Dublin

Information

Places to go

• National Museum of Ireland
• The National Gallery of Ireland
• Irish Museum of Modern Art
• Trinity College
• Dublin Castle
• Chester Beatty Library Dublin Castle
• Christ Church Cathedral, Christ Church Place
• Kilmainham Gaol The prison where the 1916 rebels were executed.
• Phoenix Park - the 2nd largest city park in the world. Includes a Polo field and the Dublin Zoo. The residences of the President and the US Ambassador are situated in the park.
• Dublin Zoo
• National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin

Eating

Snack

Bewleys Grafton Street, Dublin 2 -- Dublin's most famous Coffee Shop. Hang-out of the years of U2, Bob Geldof, and James Joyce.

Bar Italia 4 branches - Wood Quay, Powerscourt Townhouse, Ormond Quay and the Epicurean Foodhall. Best coffee in town. Real Italian coffee with mostly Italian staff. Excellent panini and antipasto. Good value place with great atmosphere.

Butlers Chocolate Cafés South William Street (2 branches) & Dublin Airport; Takeaway on Grafton Street and Nassau Street. Good coffee with a free chocolate.

Lunch

Cafe Bar Deli South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2 and Grafton Street, Dublin 2 - Excellent value. Always busy. Pastas, pizzas and salads.

Elephant and Castle Temple Bar, Dublin 2 - Nation famous chicken wings, extremely busy lunchtime on Saturdays, only order a basket of chicken wings to yourself if you're very hungry!

Lemon Crèpe Company South William Street, Dublin 2 -Good value filled crèpes (American style rather than French) and some of the best coffee in Dublin.

Dunne & Crescenzi South Frederick Street, Dublin 2 -Delightful Italian lunch spot, open until around 8pm.

Unicorn Food Company Merrion Row, Dublin 2 -Take-away deli with eat-in cafe next door.

M J O'Neills Suffolk St, Dublin 2. Great Pub Food. Carvery served 12 till 4 most days and till late weekends. Also has a good salad and sandwich bar.

T.P. Smiths Jervis Street, Dublin 1 - very good pub food, also handy to stop in if you're shopping around the Henry street area. Food served until 9pm.

Govinda's 4 Aungier Street - Krishna run vegetarian restaurant. The Govindas special (only order large if you're very hungry) is a taste of nearly everything from the hot counter.

Cafe Fresh Top floor, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is one of the best known vegetarian cafes in the city and offers a great range at reasonable prices. As the name suggests the food is all "fresh" and is made on the presmises that morning, and much of it is organic. If you're after a healthy meat-free meal it's well worth a look.

Dinner

Bella Cuba 11 Ballsbridge Terrace, Ballsbridge, Dublin 2 Ireland's only Cuban restaurant were the lack of competition hasn't affected the quality. Excellent food served in a fabulous Cuban atmosphere with great music. Don't forget to try the extensive cocktail list. This restuarant is very small so book in advance.

Siam Thai Andrew Street, Dublin 2 - This city centre restaurant is part of a group of three, the others being in Malahide and Ballsbridge. Gorgeous Thai cuisine served by staff in traditional Thai costume.

Bang Cafe 11 Merrion Row, Dublin 2 - A great cosmopolitan menu in a well established setting. Although a little on the expensive side, the food and presentation is excellent.

Botticelli No. 3 Temple Bar, Dublin 2 - Authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Temple Bar. Excellent pizza!!! Busy and noisy, like a true Italian restaurant.

Kites 15-17 Ballsbridge Terrace Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 - great combination of Cantonese (predominant dish), Szechuan, Peking and Thai with an extensive wine list.

Il Baccaro Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 - good value and atmospheric Italian restaurant set in a vaulted cellar under the Irish Film Institute.

Salamanca St. Andrews Street, Dublin 2 -good value, tasty and substantial tapas.

Gallagher's Boxty House 20 Temple Bar, Dublin 2 - good traditional Irish fare, and not too expensive. (A boxty is a traditional Irish a potato pancake filled and rolled up - try it!)

The Bistro 4/5 Castlemarket, Excellent continental cuisine, good atmosphere.

Jonnie Fox's Pub Glencullen, Dublin Mountains. The highest pub in Ireland is also one of the best for seafood. Great atmospere with traditional live Irish bands and friendly staff. Food is excellent, so is the craic.

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2

Roly's Bistro 7 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4 One block from Jurys Hotel. Impeccable food and service, reasonable prices. Good atmosphere.

L'Gueuleton Fade St, Dublin 2 (behind Hogan's Bar). It is consistently rated by food critics as one of the top 5 restaurants in Dublin but its no reservations policy and low prices makes it hugely popular for lunch and dinner. Don't worry about the no reservations - put your name on the list and have a pint in the Market Bar or Hogan's.