Dublin is a city I’ve wanted to visit for such a long time, and with a Guinness fan as a fiancé, there was no better place to plan a surprise getaway for his 30th birthday. Dublin is a city that knows exactly how to show you a good time, whether that’s with a pint in hand dancing to live music in Temple Bar, or days exploring the city’s rich heritage and buzzing foodie scene.
I spent months secretly planning the perfect mix of sightseeing, eating, and local experiences (thank you, TikTok algorithms), and I’m happy to report it paid off, with not a single bad bite to eat or regretted entry fee. Although I had a list of places to go, we didn’t pre-book a great deal and went with the flow of the day, so instead of walking you through our trip day by day, I’ve documented everything we did, saw, ate and drank so that you can plan your own itinerary.
Whether you’re looking for street food or speakeasies, iconic landmarks or under-the-radar gems, here’s a full run-down of where we went during our 72 hours in Dublin.
Where to stay in Dublin
We stayed at StayCity Dublin City Quays on Moss Street four the duration of our trip, which offered the perfect base. It was a comfy and convenient spot that gave us easy access to the majority of the city, with almost everything in walking distance. Central and modern, the room was spacious, well priced coming in at around £110 per night, with incredibly friendly and helpful staff. We arrived an hour before check in but were allowed to head straight up to our room, with staff bringing up a little welcome basket of fizz and popcorn. When we were stuck for something to do, the workers were only too happy to help us book somewhere, and it even has free gym facilities. It was clean, convenient and cosy – and what more can you ask for, really?
Where to eat in Dublin
I didn’t really have Dublin down as a foodie capital, but I was surprised to find that the city’s culinary scene is rich and diverse, ranging from comforting bao spots to romantic date-night Italians. I researched quite a few of the best-rated and hidden gems on TikTok in the months before our arrival, including where to get the viral ‘spice bag’ or the best-value pizza slice. One thing Jake and I both agreed was that we didn’t have a single dud meal during our time in Dublin – everything was bang on and I wouldn’t have said we overpaid for any of it, either. Here’s where we ate in Dublin:
Breakfast spots
As One
Located on City Quays, As One served up one of the best breakfasts of the trip – a chorizo hash with a fried egg and a chai latte to wash it down. We needed to line our stomachs ahead of our Guinness Storehouse visit, and this was the ultimate dish to do just that.
The cafe has an ethical organic ethos with a menu that puts gut health at the forefront without all the pretentious or preachy health cafe vibes. Inside the aesthetic is clean and minimalistic, with high ceilings and earthy tones. It seems to be a popular spot for commuters and students to grab their pre-work coffee, striking a balance that seems to appeal to a wide range of diners.
Peaches
Originally KC Peaches but recently renamed Peaches, we kept walking or driving past this brunch spot and decided to visit after an early morning visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral. They offer a range of breakfast, brunch and lunch options, though some are limited to certain times. Jake’s full Irish was class and ticked all the traditional boxes, while my Turkish eggs were rich and satisfying, with poppable, oozy eggs and a creamy garlic yoghurt. Similarly to As One, there’s an emphasis on good-for-you food but not in a way that feels in your face. Our bill here came to around 30 Euros here, and we were well fuelled for a busy morning.
Cheap eats
Bambino
By far the most recommended spot I came across was Bambino, serving up New York style pizza slices with people queuing out of the door – and for good reason. Not only is it insanely affordable, but I’ll be thinking (and drooling) about this slice for months to come. I’m talking thin and crispy base and tasty toppings that do a sensational job of satisfying that midday hunger.
For €13, we got two giant pepperoni slices and a drink as part of a meal deal, and paid a further €2 for some garlic aioli, though there are other options like hot honey, too. The queue goes down pretty quickly and there’s limited seating inside with a couple of outside spots too.
Xian Street Food
Xian Street Food, just off Grafton Street is a compact venue, with some indoor and outdoor seating, as well as people standing outside for takeaway orders, too. On our arrival, every single seat was snapped up, and in front of each customer, the exact same dish: Xi’an Street Food’s famous spice bag.
When considering iconic Irish dishes, one might think of Irish stew or potato cakes, but the city’s beloved takeaway dish, the spice bag, is another way to lean into Irish culture in the city. After going viral in recent years for their take on the plate, Xi’an Street Food is perhaps one of the most popular places to try the dish, which is a salty, spicy mix of crispy chicken, chips, onions, and peppers. The bag was less than €9 and was plenty for Jake and I to share for lunch.
Evening meals
Lucky Tortoise
This place was our first food stop and instantly set the bar high. Lucky Tortoise’s modern Dim Sum restaurant’s menu features fluffy bao-gers (yes, bao turned burger), pork belly ramen, pancetta dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, tempura cauliflower, kimchi and more. Reminiscent of our favourite home date night spot (Little Dumpling King) we felt right at home here, with a menu that’s playful and comforting. It’s exactly the kind of place you want to start a trip in – laid-back but delicious.
As well as an absolutely killer menu that makes you want to order one of everything, the venue also holds dumpling making classes on certain Saturdays. I was gutted that we were only there from Sunday to Wednesday, but if I were to return to Dublin (and I 100% would) I’d definitely book onto a workshop.
Gigi
Gigi was one of our standout dinners in Dublin, least not for the food, but for the impeccable service, too. We started with garlic focaccia, which came with whole cloves of roasted garlic that literally melted on the tongue. We added a truffle butter as recommended by our server that the chef had made that morning – it did not disappoint. I had ‘nduja handmade tagliatelli with a glass of rosé, and Jake had chicken parmigiana, both of which were to die for. It’s clear to see there’s a real passion for flavour in the kitchen.
Too stuffed for a dessert, the waiter treated us to a free baby Guinness shot (now that’s hospitality) which went down a treat after my spicy pasta. In all, while on the higher end of the price scale of places we dined, I’d say it was worth every penny. The food was rich, the setting was cosy and the service was brilliant.
Boeuf & Coq
If you want to go full carnivore, Beouf & Coq’s steak tasting platter is the way to do it. We got it with chips, creamy mash, and a flight of cocktails that were just as good as the food. The 17oz Boeuf’s Tasting Plate For Two comes in at €49.95, featuring a cut from four different steaks including rump, striploin, rib-eye and fillet mignon. Truthfully, it felt a little bit Miller and Carter to me, but with prime cuts of Irish beef and a bit of a French twist. The owners also own Boeuf and Boeuf & Frites, with the menus differing slightly at each.
Sweet treats
Strawberry and Co
If there’s one thing I can’t resist its strawberries and chocolate, and for summer 2025, Strawberry and Co has popped up on William Street South serving up the perfect sweet treat.
Directly inspired by the viral chocolate strawberry stalls at London’s Borough Market, Strawberry and Co brings the same sense of indulgence, with an Irish twist. Here, it’s all about hand-picked Wexford strawberries dipped in silky Swiss milk chocolate prepared fresh in front of you – and yes, it’s just as dreamy as it sounds.
Best place for a cocktail or pint in Dublin
Crowbar
Set up in the same building as the Irish Rock and Roll Museum, Crowbar is a great pitstop for a margarita or IPA ahead of or after your tour of the museum, or if you simply want to get away from the Temple Bar crowds. That’s not to say it’s not lively, it’s still got great vibes, just with a more relaxed setting and, as to be expected from a bar attached to a music museum and live venue, a great playlist, too.
Temple Bar
Touristy? Sure. But at the end of the day, you can’t visit Dublin and not make a visit (or three). Temple Bar can get extremely busy – especially on weekends (which is why we ended up in the aforementioned Crowbar) but found it much easier to get a table during weekday evenings. There’s live music on throughout the night, and you can either order to your table or with one of the waiters walking around to beat the bar queues, which is really handy. Rounds are expensive, but I don’t think that’ll come as a shock. There’s a reason Temple Bar keeps pulling people in – dancing to live Irish music with a pint of Guinness in hand in such an iconic venue really is something to tick off the bucket list.
The Little Pig
I’m a sucker for a secret bar, be it The Washhouse in Manchester or Anonymous Bar in Prague, so of course The Little Pig was on the top of my list of bars to visit. Hidden down a bin alley and protected by a telephone password, it’s a true speakeasy where you really wouldn’t know it was there, unless, of course, you were in the know. P.S. you have to book in order to snag a table (and the instructions to get in).
After navigating our way inside, the dimly lit room feels extremely exclusive, with a menu that is fully bespoke. You won’t find espresso martinis or cosmopolitans here, instead, there’s a bible full of unique serves crafted by the team of knowledgeable bartenders. The drinks all use quite unusual ingredients, but the team were only too happy to talk us through what we may like based on our preferred tipples. Each one was unusual, surprising, and beautifully presented.
Things to see and do in Dublin
Guinness Storehouse
No visit to Dublin is complete without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse. Even if you’re not a stout fan, this seven-storey interactive museum is an unforgettable experience. We spent about three hours here, and could’ve easily spent longer. From the brewing process to the advertising history and heritage of the brand, it really covers everything and has been brilliantly done. As well as the self-guided tour, there’s also a guided Guinness tasting with a mini version of the ale, which makes you feel quite the connoisseur.
We paid around €34 per person for a slightly upgraded ticket so we could make a Stoutie – a selfie printed in the foam of our Guinness. Slightly ridiculous? Yes. Totally worth it? Also yes. The highlight, by far, is The Gravity Bar, where you sip a pint while taking in a 360-degree view of the city. And if stout really isn’t your thing, Hop House 13 is also on tap – I had no idea this was a Guinness brand until our trip, so I guess every day really is a school day.
Jameson Distillery
If Guinness isn’t your thing, maybe whiskey is. The Jameson Bow St. Distillery Tour is shorter (about an hour) but just as engaging. You learn about the distilling process, sip a few different blends, and come away with a newfound appreciation of the spirit – even if you didn’t walk in as a whiskey drinker.
This was also €26 per person and included a Jameson cocktail to sip during the experience, with a choice of Jameson, ginger and lime, or lemonade. For more hardcore fans, a neat option was also available before going on to taste three types of the whiskey, from the OG blend to a luxurious black barrel option – my personal favourite) and a distillery exclusive version, too.
Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum
This is one of Dublin’s most underrated gems which didn’t actually come up in any of my research, but was recommended to me by a friend. Tucked in the middle of Temple Bar, the Irish Rock and Roll Museum offers a seriously fascinating look into Ireland’s musical legacy from U2 and Thin Lizzy to The Cranberries and Rory Gallagher.
Our guide, Alan, was a wealth of knowledge and we learned so much about the artists who had been through the doors of the museum, which is still a working recording studio and live venue. There’s even a strange-but-true Michael Jackson connection, but you’ll have to book on the tour to find out what it is. Be sure to chill out in Crowbar for a drink after, too.
Tickets cost €26 and the tour is a little over an hour. Alternatively, you can pay €38 and visit the Wax Museum but we gave that one a miss on this occasion.
Kilmainham Gaol
One of the most powerful places we visited, Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison turned museum that documents important Irish revolutionary history. It’s so popular, it usually sells out a month in advance, but we managed to snag last-minute slots by checking early in the morning for any cancellation slots.
Our tour guide, Jonathan, did an incredible job weaving personal stories with national history, and gave meaningful insight into the real people who were executed or held at the jail. It can be really quite emotional at times, especially hearing of the stories of the likes of Grace Gifford Plunkett and Constance Markievicz.
The jail has also been used by production companies, so for any film buffs (The Italian Job, In The Name Of The Father and, erm, Paddington 2) it could also be an interesting tour. On a serious note, though, i] you go to one museum in Dublin, make it this one.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Even if you’re not religious, St Patrick’s Cathedral is still well worth walking through, especially in the morning when it’s quieter. We got one of the earliest slots ahead of breakfast and the stained glass windows and gothic architecture is absolutely stunning. Entry is €11 and there’s some lovely tidbits of information on boards around the room, as well as interesting artifacts to discover. And of course, I was sure to light a candle for my Irish Catholic Nan.
Craic Den Comedy Club
The Irish are known for their wit, so a comedy club is a grand way to spend an evening, and Dublin has plenty to choose from. We booked the Craic Den Comedy Club located at The Workman’s which overlooks the river, where tickets range from €8 to €14 depending on the night. It’s a fab little venue with an intimate atmosphere and a fast-paced line up of four comics and a wickedly funny MC who had us crying with laughter. What made it even better was that it was such a relaxed and welcoming vibe – we didn’t feel like tourists in the crowd but just another person out for a laugh. It’s the kind of place where the craic is guaranteed, so if you’re looking for something a little bit different to do in the city, this is the spot
Trinity College
While we didn’t pay to tour the Long Room Library or go to see the Book of Kells, just being on Trinity College’s campus was enough to soak in the atmosphere. Founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, it is one of the extant seven “ancient universities” of Great Britain and Ireland, and its grounds are absolutely gorgeous. If you’re looking for somewhere to relax in the sunshine between tours or meals, this is the place to do just that while admiring the columned buildings, which some may recognise from the TV series Normal People – an adaptation of the Sally Rooney novel.
What else is there to see?
Dublin rewards those who walk. Every time we chose to skip public transport and go on foot, we found something lovely, whether that’s the flower markets on Grafton Street (a great shopping quarter, by the way) or Oscar Wilde’s former home. Many will want to visit the Molly Malone statue, no doubt, too, which can be found just around the corner from Trinity College.
The IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) is free to enter and features a number of galleries to explore. It’s just opposite the Gaol so worth popping in before or after and offers a great contrast to the buzz of the city. It also has its own cafe serving up a refreshing iced matcha. Be warned though it’s got quite a long driveway from the street to the building so account for that if you’re going before the Gaol so you don’t miss your time slot.
And while we barely scratched the surface, we felt like we experienced the best of Dublin: great food, deep history, warmth, wit and plenty of Guinness. However, since returning my TikTok For You Page has continued to serve me plenty of recommendations we didn’t get around to or didn’t know about, meaning I’ve already found myself plotting my return. So, if you’re asking: Can you really experience Dublin in three days? The answer is yes. And also, not even close.
