This retro-styled bar is one of the city’s most popular casual night spot due to its grunge-rocker vibe, potent premium spirit selection, and menu of the best gourmet pies in town. Having first opened its doors in 2007, the South William bar offers a prime location in central Dublin’s trendiest area. The South William bar is a great casual local drinking spot and hosts a wide range of live music and local DJs every night of the week. Sit outside at the buzzing alfresco tables during the warmer months, or head inside into the dark, dimly-lit interior space where the party action really happens. Check South William bar’s website to find out the latest schedule of live music performances playing throughout the week.

With no real name and a hidden location on the first floor of an unmarked building, finding this bar can be quite a challenge for first-time visitors. However, its well worth the effort, as No. 3 Fade Street is one of Dublin’s coolest bars with well-crafted drinks, a buzzing party atmosphere, and a cool weekend day-party scene. Look for the innocuous door at No. 3 Fade Street, one of Dublin’s trendiest areas in the city center, and then climb up the stairs to discover the happening party scene within. Styled as a spacious speakeasy, you’ll find expertly mixed drinks, a fun-loving crowd and a fun house party vibe. With lovely Georgian architecture, rustic wooden floors and plenty of deep, comfortable lounges, this is one of the best nightlife spots in Dublin.

Dublin’s Fallon & Byrne is a fantastic New York-style food emporium with a restaurant, cafe, grocery store and wine bar all within the same space. With a prime location in the heart of central Dublin, Fallon & Byrne is set within a beautiful modern warehouse space over three spacious floors, where each level offers a different experience to suit any mood and occasion. The ground floor is a gourmet food market and cafe with a wide range of food available to eat in or takeaway; and the upstairs space a more formal restaurant. The basement-level wine bar features over 600 wine bottles to either take home or to consume on the premises and over 100 international wine varietals available by the glass, where on Mondays the corkage fee is a nominal €1. A light menu of snacks is available to compliment the wine, including a range of fine cheese, charcuterie plates and a delicious lobster salad. This is one of Dublin’s most popular all-day dining and hang out spots in the heart of the city.

A quintessential activity in Dublin is to visit a historic local Irish pub and sample a pint of Irish beer. Founded in 1850, the charming Doheny & Nesbitt pub is one of the city’s oldest Irish pubs and is a charming local place to visit. After a change of ownership over 30 years ago, the Doheny & Nesbitt pub now attracts a healthy cross-section of Dublin’s local crowd. The Victorian bar hides two small inner rooms, known traditionally as “snugs”, where women could drink out of the sight of men in decades past. For a wild and rowdy atmosphere, visiting the Doheny & Nesbitt during the weekends and during major rugby matches; for a quieter atmosphere, come during the week to savour a peaceful drink in one of the city’s most historic places. Despite its popularity, with crowds spilling onto the street during some evenings, the Doheny & Nesbitt’s pints are well-priced and also offers a decent menu of traditional Irish fare if you want to make a night of it.

Having first opened in 1895, the historic Bernard Shaw pub was recently taken over and revamped into a contemporary hot spot for Dublin’s thriving music scene. This popular live music venue now hosts a wide range of DJs and live bands throughout the week, playing an eclectic mix of music ranging from house music, to drum and bass, jazz, roots reggae, disco, and hip hop. As one of the city’s most eclectic and impromptu spaces, don’t be surprised if you stumble across an impromptu garden sale taking place in the Bernard Shaw’s back yard, a trendy launch party for an art gallery, an marathon 10 hour performance art set from an American DJ legend, or even a hot-tub party happening late into the night. Undoubtedly one of Dublin’s coolest bars, the funky Bernard Shaw gives off a relaxed, anything-goes attitude that sustains the lifeblood of this night spot. While the venue still wears its history on its sleeve, it still makes room for emerging and cutting-edge Dublin bands, offers basic modern food for dinner or light meals during the day, and is also a popular space to enjoy a quiet pint of beer with friends.

Venture up a narrow winding staircase above a historic second-hand book store and you’ll find The Winding Stair, a charming local restaurant with a warm, inviting atmosphere and hearty organic Irish fare. With a picturesque setting overlooking the River Liffey in central Dublin, settle in for a long and indulgent meal of flavoursome dishes such as the Irish seafood chowder with Fingal Ferguson’s chorizo and treacle bread; Ted Browne’s Kerry prawns on toast with garlic and lemon and mixed leaves; and potted Dingle Bay crab with toasted soda bread and organic leaves. For mains, continue with a bowl of steamed mussels with homemade chips and creamy aïoli dipping sauce; hand-smoked haddock poached in milk with onions and white Cheddar mash; or the char-grilled Irish Hereford beef sirloin steak with sticky onions, garlic butter and homemade chips. This is our favourite place to dine in Dublin where you won’t be disappointed by the heart-warming food, the expertly curated wine list, and the endearing Irish service.

The tasty, simple and affordable Green Nineteen neighborhood bistro is one of Dublin’s great restaurant success stories. Taking out the highly coveted The Dubliner food guide’s ‘People’s Choice Award’ for the most popular restaurant in Dublin, brothers Adam and Colin have created a warm and funky space that offers high quality food at seriously affordable prices. Nothing on the menu is over €14 and comprises a range of soups, salads, sandwiches and hearty savoury dishes. Expect a hearty ‘Club Nineteen’ club sandwich with roasted chicken, bacon, Gubeen cheese and chive mayo; the organic ‘Nineteen Organic Irish Burger’ with cheese, onion, homemade ketchup and chips; and ‘Slow Braised Pork Belly’ with chorizo and white bean cassoulet. You’ll also find classic dishes such as the chicken and leek pie with roasted root vegetables, and braised beef bourguignon with pearl onions and mash. Desserts such as the rhubarb crumble and the creme brulee with vanilla ice cream are equally as delicious.

Dublin’s Fallon & Byrne is a fantastic New York-style food emporium with a restaurant, cafe, grocery store and wine bar all within the same space. With a prime location in the heart of central Dublin, Fallon & Byrne is set within a beautiful modern warehouse space over three spacious floors, where each level offers a different experience to suit any mood and occasion. The ground floor is a gourmet food market and cafe with a wide range of food available to eat in or takeaway; and the upstairs space a more formal restaurant. The basement-level wine bar features over 600 wine bottles to either take home or to consume on the premises and over 100 international wine varietals available by the glass, where on Mondays the corkage fee is a nominal €1. A light menu of snacks is available to compliment the wine, including a range of fine cheese, charcuterie plates and a delicious lobster salad. This is one of Dublin’s most popular all-day dining and hang out spots in the heart of the city.

Located in the trendy South William Street area in Dublin’s city center, Coppinger Row is one of the city’s most popular casual and affordable dining spots. With a Mediterranean tasting-plate style menu designed to be shared, expect globally-inspired dishes such as slow roasted tomato with salsa verde and buffalo mozzarella; garlic and chilli prawns a la plancha; and spiced and stuffed aubergine with tomato, parmesan and herbs. Other standout dishes include the Piri Piri Spatchcock, the Italian sausage, and the perfectly crunchy cod croquettes. For more substantial plates, try the chicken leg stuffed with Italian sausage with braised baby gems, wild mushrooms and ham hock, or the baked Seabream with ratatouille and olive tapenade. The vibe is seriously buzzing with a lively crowd of cool-yet-relaxed locals. Coppinger Row is definitely one of Dublin’s most fun casual dining experiences. Don’t miss their expertly-crafted cocktail menu, where classic drinks have been given a signature Coppinger Row twist.

Having long been considered as one of the best fine dining restaurants in Dublin, the award-winning Michelin star Chapter One restaurant makes for an unforgettable dining experience. The refined modern Irish cuisine by local chef Ross Lewis draws upon local and seasonal ingredients to create an array of modern dishes with robust, experimental and globally-inspired flavours. Menu options include a la carte dining, a 4-course evening menu for €65, and guests can also opt for the indulgent 7-course Tasting Menu for €80 (to be taken by the entire table). The 2-course lunchtime menu for only €29 is one of the best value lunchtime menus in the city. Expect delicacies such as the spinach and ewe’s milk ricotta gnocchi with fennel puree and confit lemon butter; hand dived scallops with vermouth sauce, Gubbeen smoked bacon and potato mousseline; and warm chocolate mousse with praline mousse, vanilla ice cream, confit orange and spiced bread biscuit to finish. The service is highly professional, the wine list expertly chosen, and the atmosphere elegant yet warm. This is one of Dublin’s most celebrated dining experiences. Advance reservations necessary.

With affordable room rates and a central location, the simple yet comfortable 4-star The Brooks hotel is located just two minutes walking distance from Dublin’s bustling Grafton street shopping mall and only five minutes from Trinity College and the National Museum of Modern Art. The 98 guest rooms are simply furnished in a classical style, with plasma TVs, internet connectivity, and in-room sound systems. The hotel’s Francesca’s Restaurant serves a healthy range of contemporary Irish and continental cuisine, while the award-winning Jasmine Bar offers a standout selection of fine whisky. The Brooks hotel also offers several informal public spaces, such as the café lounge with a piano, and the French oak-panelled drawing room. The fitness center offers a relaxing traditional sauna, a welcome bonus when the harsh Irish winter temperatures plummet. As a popular hotel choice for budget conscious business travellers, the Brooks Hotel also comes equipped with a conference room seating up to 60 people, and a screening room for more elaborate multimedia presentations.

Set within a former schoolhouse dating back to 1861, The Schoolhouse Hotel is a warm and welcoming boutique hotel located in Dublin’s prestigious Ballsbridge neighbourhood. The 31 classically furnished rooms are cosy and comfortable, offering a wealth of amenities such as king-size beds, LCD TVs, free in-room movies, free Wi-Fi, and Victorian-style power showers. However, the real drawcard of this unique hotel is the intimacy of its setting: with so few rooms, The Schoolhouse’s warm Irish hospitality can be experienced first hand. The hotel restaurant, situated in what used to be the building’s classrooms, provides solid contemporary Irish cuisine. Head to the hotel’s Schoolhouse Bar for drinks and bar snacks, which during summer months opens onto an alfresco terrace. Within a short ten minute walk, you’ll be in the heart of Dublin’s city center, making this a peaceful retreat that is nonetheless close to the city’s best attractions. A helpful tip: Aircoach shuttles to the airport collect and drop off hotel guests every 15 minutes daily.

The Westbury Hotel is the 5-star belle of Dublin's hotel scene, a sanctuary of classical contemporary design in the heart of Dublin’s popular Grafton pedestrian shopping mall. Boasting a prime central location in Dublin’s city center, The Westbury offers 205 spacious rooms furnished in a light and airy contemporary design with sumptuous Sealy beds, Frette bed linen, and Di Parma bathroom products. Take in the sights of the bustling city streets as you enjoy afternoon tea at The Gallery, and choose between two restaurants, The Wilde for fine dining, or the street-level Café Novo for a more casual bar and brasserie experience. As a popular choice with business travelers, The Westbury hotel offers a 24-hour business center and a mini-gym. Positioned between St. Stephen’s Green and Trinity College, The Westbury hotel is only short walking distance from Dublin’s most frequented museums, shopping and dining areas, making this one of the city’s most popular hotel choices.

As one of Dublin’s trendiest hotels, the ultra-modern The Morrison hotel is set within a 18th century Georgian townhouse overlooking Dublin’s picturesque River Liffey. Designed by acclaimed designer John Rocha with an “East Meets West" theme, the soaring high ceilings, stone floors, handcrafted Irish carpets and original art works by Clea Van der Grijn all give character to The Morrison’s modern interiors. Walk across the river over the Millennium Bridge and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar neighborhood, a vibrant (if not at times downright seedy) nightlife area. You’ll also be within short walking distance of Dublin’s most impressive landmarks, trendy dining and nightlife areas. The Morrison’s stylish bedrooms have been designed with comfort in mind, featuring Frette linens, free Wi-Fi connectivity, and iPod docking stations. Ask for a room within the new wing of the hotel to enjoy modern touches such as Mac computers with LCD screens, wireless keyboards, and surround sound systems. The hotel’s restaurant, Halo, offers flavors from the Irish countryside, while the Morrison Bar attracts Dublin’s fashionable crowd with well-crafted drinks and a glamourous riverfront setting.

Stately and historic, the luxurious 5-star The Merrion Hotel retains a sense of old world elegance in the heart of Dublin’s city center. With an exclusive location opposite the Irish Government’s seat of power, The Merrion hotel comprises four meticulously restored Georgian townhouses and a contemporary Garden wing surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. Designed as a modern homage to the 18th-century, the 143 rooms and suites are light and airy, swathed in rich Irish fabrics and antiques, yet with state-of-the-art amenities such as luxury Italian linens, Wi-Fi connectivity, and opulent marble bathrooms. Take advantage of the hotel’s serene Tethra spa and 18-meter indoor swimming pool, six meeting spaces and private dining rooms. The Merrion also offers award-winning dining, including the elegant Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud with 2 Michelins stars, or the more casual The Cellar Restaurant for more casual seasonal Irish fare. Enjoy a glass of wine at The Cellar Bar, nestled within an original 18th century wine cellar, or a cocktail at The Merrion’s intimate cocktail bar, No 23.

Described as “an oasis of calm” in Dublin’s buzzing city center, The Gibson hotel is one of the city’s most stylish modern hotels located close to The O2 center and Dublin’s Convention Centre. This architecturally impressive glass and metal building houses 252 modern rooms flooded with natural light. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views overlooking Dublin’s port and city center, with various executive rooms offering balconies., and many overlooking the hotel’s private inner courtyard. If you’re not spending time in the 24 hour gym, head to The Gibson’s Relaxation Area with a sauna, steam room, foot-massage bath and Japanese copper zen spa. The casual Coda Eatery offers seasonal Italian cuisine in a progressive modern space, complete with an open-air terrace for alfresco dining during the summer months. The Hemidemisemiquaver Bar (otherwise known as the ‘Hemi Bar’) is a cool place to meet business colleagues or friends for drinks, offering an extensive wine list of European and American varietals.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel is a stylish 5-star boutique hotel with a prime location in the heart of Dublin’s city center. Step outside the hotel and you’ll have many of the city’s best landmarks on your doorstep, including the verdant St. Stephen’s Green, Trinity College and the bustling Grafton Street pedestrian shopping mall. Deluxe rooms feature chic fabrics by designers Sir Terence Conran and Paul Smith, standalone chartreuse baths, and white Egyptian cotton linens. LCD TVs, iPod music systems and free Wifi connection throughout the hotel is also a welcome bonus. Enjoy a spa treatment or a massage in the Spirit Treatment spa and nail salon on the hotel’s third floor, and work out in the hotel’s fully equipped gym to burn off any extra calories gained dining out in the city’s best restaurants nearby. For the ultimate indulgence, stay in the spacious 2,000 square feet Penthouse with two bedrooms furnished in rich fired acacia woods and private butler service. Don’t miss the Michelin-starred Thornton’s restaurant by chef Kevin Thornton for elegant modern European cuisine, or the Citron restaurant for casual modern Mediterranean food. 

As one of Dublin’s most prestigious 5-star luxury hotels, the classical Four Seasons Dublin offers one of the city’s most luxurious places to stay. With a beautiful setting on the fringes of the Royal Dublin Society’s 42-acre show grounds, the Four Seasons Dublin is surrounded by the embassies and ivy-covered homes of Dublin’s exclusive Ballsbridge district, only a short drive from Dublin’s city center. As Dublin’s only full-service luxury spa hotel, this is the perfect place to enjoy an indulgent spa treatment, and a relaxing swim in the naturally lit 14m lap pool and jacuzzi with views overlooking an outdoor garden. The 196 guest suites and rooms feature down and non-allergenic pillows, regal marble bathrooms, twice daily housekeeping, overnight laundry and dry cleaning, one hour pressing, and a complimentary overnight shoeshine service. Business travellers can take advantage of the hotel’s business meeting and event facilities for groups of up to 550 people. Dine at the elegant Seasons Restaurant or the all-day dining The Café, and enjoy a cocktail or a fine glass of Irish whiskey at the hotel’s stylish Ice Bar.

As one of the most stylish hotels in Dublin, The Dylan is a 5-star luxury boutique hotel with a unique setting within a former Vicrorian-era nurses boarding house. Nestled away in a quiet residential suburb only ten minutes from Dublin’s city center, you’ll feel worlds away from the Dublin crowds inside this sanctuary of modern design. White leather Chesterfield lounges, bold lime green modern furnishings and hand-blown Murano chandeliers create a dramatic first impression throughout the hotel’s public spaces. The 44 stylish guest rooms feature luxe touches such as plasma screen TV’s, Bose iPod docking stations, luxurious Percale linens, Bang & Olufson telephones, and Etro toiletries. The spacious bathrooms feature heated floors, a welcome bonus when the temperatures drop during the winter months. Enjoy a modern Irish meal at chef Richard Carmody’s Dylan Restaurant, recently renovated with lacquered wooden tables, retro 1950s light fittings, and velvet banquettes. The seductive Dylan Bar is an intimate night spot for the city’s artistic crowd, with plush red lounges and an outdoor terrace for alfresco drinking during summer. The Dylan hotel also offers two 12-person meeting rooms, a more traditional business boardroom, and a cosy library and fireplace, making this a popular choice with business travellers.

1. Locanda Verde - A great Italian restaurant with delicious garlic chicken. Full Review

2. Maialino - Italian dining by chef Danny Meyer at the Gramercy Park Hotel.

3. 508 - One of my favourite local restaurants for its eclectic cuisine.

4. Ear Inn - A fun local Irish pub with a great atmosphere.

5. High Line Park - A popular spot in Manhattan for cycling and jogging.

6. Helicopter Tour - The most amazing aerial views in New York.