Doing business can be boring. You may get to visit far-flung cities but more
often than not, you’re just there for a short time and rarely see the
outside of your hotel, conference centre or meeting room.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. You could slink out for an hour or two
before the first meeting of the day, in a lull between conference sessions
or before heading out for a client dinner and do something a little
different.
This is the first in a series of quirky guides to major business cities
looking at things that are not on the usual tourist track. It talks of
strange sights to see, dramatic drinking holes and curious cuisine.
Our first port of call is Dublin, one of the most important destinations for
British business travellers. Hundreds of thousands of people go to Ireland
on business every year, most of them headed for the capital. The city is a
popular conference destination and a technology hub, thanks to the European
headquarters of Google, Yahoo! and eBay as well as major European offices
for Microsoft and IBM.
So rather than the shops of Grafton Street, the Book of Kells and a pint of
Guinness in an overpriced O’Connell Street bar, what does Dublin have to
offer the curious?
Quirky eating
Rather than forcing down another rich business lunch, why not grab a picnic
instead. The best place to grab some grub is Magills at 14 Clarendon Street,
run by Kim Condon. It’s shelves are packed with goodies from all over the
world but you might want to save some space for some Irish cheeses and dried
meat.
Quirky shopping
Hodges Figgis lays claim to be Ireland’s most famous bookstore, largely thanks
to a namecheck in Ulysses although the shop has moved from its former
location just opposite, which is now a Waterstones (both shops are owned by
the same parent company, HMV). Hodges Figgis is the place to come if you
want to pick up some Irish literature – its selection has to be the best in
a real shop anywhere.
Quirky pampering
There’s little that can beat the experience of a hot towel shave and Dublin
has plenty of quirky barbers you can get one. One of the best is the Green
Dolphin at 6 South Anne Street, with its traditional barber’s chairs, part
of the Grafton Barber chain. The original Grafton Barber, at 51 Grafton
Street, was opened by Dennis Hopper in 1994. Go for a Royal Open Razor
Shave.
Quirky sightseeing
St Mary's Cathedral in Marlborough St. is known as the Pro-Cathedral, nobody in Dublin refers to it by it's official name so if you can't find it you will have no business asking a local for St. Marys.
Michael Coyle, Dublin, Ireland
The paragraph on pampering is sexist. Quirky pampering involving only barbers? Are we to assume that only men travel for business?
For women business travellers requiring pampering, may I suggest Blue Eriu.
laura, Dublin, Ireland
You must be joking, that's what I'd call a boring stay in Dublin.
You must check out the links below instead:
Comedy: http://entertainment.ie/comedy/
Gay bars: http://www.queerid.com/directory.aspx?sectionid=9
Gay clubs: http://www.queerid.com/directory.aspx?sectionid=3
Daniel, Dublin, Ireland