Dublin, Ireland: I spent two (and a half) days in Dublin and stayed at The Marker Hotel, a 5-star boutique hotel overlooking the Grand Canal Square. It’s a departure from the typical hotel you think of in Dublin - it’s contemporary, modern and sleek. Located in an area that isn’t inundated with tourists yet it’s within walking distance (around 15-20 min) or a short taxi ride away from all of the must see spots. The neighborhood kind of reminds me of what the Financial District in NYC is today. Office buildings, residential neighborhood and waterfront all in one. You’ll find the Facebook headquarters just down the block and Google taking up a large chunk of real estate just a few blocks away. On our last evening, we took a longer walk to the neighborhood side of this area and ate dinner at a cute little local restaurant. It gave me Brooklyn, NYC vibes.
Exceptional service with attention to detail was delivered during our stay. Be sure to check out the SPA complete with sauna, eucalyptus infused steam room, jacuzzi and a 23 meter infinity pool. Even if you don’t get a spa treatment, a visit to this area after a day of walking the streets of Dublin is a must. Another highlight is their cool ROOFTOP BAR where you can enjoy a cocktail or lite bites with great views of the city. A nice perk as a hotel guest is, while the rooftop is open to all, you receive priority access. Definitely check out “The Marker” if you are looking for something a little different on your next trip to Dublin.
Post the PEOPLE….. DUBLIN edition!
SHOPPING in DUBLIN….. Kilkenny Shop has been at the forefront of promoting the finest Irish craft and design for over 50 years and is home to Ireland’s largest collection of Irish designers. Powerscourt Centre - Airy, Georgian building featuring shops for designer apparel, jewelry & antiques, plus restaurants.
lUCY’S lOUNGE vINTAGE…. A second hand and vintage clothes shop in the heart of Temple Bar. Housed in the basement of a bright pink building on Fownes Street. An eclectic little shop right down to the dog hanging out on a table in between garments. Dog NOT for SALE but super friendly! Be sure to check out my “Globeshopping” page to see my ‘Lucy’s Lounge Vintage’ purchase.
MEMORABLE MEALS…..
3fe a little coffee shop within walking distance of The Marker Hotel where we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and cup of coffee. I had no idea how good the coffee would be in Ireland. There were actually tons of coffee shops to choose from, each serving up a great cup of coffee! Guinness… just about anywhere… J.W. Sweetman served up some of the best Irish stew I have ever tasted. We got here just in time before the skies opened up which made enjoying a big bowl of stew that much better. Now to be fair, I only ordered it at one other place which was in Galway, but it definitely was not as good as this one. Murphy’s Ice Cream, artisan made in Dingle. On our first visit (that’s right, I said first visit), I had a scoop of the Dingle Sea Salt (YUM). On our second visit, I opted for the Dreamy Creamy Caramel Sundae (pictured below). All I have to say is, it’s a good thing they don’t have a NY location. FYI; there is also a location in Galway. Fish Shop located at 6 Queen St. They serve set menus that celebrate and showcase seasonal Irish seafood. The winner of ‘Best Seafood Experience in Ireland’ at the 2017 Irish Restaurant Awards. After trying their fish & chips, I understand why!
Farrier & Draper…. located on South William Street right next to Powerscourt Centre. An impressive cocktail bar which served up a delicious Gin & Tonic. It’s spread over three floors and in addition to the bar upon entry, upstairs you will find the “The Georgian Room” & “Mezzanine” overlooking the bar. Take a walk to the back of the first floor and down the staircase where you can enjoy a meal at, “La Cucina”, an Italian restaurant.
The Cobblestone… a traditional Irish music bar and venue in Smithfield. In our search for some authentic live Irish music and a pint, this pub was recommended to us by a local and it was a perfect choice! Again, not necessarily in a “touristy” area which made it that much better.
SIGHTSEEING in DUBLIN….
TRINITY COLLEGE, where you fill find “The Book of Kells Exhibition”, Ireland's greatest cultural treasure and the world's most famous medieval manuscript. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ…. ST. PATRICK’s CATHEDRAL, Dublin - the national cathedral of the church of Ireland. The tallest and largest church in Ireland…. TEMPLE BAR, a neighborhood in Dublin where you will find tons of pubs lining the cobblestone streets, including the most famous pub in Dublin, “The Temple Bar”. There are also plenty of shops to check out in this area as well.…. UMBRELLA SKY PROJECT, Dublin - an art installation project that has made its way across the world. I stumbled upon this one on Anne’s Lane, Dublin 2. It can easily be missed if you aren’t specifically visiting the bar it hovers over.
