant) and cappuccino are great.

www.dunneandcrescenzi.com
14-16 South Frederick St
Dublin 2
6773815 /6759892

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The kids loved the pizza here, and the fact they could wander round unhindered. The statue of the naked lady in the corner caused great amusement as well. On the very top floor there is a theatre. It's worth finding out if there is a performance on when you're there. We watched an entrancing xmas story monologue, which kept even the jaded Playstationer glued to his seat. Free soup with a ticket was also a bonus on a cold winter's day.

78/9 Grafton Street
+353 1 6727720
www.bewleyscafe.com

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The Amnesty International café, right in the heart of Temple Bar, is an oasis of calm (not to mention intellect and compassion) in an area dominated by overpriced restaurants and “pubs” stuffed with stag nights and rugby fans. Good strong and cheap coffee, tasty food, great reading material and much more besides, this place sticks out like a sane thumb.

Address: 48 Fleet Street, Dublin 2.
Telephone: (353-1)6776361
Website: www.amnesty.ie
Email: info@amnesty.ie
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:00-18:00.

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The best hot chocolate ever.

At the airport, as well as numerous locations in central Dublin, including: 24 Wicklow St; 51a Grafton St; 18 Nassau St; 9 Chatham St; 31 Henry St

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Simon's is a gem. One of the best places to have a coffee and a bite to eat in the whole city. The freshly baked cinnamon buns alone are worth crossing the Liffey for. The staff are efficient, helpful and friendly. The food is good wholesome, unprocessed and well put together unlike the sorry offerings of the chains of sandwich bars that unfortunately proliferate elsewhere around town.

And it’s clean.

St George's Arcade

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A modern creperie - boasting two branches either side of Grafton St - that serves tasty French treats in a variety of sweet and savoury flavours as well as toasted sandwiches. The main reason that I visit is for the coffee, which I believe to be the best in Dublin.

Dawson St, South William St

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Nice relaxed place for simple dishes and pretty good wines.

Chez Max, Palace Street (next to Dublin Castle, off Dame Street), Dublin 2

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This is a lovely place to wander around. Here’s a few places to look out for:

Castle Market: La Maison des Gourmets for cakes and Costume for posh frocks. On Drury Street: Jenny Vander for vintage clothes and a few other small fashion shops. More small shops and stalls (food, clothes, secondhand books) in George's Street Arcade, as well as the grubby but charming cafe, Simon's Place. On South William Street, sit outside Ba Mizu on a (rare) sunny day, or try Dakota (sometimes cool, sometimes tries too hard).

Between Grafton Street and George's Street, Dublin 2

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Just off Grafton Street. Beautiful breakfasts, poached eggs, muffins, smoked salmon, irish bacon, soda bread and THE most delicious coffee. Friendly staff, newspapers and generally chilled morning brekky. Perfect.

Cafe Java (South Anne Street) 5 South Anne Street, Dublin 2

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