Shopping Strips
Here’s the lay of the land, folks. Grafton Street is Dublin’s top thoroughfare for high street shopping. South William Street is the beating heart of its Creative Quarter. This short, sweet strip was traditionally home to Dublin’s rag trade, and the tradition lives on in chic womenswear store Helen McAlinden, boutique malls like the Powerscourt Centre and a suite of bars and restaurants catering for every conceivable taste. Temple Bar squirrels away the best vintage boutiques in the city, and Capel Street is the gritty new kid on the block.
Arcade Fire
The George’s Street Arcade may be Ireland’s oldest shopping centre, but there’s always something new to discover. A feast of eclectic stores, art stalls and eateries are housed within the old Victorian building, from Bollywood bellydancing gear at Maharani to delicious cakea at Lolly & Cooks and good honest sandwiches and soup at Simon's Place Coffee Shop. There should be shrines to this kind of thing.
Marvellous Markets
A hop, skip and jump across Dublin’s jolliest bridge takes you to the Ha'Penny Flea Market (Saturdays, 12–6pm). The Grand Social's weekly bash is all about vintage clothes, vinyl, chic jewellery and hipster books. You may not have come to Dublin looking for those 70s hotpants, in other words –but dammit, you won’t be leaving without them. Afterwards, skip back across to Temple Bar to the Cow’s Lane Designer Mart, which sells cutting-edge clothing and crafts on Saturdays. Outfit sorted? You’re welcome!