DUBLIN HAS ITS institutions (Trinity College, Grogan’s, and Burdocks’ fish and chips, for example) but it’s also much more than that. Here are some things you mightn’t even have considered doing in the city – but you should.
1. Discover the Ilac Centre library
Yep, above all the hustle and bustle of shops and food courts, there is a surprisingly big library – it’s not too easy to spot when you get inside, but once you find it, you’ll never want to leave.
2. And settle down with said book in Accents Tea Lounge on Stephen Street
Get yourself a drink, pick a squashy armchair downstairs, and settle in for as long as you please.
3. Reflect at the Blessington Street basin in Phibsborough
Of course, the locals know all about it, but have you ever taken a turn around it yourself? There are swans, tons of birds, and lots of places for quiet reflection.
4. Find music bargains at Freebird, The Rage and The Secret Book & Record Store
You’ll locate HMV and Tower Records pretty easily, but if you want the real bargains, you need to hunt. And it’ll be worth it, we promise.
5. Check out the relics of St Valentine in the Whitefriar Street Church
Pope Gregory XVI donated them to the church in the 19th century, and are now housed in a little shrine in the church, in case you’re ever needing some divine romantic intervention.
6. Visit Dublin’s own secret ‘speakeasy’
It’s called the Blind Pig – to visit, you need to make a reservation, follow the directions they send you, then give the secret password at the door. Once there, you can enjoy some of the most delicious cocktails in the city.
7. Find some classic Irish art down a tiny back alley in Temple Bar
Down Price’s Lane, around the corner from TGI Fridays on Fleet Street, you can find several stained glass windows by the artist Harry Clarke, just hanging around.
Harry Clarke was a BIG name in Irish art in the 1920s and 1930s, and most of his work can now be found in churches and art galleries. Or, y’know, back alleys in Temple Bar.
8. Stare at the walls (and eat cake) in Foam Café
Located down a dodgy-looking alley near the Ha’penny Bridge, Foam is a RIOT of colour and knick-knacks. Don’t miss out on the cheesecakes, they’re divine.
9. Take a stroll through the Iveagh Gardens
It’s right there in the middle of the city! But we just don’t pay enough attention to it. There are beautiful waterfalls, grottos, and various pretty spots to wander about.
10. Get some authentic Italian food at Terra Madre
You probably walk past this tiny restaurant regularly on Bachelor’s Walk, but keep your eyes peeled next time. The menu is small but exquisite. Trust us.
11. Catch some up and coming indie artists at the Ruby Sessions upstairs in Doyles
The Ruby Sessions has hosted everyone from Gavin James to Ed Sheeran to Damien Rice and LOADS more, and is well worth a fiver on a Tuesday night.
12. And have a blast from the past (and a pint) at The Library Bar in the Central Hotel
Feeling posh? Go for a quiet pint of Guinness in the Library Bar, and bathe in the fanciness.
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