Dublin city guide

It doesn’t take a long time in Ireland to realize that this little country is rather fond of its pubs. Great and all as Irish bars can be, it’s also nice to have an alternative city centre space to relax with a few friends away from loud noise and the ubiquitous pints.

Lucky for Dublin, then, that Tea Garden exists. The name is misleading. There is no garden here, and the myriad rooms and stairways within are dark. But on a cold winter night, it’s a perfect antidote to the crowds in Temple Bar over the Liffey.

An uninviting exterior and spiral staircase give way to a basement dedicated almost entirely to the practice of tea consumption. Be it white tea, oolong tea, green tea or black tea, Tea Garden sources its stock from China, Morocco, South America, Nepal, India to name a few. Another novelty is the range of shishas available.

The menu is extensive, the space is dimly lit and comfortable, the owner is friendly and extremely knowledgeable. It’s not particularly cheap, but for an atmosphere and opening hours that welcome lingering over a pot of exotic tea, it’s sure worth it.