Baby it’s cold outside in Dublin but if you know where to go it can be the most magical city in all of Europe. Here are some suggested cozy spots if you are traveling over this winter or better still, this week.
1. Afternoon tea in the Merrion Hotel : Clotted cream and cakes and coffee, bright fires, great company, a wonderful drawing room with historic paintings – the perfect antidote to the snow outside.
2. Waterstones Book Store: at the bottom of Dawson Street. Wonderful selection of books, old and new, a lovely little coffee room where you can sit and read and sip and watch the world go by.
3. Hodges and Figgis; Just across the street from Waterstone’s again, a wonderful selection and a bibliophile’s paradise, also with great restaurant facilities
4. Bewley’s: Grafton Street, Dublin. Most famous eatery in the city, old fashioned Irish breakfast, coffee at eleven, whatever your fancy, but make sure you get there early. It gets very crowded
5. Doheny and Nesbitt’s: One of Ireland’s greatest traditional pubs where the media mighty gather for drinks, as well as academics and every opinion maker in Ireland, Old snugs, antique bathroom fixtures, wonderful close and warm atmosphere.
6. Meeting room Shelbourne Hotel: Lots of changes at the Shelbourne but the coffee room to the right inside the door is as wonderful as ever. All of Dublin seems to gather there and you can look out on Stephen’s green as the tourist horse and carriages go by.
7. Roly’s Bistro beside the American Embassy, intimate and friendly and also has a lovely bakery on the ground floor perfect for that relaxed ‘elevenses’ as the Irish call that mid morning break.
8. Gresham Hotel over 100 years old with the history to match and one of the few grand hotels left on O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare. Nice and relaxed ambiance and great restaurant.
9. Berkeley Court Hotel beside Aviva sports stadium in Ballsbridge , old world Dublin fittings with top grade restaurant and bar facilities
10.Brazen Head Pub, Dublin’s oldest pub , wonderful and intimate, near Dublin Castle Many famous musicians have played here over the years such as the Dubliners, Van Morrison and The Hothouse Flowers. It is not unknown for some musicians to pop in for an impromptu session. The Brazen Head was featured in the Garth Brooks music video.
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