| Great Things To Do In Dublin Ireland | | | | day: Dover sole on the bone, baked sea bass, |
| 1. Experience Dublin as the locals do | | | | pan-fried halibut and slow-cooked organic salmon. |
| Despite its unsavoury reputation in past years, | | | | Aqua's distinctly urban appearance is softened by |
| Temple Bar is one of the city's most charming | | | | gorgeous sea views and a warm, cosy bar in front |
| neighbourhoods and residents are trying hard to keep | | | | of a casual, uncluttered dining room – the venue |
| it that way. Cobblestone streets, bars, cafés, art | | | | for a great Sunday lunch to the sound of live jazz. |
| galleries and architectural splendour harmoniously blend | | | | On bright, sunny days, save time for a nice stroll |
| with old streetscapes and eco-friendly schemes. | | | | around the harbour. |
| Among the cultural attractions are Dublin's only | | | | 11. Catch some traditional Irish sounds at the |
| art-house cinema at the Irish Film Institute, the | | | | Cobblestone |
| Gallery of Photography and the Project Arts Centre. | | | | The Cobblestone is a gem. The musicians' corner |
| 2. Sip a perfect pint at Kehoe's | | | | downstairs attracts traditional players whom you |
| If all you came to Dublin for is the Guinness, then | | | | would pay to see elsewhere, and the paying venue |
| camp out at Kehoe's. The bar's friendly staff keep | | | | upstairs rarely books a duff band. It often |
| the mugs full and on a busy night the crowd huddles | | | | showcases traditional and folk music. Overall, it's cosy, |
| around the stairs - neighbourhood tavern style. The | | | | while eschewing unnecessary frills; if you want to |
| elegant wooden fitting has an old-school character | | | | avoid excessive paddy-whackery in favour of a |
| and the snugs are delightful, which makes drinking | | | | genuine traditional Dublin pub atmosphere, come here. |
| here a rich experience. But a word of advice, the | | | | 12. Discover a well-kept secret at the Cake Café |
| bathrooms are to be avoided if you fear small | | | | In a concealed courtyard, the Cake Café is an |
| spaces. | | | | adorable venture that has already won itself a loyal |
| 3. Brush with royalty at the Dublin Castle | | | | following. The air inside is warm with the smell of |
| This isn't how you'd imagine a castle in the traditional | | | | heavenly own-made cakes, biscuits, pies and |
| sense. There's no moat, no drawbridge to lower | | | | cupcakes, sandwiches, great salads (caramelised pear, |
| against invading hordes, no turrets from which to | | | | blue cheese and walnut) and some more ambitious |
| pour boiling oil. It's more a collection of 18th-century | | | | hot dishes. Everything is served on artfully |
| administrative buildings, albeit fine ones, built on a | | | | mismatched crockery and the staff are delightfully |
| medieval plan of two courtyards. Dublin Castle hosts | | | | welcoming. A hidden treasure. |
| grand diplomatic or state functions, and occasional | | | | 13. Stroll through the Dubh Linn Gardens |
| performances like concert recitals. The beautiful | | | | If you don't want to pay to get into Dublin Castle |
| interior is accessible on a pay-per-view basis, but you | | | | then stroll around the Dubh Linn Gardens hidden |
| can wander freely around the castle. Dublin Car | | | | behind. It's the original place of the dubh linn (dark |
| Rental | | | | pool), from where the city drew its name and was |
| 4. Warm up with some Irish stew at the Porterhouse | | | | recently landscaped into a garden. Though most |
| The wooden décor may be excessively rustic, but | | | | tourists don't know about it, it's extremely popular |
| Dublin's oldest microbrewery pub, the Porterhouse, | | | | with office goers as a lunch venue. Sometimes, it's |
| makes up for that with the quality of its beer. The | | | | also used as a helicopter-landing site. |
| pub only sells its own label of beers, but the stouts, | | | | 14. Get arty at the Dublin Fringe Festival |
| lagers and ales are better than any mass-produced | | | | The Dublin Fringe festival ( is as established an event |
| beer. The Oyster Stout, made with real oysters, is | | | | as its Scottish counterpart. Usually a mixed bag of |
| very good. The excellent pub food, Irish stew, and | | | | performances in September, the festival is dedicated |
| bangers and mash will fill you up without breaking the | | | | to promoting new companies, and showcasing |
| bank. | | | | experimental material. The emphasis, of course, is on |
| 5. Join the St Patrick's Day parade | | | | the unusual and the performances are innovative. |
| St Patrick's Day on 17 March ( offers the perfect | | | | 15. Lunch at Dunne & Crescenzi |
| excuse to drink, if you need one. The parade exhibits | | | | This is not a tourist-snaring pizza counter. Dunne |
| some of Europe's best street performers and there's | | | | & Crescenzi is the original and probably still the |
| a four-day gala of world-class entertainment. Spring is | | | | best Italian café in town, with two adjoining |
| when 12 Points! Festival of Europe's New Jazz ( | | | | spaces on South Frederick Street. Both are small, |
| comes to town. If you're a film buff, then July and | | | | dark and can feel a touch on the claustrophobic side. |
| August are the months of free Saturday night | | | | But the food is simply wonderful: the tasty, fresh and |
| movies at Jameson Movies on the Square ( Finally, | | | | simple lunches include cured and smoked meats, |
| the Dublin Writer's Festival ( offers a feast of | | | | salads and panini. Lunches are accompanied by a full |
| readings, discussions and public debates. | | | | wine list. The heart-warming coffee will match any |
| 6. Stroll around peaceful Trinity College | | | | brew that the European mainland has to offer. |
| Sunday morning is the best time to visit this | | | | 16. Drink excellent espresso at the Bald Barista |
| intellectual hub, before the students are awake and | | | | Buzz Fendall is a man on a mission – to bring |
| while the bells toll for morning mass throughout the | | | | amazing coffee to Dublin. Bald Barista, a busy friendly |
| city. Trinity College is an oasis of peace and beauty. | | | | café, is his gift to the city. Beans are sourced |
| Its campus is a mix of classical and contemporary | | | | directly from individual farmers in Brazil, Sumatra and |
| buildings interspersed with elegant gardens. Founded | | | | Ethiopia, and are freshly ground on site. Of course, |
| in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity boasts stellar | | | | there's more to the place than just coffee – |
| alumni, including playwright Oscar Wilde and Nobel | | | | snacks and lunches are served on the slickly |
| laureate Samuel Beckett. During the summer, | | | | appointed mezzanine dining area or the diminutive |
| enthusiastic students give 30-minute guided tours. | | | | terrace. |
| 7. Dine in style at Peploe's | | | | 17. Style up your wardrobe |
| Fridays are fun times at Peploe's. Lunches are popular | | | | Loft Market, a New York-style indoor fashion market |
| with local heroes, business gurus and the cultured set | | | | attracts local fashion junkies and hip students on the |
| of the city. The location is fabulous, and the rooms | | | | trail of individual, one-off looks, which are the stock in |
| are decked out with wood, murals and crisp table | | | | trade of the young designers and artists who share |
| linen. The established venue serves classic dishes like | | | | this space. There are plenty of vintage items of |
| French onion soup, Caesar salad and smoked salmon | | | | clothing and jewellery on sale. |
| with dill sauce, and the wine list is good and long. | | | | 18. Eat stellar food in Chapter One |
| Hugo's, on the other hand, is the new kid on the | | | | Everyone loves Chapter One for its affordable fine |
| block, but is attracting a following with its international | | | | dining experience. The choice is spectacular: |
| menu and expansive list of wines from around the | | | | Irish-caught yellow fin tuna with fennel and squid |
| globe. The staff are friendly and efficient, and on a | | | | braised in saffron, and Connemara mountain lamb |
| warm summer evening drinking a glass of crisp | | | | with rump glazed in mustard and white truffle honey |
| rosé in the elegant surroundings is a delight. | | | | are among the delights. You can follow them up with |
| 8. Get inspired at the Science Gallery | | | | Irish raspberry poached meringue, almond and |
| You always expect great things from Trinity College | | | | pistachio cracknel, and lime anglaise. The menu speaks |
| and the innovative Science Gallery certainly doesn't | | | | for itself. |
| disappoint. It takes a fresh look at applications of | | | | 19. Get lost in music at Andrew's Lane |
| science in real life, making white hot technology | | | | Formerly one of the few playhouses on Dublin's |
| accessible to everyone. Don't be surprised if you see | | | | south side, Andrew's Lane has reopened as a music |
| exhibitions of techno-thread clothing, displays of | | | | venue. It may be missed by theatre lovers, but is |
| robotic art and debates about the future of bio-fuels | | | | attracting fans and gaining a strong reputation on the |
| and the efficacy of anti-depressants. They've even | | | | city's music scene. So far, the fare has tended |
| harnessed nanotechnology to inscribe their logo on | | | | towards the left-field end of the spectrum, with arty |
| the face of a diamond. | | | | electronica acts from the likes of Matmos and |
| 9. Watch the Six Nations Rugby tournament | | | | Venetian Snares wooing the more adventurous |
| The Six Nations Rugby tournament is among the | | | | punters. |
| highlights of the Irish Sporting Calendar. Home games | | | | 20. Sink your teeth into a burger at Bobo's |
| are played at Croke Park and the whole city gets | | | | You would usually associate giant greasy burgers with |
| caught up in the excitement. Even if Ireland's not | | | | the Americans. But Bobo's has gained quite a |
| playing, match days are one big party and tradition | | | | reputation for turning out some fine patties. This |
| demands that you quarrel over the goals at a local | | | | excellent little diner serves up peerless organic |
| pub. | | | | burgers, 'proper chubby chips' in old-fashioned |
| 10. Savour delicious seafood at Aqua | | | | buckets and delicious malts, shakes and juices. |
| Given the coastal location, fish is the order of the | | | | |
