Ever wish you could text the most stylish people in the world to ask them for their lists of things to do in the places they know best? Here are insider travel tips for those who would never be caught dead in a tourist trap. Bon voyage!<\/p>\n
Who<\/p>\n
Like any millennium-old city, Dublin rewards those who know where\u2014and how\u2014to look. The Irish have been immortalized in literature both classic (James Joyce) and contemporary (Sally Rooney), and served as inspiration for countless works of music, art, and films (not to mention political movements) over the last century. These days, Dublin remains a city of ritual and contradiction: Georgian grandeur and corner shops, immaculate green spaces cultivated among a booming tech scene, world-class institutions, and late-night chicken fillet rolls, sea air just a short train ride from the city center. To navigate it properly, W turned to five insiders whose lives and work are deeply entangled with the city\u2019s creative and cultural fabric.<\/p>\n
They include Jazzy<\/a>, the Crumlin-born artist who has become the most-streamed female DJ in the world; Louis McCartney<\/a>, the Tony-nominated actor who attended school in Dublin; Celestine Cooney<\/a>, a fashion stylist based in London who spends as much time as possible at home in the city; Gra\u0301inne O\u2019Keefe<\/a>, the chef and owner of culinary institution Mae Restaurant; and Niamh McCormack<\/a>, the actress, model, and House of Guinness star.<\/p>\n WhatWhat to Bring<\/p>\n Comfort comes first in Dublin, but you can keep it intentional. A good raincoat is non-negotiable, says Jazzy. McCormack favors leather jackets or a trench coat with comfortable shoes, plus a cap and an umbrella, as \u201ceven if the rain isn\u2019t forecast, it\u2019ll more than likely drizzle at some point.\u201d <\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe points to the city\u2019s deep tradition of Irish design and craftsmanship, noting that many designers are \u201cgoing back to Irish heritage when they are creating their pieces\u2014not just making garments or jewelry, but telling a story with them.\u201d<\/p>\n In short: dress for weather, walking, and days that can turn into late nights.<\/p>\n WhereWhere to Stay<\/p>\n For a special stay in the heart of the city, O\u2019Keefe recommends The Merrion<\/a>, citing its Georgian townhouses, strong art collection, and afternoon tea in the drawing rooms. She also suggests Ariel House<\/a> in Dublin 4, known for its beautiful rooms, proximity to the coast and city center, and \u201ca proper Irish breakfast in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n The College Green Hotel<\/a>, part of Marriott\u2019s Autograph Collection, is a polished choice for those who want luxury with a contemporary edge, set inside a restored historic building opposite Trinity College. Other standouts include The Shelbourne<\/a> (aka \u201cThe Grand Dame of Dublin\u201d), which overlooks St. Stephen\u2019s Green and has deep ties to Irish history; The Dean<\/a>, which brings a younger, design-forward energy; and Number 31<\/a>, a discreet, townhouse-style hotel beloved for its intimacy and understated elegance.<\/p>\n Where to Eat<\/p>\n Dublin\u2019s food culture shines in both its everyday rituals and its destination dining. For vegetarian food, Jazzy points to Glas<\/a> on Chatham Street, calling it \u201csome of the best vegetarian\/vegan food there is.\u201d For meat eaters, she notes that friends love Hawksmoor<\/a>, housed in the former Irish National Bank building, and Fire Restaurant<\/a> as another option for special occasions.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Hawksmoor Dublin<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe\u2019s list spans the city and the coast. Mamo<\/a> in Howth is \u201cone of my favorite restaurants in Dublin,\u201d she says, praising both the food and \u201cthe warmth of the hospitality.\u201d She also recommends Tiller and Grain<\/a> for casual lunches\u2014\u201cthink salads and sandwiches packed with Irish ingredients and love\u201d\u2014and BuJo<\/a> for burgers, located just a short walk from Sandymount Beach. For your caffeine fix, Sasha\u2019s Coffee Bar<\/a> for expertly sourced coffee and pastries, and then there\u2019s Mae<\/a>, her own restaurant in Ballsbridge, named after her grandmother and focused on seasonal Irish ingredients paired with French wines.<\/p>\n For classic, unfussy Dublin staples, Celestine Cooney recommends Grogan\u2019s<\/a> for a Guinness and a ham-and-cheese toastie at lunchtime. McCormack\u2019s essentials include a steak sandwich from Davy Byrnes<\/a>, a spice bag from Xian Street Food<\/a>, brunch at The Metro Caf\u00e9<\/a>, and \u201ca 99 ice cream with a flake from Teddy\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n After a late night, Jazzy adds, \u201cThe most popular thing would be to stumble into a Centra or Spar for a chicken fillet roll from the deli, which is a very Irish thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Where to Drink<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to tour the Guinness factory to get a good pint (though for the more tourist-minded, that old staple can be fun, too). And, \u201cOf course you\u2019re going to go to the Temple Bar [quarter] and check out an Irish pub for a Guinness or a whiskey,\u201d Jazzy says. But to branch out a bit more, McCormack\u2019s Dublin includes a spicy margarita at A Bar With No Name<\/a>, an espresso martini at Caf\u00e9 en Seine<\/a>, and a Guinness at The Cobblestone<\/a>, Frank Ryan\u2019s<\/a>, or McCormack\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe recommends ending an afternoon at The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) with a pint at The Royal Oak<\/a>, one of the city\u2019s smallest pubs, while also pointing to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery<\/a> tour for those interested in the whiskey-making process (and the tasting that follows).<\/p>\n The Irish Museum of Modern Art<\/p>\n Athanasios Gioumpasis\/Getty Images News\/Getty ImagesWhere to Shop<\/p>\n For fashion and accessories, Cooney suggests Siopaella Designer Exchange<\/a> on Exchequer Street for an \u201ceye-watering range of vintage designer bags,\u201d from \u201c1990s Dior saddles to a Vuitton x Jeff Koons Ruben\u2019s Bandouliere, to every iteration of the Chanel 2.55 you can think of.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe highlights Irish designers and makers across the city, including Helen McAlinden<\/a> on Drury Street (she makes clothes with \u201ca nod to that windswept classic Irish attire\u201d); Dubarry<\/a> for boots (\u201cvery well-made leather with incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail that really holds up against the elements\u201d), Jenny Vander<\/a>, a vintage shop open since the 1970s; and Chupi<\/a> for jewelry at the Powerscourt Shopping Centre (they have a \u201cstunning collection\u201d of classic Claddagh designs). <\/p>\n For books, McCormack recommends Hodges Figgis<\/a>, calling it a longtime Dublin institution. She also points to George\u2019s Street Arcade<\/a> for knick-knacks and Temple Bar for vintage shops.<\/p>\n Where to See Art<\/p>\n For Cooney, the Hugh Lane Gallery<\/a> is essential, especially Francis Bacon\u2019s studio, which was \u201ctransported in the \u201990s from London to Dublin in layers more accustomed to an archaeological dig.\u201d Directly across the street, she points to the Children of Lir<\/a> sculpture in the Garden of Remembrance. \u201cIt depicts King Lir\u2019s children, who were enchanted to live 900 years as swans on three of Ireland’s lakes: Lough Derravaragh, Sea of Moyle, and Inis Gluaire.\u201d<\/p>\n At the National Gallery<\/a>, Cooney singles out The Meeting on the Turret Stairs (Hellelil and Hildebrand), noting that it can only be viewed during limited hours \u201cbecause of the delicate nature of the watercolor, which is also romantic, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n National Gallery of Ireland<\/p>\n Courtesy of the National Gallery of Ireland<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe recommends pairing a visit to Kilmainham Gaol<\/a> with the Irish Museum of Modern Art<\/a>, just across the road, citing both the history and the landscaped gardens.<\/p>\n Where to Get Fresh Air<\/p>\n While the Victorian-style St. Stephen\u2019s Green is perhaps Dublin\u2019s most famous public green space, the city\u2019s proximity to the sea is also one of its defining features. <\/p>\n Jazzy suggests taking the commuter rail, DART, to Howth for a coastal day trip. \u201cIreland is the most beautiful country in the world\u2026 and the coastlines are a big part of that,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n Howth, County Dublin, Ireland<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe loves long walks along Sandymount Strand. \u201cYou might recognize the Poolbeg Towers (also known as Peggy\u2019s legs) from paintings or even seeing them on your descent into Dublin Airport, as well as the Poolbeg lighthouse mentioned in Ulysses as the \u2018Poolbeg flasher,\u2019\u201d she explains. \u201cWhen the tide is out, it\u2019s a breathtaking walk, and on a clear day, you can even see the little flash of a lighthouse in Wales. It\u2019s a nice break from the city center.\u201d<\/p>\n McCormack recommends D\u00fan Laoghaire Pier<\/a>\u2014with an ice cream from Teddy\u2019s\u2014and a dip at the Forty Foot<\/a> for the brave.<\/p>\n For green space in the city, Louis McCartney points to Phoenix Park<\/a>, calling it a place where \u201cnature always was a great creative space.\u201d For longer excursions, McCormack recommends the DART to Greystones<\/a>, hiking Killiney Hill, or heading to Glendalough in Wicklow for a \u201cmagical hike\u201d among old monasteries.<\/p>\n Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland<\/p>\n Getty Images