Favorite Places in Dublin

As the semester wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on what places I have gone to frequently in my time in Dublin. 

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  NEAR BECKETT HOUSE

  Turkish Kebab House (133 Parnell St.)

  This take out place is just two blocks down the street from the apartment building. It is fast and delicious. I highly recommend the Kebab meal which comes with chips (French Fries) and a soda. If you want to eat good food for cheap, the Kebab house is the place. The meal only costs €9, one of the cheaper dinner options in Dublin. The queue system in Dublin is chaotic, and while the people who work there have got it down, it can be a bit stressful for Americans who are used to order numbers being called. The Kebab house is very popular among the locals so it does get pretty crowded but no more than a fifteen minute wait if even that.

   

• Mema’s  (155 Parnell St.)

  Mema’s is probably the closest pub to the apartment and definitely caters to the twenty-something crowd. They have great food and is a good place for both small and big groups.
   

• 4 Friends Burger (56 Marlborough St.)

  If you are looking for a good burger, fries, and milkshake, 4 Friends is the place to go. It is very close to the apartment building, only about three blocks away. They serve a large menu including pizzas, hotdogs, and dessert. 4 Friends is also open until midnight most days and 1:30 A.M. on Friday and Saturday. The prices are usually around €15 but there is a pizza student deal.

   

• Vincent’s (Svp House, Sean Macdermott St Lower)

  If you like going thrift shopping or need a last minute addition to your wardrobe, Vincent’s is just a block away. I was able to get a party dress the day of and most clothes are priced under €15.

   

• Cineworld (Parnell Centre, Parnell St.)

  I love to go to the movies, and Cineworld was super accessible. It’s just a straight shot down the street. It’s a pretty decent sized theater so there are lots of showtimes to choose from. I was able to see the 10th Anniversary release of Hamilton in theaters, Regretting You, and Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. The student prices also make it a cheap and fun thing to do on a weekend if you don’t feel like traveling. Something to keep in mind if you want to catch movies abroad is that they release on different dates depending on the country. For example, Hamilton was released in Irish theaters three weeks after it was in the U.S.

NEAR IES ABROAD CENTRE

• Tram Cafe (on Harcourt at entrance to the Iveagh Gardens)

  The best mocha I have been able to find in Dublin is at the Tram Cafes, little pop up cafes near Dublin parks. The best one is at St. Patrick’s Park, but there is also a Tram Cafe right outside the Iveagh Gardens, situated on Harcourt St. The Luas (public tram) stop on Harcourt is also one of the stops to get off at to go to the IES Abroad centre, so I found myself at the Harcourt Tram Cafe a lot. And it’s a great escape from classes to go get a mocha and drink it in the beautiful, peaceful park during the lunch break.
   

  And the ultimate favorite place…

• Blackbird (Rathmines Rd Lower)

  Blackbird is a pub that is right down the street from the IES Abroad Centre. I had an evening class on Wednesdays and afterwards my friends and I would go down to Blackbird for a pint or two. I think we all agree that Blackbird is our favorite spot in Dublin and I wish that it could pick up and come to the States. It has red walls, dark wood furniture, candle lighting, and Star Wars and Star Trek space ship models hanging from the ceiling. It is a super chill pub and is the perfect place to kick back and unwind after a day of classes. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this place and if there were any place I would have to make sure I visited if I come back to Dublin, it would be Blackbird.