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Dublin Live
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Amy Donohoe & Brian Dillon

Hidden gems in Dublin: From hidden beaches to secret restaurants

With a history and culture steeped in folklore and good-humoured craic, there’s no surprise Dublin boasts a myriad of charming hidden gems and only-locals-know hangouts.

These hidden gems in Dublin offer up some unique opportunities to experience things you can then cockily introduce to your friends who had no idea they existed.

Here are 13 of the best hidden gems in Dublin.

Read more: Best charity shops in Dublin city centre

Shelley Banks Beach

The beach is quite hidden even for local Dublin people, making it a wonderful destination for a peaceful getaway near the city.

Located in Irishtown Nature Park, the beach is accessible via a myriad of winding walking trails. From there, you can easily make your way to Poolbeg Lighthouse for epic views of Dublin from a unique vantage point.

Secret Book and Record Store

With a name like the Secret Book and Record Store, it's no surprise that this place is quite literally hidden in plain sight.

Down the end of a corridor off a bustling Wicklow Street, you will find stacks upon stacks of books for great prices, as well as a selection of new and used records.

White Rabbit

While Dublin is home to plenty of hidden gems in terms of walks, nature spots and shops, this restaurant is also most deserving of a place on the list.

Located behind the Super Asia Foods supermarket on Capel Street is White Rabbit, which serves up authentic Asian street food.

The Blind Pig Speakeasy

The Blind Pig speakeasy is purposely difficult to find but once you do, you are treated to some stellar cocktails as well as delicious dishes to go with them.

Secretly tucked away on Suffolk Street, this 1920s inspired haunt often has live entertainment, but the excellently crafted cocktails are the real draw here as well as the unbeatable style and ambience.

The Blind Pig named one of the most mysterious and well hidden bars in the UK and Ireland (instagram.com/theblindpigdublin)

Red Rock Beach

Red Rock Beach is found on the Howth Cliff Walk trail and makes for a wonderful spot for a dip after an impressive 2.5 hour hike.

You can make your way from the Howth end of the walk or from Sutton. Nestled into the rock, it truly feels like an escape.

Red Rock Beach in Sutton (Alan Currie via Getty Images)

The Hungry Tree, King’s Inn Park

There are many secret Dublin attractions, some of which are man made and some created by nature itself. This gem is a rather unusual one. It is located in Kings Inn Park on the northside of the city.

In the park is a tree that is starting to grow over a park bench, ultimately eating away the bench's existence.

The Hungry Tree, Kings Inns (Flickr)

Iveagh Gardens

The Iveagh Gardens is right in the heart of Dublin, only a short walk from the extremely popular and busy St Stephen's Green Park.

The Iveagh Gardens is a great place to go if you want to have a little relaxation time in the city. It's small but rarely busy, making it the perfect hidden gem to escape the hustle and bustle of the big smoke.

Iveagh Gardens (Google Maps)

War Memorial Gardens

These stunning gardens are located beside the Phoenix Park in Dublin. They are a tribute to the 49,400 Irish soldiers who lost their lives in “the Great War, 1914–1918.”

It is a beautiful garden that has two identical flower bed sections that lay side by side.

Anne’s Lane

If you happen to find yourself walking around Dublin you might have a look around Anne's Lane just off South Anne Street in the city centre.

The colourful umbrellas make the narrow lane look bright and vibrant in good weather, making it a drool-worthy attraction for snap-happy Instagram users.

Love Lane

Crampton Court in Temple Bar has been renamed Love Lane and is now one of the brightest and colourful lanes in Dublin.

This Love the Lanes initiative was taken on by Dublin City Council who gave local artists permission to turn the cultural district into an open-air gallery. This particular lane joins Essex Street to the back of the iconic Olympia Theatre on Dame Street.

The wall is dotted with tiles with quotes from movies, local sayings and famous loving words written by the great playwrights and authors of the world.

Skiing in Kilternan

It’s possible to practice your alpine skills right here in Dublin. Ski Club Ireland is home to the only dry slopes in the country.

The Kilternan slopes will set you back €30 for a three-hour practice session, however that also includes all rentals.

For an extra bonus, the top of the highest slope offers a stunning view of the Irish coastline.

Blessington Street Basin

Just a few minutes walk from O'Connell Street, this spectacular oasis of calm is one of the most unusual parks in Dublin.

It's a former reservoir that provided water to the capital's homes in the 19th century and then supplied the Powers and Jameson distilleries until the 1970s.

The site was refurbished into a park in 1994 and is mostly a beautiful lake with plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the peaceful surrounding.

Blessington Street Basin (Mark O'Brien)

Spooky Hellfire Club Ruins

The Hellfire Club is one of the most off-the-beaten-path places to visit in Dublin. The old house ruins are located on the foot of Montpellier Hill.

Like many old buildings, the club is subject to some old Irish myths and legends. Some even believed that the house was burnt down by the devil leaving it in its ruined state that we see today.

Besides being one of the freakiest places in Dublin, the Hellfire Club is the ideal place for a picnic while watching the sunset. It is also home to phenomenal views of Dublin city and beyond.

The Hell Fire Club on Montpelier Hill, Co. Dublin (Joe King/Wikimedia Commons)

Read more: Best ice cream shops in Dublin

Read more: Beer gardens Dublin: 22 outdoor spots to enjoy in the sun

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