Nice Italian Restaurant in Temple Bar

There are many Italian restaurants in Dublin city centre but if you're looking for one of the best then I would look no further than Toscana on Dame Street. It is approximately a ten minute stroll from Temple Bar Hotel. They do an excellent lunch value menu as well as a pre-theatre menu. I would strongly recommend the meatballs and the vegetarian lasagne is one of the best I've tasted, served with fabulous home-made chips! The service is friendly and most importantly Italian! Toscana really is a genuine Italian restaurant.

Girls Night Out

Food, Drink and a Bit of a Singsong...

I am now officially a pro at making Dublin's best cocktails! Myself and my work mates hit the town last Thursday night to soak up the city atmosphere after a hard days work.

We started off by going to Salamancas Tapas Bar for an Early Bird meal, which was really good value. I got a glass of wine, a steak and dessert for only €15; it was the perfect portion size too as I wasn't too full or any bit hungry after it.

We journeyed on then to Buskers bar afterwards for our cocktail lessons which were great craic! We got loads of attention from Emre (the guy who gave us the lessons) and we made up some really tasty concoctions. The lessons lasted for two hours, we got two cocktails and one shot and it only cost €25 each!!

Rock Star Karaoke followed after that then which was loads of fun! We got to sing with a live band instead of just singing on stage on your own in front of a tv screen.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable night and I'd highly recommend it to any of you who are in dire need of a fun night out!

Dublin Ocktoberfest is back!

Dublin Ocktoberfest starts this Thursday, 30th September and runs until 10th October in the IFSC. The event is well worth a visit...at least once! It was a huge success last year with big beer loving crowds filling the wooden benches in the large tents. The energic atmosphere in the tents is created by the Bavarian music as well as the beer. A friendly vibe is created by the clanking of beer mugs with anyone within arms reach. There is plenty of traditional tasty German food on offer. For more information on the event click here. The IFSC is just a 15-20 minute walk from Temple Bar Hotel.

Point Village Market

I am a HUGE fan of markets. I just love to potter around the colourful stalls smelling the aromas and listening to the banter and chatter between the vendors on the various stands. In Dublin we are fast becoming spoilt for choice with markets popping up all over the city. The newest addition being The Point Village Market which is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. I took the Red line Luas there last Saturday which is very convenient. I was impressed with the amount of stalls. I had one of the best Lattes I have ever had from one stall (the one that is a miniature lorry). I was slightly amused to see the amount of 'cupcakes' on sale, which seems to be the latest phenomenon sweeping the city. Although in many cases (excuse the pun!) they appear to be nothing more than a bun/queen cake that we had when we were young, but now they are called cupcakes and we've all been sucked into the Americanism and paying €2.50 a pop!

My one criticism of the Point Village Market is I feel the area itself. Not that it's a bad area, but I enjoy markets more when they are in a more intimate setting such as a park (Marley Park) and maybe I'm being biased but Temple Bar Markets in Meeting House Square. I would definitely recommend that Dubliners take a trip to these markets but if you're pushed for time and just on a short visit I would take a trip to Temple Bar Markets on Saturdays.

Taste of Dublin

Taste of Dublin is back on June 10th - 13th in the Iveagh Gardens. The food and drink festival is one of the most popular events of the summer with upto 30,000 visitors expected to attend. For some reason the sun always seems to shine for Taste of Dublin (I hope I haven't jinxed it now!). Dublin's top restaurants will display their finest cuisine samples and it's always a good idea to have a good look around before deciding on which to choose.Well known chefs including Darina Allen, Kevin Dundon, Donal Skehan Gino D'Acampo and Rachel Allen will be present and even offering cooking demonstrations.
Taste of Dublin is a great day out for family and friends and if you don't live in Dublin we highly recommend you stay over and make a weekend of it. Temple Bar Hotel is a 20 minute scenic stroll from the Iveagh Gardens.

Christmas Markets in Dublin's IFSC

I was so excited to hear Dublin's Christmas markets are back on December 10th. Last year we went there for our Christmas party (a budget alternative to the big sit down meal party) by walking down there (just 10 mins walk from the hotel) in the afternoon and strolling around the stalls. There was plenty of food vendors serving delicious hot food and mugs of mulled wine to warm us up. There is a fantastic festive atmosphere around the markets with everyone in the Christmas spirit. It's a great place to get some stocking fillers with lots of quirky gift ideas. There's no charge and it's great for children and adults. It could also be added to the list for anyone doing the '12 pubs of Christmas' in Dublin. On that note, if anyone has established a good list of pubs....do leave a comment and let me know!

Warning! If you are walking down to the markets with a gang, expect to lose some on the way to the many inviting bars you will pass!!

Dublin Beer Festival! A Great Night Out!

Well I took my own advice yesterday (and suffering for it today) and I gathered the troops after work and headed down to Oktoberfest in the IFSC. There are numerous food stalls serving a variety of German foods. I had a tasty German sausage which had been cooked on the charcoal bbq followed by a Baileys and Banana Crepe for dessert. And then for the Beer!! I went for the smaller jug of Paulander Beer as I wasn't sure if I'd even be able to lift the larger one. Most of the drinking goes on in the large tent with wooden benches and seats. The atmosphere was fantastic with plenty of beer mug clinking and lots of beer loss in the process! The Bavarian band played traditional German music which is quite lively and calls for plenty of beer mug raising! There were German girls in the traditional Dirndl dress and you can purchase the dresses, but be warned that while it may seem like a good idea after a few beers, you won't be wearing it on a regular Saturday night out!

There's still over a week left to go so get yourself down there.

Dine in Dublin Week!

Whether you live in Dublin or if you are visiting the capital city between Monday, 12th October and Sunday, 18th October you should treat yourself to a meal in one of the city's top restaurants! Over 50 restaurants are taking part in 'Dine in Dublin Restaurant week' which offers 3 courses plus tea or coffee for either €25/€30 depending on the restaurant.

Here in Temple Bar you have a choice of Chameleon Restaurant, Frankies Bar & Grill, FXBs, Gallagher's Boxty House and Monty's of Kathmandu.

For bookings, contact the restaurants directly. Happy dining!

Great Steakhouse in Temple Bar!

Working in Temple Bar feels like belonging to a little community, which can be a rare feeling in such a large and diverse city. So last Thursday after work we decided to 'keep it local' and stay in Temple Bar for dinner. FXB's Steakhouse has a great reputation in Dublin, with 5 restaurants around the city. They have a value menu for €24.95 for 3 courses but about 3 of the 7 main courses have a supplement. Saying that, it is still good value as all 3 courses are of superb quality.

The restaurant was not full but busy when we arrived. The atmosphere was cosy with some of the seating with sheepskin rugs over the backs of them. We ordered a lovely bottle of Fleurie to complement the steaks. I had the fish cakes to start which were very tasty. For the main course the Ribeye steak was done to perfection. It was served with homemade chips, mash and vegetables. The waiter then correctly guessed our dessert choices, much to our amusement! My boyfriend thought he had overheard us but I figured the girl always goes for the chocolate dessert as I did and the guys go for the ice-cream as he did! All 3 courses were of a really good quality and it was one of those meals that was so satisfying that I was thinking about it for days afterwards!

If you like steak, you will like FXBs!

BBQ in Powerscourt Waterfalls!

Well my initial plan was to write a blog about things to do in Temple Bar, then I branched out a little and included the Dublin area and now I’m even including Wicklow! Sure where will it stop I hear you ask?!? But I think Powerscourt Waterfalls are a popular destination for both tourists and locals and definitely worth a mention.

I’m a huge fan of barbeques! I just love the whole concept of cooking outdoors or more so the concept of getting the men to do the cooking for a change! Usually a few comments in the line of ‘It’s such a manly thing to do’ has them cooking without too much complaint! Last Saturday I got it in my head that I wanted a barbeque and what better a destination that on the grounds of Powerscourt waterfall in Wicklow. I would highly recommend it to tourists and locals as a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

When we left Dublin at midday the grey clouds were looming overhead but we decided to continue on and luckily by the time we arrived in Powerscourt the sun was shining and we managed to get a perfect spot next to an old tree trunk which we put our disposable bbq on. There was also a wooden bench and table next to it to prepare the food on. It wasn’t too long before the charcoals were lighting and the smoky barbeque smell was wafting through the air. There were about five other groups all enjoying a barbeques nearby and there was a sense of summer giddiness in the air. Two beef burgers and a lamb kebab later the belly was full and we were stretched out on the rug reading the Saturday papers with the warm sunshine on our backs and the sound of flowing waterfall in our ears.

Half an hour later it was time to pull out the flask of tea from the car boot (oh the memories of the 80s came flooding back!!), although I was delighted that jam sandwiches were replaced nicely with a slice of home made carrot cake. We walked up to the base of the waterfall and lay the rug down with our cups of tea. But just before you start thinking it was all perfect, I must warn you about the annoying midgets that we had to deal with that did their level best to ruin our day! Another downside is the €5 per adult charge to get into the Waterfalls, tis a bit Irish!

Powerscourt Waterfalls are only a 40 minute drive from Dublin. Daily bus tours are available to Powerscourt if you don’t have access to a car. It's an ideal day trip for people living in Dublin that are looking for something different to do on a sunny Sunday!

Yamamori on the Quays!

Can you think of anything more annoying than when you make a bad food choice when eating out? You look around the table and all your friends have big happy grins, clearly delighted with the culinary delights that lay in front of them! My competitive disposition usually renders me speechless in this situation, slow to admit that I have not made the best decision amongst us! Normally when this happens I am a little prepared as it’s usually when I go for a completely different dish. But yesterday I was pretty confident I had made a good decision until the dish arrived and it was not what I was expecting! The Tatsuta Age (Ginger Chicken) looked pale and unappetising when it arrived! It tasted somewhat better than it looked but this was perhaps my most disappointing visit to this popular Japanese restaurant yet!

On the upside the service was really friendly and quick which we agreed was a must to sustain a lunch time trade. The restaurant is bright and airy with long wooden tables throughout. On this occasion it was relatively busy but not crowded. The prices were reasonable and the portions are large…..although how much pale chicken can one stomach!!! Ewww!

I have no doubt that I will return to Yamamori again as I have really enjoyed my previous experiences of the restaurant. But here’s hoping my decision will be better next time or maybe the chicken will have been on a sun holiday!

Walking distance from Temple Bar Hotel - 10 minutes.

When there's no time for dawdling!

The one thing that puts me off eating out for lunch during the week is the time it takes. Your lunch hour suddenly feels more like a lunch half hour! And the one thing that was putting me off going to Thai Orchid was memories of the last time I went there. It was when I first came to Dublin and I had my birthday dinner there. I thought I liked spicy foods but sure I was as green as the chilli I bit into! I’ll never forget the heat or ‘the pain’ as I described it at the time. I suppose it is no wonder the girls laughed me off as being a Drama Queen with the fuss I made. So today I made my return and avoided the chillies….and the drama!

The décor is warm and inviting with genuine Thai artifacts around the restaurant. The waitress in her traditional dress also gave the restaurant a sense of authenticity. Most of the main courses were priced under €10. I went with the Garlic & Black Pepper Chicken, served with fragrant rice while my colleague went with the Kong Pung Beef. Both dishes were delicious and full of flavour. Of course I started into my meal with the same gusto I devote to all my meals, and admittedly it hit me with about two bites to go. Too late then lady! The damage was done and as expected the food coma began to set in about an hour later. Although I doubt it will deter future trips to this high standard restaurant. The service was friendly yet brisk, exactly what you need when you’re watching the clock. The restaurant was full yet it seemed quiet and hushed, as though all the other diners were on the same mission as ourselves….no time for dawdling!

Walking distance from Temple Bar Hotel - 20 seconds!

Getting ready to Bloom!

The highlight of my recent Ulysses walking tour was witnessing one of the greatest supporters of all things Joycean (Senator David Norris) roar a string of expletives as he chased an ‘Out of Service’ Dublin Bus down North Great Georges Street. Apparently the buses are banned because of their potential damage to the underground wine cellars that stretch out underneath the street.

The irony of witnessing such a humorous scene while on a Ulysses walking tour did not escape us as the epic novel is based on humorous observations in Dublin city. Every year on June 16th, Bloomsday is celebrated as it marks the day when all the action in Ulysses took place, when the fictional character, Leopold Bloom wandered Dublin city.

This year the Temple Bar area will host a number of events on June 16th to celebrate the day. Buskers Bar will have a jazz band from 5-7pm and will be serving a Blooms day breakfast all day as well as the famed Gorgonzola sandwich with burgundy wine. Sounds blooming amazing! (sorry, I couldn’t resist!!!).

For more information on events in Temple Bar on Bloomsday, click here.
To download a free iWalk podcast click here
Distance from Temple Bar Hotel to Temple Bar - 0 minutes!

An Evening at the Theatre…..

What better way to distract yourself from the daily grind than to spend an evening at the theatre? The Olympia theatre is located on Dame Street which is less than a five minute walk from Temple Bar Hotel and it is a bonus that so many restaurants in the area offer pre-theatre menus.

There is a feeling of stepping back in time when entering the Victorian style Olympia theatre which is one of Dublin’s most iconic venues and I find it the perfect place to indulge my escapism. Having grown up just three miles from Michael Collins’ birthplace near Clonakilty in West Cork and I also attended the same primary school (albeit 100 years later!) I have always felt a natural affection towards this national hero.

The musical vividly and excellently dramatises the life of Michael Collins. It took about quarter of an hour to get used to presentation of his life in a musical format and after that it is complete absorption. There were stages of it where I felt the desperate need to run home and rummage through my dusty old school history books as the feeling of vague familiarity with certain names left me a tad ashamed!

The standing ovation and the tears streaming down the faces of the actors and audience at the end of the show was enough to make me realise that it wasn’t just because I am from West Cork that I found the show so moving! The theatre was charged with emotion at the re-enactment of The Big Fella’s death. As the fatal gunshot sounded around the ornate theatre I jumped in my seat as if I somehow didn’t know what was about to happen – such was the intensity of the final acts. My hands stung and tingled after a lengthy applaud and my heart was full of pride as I was reminded and remembered the brave men that died for our country.

Distance from Temple Bar Hotel to the Olympia - a 5 minute stroll.

It’s all about Soul…..

Eight years ago when I lived in Manhattan, I remember a Summer’s evening when I went to Central Park with an ex boyfriend to listen to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra...it was our attempt at being cultured! Being typically Irish we just rocked in and ended up sharing my denim jacket to lie down on(they were in fashion 8 years ago!!). We looked around us at all the super organised Americans with their picnic baskets of wine, cheese & grapes, rugs, candles…you name it!! I was more than a bit envious and didn’t feel in the least bit cultured!

Are the Irish finally catching up? I think we might be! Well I thought so last Sunday as the sun shone down on Merrion Square’s Soul Picnic. All around there were families with picnics (we couldn't go too far wrong when the name 'Soul Picnic' suggested that the picnic was essential!!). The entertainment from various Soul artists was amazing and there was an atmosphere of cheeriness in the beautiful surrounds of the city centre park. The fact that it was one of the first sunny days experienced in Ireland this year definitely helped the event to run smoothly.

The Soul Festival also showcased some acts live on stage last Friday night in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square which created a great buzz amongst the crowd in Temple Bar. In the words of Oscar Wilde “Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”

Distance from Temple Bar Hotel to Merrion Square- a 10 minute walk.

Wake Up & Smell the Coffee!

There is few smells that can compare to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee! And even fewer smells compare to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the smell of cinnamon swirls!! It takes a hell of a lot of willpower to resist, especially in the mornings when I am feeling a little tired after a hectic weekend and craving the ultimate pick-me-up! West Coast Coffee, located on Temple Lane in the heart of Temple Bar serves the best coffee in Temple Bar (in my opinion!). It has been proven to brighten my day on 9 out of 10 occasions! I am reliably informed that the coffee is ethically sourced, environmentally friendly and hand roasted. It is what I’d call ‘a friendly coffee shop’. They seem genuinely interested in whether my weekend was good (or perhaps they are curious as to what gave me those dreadful bags under my eyes!!). The biggest plus for West Coast is they stamp my loyalty card twice so I only need to buy five coffees to get a free one!!! Oh it’s the simple things in life…

The coffee shop itself has a cosy charm that makes it difficult for me to leave and continue on my way to work. I stare enviously at tourists as they linger and chat over steaming mugs of coffee. I get my ‘usual’ latte which not too milky - I find the lattes in Starbucks far too milky for my liking and the prices far too steep!! Most people who are holidaying in Dublin are usually just here for a few nights so why waste time drinking horrible coffee?

I gave up coffee for April. Why April you might ask! Simply put….because I missed the boat on Lent and decided to just try April instead. Yes it did work. Once I’d made up my mind it wasn’t that difficult. I just choose a different cobbled street to walk down to work, purposely avoiding the inviting aroma of coffee beans that wafts its way down Temple Lane each morning greeting me. But once May Day rolled around I was back to my vice with a vengeance! I’ve decided life’s too short to give up coffee!

Walking Time from Temple Bar Hotel to West Coast Coffee - 5 minutes.

Tante-lising Zoes!

Working in the hotel I have my lunch here in Buskers Bar most days but it is nice to get out for lunch once in a while. Myself and my colleague didn’t let the rain deter us yesterday and decided to venture out for lunch. Temple Bar often gets a bad name for being expensive. But I think most places are offering great deals at the moment so I’m only too happy to take advantage of a bargain lunch!

Tante Zoe’s is located on Crow Street and they are offering a lunch time special - a main course for €8.50. The décor is lovely with creams and dark browns dominating. The service is excellent. I ordered the Cajun burger which came with home made chunky chips and my friend ordered the Blackened Chicken which also came with a side of chips and vegetables. We were told when we ordered that it would take about 15 minutes which put a stop to us looking at our watches. We still managed to get back to the office within our lunch hour!

Walking Time from Temple Bar Hotel to Tante Zoes - 6 minutes.

Food markets in Temple Bar!

What better way to spend time on a Saturday than to wander through the Food Markets in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square. It is a must for all foodies! The colour and vibrancy of the markets are a feast for the eyes and give the Square a special atmosphere every Saturday.

On entering the square I am greeted with the aroma of fresh coffee and an espresso is the perfect way to start the day! With so much variety it is difficult to decide what to eat. I do a leisurely lap of the market first so I can acquaint myself with all that is on offer. Samples of olive tapanade, sun dried tomatoes and fresh breads are all enticing. While the smell of the barbequed burgers is mouth watering I decide it is still a little early for a big feed so instead I opt for a freshly made crepe with banana and chocolate. It’s a sunny day and the market is busy without being too crowded so I am content to stroll around whilst eating the crepe. I see there is a lot of people enjoying the fresh oysters at the picnic tables nearby, happily squeezing lemon and splashing Tabasco sauce on them.

There also seems to be quite a few people who look like locals who are doing a weekly shop for organic vegetables and meats. There is a wide smile on my face as I leave the markets with a full belly and continue my exploration of Temple Bar….

For more information on Temple Bar Food markets click on this link http://www.templebar.ie/home_nav_32_m_1.html

Walking Time from Temple Bar Hotel to Meeting House Square - 6 minutes.