In my latest blog post, I was telling you how I recently rediscovered Dublin and fell in love with it.
Compared to London, Dublin is minuscule, which makes it great to walk around and discover by foot in a few days. Provided you book in advance, you can also get a hotel in the city centre for a very decent price.
There are loads of lovely shops and cafes to try out everywhere. I even discovered a great flea market. I can't wait to go again.
Cafes, markets and shops
- Fallon and Byrne: this Dublin institution is
a kind of wholefood market which also has a
cafe and a restaurant. You can buy food from the deli counter to eat in
on bar tables or take away. Treat yourself to one of their
delicious sandwiches or a chili con carne.
- Avoca: lovely little department store which makes incredible cakes to eat in or take away. Tip: if the main cafe on the top floor is full (which seems to be the case on most weekends), you can enjoy most of their cakes in the food hall cafe on the lower ground floor.
- The Fumbally: a uber hispter cafe in Dublin 8, which is as charming as it is cliche.
While you'll think you've landed in Berlin, you will enjoy simple
freshly made food with a little bottle of cold pressed beetroot and
apple juice.
- Temple bar market: this little market tucked away in a little back square of Temple Bar runs
every Saturday from 10.00 to 4.30 and sells local cheese and vegs
alongside freshly cooked food to go.
- Dublin Flea Market: this huge "fleatastic" market runs every last Sunday of the month in
Dublin 8 and sells everything that's antique, from decoration to clothes.
Getting hungry while looking around? Buy some ethnic food one of the
stalls in the Co-op.
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| Fallon and Byrne |
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| Dublin Castle |
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| Temple Bar Market |
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| Irish cheese |
I went to Dublin for the first time 10 years ago. It was cold, grim, and grey and I don't remember eating or drinking anything decent there
apart from a black beverage made of barley. Mind you, I was a student and didn't have the money to eat anywhere outside
cheap burger places anyway. I'd also been told that Ireland wasn't famous for its food at that time anyway.
I've had the fantastic opportunity to
travel a few times to Dublin for work this year and as I rediscovered
the city, I totally fell in love with it. And its food. I thought I
would share a few places I've discovered (with the help of lovely locals) and enjoyed.
Restaurants:
-
Coppinger Raw:
absolutely delicious
food made with seasonal local ingredients. Modern mediteranen, not too
expensive and very well executed. And their desserts are really good (the
bread and butter pudding is incredible).
-
The Winding Stair: the former book shop turned into a restaurant
is a little pricey but well worth the money. With a view over the river, they serve a modern Irish and seasonal food in enormous portions. The service is friendly, the wine not too expensive,
Their mixed smoked fish sharing starter plate is totally big enough for two people and
it’s to die for. If you do make it to dessert, it won't disappoint either
- Yamamori:
simply the best value for money sushi I've ever had so far in my life.
So fresh and full of flavour. I always get the rainbow norimaki. It's a
pure delight.
Pubs
- At The Temple Bar (in the Temple bar area), you can enjoy live music pretty much all day, everyday. And I don't care if only tourists go to Temple Bar, because this place really is great!
- With its cosy little booths, great atmosphere, craft beers and delicious pub food, P. Mac's is a perfect pub for a date or an after-work.
In the next post, I'll move onto Dublin's cafés, shops and markets.
