Gig at Olympia Dublin

[MargotMoon]

I'm planning a weekend trip to Dublin from the UK with a friend to go to a gig at the Olympia. Where would be a good place to stay, ideally within 20 mins or so walking distance of the venue?

Any tips for nice places to eat and drink? I know Temple Bar is nearby but that doesn't appeal, we are nearly 50 so looking for somewhere a bit more dignified!

Maybe look at somewhere like the Mespil or hotels along the south side/canal area.

Anywhere south between the river and the canal should be fairly walkable. There are so many hotels in Dublin it's hard o recommend anything specific.
Booking.com : Hotels in Dublin . Book your hotel now!

I haven't eaten out in Dublin for a few years, so I can't suggest anywhere new.
The port house and bar pintxo are good for tapas

Thank you! That gives me somewhere to narrow it down a bit - I was looking at booking.com earlier and there were so many hotels I got a bit overwhelmed.

Jury’s Inn, Christchurch is really close. As is the Westin. Hotel prices in Dublin are astronomical at the moment though.

The area around Dame lane, and South Great George’s street are good for restaurants and bars

Grand canal Hotel I'd nice, 25 mins walk but in a nice area

Thank you very much, I'll look those up. Hotel prices are crazy!

The Bull and Castle only 2 mins walk from olympia for something to eat. It's a pub but good atmosphere and lovely food steaks etc.
Yamamouri (japanese) on South great George's St also only about 5 minute walk. Think there is a tapas bar on the same street as well.
(Disclaimer- I haven't eaten in any of these since pre-covid so quite a while!!)
Hope you have a lovely trip OP

Try the Radisson Blu royal, just off George's street which has a very wide range of restaurants.

I have a soft spot for the Brasserie.

If you haven’t found anywhere yet, I have stayed at Handel’s Hotel, 5 mins walk from the Olympia, at the edge of Temple Bar where it is quiet. It’s very handy both for concerts and sight seeing. Enjoy your visit to Dublin!

I thought I'd come back on this thread because everyone was very helpful with suggestions and my trip is getting closer!

My friend ended up booking a hotel called the Draper Rooms.

I'm trying to work out my budget for the weekend and was wondering if someone could give me an idea of prices - so how much would I expect for pay for a pint of Guinness and food (nothing fancy, just sandwich lunch and pub meal in the evening) and roughly how much to get to and from the airport?

Many thanks in advance

Hopeful bump

Dublin Express bus into the city is about €8 each way. Dublin is expensive (but maybe not so bad if you are used to London prices). Pub sandwich meal could cost anywhere from €8 to €15, a main meal will be 15 to 25. A pint ~€6, Temple Bar tourist trap prices and the Olympia will be higher though.

Yes the bar in the Olympia is expensive - €9 for a glass of wine I think.

I never heard of the Draper rooms but i googled it and see its not far from Merrion square, and heading towards ballsbridge, so you are in a good area, the international protection office nearby has had some issues with protesters/people sleeping outside in tents so it may look a little odd but i don't think any real harm, if you get the dublin airport coach route 784 to Merrion square stop you will be about 5 mins walk away max, it will about €8 see https://www.dublinexpress.ie/dublin-airport/dublin-city-to-dublin-airport. you can book tickets in advance.

Lots of pubs on baggot street which is close by and they are cheaper for lunch than drinking in temple bar, but its not a cheap area so I'd say budget small drink meal in a pub at lunch time you'd be around €15 , more in evening, maybe more €20-25 including a pint, but there are lots of options around so worth doing a bit of menu browsing.

I forgot to mention this, but if you wanted to try something maybe more different than standard pub grub, but my brother and his partner was in Dublin last weekend - they often go into temple bar because there is a restaurant there that does lots of gluten free options, or traditional irish meals , and for a change they tried out a place Saturday evening called Gallaghers Boxty house - boxty is a potato cake type dish, and said they really enjoyed it, a bit different he said, here is a link to their menu give you an idea of prices in the city centre https://www.boxtyhouse.ie/_files/ugd/a670ee_2674f78338dc4110a0cec54e46dc6156.pdf

This is great, thanks everyone! I don't live in London any more but will budget as if I do 😁

I'm used to city life and the sight of rough sleepers (sadly) so get that Dublin will be no different.

The boxty restaurant looks a good shout 😋

Just giving you an alternative here - you could hop on the DART and go out to Dun Laoghaire or Dalkey- a town and village south of Dublin city where it would be less touristy (but not much less expensive unfortunately)
Haddington Hotel in Dun Laoghaire has a fab cocktail bar called the Parlour Bar (you need to book) and a restaurant Olivetto. Dalkey has so many lovely restaurants and pubs (Finnegans does food too) . Nice walks along the seafronts/ piers in the area also. You could get the DART northbound to Howth either - lovely fishing village with nice restaurants too.

@AncientBallerina Thanks! I was thinking about a visit to Dun Laoghaire as I read about it loads as a teenager in Maeve Binchy books 😂

😀Ah great- it’s got lots going on!

Wren urban nest is a little gem of a hotel a few minutes from the Olympia , modern sustainable and great cocktails

Grand canal hotel. Always stay when in Dublin. The olympia is great for a gig, have fun

Cafe en seine, bruxelles. The duke all lovely pubs not sure about bruxcelles but the others do food. Gresham hotels often have reasonable prices. Enjoy.