A few days staying in Dublin next weekend. Never been before.
The ‘What to do…’ lists say we ‘must’ go to the Guinness and Jamieson’s sites. And then fall short a bit.
Seeing as we don’t drink either of those otherwise no doubt excellent brews(!) and it now looks like we won’t need to bring our own ark, could anyone suggest some super options for visiting and eating during our visit please? 
For dining, would certainly recommend the Hawksmoor steak house next to Trinity college.
Really nice steaks in a super setting.
As you are in the area , could look in Trinity college
I went for a birthday weekend and I reluctantly went to temple bar. Best day ever, beers expensive but live music all day and a great atmosphere. Didn’t want to leave and would go back tomorrow. Enjoy!
Atb
Kk
In my experience the Guinness tastes completely different in Ireland to what it does elsewhere.
I only drink it there I would recommend that you just try it. When in Rome and all that 
Try and book the free Yellow Umbrella walking tour; they start at the Spire. Have dinner at The Church; great food and ambiance. Guinness Tour well worth doing.
That said, tbh, I prefer Belfast for an Irish weekend break. Cheaper too!
You cant go to Dublin without a walk through Temple Bar. Multiple places to go in, but I usually pop into Oliver St. John Gogarty for a pint and listen to traditional music. It is very touristy, but got to be done
Book of Kells/Trinity College Library.
What are your interests?
What area are you staying in?
.sjb
Definitely avoid Temple Bar particularly at night! Quite a few really good restaurants inc Michelin if you’re a foody. As said above do try the Guinness as it’s considerably better than you get in the UK. National Gallery is pretty good too if you’re in to art. Lots to see depending on your interests
Definitely depends what you’re into. If you like middle eastern cooking try The Cedar Tree (but don’t tell anyone else). For long walks in the sea air take the Dart to Howth and walk to Howth Head. Plan an exit strategy if you head to Temple Bsr. For more historic pubs try The Stag‘s Head in Dame Street or O’Neills in Suffolk St. or Doheny & Nesbitts in Baggot St. or for a sundowner, if you have transport, head up to the Blue Light Bar in Sandyford with spectacular views over the city. A stroll through Trinity College is always worthwhile.
I worked in Dublin for a little while, and went there for occasional weekends and day trips, and what stands out most in my mind is not any spectacular sights, monuments or experiences, but rather the easy going nature of the place, and I found the relaxed and friendly manner of most locals refreshing. So I enjoyed walking around the city with no particular agenda as much as visiting any must-do destination.
I thought the Guinness thing was OK, but I could just as happily whiled away an hour or two in a half decent pub.
The hop on/ hop off tour bus was a good way to get around, including a stop at the Guinness brewery if you’re going there. I was bracing myself for the tedium of the tour guide’s commentary, but actually found them to be entertaining, and well versed in that self-deprecating humour that seems to be a thing in Ireland.
Despite its stag party reputation, I quite liked Temple Bar in small doses, as long as you can avoid the busiest times, which you might on a wet February evening.
I did enjoy a wander round Trinity College, and in particular the Book of Kells. Not something I would usually be attracted to, but the ingenuity required to produce something that beautiful over a thousand years ago is impressive.
Have a look at visitdublin.com for some ideas.
Could have a look at st Patrick’s cathedral.
Also possible visit to Kilmainham gaol.
Or have a walk/cycle around Phoenix park
A quick visit to the national museum on Kildare Street to see the treasury. Gives a great idea of what Ireland was as a Celtic / Christian country before the many invasions.
A quick run through the Irish art rooms on Level 1 in the art gallery on the parallel Merrion Square.
This is amazing in the flesh
Worth a quick jaunt up to Level 3 to see the Caravaggio.
If you want to explore our countries shared heritage a tour of Dublin Castle is essential.
And then for something completely different do a Viking Splash tour of Dublin.
Restaurants (well decent ones) will need to be booked in advance. This one near the museum has a nice Irish twist to it.
If you don’t like the Guinness in Bowes of Fleet Street it definitely isn’t for you.
North of the Liffey is the more “rustic” side of Dublin - stay on main streets and don’t wander too much at night.
South of the Liffey is generally much more pleasant.
(Apologies to Northsiders!)
.sjb
I agree with @Sloop_John_B . It’s what I was going to say but he got there first! Definitely the National Museum for the reasons he has given. Though I don’t know the restaurant.
And yes, best to stay south of the Liffey. On the north side, up as far as say around the Gresham Hotel and the immediate area off O’Connell Street, but thats about it. Again apologies to any residents, but they will know what I mean.
Yes, the Guinness is better!
I’m intrigued to know what’s so bad about the Northside…maybe not so much that I’ll go personally to find out.
Some central parts are uhm, not what they were, i’d never visit again, take care there
Martin
I’ve not tried Guiness in Ireland for a few years, but I fully agree and I used to describe it as
Guiness in Ireland is made from double cream
Guiness in the UK is made from single cream
I can probably now add
Guiness Zero in the UK is made from Gold Top milk
All delicious, but there is a grade IMO
That’s a bit negative, perhaps you had a bad experience? Like all capital cities it has it’s good and not so good areas. “Northside’ is a bit of a cliched generalisation, yes there’s some rather unsalubrious areas for sure but some really nice places too, some of the most affluent areas are indeed ‘northside”. Dublin is tiny compared to many capitals and if visiting on a short break there are many places well worth visiting and is generally very safe and friendly, you can easily walk the city in a day but again, like anywhere, there are areas best avoided as a tourist particularly at night.
It’s really not that bad, though in the context of a visitor wanting to have a good time it’s best to go south of the Liffey.
Like all cities they have their good bits and bad bits. My son who is an electrician was working on a new Lidls site on the edge of a notorious estate in north Dublin (the name slips my mind at the moment). On one occasion I had to give him a lift down to the site and I was surprised at the site security! A bit like last month when I was in Marseille, my friend was driving, the sat nav was playing up a bit and I remember saying, ‘do not take a wrong turn and end up in one of those estates!’
We all know this but it’s worth knowing for visitors, that in the north side, some can be rather politically ‘sensitive’. You don’t have to spend much time in some of the pubs (including recommended ones) before you see it. It’s not to put anyone off, just be aware.
Indeed I don’t think Dublin is any different in this respect to most other capitals.
It’s just there is an edgy part quite close to the centre in its northeast quarter and Jamie is better off being aware of it.
I’m certainly not slagging off all of the Northside!
I knew a guy from there once 
.sjb
I
