An American student’s guide to the best daytime hangouts in Dublin - PHOTOS

Essentials for the student living abroad - including where to find coffee

Groceries- (grocery stores/supermarkets are sometimes called ‘Food Halls.’ Americans, now you know.)

Fallon & Byrne -  is where all my money went. It’s the Whole Foods/Dean & Deluca of Dublin.
Mussels tend to be cheap, if you want to prepare a nice meal. There’s a wine bar downstairs that makes a great place to study (if you’re not drinking - or perhaps if you are). Exchequer St.

Dunnes’- inside the St. Stephen’s Green Mall (top of Grafton St.) inside Dunne’s, in the basement, is a food hall that can be a cheaper source of still-quality items. I ate a lot of fish from Dunnes’. (Other locations, as well)

Farmer’s Market- Saturday afternoons, get fresh produce from only a few miles outside Dublin, in addition to cider, cheese, and bread. The market took place in Cow’s Lane during my visit, but according to the website, has since moved to Meeting House Square.

Prepared food stalls also set up on Saturday on Essex St. between Temple Bar and Cow’s Lane. While you’re here, check out several amazing boutiques (Industry, Find - listed under Shopping below) and the Gutter Bookshop.

Moore St (Northside)- Someone told my friend A. to go here for produce, but to beware, because “you might get stabbed.” (I never felt unsafe here.) The produce, sold from carts daily, is not as fresh/organic as at the Farmer’s Market, but if you need something you forgot on Saturday, this may be your lowest price. Also on Moore St is the excellent butcher FX Buckley - the meat is real quality. Buy from them rather than from the carts of bloody fish on ice out in the street.

Listons - the only place in Dublin I could find black beans and quinoa (#californiagirlproblems). Health food and a good (affordable) wine selection. (Camden St)

Tesco - locations everywhere, and best prices for processed foods.

An American student's guide to the best daytime hangouts in Dublin slideshow

Shopping

You’ll have no trouble finding the staples of Topshop and H&M in the Grafton St area, as well as across the river. Here are some less mainstream places.

Avoca - All right, this isn’t really off the beaten path. This is the Irish equivalent of Anthropologie (except a bit more cutesy). Give yourself time to explore; the cafe on the top floor is also excellent. Suffolk St.

Find - This boutique compiles excellent antique small furniture, decorations, clothes, accessories, and odds and ends. Cow’s Lane.

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