Suggestions for places to eat in and to visit during a break in Dublin…

A) If you like to be based in the city centre, go right to the heart and stay one of our recommended DUBLIN 2 hotels within easy walking distance of all city centre attractions, including the National Concert Hall, Grafton Street (shopping), Trinity College (Book of Kells & Dublin Experience); less well known places of interest nearby include the Iveagh Gardens (Earlsfort Terrace) and Number 29, a fully furnished 18th century house on Lr Fitzwilliam Street. Slightly further afield, but still within walking distance, a visit to the Guinness Storehouse is well worth the effort, also the Old Jameson Distillery across the river, at Smithfield.

If your visit includes a Saturday, amble down to the Temple Bar Food Market (9.30-6, all year), and every day there is something going on at Diversions Temple Bar, an all summer free outdoor entertainment programme (details from Tourist Information Centres, or Temple Bar Properties, 18 Eustace St; 01 677 2255). In fine summer weather, there’s nothing to beat an outing to Farmleigh House, the ‘state guesthouse’ in Phoenix Park, which is open to the public during the summer months and offers a cultural programme – and dining at The Boathouse Restaurant (01 8157255). But, of course, you won’t have to stray far from your city centre base to find entertainment, with theatres, concert halls, bars and night clubs a-plenty within just a few minutes walk of St Stephens Green (see County Information for names & phone numbers) – and a good sprinkling of the traditional pubs that many would see as the heart of Dublin life: Toners of Lr Baggot Street, O’Donoghue’s, the famous music pub on Merrion Row, McDaid’s of Harry Street, Kehoe’s of South Anne Street and the International Bar on Wicklow Street are just a sample within a hearty stone’s throw of wherever you choose to lay your head in Dublin 2.

Eating Out Suggestions in the City Centre: Formal/special occasion: L’Ecrivain, Lr Baggot Street; One Pico, Molesworth Place; Chapter One, Parnell Square Dublin 1 (ideal if you are attending The gate Theatre). Informal: Bang Caf?, Merrion Row; Mermaid Caf?, Dame Street; Eden, Meeting House Square (ideal if you want to see the free Saturday night outdoor movie on Meeting House Square, but book well ahead for a table with a view). Inexpensive/great value: Avoca Caf?, Suffolk Street; Kilkenny, Nassau Street,; Dunne & Crescenzi, Frederick Street; L’Geuleton, Fade Street. Pub grub (traditional): Davy Byrnes, Duke Street;.

B) For those who prefer a quieter base, there’s fresh air and scenery a-plenty out at the fishing harbour of HOWTH, which is not far from the airport, and an easy DART ride from the city centre. You can browse around the fish shops on the pier and on the way up to the village centre from the harbour, why not drop into to the 15th century pub, The Abbey Tavern for a pint of the black stuff? - and this is the place for lovers of the outdoor life too, with beaches and a cliff path offering long walks, and several golf courses nearby, including public ones at The Deerpark, which has magnificient sea views over Ireland’s Eye and Lambay islands, towards the Mountains of Mourne.

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