Each city has at least one of these places where you really need to know where to look and what to do to get in, and in Dublin this is Hacienda. The owner of the place lives in the same building upstairs and the place looks from the outside as if it was long closed. Only a handful of people in Dublin know that if you press the button on the home phone next to the door, you will be actually asking for access to the bar. The next step then is to put your best smile on, turn your face to the CCTV camera and wait. A few minutes later the owner may or may not be opening the doors for you. Guests discretion is advised, as this is the place where many musicians, actors and producers from all around the world hang out after a movie premier or their gig in the city.

The pub is very small and cosy with the tiniest smoking booth I’ve ever seen, but that’s exactly the reason why I love it so much.