IRELAND

Below are a series of places I visited and excursions I enjoyed while In Dublin on a half work half pleasure trip. Use this guide as a starting point but know that there is so much more to explore! I seriously cannot wait to get back and see more. Have the best trip!

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

THE TEMPLE BAR

47/48 Temple Bar, Dublin 2

When you're looking for go-to places in Dublin to grab a pint, the Temple Bar area will surely come up. Go at night and walk along the area's cobblestone streets for the full experience of people flooding them while pub hopping. Do make sure to find yourself in the warm and welcoming The Temple Bar (it gets a bit confusing because the area is named "Temple Bar" and I'm recommending that you go to both that area and the pub "The Temple Bar" located in it. Everything in that area is called "The Temple Bar...fill in the blank").

COFFEEANGEL

15 Leinster Street South, Dublin D02 CY95 || Other Locations

With six locations, there was little chance I wouldn't run into at least one. If you're looking for a great pick-me-up, grab a scone and a hot cup of coffee.  If you're at the Leinster Street South location, take your drink to go and stroll around the Trinity College campus (more about  Trinity College below) 

TANG

23C Dawson St, Dublin 2, Ireland

With its Irish local farm-fresh ingredients and loaded summer salads and wraps, this quaint neighborhood gem cannot be missed.

3FE

32 Grand Canal Street Lower, Dublin 2 || 7 Sussex Mews, Sussex Terrace, Dublin 4

Heeding a local's recommendation, we checked out 3fe. It's a great café that travelers from all around visit to sit back, sip coffee and eat a fresh brunch. 

O'DONOGHUE'S PUB

15 Merrion Row Dublin

When in Ireland, you hands down must prop yourself up on a stool at a pub and have a pint of Guinness. O'Donoghue's is the perfect iconic pub to do just that.

THE SHACK RESTAURANT

24 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

When in Ireland, you've gotta eat fish and chips and go to the Temple Bar area, so why not combine the two? The Shach restaurant is across the street from The Temple Bar Pub and makes a killer fish and chips. Check it out, you'll love!

WHERE TO GO BETWEEN MEALS

GUINNESS STOREHOUSE

St James's Gate, Ushers, Dublin 8, Ireland || From €17.50 (more ticket information here) 

The word "Iconic" doesn't seem to cover it. You see, the Guinness Storehouse is the blood that flows through the veins of Dublin. I'm not making a joke on drunkenness but more so noting how integrated the Guinness footprint is on the history of Dublin. Dating back to it's origins, Guinness employed so many residents that it is said that everyone had a relative who worked there (like six degrees of Kevin Bacon). Pairing that with a ton of community outreach projects, innovative ways of developing ships for the purposes of beer delivery across the world, and creative brewing techniques throughout the years, it surely made an impact.

We had the incredible opportunity to take a private tour led by our new friend Colm O'Connor who showed us the ins and outs all afternoon. In an effort to not give a lot more away, I'm telling you, plan and take the tour! It gets better, you see, Dublin is a fairly low town. Guinness Storehouse is seven stories tall and towers over nearly every building in Dublin (aside from the Google building). On it's seventh floor is The Gravity Bar where money is not allowed and the only item worth anything is your entry ticket so trade it in for a perfectly poured pint. 

TRINITY COLLEGE + THE BOOK OF KELLS + THE OLD LIBRARY

College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland || €13 (for the exhibits, not to enter the college)

I kinda loved the feeling of being back on a college campus. I felt so Gilmore Girls-esque. There's not a ton to do strolling around the campus but it is truly beautiful and worth seeing. While you're there, brain up! Go to The Book Of Kells exhibit and learn all about the process of old world bookmaking and see the super famous book's intricate written details up close and personal. At the end of this exhibit, you'll enter the bust-lined Old Library which has been said to have inspired the likes of J.K. Rowling when she was writing the Harry Potter series. In glass encased stations in the middle of the library, you'll see a series of knickknacks and clippings about Oscar Wilde which proves to be an entertaining read (gotta read a little in a library filled with books you aren't allowed to touch).

BRAY TO GREYSTONE CLIFF WALK

Bray Dart Train Station Florence Rd, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Many parts of Ireland are known for their incredible cliffs and greenery to New Yorkers that feels photoshopped. So, hop on the Dart (aka. one of their faster trains) and in about forty minutes you'll reach a small town by the name of Bray. Walk the groomed four-mile trail from Bray to Greystone and enjoy an array of views from land to sea and all of the cliffs in between. Then, eat and explore the charming town of Greystone before jumping back on the Dart (at the Greystone stop) and heading back to Dublin.