Well Spent: The Best Places in Dublin to Eat, Drink, and Shop

Travel’s making a comeback, and we’re here to help you make the most of it by highlighting a few of the destinations that are eagerly awaiting your return, like Dublin, Ireland.

Ireland has reopened for travel and there’s no better place to celebrate than in its capital, Dublin. The city is brimming with history, culture, delightful restaurants, and of course, a pub scene that can’t be beaten. Ready to visit? Here are all the things to see and do on a weekend trip to The Pale.

If you’re coming to Dublin, you might as well do it right by booking a stay at The Shelbourne, one of the city’s most luxurious and history-filled hotels. The hotel has been in operation for nearly 200 years and has acted as the hospitality heartbeat of the city ever since its opening day. Located just steps away from Dublin’s main attractions, including St. Stephen’s Green, the hotel is the ideal place to lay your head at night and be ready to explore more in the morning. The hotel also happens to be home to some rather fantastic guest experiences, like an in-house genealogist who can help you trace your Irish roots during your stay. (Rooms starting at about $500/night.)

Start the day the right way with coffee and a decadent breakfast at Brother Hubbard. The shop, founded by Garrett Fitzgerald and James Boland in 2012, serves every kind of caffeinated beverage you’d ever desire alongside a bunch menu featuring tasty treats with a Middle Eastern flair. Not sure what to order? Just get the Mezze Tray, which offers a little bit of everything. (Mezze Tray $14.50.)

Soak in the city’s history with a unique historical tour alongside author, historian, and founder of the 1916 rebellion Walking Tour, Lorcan Collins. Collins will share the historical background of the 1916 Easter Rising while walking you through some key locations around the city. And he does so with both pitch-perfect accuracy and a whole lot of fun. (Private tour: $150, or group tour for $15/per person.)

Go local for lunch by stopping into the adorably quant Fish Shop, a restaurant named the Best Seafood Experience in Ireland by the Irish Restaurant Awards in 2019 and the Best Fish and Chip Shop in Ireland by Catherine Cleary of the Irish Times in 2017. Come for — what else — a solid plate of fish and chips, and stay for its stellar wine selection, too. (Fish and chips plates starting at $14.95.)

Need to find the perfect outfit for a night out in Dublin? Head to Brown Thomas, the crème de la crème of department stores in Ireland. The four-chain department store sells the most luxurious clothing, cosmetics, and homeware goods. But, for something unique, book a personal shopping experience. With the experience, you get to work one-on-one with a personal stylist who will pick out the best threads and accessories and have you walking out looking rather dapper. (Personal shopping available free of charge.)

Easily one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, Trinity College Library is a can’t-miss sight in Dublin. Housed within Trinity College University, the Library is a breathtaking sight to behold with its rich wood shelves stacked from floor to ceiling with books from all over the globe. And, in the library, there’s a small display highlighting the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament. (Tour the library for $18/per person.)

Small but mighty, Richmond is well-known as one of the city’s most creative dining venues that also comes with some relatively reasonable prices. For a great deal and a taste of its best dishes, book a table for the restaurant’s “early bird” special, which comes with three dishes for just  €31.90 (about $36), which includes starters like barbecue mackerel with beets, kohlrabi, buttermilk, and main dishes like glazed lamb shoulder with fondant potato, artichoke, aubergine, anchovy, and capers. Don’t worry about eating early. This only means you can get to our next stop even sooner. (Order the early bird for €31.90/$36.)

Cool, quirky, and wildly historic, The Palace bar is a must-visit pub in Ireland. Beloved by artists, poets, and local journalists, the pub has been pouring pints since 1823. Step inside for a drink, and if you’re lucky, sit inside the “snug,” an area once reserved only for wives and mistresses. (Get a pint for €5.40/$6.)