Dylan

There were two restaurants worth visiting: the two-Michelin starred Patrick Guilbaud in the Merrion Hotel, which is in a lovely room with a good value set lunch (€50 a person). The second is The Winding Stair (on the quay just north of the Liffey), which was packed and requires booking ahead. It's also worth trekking down to the new developments apace in Hanover Quay: it has an early Auckland Viaduct Harbour feel.

I can recommend an excellent vegetarian restaurant called Juice – we stumbled across it late sun evening. A wide variety of choice and interesting main courses! Prices are reasonable, compared to other restaurants as food and drink in Dublin is very expensive. Enjoy!

We had our breath taken away by the Dylan. We were there for our honeymoon, and everything from the staff, to the room, to the food was fantastic.

While there, they had a tall ship and European market on the riverbank. I understand it is every June, and provided a great atmosphere and some lovely food too. Many people advised us to use the hop-on, hop-off bus. I would only do this is you have more time, as it is expensive for just two attractions. I would recommend people to see Kilmainham Gaol, an enlightening, if harrowing account of dark Dublin history.

If I were to go to Dublin again, I would struggle to stay anywhere else. I cannot praise it enough. Wonderful.

We had a delicious meal, cooked with lots of local ingredients, at Bang Café at 11 Merrion Row, a very popular trendy brasserie. I would recommend booking, it was really busy even on a Monday evening.

Also, the Expresso Bar café opposite the Dylan was lovely. Banana bread to die for! Great if you were too late for breakfast in the hotel – as we were. Beds in the Dylan were super comfortable by the way!