The perks of coming to Dublin: your great vacation in Ireland

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The urban equine culture is steeped in Dublin’s history like nowhere else. With many stables around the city offering horse riding experiences for all levels, you can have a fun day petting and feeding cute Shetland ponies, go for a day-long galloping tour through the woods, and even learn dressage guided by professional instructors (this requires a bit more time, of course).

In August, you get a chance to witness the celebration of Ireland’s connection with horses by visiting the Dublin Horse Show in the RDS Arena. Since 1864, the spectators have been given a magnificent opportunity to enjoy the heart-stopping thrills of show jumping, along with various other entertainments and delicious food.

Since its opening in 1992, Roly’s Bistro has been pioneering hospitality excellence and supporting Irish food producers. Today, the place is owned by John and Angela O’Sullivan, while Chef Paul Cartwright manages the kitchen. You can unwind at Roly’s Terrace – a beautiful spacious area with large floor-to-ceiling windows and skylight, have a fine-dining experience in the main dining hall, or sip on artisan cocktails at Angie’s Wine & Cocktail Bar.

As for the menu, we recommend you try Roly’s fresh Dublin Bay prawn bisque, grilled Dover sole on the bone with lemon and herb butter, and roast breast of Irish chicken with Clonakilty black pudding stuffing, chicken jus, and creamed potato. For the sweet finish, indulge in hazelnut and raspberry meringue roulade with lemon curd, perfectly complemented by sweet and nutty Disaronno shaken with lemon juice and a dash of Angostura.

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In the introduction, we have mentioned Dublin’s cultural heritage not just for the sake of it. As a UNESCO City of Literature, the Irish capital has housed generations of playwrights and dramaturges, leading to a massive impact on the global theater scene. The most significant performance spaces here include the Abbey Theatre, founded in 1899, The Gate, and 3Olympia Theatre.

For a complete immersion in the local creative aesthetic, you can book backstage and walking tours organized by the Abbey Theatre. You will take a sneak peek behind the curtains, discover what it takes to put a play together, and explore the historic building with all its artworks and fascinating legends. To see Dublin in a whole new way, book a guided excursion taking you through its streets, parks, and riverside while showing the true meaning of “all the world's a stage.”

The influence of Dublin’s cultural phenomenon is evident in local F&B industry traditions as well. Almost every restaurant here will offer you pre-theater menus and a selection of cocktails and beers to have when the curtains are drawn. J.R. Mahon’s is one of the iconic gastropubs in the Irish capital, nestled in its very center. Dubs love the place for its exceptional artisan brews and vibrant atmosphere, adorned with the revitalized interiors of the antique house.

In the cozy, dim-lit interiors of J.R. Mahon’s, you will get to experience the energetic local spirit, lively music, and Irish dance. Committed to crafting distinctive and flavorful beers, capturing the essence of Dublin, the pub also offers a variety of scrumptious dishes, such as grilled Gaelic chicken with baby potatoes, shrimp curry served with jasmine rice, and hake with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and mash.

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For our next attraction, let’s increase the ABV content and steer a course towards the famous John Jameson’s eponymous Distillery, founded in 1780, for a fascinating tour, cocktail-making class, testing session, and whiskey blending workshop. The defining feature of this brand’s water of life is the implementation of triple distillation, making the spirit smooth while keeping the flavor.

By using the Dungourney river water, they achieve the regional uniqueness of taste, and the aging in the Spanish and American bourbon and fortified wine casks seasons the whiskey with sweet vanilla and sherry notes. Whether you are a stickler to sipping your drink without ice at room temperature to get the maximum aromas out of it, or fancy a chilled shaken Jameson-based sour with a modern twist, you will be amazed to see how barley becomes one of the world’s top-selling spirits with over 200 years of history.

Our next food venue cannot boast hundreds of years of history yet, but we believe their best days lie ahead. Mad Yolks was founded by brothers Hugh and Eoin O’Reilly in 2018 as a food truck catering hearty bites at various music festivals and weekend markets. Thanks to the duo’s dedication and devotion to delivering great egg-centered dishes, they received lots of support from the public and opened the first outlet on Smithfield Square in Dublin.

Though unassuming in design, the place has an amazingly welcoming ambiance, and the specialties served here will tantalize your taste buds and leave a lasting impression. The customers' favorites on the menu include Buff Yolk – a grass-fed beef burger with fries egg, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and Dijonnaise on a toasted brioche and Yolko Ono – a sweet potato and chickpea burger with fried egg, cheddar cheese, tomato, white onion, and sriracha mayo on a vegan brioche.

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If you are traveling with kids, Clara Lara is the place you must attend while vacationing in Dublin. Unlike any other funfair, where you just have to sit inside a roller coaster cart taking you up and down the adrenaline-pumping track, this park has been developed to offer fabulous adventures helping visitors stay active and get fit.

One of the most thrilling experiences here is the aqua shuttle – a big water slide that will cool anyone down on a hot summer day. Clara Lara also features various obstacle courses, a treehouse with a long tube slide, a zipline, go-karting for juniors, and radio-controlled boats. Located 30 miles away from Dublin in the picturesque Vale of Clara, this fantastic place was originally meant to be as far removed from Disneyland as possible: rural, rustic, and without any concrete. Today, it still maintains its authentic natural charm.

After a fun-filled day at Clara Lara, prolong the cheerful feeling at Arctic Scone. Inspired by the Thai hand-rolled ice cream while visiting Bangkok, the founder, Caolán Cullen, decided to recreate this delicacy back home in Ireland and ended up reinterpreting it by adding some unique signature flavors.

The creamy texture and the highest quality of ingredients are at the core of this indulgence’s tremendous success nationwide. The menu here offers both dairy and vegan options, including hazelnut, lemon, caramel, meringues, peanut butter, marshmallow, strawberries, and more. Treat yourself to this heavenly sweet delight worth forgetting about calorie count for a moment.

Apart from all the marvelous adventures you have just read about, there is one important addition that makes Dublin a dream travel destination – its friendly and welcoming people who won’t be annoyed by yet another tourist inquiring about Oscar Wilde’s house location. You will be blown away by how easy it is to start a conversation at a bar here while having a glass of refreshing Guinness with your newly-made friends.

Have you been to Dublin already? Share your experience with our community in the comment section below. And don’t forget to check out our latest food & travel guides.