When I want a real treat, I go to… The Sidecar bar at The Westbury hotel for a cocktail. It’s like stepping back in time. Go before dinner on Saturday night. While you are waiting for your cocktail, they’ll bring you a little coupe of champagne, which just feels lovely.
The restaurant of the moment for me is… Allta, down by the quays. The presentation makes me so happy – everything from the food to the interiors is just art. It has a tasting menu, but it isn’t stuffy. The staff are super-young and dynamic, and the food is outrageously good.
When I feel a need to dance, I head straight to… Fidelity. The bar’s been designed round a Japanese sound system and they’ve given a lot of thought to the acoustics. The timber-wrapped interior ensures the sound is amazing.
The best way to begin a weekend in Dublin is… with a spicy Bloody Mary at Balfes, next to The Westbury hotel. All truly luxurious weekends should start with a good brunch and the menu there really delivers. The interiors are lovely and it always feels buzzy.
A little gem I love is… Number 31, a hotel created from the modernist mews home of the architect Sam Stephenson along with the adjoining Georgian townhouse. The sunken lounge he designed in the late 1950s is one of the original conversation pits and there’s an honesty bar with 1970s mirrored tiles. Ask to stay in the original part of the house.
A place that is special to me is… Bewley’s café. My grandad used to take me to the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts when I was little and afterwards we would walk over to Bewley’s – a grand café from the 1920s – and have an iced bun and a cup of tea. Hidden away down a lane nearby is a church called St Teresa’s. We would pop in there after our buns to see the stained-glass windows.
For the best craic, head to… some of the antique jewellery shops down the lane from St Teresa’s, which sell everything from knick-knacks to high-end pieces (earrings, from Courtville). You’ll need to haggle. The people are brilliant – it’s proper Dublin banter. My great-grandmother was an antique dealer, so I feel very at home.
My favourite place to shop has to be… Havana boutique. It’s the only store that stocks the knitwear of Colin Burke, a local designer I love who creates his own interpretations of old Irish knitwear. For second-hand furniture, head to Francis Street. Killian McNulty Gallery and Michael Mortell are my favourites. There’s also a great café on the corner called the Two Pups.
The important thing is… to find an old pub that pours the Guinness properly. Grogans on the corner of South William Street is the real deal. Pull up to the bar, order a pint (and maybe a toastie or a packet of bacon fries) and get talking to someone.
When I want to feel good… I walk in Djouce Woods, outside Dublin. Or some people go to the Forty Foot, a swimming spot where you can jump into the sea to try to cure your hangover.
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A non-negotiable for me is… Sunday lunch at The Butcher Grill; I love the cosy vibe. Order half a dozen Achill oysters and an Irish beef striploin with horseradish cream and you’ll feel that you’ve done Sunday right.
Róisín Lafferty is taking part in Design Week Dublin, on September 16-20: designweekdublin.com roisinlaffertygallery.com | roisinlafferty.com
As told to Eleanor Steafel
