Paul’s guidebook
Great local restaurants
We're lucky to have a few great restaurants on our doorstep.
A great italian, serving tasty fresh pizza. Tino's charcuterie board is always packed full of flavour. Due to it's popularity it's busy in the evenings, so book in advance if you want to sit in. Delivery available, or even faster, order by phone and walk around to collect.
92 personas locales recomiendan
Da Mimmo
148 N Strand RdA great italian, serving tasty fresh pizza. Tino's charcuterie board is always packed full of flavour. Due to it's popularity it's busy in the evenings, so book in advance if you want to sit in. Delivery available, or even faster, order by phone and walk around to collect.
The best place for breakfast or lunch, busy at the weekends, so you might have to queue a little. It will be worth it . Paula maintains an everchanging specials board but once you've found your favourite on the regular menu it's hard to vary your order!
25 personas locales recomiendan
Cloud Cafe
43 N Strand RdThe best place for breakfast or lunch, busy at the weekends, so you might have to queue a little. It will be worth it . Paula maintains an everchanging specials board but once you've found your favourite on the regular menu it's hard to vary your order!
Great places to eat that aren't in the city center
There's no end of restaurants in the city center catering to all palates and budgets, these are 3 of my favourites by the coast.
Hop on a bus out to Dollymount, the nearest beach to the city. The view from Happy Out is constantly evolving particularly as the sun rises and sets but it's always worth the trip. There's also free parking beside it but make sure to go for a bracing walk after filling up with a toastie and hot choclolate.
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Happy Out
Hop on a bus out to Dollymount, the nearest beach to the city. The view from Happy Out is constantly evolving particularly as the sun rises and sets but it's always worth the trip. There's also free parking beside it but make sure to go for a bracing walk after filling up with a toastie and hot choclolate.
You can guess by the name that this is mainly fish based but there is good alternatives too. I like the modern twist they put on food and the buzy atmosphere. And the cocktails, lets not forget the cocktails :)
9 personas locales recomiendan
Fishbone Restaurant, Cocktail Bar & Grill
324 Clontarf RdYou can guess by the name that this is mainly fish based but there is good alternatives too. I like the modern twist they put on food and the buzy atmosphere. And the cocktails, lets not forget the cocktails :)
This is the most pricey of my recomendations but well worth it for a special treat. And if you've just completed one of the many beautiful walks over Howth head you'll deserve it. Aqua is situated down the end of the pier, the views over the sea at sunset are spectacular. On the way be sure to check out the seals which often hang out by the pier looking to be fed.
18 personas locales recomiendan
Aqua Restaurant
1 W PierThis is the most pricey of my recomendations but well worth it for a special treat. And if you've just completed one of the many beautiful walks over Howth head you'll deserve it. Aqua is situated down the end of the pier, the views over the sea at sunset are spectacular. On the way be sure to check out the seals which often hang out by the pier looking to be fed.
3 things to do that you won't find in any guidebook
Cool and quirky recomendations where I guarantee you won't meet any other tourists
This is a wonderful space just around the corner. Open to the public on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons and at other times for special events. Apart from gardening there's often concerts, workshops and markets, or just grab a coffee in Cloud Cafe and call around to chill out. If you'd like a tour outside of regular hours just let me know and I'd be happy to give you one.
Mud Island Community Garden
Clinch's CourtThis is a wonderful space just around the corner. Open to the public on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons and at other times for special events. Apart from gardening there's often concerts, workshops and markets, or just grab a coffee in Cloud Cafe and call around to chill out. If you'd like a tour outside of regular hours just let me know and I'd be happy to give you one.
I wouldn't recommend the Annesley House except for 2 particular nights... Taking place on the first Friday of the month (most months, check with me to be sure) The House Presents is a night of music and spoken word curated by 2 friends of mine Natalie and Paula. They have impeccable taste, a seriously high quality sound system and a crowd that comes to listen. It's a tenner in, and well worth it. Every Monday there's a traditional Irish session. It's not for tourists, it's for the musicians but you can often hear some amazing music, and it's free entry.
Annesley House
70 North Strand RoadI wouldn't recommend the Annesley House except for 2 particular nights... Taking place on the first Friday of the month (most months, check with me to be sure) The House Presents is a night of music and spoken word curated by 2 friends of mine Natalie and Paula. They have impeccable taste, a seriously high quality sound system and a crowd that comes to listen. It's a tenner in, and well worth it. Every Monday there's a traditional Irish session. It's not for tourists, it's for the musicians but you can often hear some amazing music, and it's free entry.
Most people going for a run or jog from North Strand would head out to the coast, it's a popular, scenic, flat run. All well and good but for a change I like to jog the Royal Canal. The house faces onto it and you can go as far as you like ( You could technically run the whole way to the Shannon) It first passes under our national stadium Croke Park, before going through a mix of urban, industrial and rural sections. Certainly not as beautiful as the coastal path but very interesing if you like a city run.
Royal Canal Bank
Royal Canal BankMost people going for a run or jog from North Strand would head out to the coast, it's a popular, scenic, flat run. All well and good but for a change I like to jog the Royal Canal. The house faces onto it and you can go as far as you like ( You could technically run the whole way to the Shannon) It first passes under our national stadium Croke Park, before going through a mix of urban, industrial and rural sections. Certainly not as beautiful as the coastal path but very interesing if you like a city run.
My favourite food delivery options
I try to keep menus for all of my favourite places in the house. We're spoilt with some very good options in the area.
Fab little Japanese takeaway. Fresh sushi, good value bento boxes.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Okayu
71 N Strand RdFab little Japanese takeaway. Fresh sushi, good value bento boxes.
"Voted Ireland's best Chinese takeaway" apparently. It is reliably good. Which is more than I can say for the other Chinese in the neighbourhood Fragrant River, avoid that one :)
Lin Kee
75 N Strand Rd"Voted Ireland's best Chinese takeaway" apparently. It is reliably good. Which is more than I can say for the other Chinese in the neighbourhood Fragrant River, avoid that one :)
You'll find cheaper burgers nearby but none as tasty, and yes the chicken salt chips are a little pricey, but you've guessed it, they're well worth it.
BlockBurger HQ
You'll find cheaper burgers nearby but none as tasty, and yes the chicken salt chips are a little pricey, but you've guessed it, they're well worth it.
Kanoodle
40 St Laurence StYummy, freshly cooked noodle dishes. Need I say more?
The best Indian takeaway. In Ireland Indian food is always a little more expensive than Chinese. I have no idea why? Bombay Pantry is always worth the little extra, freshly cooked to order.
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Bombay Pantry Fairview
38 Philipsburgh AveThe best Indian takeaway. In Ireland Indian food is always a little more expensive than Chinese. I have no idea why? Bombay Pantry is always worth the little extra, freshly cooked to order.
Help! I've spent all my money on Guinness in Temple Bar
We've all made that mistake, here's a couple of things which may help
It's cheap. It's not amazing but it's not horrible. It will fill you up. €6.50 (when I last checked) for a pizza, chips (fries) a dip and a drink.
Star Pizza Dublin 1
46 Talbot StIt's cheap. It's not amazing but it's not horrible. It will fill you up. €6.50 (when I last checked) for a pizza, chips (fries) a dip and a drink.
A short walk away. Free Park Run at Saturday at 9.30am to punish yourself for spending all your money on Guinness. Sign up beforehand on their website if you want to be timed. Always good for chilling out, playground for kids.
33 personas locales recomiendan
Fairview Park
FairviewA short walk away. Free Park Run at Saturday at 9.30am to punish yourself for spending all your money on Guinness. Sign up beforehand on their website if you want to be timed. Always good for chilling out, playground for kids.
Most museums and galleries in Ireland are free to enter everyday. This is a favourite, especially with kids.
177 personas locales recomiendan
National Museum of Ireland
Merrion Street UpperMost museums and galleries in Ireland are free to enter everyday. This is a favourite, especially with kids.
This is a fun and relatively cheap way to get out and about in Dublin. There's a nearer station on Killarney street but you'll see stations all over the inner city. Sign up beforehand on the Dublin Bikes website. If you're not used to city cycling then it might be better to head out to the coast road. There's a flat, segregated cycleway which hugs the sea for miles. You could stop at Bull island nature reserve (coffee in Happy Out) or turn into the large St Annes Park (coffee in the Red Stables, if it's Saturday there's a nice food market too) Continue on to Howth village if you have the energy. Veer left at Sutton cross. You'd need to be a serious masochist to turn right. You have been warned...
Dublin Bikes
This is a fun and relatively cheap way to get out and about in Dublin. There's a nearer station on Killarney street but you'll see stations all over the inner city. Sign up beforehand on the Dublin Bikes website. If you're not used to city cycling then it might be better to head out to the coast road. There's a flat, segregated cycleway which hugs the sea for miles. You could stop at Bull island nature reserve (coffee in Happy Out) or turn into the large St Annes Park (coffee in the Red Stables, if it's Saturday there's a nice food market too) Continue on to Howth village if you have the energy. Veer left at Sutton cross. You'd need to be a serious masochist to turn right. You have been warned...
The 2 German supermarkets are beside each other, about 15 minutes walk away. They're the cheapest option for supplies, and most of the food and drink is excellent quality. McDonald's and Starbucks are beside Lidl, if that's how you like to cure your hangover...
103 personas locales recomiendan
ALDI
7 Parnell StThe 2 German supermarkets are beside each other, about 15 minutes walk away. They're the cheapest option for supplies, and most of the food and drink is excellent quality. McDonald's and Starbucks are beside Lidl, if that's how you like to cure your hangover...