Back in February of this year my sister Jane and husband Sean spent a night in Dublin’…….I asked her to share with me and my clients highlights of her short trip and of course best places to eat & drink in Dublin’s Fair City…I hope you enjoy
It’s easy to forget how beautiful our capital city of Dublin really is when you live so close to it. My hometown of Kells Co Meath is only a 50-minute drive, so looking for a one-night break, Dublin was the obvious choice. What a vibrant, exciting and cosmopolitan city Dublin is.
We chose Brooks Hotel for its prime location on Drury Street which is in the heart of the city just minutes from Grafton Street. Katie also recommended it, of course it always help to have a family member in the Industry!
Brooks Hotel is a 4-star luxury boutique hotel and member of Original Irish Hotels. The warm and welcoming staff who really take pride in their hotel make it something special. There are lots of little things that make Brooks unique from their pillow menu to their Newsletter which is available in each room and gives up to date suggestions of things to do in the city during your stay. The hotel’s concierge Conor is somewhat a legend and has been working at Brooks for over 20 years. He knows everything about Dublin and has a feature called Conor’s Corner in the newsletter and is also available for a chat to discover any secrets going on in the city and will suggest things to do and see.
Brooks Hotel also offers a unique Whiskey Tasting Experience which they advise to book in advance. They have over 100 types of whiskey from all over the world. I’m glad we didn’t book or I imagine we would have found it hard to leave the Jasmine Bar where the tasting takes place. The hotel also has its own private cinema, and available for private hire too.
After checking in Sean and I took a stroll down iconic Grafton street. Grafton street is something of an enigma to visitors to Dublin. It’s a great way to get the feel for Irish people & culture. A stroll around lets you soak up the atmosphere and hear the sounds of the city. The street is alive day and night with musicians and performers –Grafton Street has become renowned as a launch pad for many several successful musicians including Glen Hansard who won an Oscar for his song ‘Falling Slowly’ from the movie and now Broadway musical ‘Once’.
If you’re in the mood for shopping this would be the place to start. One of the main stores on Grafton Street is Brown Thomas where you will find the world’s most exclusive brands. No trip to Dublin was complete without a visit to Brown Thomas by our Mum, her favourite store.
Our plan was to visit Kilmainham Gaol (highly recommended), but it was fully booked, so if you wish to include this on your next trip to Dublin, it is imperative to book a visit in advance. It was February, it was cold, so like the good Irish people we are, we headed for a pub lunch. The International Bar is a Victorian pub full of Dublin character that has been around for over 200 years. It has a mixture of old and new and famous for music and comedy. It’s been quite a few years since I have been here but they serve a good pint of Guinness and a bowl of Irish stew.
Next on the agenda was Kehoe’s Bar. This came highly recommended so we made a point of going to see what all the fuss was about. It is known as an award winning traditional Irish pub on Anne Street just off Grafton Street and that certainly is what Kehoe’s is. It didn’t disappoint and I would highly recommend a visit if you want to experience genuine Irish banter and craic. It seems at all hours of the day Kehoe’s is busy and I can tell you the atmosphere is great. We were lucky to get one of the snug areas to ourselves and it would be easy to get lost in there and forget to leave but we had more to see and do in Dublin.
After a quick change in the hotel we went to the Market Bar for some food before the show. This is a gastro pub and tapas restaurant, a popular venue for casual dining with great food and a great atmosphere. Upon entering you walk through a courtyard type entrance which leads into a huge warehouse which is the market bar. A very unique experience and I will definitely be going back.
It’s nice to get the glad rags on and do something you don’t always get to do so later that evening we had theatre tickets for Dublin’s famous Gaiety Theatre, the Lieutenant of Inishmore. If you enjoy the theatre as we do then the Gaiety is must see on your list when visiting Dublin. The Gaiety Theatre first opened in 1871 and has been presenting a range of cabaret, drama, musicals, variety, ballet and opera ever since.
After the show our last visit of the night was to the famous Hairy Lemon pub. This was always one of my favourites when I was a student in Dublin back in the day so I was a little apprehensive that I would feel “old” but the pubs friendly and welcoming atmosphere makes everyone feel right at home. The pub is full of tradition and character which makes it popular for locals and visitors and of course their perfect pint of Guinness helps too. Be warned though once you go in and the music and craic start you may find it hard to leave. We certainly did.
There really is something special about Dublin, maybe it is the history it is steeped in or the magic that surrounds it or the culture it but for me it is the people. Having spent years in Dublin as a student and returning as a weekend visitor and as a returning immigrant, the people have not changed and this is what gives Dublin City its energy. There has always been a warm and inviting atmosphere from the locals (even to a culchie which is what someone from the country is called) and that welcome and warmness is still alive. In short the people make the city. The locals all have a story to tell and they want to share. Some may be tall tales especially after a few Guinness or whiskey but they want to share them. They are proud of their city and it’s easy to see why Dublin why.
