Traditionally, December 8th, the ‘Feast of the Immaculate Conception’ was the day when bargain hunters from all over Ireland descended on the big smoke to pick up their Christmas shopping. With the spread of better regional shopping centres, not to mention online shopping, the tradition is no longer as popular, but that doesn’t mean Dublin isn’t a great place to find quirky and uniquely Irish gifts. The following is Travel Edits’ pick of the best this year…
- Avoca Suffolk Street: Irish handmade goods, cute and quirky homeware, books and gifts and also a nice food department downstairs and restaurant upstairs.
- Fallon and Byrne Exchequer Street: Boutique–style supermarket/delicatessen, impressive range of imported international ingredients and products as well as local specialities. Perfect for Irish-themed gourmet hampers.
- Brown Thomas, Grafton Street: High End Retailer- check out The Marvel Room – very cool gift ideas. Also, See BT2 on Grafton Street – it’s the younger, slightly less expensive version of Brown Thomas.
- Arnotts, Henry Street: Department store with a slightly edgier range than Brown Thomas. Excellent cosmetics department and interesting fashion labels. Their recently added shoe garden is a real treat too.
- Kilkenny Nassau Street: Selection of Irish designed jewellery, homeware, clothing and artwork.
- Designist Georges St: Cool design pieces including art, kitchenware and lighting – all with an Irish influence.
- Article Powerscourt Town Centre, South William Street: Trendy and creative (mostly Irish –designed) homeware and gifts.
- CelticWhiskeyShop, Dawson Street – For the favourite whiskey connoisseur in your life.
- Mr Simms Olde World Sweet Shoppe, Dame Street: Selection of retro sweet hampers and sweets displayed in glass jars like in olden times.
- Butler’s Irish Chocolate Café, Wicklow Street The home of Irish chocolate, hot chocolate and other tempting treats.
Where’s your favourite place to shop in Dublin at Christmas time? Leave a comment and share your tips!
This post makes me want to go to Dublin before next year’s holidays and do all my shopping there on the way to see family in Europe. 🙂
What a great guide for shopping in Dublin! You must love the researching this requires 🙂
You had me at shopping!!
Very interesting about the 8th of December – we do the same in Portugal too (or used to).
You do know that Brown Thomas is one of my spiritual homes!
love avoca! so sad we didn’t make it there this time. think we’ll have to come back just for the shopping… xo
LOVE Brown Thomas and LOVE Avoca. Is it out of the question to travel to Dublin just for the shopping? I think not!
Great holiday tips for shoppers in Dublin. My favorite is all the above.
I love Brown Thomas! Aww, I love shopping in Dublin with my cousins, but I’ve never been before Christmas. Always love the decorations, and I’ve spent a lot of time hungover in that Starbucks, haha.
My mom would just love to be in Dublin on December 8th… maybe one year I”ll give her that as a gift – Tickets to Dublin. Until then it is showing on-line.
stay adventurous, Craig