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Image by Claudia M. Rodríguez
I roll my eyes at the kitschy souvenir shops that Dublin is invaded with. Not only do they “pollute” the lovely Georgian canvas of the city, but some even dare to blast obnoxious adverts on deals: “buy a pair of socks, get the 2nd pair free!” I just hang my head in disgust. I’m the kind of traveller that likes to gather more authentic, quality pieces that will be functional at home. This is when Avoca comes into the scene.
Tourists often walk by it and might even take a peek inside the store, but I never see them experiencing the place! Avoca is popular with the locals, of course; it’s almost a thing of national pride for some too!
Founded in 1723, Avoca is an institution when it comes to hand-woven goodies. Not only are they amazing at it, their restaurant on the top floor has some delish items for a cool brunch, and the deli in the basement’s perfect for a quick, yet cosy, pick me up — their food and crumbles are to die for!!! The guys have their own loft in the 3rd level, but you must walk through the coolest kid’s area first.
What’s the best part? Taking that lovely throw, or cute scarf home to someone special and making them feel like you really cared enough to find something for them unique and authentically Irish without the kitsch factor attached to it. To me, this is where tradition meets cool.
Avoca
| Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Healthy + Locally Sourced) 11-13 Suffolk St. | +35316774215
Mon – Wed & Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Thu 10:00 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:30, Sun 11:00 – 18:00 (Closed Dec 25 & 26, Jan1)
The coffee shop is on the top floor. But you can get food to take away from the basement.