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Post by gorgeouskid on Nov 7, 2024 16:11:21 GMT
We booked an Ireland and UK trip with our son, landing in Dublin on Dec. 23. This was a mistake as EVERYTHING is closed on Christmas, including restaurants. There is no availability at all on OpenTable. At. All. I've called hotels, and they only seat guests for Christmas lunch/dinner.
So, we are staying at an AirBnb with a kitchen, so I can cook. I've messaged the host to see what kind of spices/condiments he has available.
If he doesn't have anything, I will need to bring a spice pack. What would you suggest I bring with me? There is a Tesco for me to pick up oil and provisions nearby.
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Post by gar on Nov 7, 2024 16:32:06 GMT
Nothing is open?? How odd and what a shame 😕
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 7, 2024 16:46:28 GMT
What a bummer.
The Shellbourne I bet is amazing on Christmas!!
For spices, would first plan the meal then make a packet of spices. Or buy just a few there.
(One of my favorite places to eat is the Number 27 bar at the shellbourne - they have the absolute best brown bread and soup. It’s so elegant and they always get us in.)
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wellway
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Nov 7, 2024 16:50:31 GMT
This doesn't surprise me in the least. Christmas is a time that Irish people living abroad return home in their droves to see family and friends and a lot of parties, get togethers are centred around the home or village pub etc. Is this any use? www.visitdublin.com/guides/christmas-things-to-do |
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 7, 2024 16:56:15 GMT
Hugo’s is very nice and is doing a Christmas dinner - call them: www.hugos.ie/I would also try The Ivy. |
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Post by lainey on Nov 7, 2024 17:12:04 GMT
Not to further rain on your parade but Tesco will be pretty much wiped out for things like meat, cheese, sweets etc by close of play on the 23rd. They will close early on the 24th and lots of places won't open again until the 27th (26th is a national holiday).
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Post by gorgeouskid on Nov 7, 2024 17:34:43 GMT
Hugo’s is very nice and is doing a Christmas dinner - call them: www.hugos.ie/I would also try The Ivy. I tried Hugo's and they're closed on Christmas Day and fully booked Christmas Eve. I called The Ivy and apparently they're closed as well. (We're having New Year's lunch at The Ivy in Edinburgh.) |
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wellway
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Post by wellway on Nov 7, 2024 17:38:14 GMT
Check if any Chinese restaurants are open. They may have limited hours but at least you can get fed. Is the host nearby? Ask him for some suggestions, maybe he can help out with local knowledge and connections. The 26th will be referred to as St Stephens Day and as lainey says is a public holiday. |
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Post by gillyp on Nov 7, 2024 18:58:45 GMT
Maybe ask the host if there is someone who would be willing to get some provisions in for you? Tesco do do a delivery service but you would probably need the host or a kindly neighbour to get involved in order for the delivery to be made. Or contact that Tesco and tell them your problem and see if they would gather together some things for you to collect. There is likely a click and collect service where you make up an order and collect it at an allotted time. With you being out of the country I would expect it's not as simple as for locals but they might be willing to help in some way.
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wellway
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Post by wellway on Nov 7, 2024 19:25:30 GMT
Other supermarkets to know about,
Dunnes Stores, Aldi, Lidl, Supervalu
Maybe one or two are also close to your accommodation.
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Post by MichyM on Nov 7, 2024 19:32:51 GMT
Check if any Chinese restaurants are open. They may have limited hours but at least you can get fed.
Is the host nearby? Ask him for some suggestions, maybe he can help out with local knowledge and connections. The 26th will be referred to as St Stephens Day and as lainey says is a public holiday. This. Chinese dinner on Christmas is a bit of a Jewish tradition  OP: I hope you all have a fabulous trip. And that you tell us all about it when you get back! |
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Post by gorgeouskid on Nov 7, 2024 19:46:20 GMT
Not to further rain on your parade but Tesco will be pretty much wiped out for things like meat, cheese, sweets etc by close of play on the 23rd. They will close early on the 24th and lots of places won't open again until the 27th (26th is a national holiday).
Oh dear. I was planning on getting cheese and crackers and breakfast stuff at the corner Tesco. We arrive on the 23rd (2:30). I guess I will be going there as soon as we get to the city. I found Fallon and Byrne will deliver a prepared meal on the 23rd, so I might try that. We are taking a day trip tour to Galway, so here's hoping that anything will be open there on the 26th. |
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Post by MichyM on Nov 7, 2024 19:57:49 GMT
Not to further rain on your parade but Tesco will be pretty much wiped out for things like meat, cheese, sweets etc by close of play on the 23rd. They will close early on the 24th and lots of places won't open again until the 27th (26th is a national holiday).
Oh dear. I was planning on getting cheese and crackers and breakfast stuff at the corner Tesco. We arrive on the 23rd (2:30). I guess I will be going there as soon as we get to the city. I found Fallon and Byrne will deliver a prepared meal on the 23rd, so I might try that. We are taking a day trip tour to Galway, so here's hoping that anything will be open there on the 26th. Do you have a layover somewhere (London perhaps) where you could at least purchase some expensive airport "grocery" type things from one of the restaurants or to-go places to take with you to Dublin? Cheeses, hard meats, crackers or breads, fruit, most salads...things that will be ok out of refrigeration for a few hours? Maybe some pastries for the following morning in case Tesco is wiped clean? "Food" for thought |
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Post by gillyp on Nov 7, 2024 20:18:35 GMT
Is your Galway trip an arranged one? The operator should know or could maybe try to book somewhere for you.
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Post by Zee on Nov 7, 2024 23:37:04 GMT
The idea of packing spices to fly with me to Ireland so I can cook on vacation is the wildest thing I have ever heard here.
Surely there will be pizza or halal or just about any other non-traditonal thing open for business? What would you cook that you couldn't buy spices for? How many different spices would you need besides salt and maybe pepper, unless you're really planning to go all-out?
I don't cook on vacation, at all, ever, period. At worst I would buy snacks at the gas station (I ate so many egg mayo sandwiches while there I couldn't even count them).
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Nov 8, 2024 6:44:24 GMT
Do you have a layover somewhere (London perhaps) where you could at least purchase some expensive airport "grocery" type things from one of the restaurants or to-go places to take with you to Dublin? Cheeses, hard meats, crackers or breads, fruit, most salads...things that will be ok out of refrigeration for a few hours? Maybe some pastries for the following morning in case Tesco is wiped clean? "Food" for thought Before doing this, check what foodstuffs you are allowed to bring in. Ireland may have different rules for bringing things from the UK, but I know I can't bring dairy or meat products into Germany from outside the EU, and Ireland is EU, but the UK is not. |
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Post by wordfish on Nov 8, 2024 10:40:29 GMT
Are any pubs open? There's one around the corner from the French Embassy that serves the best nachos I have ever had in my life, and I would be absolutely delighted to have that for Christmas dinner, or Christmas Eve dinner. Or breakfast. Or elevenses.
What a great adventure. You know you'll survive it--turn it into a scavenger hunt. Challenge everyone to find one thing out in Dublin to bring back to your Airbnb. Throw some protein bars into your luggage for just in case and LIVE IT UP.
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Post by gorgeouskid on Nov 8, 2024 14:17:00 GMT
I found out why everything is closed on Christmas. Restaurants and pubs can't sell alcohol on Christmas. (Hotels are an exception, because you don't pay for your food until you check out and technically that's not paying for alcohol on Christmas; that's why they only will serve guests.) No alcohol = everyone stays home and drinks there.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 8, 2024 15:05:54 GMT
I found out why everything is closed on Christmas. Restaurants and pubs can't sell alcohol on Christmas. (Hotels are an exception, because you don't pay for your food until you check out and technically that's not paying for alcohol on Christmas; that's why they only will serve guests.) No alcohol = everyone stays home and drinks there. What an interesting dilemma. So buy alcohol when you arrive and just get so tipsy "at home" that you don't care if you eat! Just kidding. I think I'd try for a non-traditional meal that day. Whatever is open or keep it super simple if you have to make it yourself. |
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Post by apmom on Nov 8, 2024 21:09:15 GMT
Where in Dublin are you staying? As Lainey I think said Fallon & Byrne do a prepared Christmas dinner. Donnybrook Fair do a lovely one too and Baxter & Greene do one too (they’re in Dunnes Stores, an Irish supermarket). You would need to order asap. Shops close at 5/6pm Christmas Eve and not all reopen on St Stephen’s Day. There is no public transport on Christmas Day and only a Sunday service on St Stephen’s Day.
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Post by kluski on Nov 9, 2024 0:39:55 GMT
Loved our trip to Ireland. Enjoy the adventure
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Post by gorgeouskid on Nov 9, 2024 14:34:18 GMT
Where in Dublin are you staying? As Lainey I think said Fallon & Byrne do a prepared Christmas dinner. Donnybrook Fair do a lovely one too and Baxter & Greene do one too (they’re in Dunnes Stores, an Irish supermarket). You would need to order asap. Shops close at 5/6pm Christmas Eve and not all reopen on St Stephen’s Day. There is no public transport on Christmas Day and only a Sunday service on St Stephen’s Day. We're in an airbnb at Smithfield Market. I think I'm doing Fallon & Byrne delivery. We arrive on the 23rd, and I believe the airbnb has a reception desk/concierge. We're just going to go with the flow. Chinese is certainly an option. |
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