dublin might not have the eiffel tower or water filled streets occupied by private gondolas, but we do have the spire, the river liffey and some of the best food, drinks and craic to be found in europe. couples looking to have a bit of fun together – dublin is the place for you. here’s our list of the most romantic things to do with your other half in dublin’s fair city.
have a picnic in one of the city’s many beautiful parks
if there’s anything that romantic films have taught us, it’s that picnics are key for spending some loved up time together. if you don’t have a traditional style picnic basket any old bag will do. fill it up with your partner’s favourite sandwiches, snacks and drinks and head to one of dublin city’s fabulous parks such as st stephens green, merrion square or the iveagh gardens.
walk along howth pier
just a short dart journey from dublin city, howth is a beautiful seaside town that oozes with romance. walk hand-in-hand along the pier and gaze out to sea from the looking point whilst listening to the local buskers do their thing. afterwards, if the weather allows it, share a meal on the terrace of one of the many delightful seafood restaurants where you can share a plate of mussels and a jug of sangria. what more could you want!
go for a romantic meal at the first dates restaurant
located in the gibson hotel, coda eatery is known as dublin’s most romantic restaurant as it’s home to first dates ireland. date night is their forte! stylish but unpretentious, coda offers two or three course meals for €30 or €35 respectively and there’s a special menu on concert nights as the hotel overlooks dublin’s 3 arena. no visit is complete without ordering the iconic love heart shaped strawberry dessert to share.
drink a cocktail at fade street social
upstairs at fade street social you’ll find their heated cocktail terrace / winter garden. taking inspiration from new york with its stylish furnishings, the mixologists at fade street social have created a cocktail menu that honours heroes of ireland’s past such as the dolly fizz made from st. germain elderflower liqueur, lemon and prosecco with elderflower foam.
there’s also a list of ten gins, a range of craft beers and other options on their drinks menu.
see a movie at stella theatre rathmines
much fancier than your average cinema, the stella has dark, rich interiors that pay homage to the decade of its establishment – the 1920’s. movie goers can choose to watch films from the comfort of the red armchairs, two-person couches or a front row double bed. food and drinks (including bespoke cocktails) will be delivered to your seat before the film starts. indulgence at its finest!
take a trip to the zoo
revisit your childhood with a trip to dublin zoo. located in the phoenix park, dublin zoo is home to over 400 animals. see animals from every corner of the world and learn of dublin zoo’s amazing global conservation efforts. check the information point to find out when the keeper talks and feeding times are.
snuggle up in a cosy irish pub
dublin is packed with snug little pubs that provide the perfect setting for a quiet drink. some of our favourites include:
- doheny & nesbitt’s, baggot street
- peruke & periwig, dawson street
- the brazen head, merchants quay
- peadar kearnery’s, dame street
head out for brunch
when’s the last time you got up early together and headed out for brunch? top breakfast spots in the city centre include:
- tang, dawson street
- brother hubbard, capel street
- bewley’s café, grafton street
- whitefriar grill, whitefriar street
- queen of tarts, temple bar
share an ice cream at three twenty ice cream lab
diners at three twenty can watch in awe as their ice cream is created on the spot with the help of liquid nitrogen. flavour options include peanut butter, salted caramel, oreo and chocolate hazelnut served in either a cone or a cup. the ice cream contains no stabilisers or gums and is made from fresh, local organic cream.
take a trip out to dun laoghaire for the people’s park market
every sunday the people’s park in dun laoghaire is filled with over 50 stalls of culinary delights, arts and crafts and lots more. the hugely popular market has been welcoming huge crowds to the park since the 1980’s and does not disappoint. go with an empty belly – we guarantee you’ll want to try a piece of everything!
rent a tandem bicycle
phoenix park bike hires operate at the parkgate street entrance of the phoenix park and have a range of bikes available for exploring the enclosed park’s 707 hectares. rent the tandem bike for a truly romantic date and if you can make the double seated bike work it must be love!
looking for more things to do around dublin city centre? use our online gibson hotel guide for tips and recommendations of what to see and do in the capital.
