Dublin. A city teeming with stories.
If you love stories and hidden gems, Dublin, Ireland should be on your must-visit list. The city’s compact nature means there’s always somewhere cosy and welcoming to pop in to, be it a hidden bookshop, cafe or pub.
You could spend hours people-watching in St Stephen’s Green, a gorgeous green oasis nestled in the heart of the city. The Victorian park offers somewhere to just stop and be, whether you’re wandering around the formal planting that surrounds the fountains or strolling by the ornamental lake.
Or fall in love with Dublin’s rich literary heritage, and abundance of independent bookshops right in the city centre. From the huge selection of new and secondhand books at Books Upstairs to the homely atmosphere of The Winding Stair, each has its own unique personality.
I love swapping stories with people about the places we've been to, so I've created Wander & Dwell, a mini travel guide series that will give you loads of inspiration from both a tourist (wander) and local (dwell) perspective.
In this edition, I swapped stories with the lovely Danielle from Naturally At The Wrens Nest about her favourite memories of her time living in Dublin.
Here are our top recommendations for making the most of any trip to Dublin.
5 experiences to try
1. The iconic Dublin experience: Guinness Brewery Tour - home of the black stuff!
There are a variety of tours you can book, from self-guided to ones that include learning to pour your own pint or tastings. The Gravity Bar at the top of the storehouse also offers 360-degree views of the city and surrounding areas.
2. A taste of Irish whiskey: Jameson’s Distillery Tour
Whether you’re a whisky fan or have never tried it, the Jameson’s Distillery tour is a fascinating introduction to the brand and Irish whiskey.
Whilst the site on Bow Street is no longer a working distillery, you can enjoy a drink at the bar - which has very cool decor, showing off the brand’s heritage.
There are also different types of tour experiences that you can book - my husband and I chose Bow St. Experience with Tasting. With this experience, we were offered a signature drink (neat or a couple of different mixer options) as well as a tasting of three different Jameson whiskeys. The guides were passionate and knowledgeable, taking us through how the whiskey came about, how it’s made, (much of which had a level of interactivity, such as smelling ingredients) followed by the tasting session.
3. If you love stories: Trinity College (a Dublin institution) & The Book of Kells Experience.
If you plan on seeing the Book of Kells and the Old Library, it is definitely worth booking tickets in advance. There is so much to learn about the incredible medieval manuscript - from the symbolism to how the colours used were created.
The Old Library and Long Room are home to the GAIA installation by Luke Jerram, as well as over 200,000 books. At the time of writing this, the majority of books had been removed for restoration work - whilst many sections are empty, just to see the room and walk along gives you an idea of the scale of what it houses!
4. If you love stories: Chester Beatty
This museum felt like a hidden gem. Housing books and manuscripts from across the globe, exploring the collections felt like a journey through the history of writing and books.
5. For kids big and small: Dublin Zoo
Another oasis in the city, the zoo is set in the big expanse of green that is Phoenix Park. Within walking distance of the city centre, the zoo is home to over 400 animals.
Eating & Drinking Recommendations:
Start your day with breakfast at The Cheeky Piglet. You’ll receive an incredibly warm welcome, the decor is really cool and the food is delicious. It feels like they really care about what they do.
Stop for a coffee at Two Pups Coffee or Shoe Lane Coffee. Welcoming and cosy, the coffee and sweet treats are heavenly.
Dine at:
Wander: BoCo Pizza. Super friendly, super cosy and super tasty pizzas!
Dwell: Leo Burdocks Christchurch was THE place for the best fish and chips when Danielle lived in the city. It is still going today.
Drink at:
Wander: Palace Bar - a good place for whiskey - it has a separate whiskey bar section which is upstairs and has LOADS of different types of whiskey. We asked the bartender to recommend us whiskeys, and he picked two (after asking our budget) which he described as two of the easiest to drink (The Irishman and Bushmills).
Dwell: Back in my time in Dublin it was The Temple Bar or The Quays pub in the Temple Bar area of town. A family-owned pub, The Temple Bar is famous for its live music and variety of whiskeys and beers.
What makes Dublin special:
Wander: F.X. Buckley will hold special memories for a long time as a lovely spot for a birthday meal. It felt really special with a casual atmosphere, fantastic, friendly service and great food. A real treat.
I also adored exploring all the independent bookshops. The Winding Stair and Books Upstairs were among my favourites, and I did come home with a couple more books!
Dwell: The green spaces like St Stephen’s Green in the very centre of the city and the bigger expanse of Phoenix Park are lovely retreats. And what I loved most about living in Dublin was everything being right on the doorstep. You could walk just about anywhere. Dublin is a small city, so it's easy to get around on foot.
Danielle now lives 2 hours away from the city, crafting the most beautiful soaps inspired by the natural environment that now surrounds her. Have a look on Instagram & her website.
If you have a special connection to Dublin and want to keep those memories alive for decades to come, email me about creating a special piece of art that captures the essence of the city.
Image credits
All illustrations: South Island Art.
Temple Bar - Leonhard Niederwimmer on Unsplash
Dublin Zoo - Clovis Wood on Unsplash