Elite Traveler July-August 2017

EXPLORE DUBLIN GUIDE TO DUBLIN From the refined elegance of Trinity College to the potent charms of the myriad pubs, everybody thinks they know the Irish capital — even if they’ve never actually been there. The truth is somewhat more complicated, though every bit as engaging as the legend. The slow renaissance after the late noughties’ financial crash has brought subtle changes to city life here. Restaurants are finally beginning to embrace local produce; pubs now extend their range beyond the black stuff (Guinness) into a vast array of craft ales and spirits. The hotel scene is expanding beyond business-oriented fail-safes into a range of boutique- sized superior slumbers, and the music scene is stretching its octave range way beyond folk ‘blarney’ standbys. The friendliness of this bijou city thankfully remains every bit as appreciable as ever. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll find a whole new layer of cultivation alongside the legendary ‘craic.’

by Rob Crossan

LATE NIGHT DUBLIN

Workman’s Club On the banks of the Liffey, this former blue collar members’ club has been refurbed into one of the city’s most dynamic late night spaces, with an eclectic range of live performances which range from blues acts from Georgia to young singer-songwriters from within the city limits. theworkmansclub.com Whelan’s A Dublin institution, Whelan’s has impressively maintained its formidable reputation as the venue to play if you’re on your way to stardom in the Irish music scene. Expect a mostly contemporary line-up of gigs and try to get there early in order to bag one of the cute little tables right up by the stage of this well-worn, yet utterly lovable space. whelanslive.com The Brazen Head Dating back to 1198, this is the oldest pub in the country and, as you’d expect, isn’t short on character. The likes of Tom Jones have been known to come in while in town to sing a few numbers, but you’re much more likely to be party to the nightly live music sessions featuring top-notch local folk acts such as Roots’N’Rye and Straight From The Crate. brazenhead.com