Our Guide to Dublin
Essentials
This shop is handy to the apartment if you're in a rush for basics like milk and sliced bread. Open until 10pm.
6 locals recommend
Spar Ellis Quay
14 -17 Ellis QuayThis shop is handy to the apartment if you're in a rush for basics like milk and sliced bread. Open until 10pm.
This grocery store stocks imported and gourmet foods, as well as some locally sourced items. It also features a deli and a coffee bar. Below is a nice, cavernous wine bar.
175 locals recommend
Fallon & Byrne, Food Hall
11-17 Exchequer StThis grocery store stocks imported and gourmet foods, as well as some locally sourced items. It also features a deli and a coffee bar. Below is a nice, cavernous wine bar.
Fine and fancy foods, as well as a deli counter. Excellent breads.
32 locals recommend
Listons Food Store
25 Lower Camden PlFine and fancy foods, as well as a deli counter. Excellent breads.
Lidl
Thomas StreetCheap and cheerful spot for groceries and other essentials.
Getting Around
I haven't ever used this carpark myself, but it's very close to the apartment & has cheap day rates. It's also beside an Esso petrol station with a 24-hr shop for late night and immediate essentials.
Q-Park Four Courts
Usher's QuayI haven't ever used this carpark myself, but it's very close to the apartment & has cheap day rates. It's also beside an Esso petrol station with a 24-hr shop for late night and immediate essentials.
Connolly Station
1 Amiens StThis train station runs local and national trains.
You can take a local DART train from here to a number of seaside locations in Dublin.
36 locals recommend
Tara St station
Tara StreetYou can take a local DART train from here to a number of seaside locations in Dublin.
If you want to take public transport from the airport, the 747 Airlink is your best option--a 5-minute walk to the apartment from the Arran Quay stop! €7 single, €12 return.
The corresponding bus stop for the return trip to the airport is across the river on Wolfe Tone Quay ( a 2-minute walk).
12 locals recommend
Airlink Bus stop
If you want to take public transport from the airport, the 747 Airlink is your best option--a 5-minute walk to the apartment from the Arran Quay stop! €7 single, €12 return.
The corresponding bus stop for the return trip to the airport is across the river on Wolfe Tone Quay ( a 2-minute walk).
Drinks & Nightlife
Dice Bar
77 Sir John Rogerson's QuayA great bar, much beloved by locals. Usually very busy on the weekends.
A ramshackle and very old pub where you can hear genuine Irish trad music most nights and get a great pint.
296 locals recommend
The Cobblestone
77 King St NA ramshackle and very old pub where you can hear genuine Irish trad music most nights and get a great pint.
This mammoth-sized pub and music venue has a deceptively modest facade. One of the best spots for indy gigs. Also good for a pint, but be warned, this place has a lively, late-night club on the wknds!
209 locals recommend
Whelan's
25 Wexford StThis mammoth-sized pub and music venue has a deceptively modest facade. One of the best spots for indy gigs. Also good for a pint, but be warned, this place has a lively, late-night club on the wknds!
This is a great, friendly, music-oriented Dublin pub that often gets jammed & a bit rowdy on the wknds, but is a good spot for a chatty pint most weekdays. Sports a comedy club upstairs on Thursdays.
52 locals recommend
Anseo Comedy Club
18 Camden StThis is a great, friendly, music-oriented Dublin pub that often gets jammed & a bit rowdy on the wknds, but is a good spot for a chatty pint most weekdays. Sports a comedy club upstairs on Thursdays.
Slightly off the beaten track, the grungy looking exterior belies the cozy, candlelit tables that await inside. Excellent craft beers, cocktails, and small plates of food. Nicely crowded on wknds.
81 locals recommend
MVP
29 Clanbrassil Street UpperSlightly off the beaten track, the grungy looking exterior belies the cozy, candlelit tables that await inside. Excellent craft beers, cocktails, and small plates of food. Nicely crowded on wknds.
This late-night venue is popular with younger crowds, but also puts on the occasional good gig.
70 locals recommend
The Workman's Club
10 Wellington QuayThis late-night venue is popular with younger crowds, but also puts on the occasional good gig.
Yamamori Izakaya Sake Bar
12 South Great George's StreetGreat for late night small-bites and drinks.
If you happen to end up in the southern part of the city, this old, traditional pub is well worth a visit.
75 locals recommend
Stella Cinema
209 Rathmines Rd LowerIf you happen to end up in the southern part of the city, this old, traditional pub is well worth a visit.
This traditional pub is loved by young and old locals alike. Crowds regularly spill out on to the street as there's limited seating inside. Serves great pints and cheese toasties!
150 locals recommend
Grogan's Castle Lounge
15 William St SThis traditional pub is loved by young and old locals alike. Crowds regularly spill out on to the street as there's limited seating inside. Serves great pints and cheese toasties!
The Long Hall
51 South Great George's StreetA beautiful and very old pub.
The Lord Edward
23 Christchurch PlaceLovely, quiet upstairs lounge.
The Stags Head
1 Dame CtA very old, traditional pub.
J. McNeill's Pub. This tiny pub often hosts traditional music sessions and serves a good pint of Guinness.
140 Capel St
140 Capel StreetJ. McNeill's Pub. This tiny pub often hosts traditional music sessions and serves a good pint of Guinness.
The Black Sheep
61 Capel StA large pub that serves tonnes of craft beers.
L. Mulligan Grocer
18 StoneybatterGastro pub great for a pint or a meal.
Entertainment & Activities
A big but lovely cinema with some interesting interior architecture. Shows both big budget and arthouse films.
162 locals recommend
Light House Cinema
Market Street SouthA big but lovely cinema with some interesting interior architecture. Shows both big budget and arthouse films.
Dublin's most well-known and beloved arthouse cinema. Has a good bar and restaurant, too.
82 locals recommend
Irish Film Institute
6 Eustace StDublin's most well-known and beloved arthouse cinema. Has a good bar and restaurant, too.
A popular attraction with visitors. Daily tours that conclude with a glass of Guinness in a bar in a panoramic viewing tower.
950 locals recommend
Guinness Storehouse
A popular attraction with visitors. Daily tours that conclude with a glass of Guinness in a bar in a panoramic viewing tower.
A popular tourist attraction, I lived beside this for years, but never went in.
485 locals recommend
Jameson Distillery Bow St.
Bow StreetA popular tourist attraction, I lived beside this for years, but never went in.
Newly opened site and welcoming the public, as far as I know.
167 locals recommend
Teeling Whiskey Distillery
13-17 NewmarketNewly opened site and welcoming the public, as far as I know.
Swan Leisure
161 Rathmines Rd LowerIf you can't do without a swim!
Friendly yoga spot with drop-in rates and monthly memberships. Array of yogis and yoga-styles to choose from.
YogaHub
5-8 Camden CourtFriendly yoga spot with drop-in rates and monthly memberships. Array of yogis and yoga-styles to choose from.
Shopping
This is a lovely boutique with hand-picked clothes and lots of Irish-made clothes & homewares. Great for gifts or for a treat for yourself to help you remember your trip!
Scout
5 Essex St WThis is a lovely boutique with hand-picked clothes and lots of Irish-made clothes & homewares. Great for gifts or for a treat for yourself to help you remember your trip!
This tiny, well-situated shop sells retro video games above and has a large selection of new & used vinyl below. A must visit!
The RAGE-Record Art Game Emporium
8 Crow StThis tiny, well-situated shop sells retro video games above and has a large selection of new & used vinyl below. A must visit!
Newmarket
NewmarketHosts interesting fleamarkets and events most weekends.
Small but cute shop selling locally made gifts and crafts. Also houses artist workshops to rear.
18 locals recommend
Irish Design Shop
41 Drury StSmall but cute shop selling locally made gifts and crafts. Also houses artist workshops to rear.
Secret Book and Record Store
15A Wicklow StNeat spot selling lots or records and used books.
Chapters Bookstore
Parnell StreetHuge shop selling new and used books.
Spindizzy Records
South Great George's StreetAn independent record shop selling new & used vinyl.
Located in Dublin's 'antiques quarter', this little shop specialises in 50s-70s furniture and small homewares. Ask for Andrew, the owner, if you're looking for a chat about Dublin, records, or just about anything else!
Anonymous
72 Francis StLocated in Dublin's 'antiques quarter', this little shop specialises in 50s-70s furniture and small homewares. Ask for Andrew, the owner, if you're looking for a chat about Dublin, records, or just about anything else!
Parks & Nature
Europe's largest enclosed park. It's home to a herd of wild deer if you can track them down. Good for a stroll or a picnic. Also houses Dublin Zoo.
1242 locals recommend
Phoenix Park
Europe's largest enclosed park. It's home to a herd of wild deer if you can track them down. Good for a stroll or a picnic. Also houses Dublin Zoo.
One of Dublin's hidden treasures. Usually very quiet as this is not the best-known park. Beautiful, formal gardens, as well as river frontage where you can watch rowing teams practice in season.
72 locals recommend
Irish National War Memorial Gardens
Island BridgeOne of Dublin's hidden treasures. Usually very quiet as this is not the best-known park. Beautiful, formal gardens, as well as river frontage where you can watch rowing teams practice in season.
Free in and accessible by public bus. Features Victorian greenhouses, formal gardens, a rose garden, wildflower gardens, a food garden and much more! Highly recommended.
79 locals recommend
National Botanic Gardens
Free in and accessible by public bus. Features Victorian greenhouses, formal gardens, a rose garden, wildflower gardens, a food garden and much more! Highly recommended.
A park popular with office workers and other locals for eating lunch on a soft day.
720 locals recommend
St Stephens Green
Saint Stephen's GreenA park popular with office workers and other locals for eating lunch on a soft day.
Iveagh Gardens
Saint Stephen's GreenLesser known inner-city garden that's surprisingly tranquil.
A great place for a walk along the water if the weather's fine. Easily accessible by bus.
23 locals recommend
サンディマウント海岸
A great place for a walk along the water if the weather's fine. Easily accessible by bus.
Bull Island
Nature preserve and sandy beach. Accessible by bus.
Arts & Culture
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Parnell Square NorthA great gallery.
The jail in which many Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed in the prison by the British. Now a popular tourist attraction.
568 locals recommend
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
Inchicore RoadThe jail in which many Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed in the prison by the British. Now a popular tourist attraction.
Highly recommended Science-oriented gallery with lots of interactive exhibits and a real sense of fun. Great for young and old alike. Part of Trinity College.
71 locals recommend
Science Gallery Dublin
Pearse StreetHighly recommended Science-oriented gallery with lots of interactive exhibits and a real sense of fun. Great for young and old alike. Part of Trinity College.
If you like design or fashion, I highly recommend this museum, packed full of curiousities and delights. It's also free and 5 mins from the apartment!
166 locals recommend
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Benburb StreetIf you like design or fashion, I highly recommend this museum, packed full of curiousities and delights. It's also free and 5 mins from the apartment!
This collective houses the studios of a number of artists and designers, but you can visit its lovely cafe, Blas, on the ground floor.
6 locals recommend
The Chocolate Factory Arts Centre
26 King's Inns StThis collective houses the studios of a number of artists and designers, but you can visit its lovely cafe, Blas, on the ground floor.
A brilliant little theatre company that offers plays and events geared towards both children and their parents. Located centrally in Temple Bar.
20 locals recommend
The Ark, Dublin
11A Eustace StA brilliant little theatre company that offers plays and events geared towards both children and their parents. Located centrally in Temple Bar.