A Local’s Weekend Guide to Dublin City Center
- digitalbeanmarketi
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
There’s something about a weekend in Dublin. The energy changes. The city exhales. The pace softens just enough to let you breathe it all in.
And whether you’re a long-time local or just lucky enough to be visiting, a local’s guide to Dublin City should start with the same three essentials: good food, good music, and the right places to slow down or turn up — depending on your mood.
That’s where Thunder Road Café comes in.
So, we made a guide for all of our fans who want to know what a real weekend in Dublin looks like for locals. The kind where you roll out of bed for brunch, wander the cobblestones without a plan, and let the night find you.
A Local’s Guide to Dublin City: Spend Saturday like you mean it
10:00 AM – Brunch That Wakes You Up
Walk into Thunder Road Café on a Saturday morning, and you’ll hear it before you see it.
The sizzle from the kitchen. The hum of conversation. The bassline of something classic on the speakers.
This isn’t quiet brunch.
This is brunch with presence.
Order whatever your mood needs most:
The Legendary Full Irish (because sometimes, only the classics will do)
Pork Benedict with BBQ pulled pork and poached eggs (a miracle, frankly)
Brioche Breakfast Burger (brunch or burger? Yes.)
Or keep it cool with Scrambled Thunder and a flat white
Pair your meal with a glass of juice, our cheeky (but dangerous) cocktails, or a matcha latte if you’re easing into the day
but, you don't have to choose!
We are strong believers in the 3 drink rule....
1 for fun
1 for energy
1 for hydration
And here’s the thing: it’s not just the food. It’s the way it all feels —the brunch menu is unapologetically generous, from the portion sizes to the playlist. Every table feels like it belongs here.
🕙 Brunch served Saturdays & Sundays, 10AM–2PM
🎟️ Booking recommended – Book here
📍 Thunder Road Café, Temple Bar
12:30 PM – Wander Without a Map
Post-brunch, Dublin opens up to you.
If shopping’s your thing, Dublin 2 delivers — from Irish design stores to international brands, everything is within strolling distance. Head over to George’s Street Arcade or Drury Street for a little retail distraction.
Pop into:
🛍️ Om Diva – for colourful bits and vintage flair
🖼️ Jam Art Factory – for cool local prints
Feeling boujee? Drop into Brown Thomas and pretend you’re just “browsing".
Not into shopping? Cross over to St. Stephen’s Green or stroll along the Liffey for a scenic reset.
Because the best things to do in Dublin City? They're often unplanned — found in the galleries you duck into when it rains or the second coffee you didn’t know you needed.
And when evening hits, you’ve got options. But our pick? Circle back.
5:00 PM – Pause for a Pint (Or Not)
As the afternoon fades, there’s a natural shift in tone. The streets fill. The lights flicker on. And suddenly, you’ve earned something cold and well-poured.
Slide into The Long Hall for a bit of history, or stay sleek with cocktails at Peruke & Periwig. Or — if you're still thinking about those Thunder Road fries — maybe you already know where to go.
Thunder Road Café isn’t just about brunch, the evening menu is stacked with comfort food worth staying out for. Snack on shareable plates like Nachos or killer chicken wings (trust us, they are addictively good) or grab one of our famous Loaded Fries.
Or... double down. Loaded burgers, sizzling fajitas, 100% Irish Beef steaks and a cocktail list that grows more dangerous after dark.
You’re already on a roll. Why stop now?
9:00 PM – Saturday Night DJ Sets at Thunder Road Café
Because this place doesn’t clock out. So, if you’re not done yet (and let’s be real, you’re probably not), the final stretch of your Saturday night should be all about Thunder Road's DJ Nights
By 9PM, the café transforms. The lights drop. The DJ kicks in. And the floor fills with people who aren’t quite ready for the night to end.
The soundtrack? Funk. Soul. Rock and roll. Danceable but never pushy.
The drinks?
Woo Woo – Smirnoff Vodka, peach purée mix, cranberry juice & Grenadine. Pure gem.
Gin Bull – Tanqueray Gin & Red Bull Red, a bump of energy!
Espresso Martinis that mean business
No velvet ropes. No waiting lists. Just pure Saturday night energy in a place that always knows how to deliver it.
A Local’s Guide to Dublin City: Sundays Made for Music, Food & Chill
10:00 AM – Brunch, Take Two
If Saturday was the party, Sunday is the pause.
Come back to Thunder Road — and you’ll find a different kind of buzz. Calmer, but just as inviting.
But the real joy? The surprises. Try the Dream Breakfast or a dish called Little Italy. It arrives with burrata, mortadella, pistachios, and poached egg — as if your brunch just did a semester abroad.
And if you’ve got a sweet tooth?
Order pancakes. Get that skillet cookie.
Sit a little longer. Sip a little slower.
It’s not about rushing. It’s about reclaiming Sunday.
2:00 PM – A World Of Illusion
If you’re looking for something extraordinary to do in Dublin, you can visit World Of Illusion. Nestled in the heart of Temple Bar at Central Plaza, this interactive museum dazzles with more than 70 mind-bending exhibits across three floors—think gravity-defying rooms, endless mirror tunnels, and a hypnotic vortex experience.
Whether you're out with family, a curious date, or a group of friends, the blend of science, art, and interactive fun is sure to spark laughter, wonder, and plenty of “wow” moments.
4:00 PM – Your Own Pace
The rest of the afternoon is yours. People-watch on a bench in Merrion Square. For the culture-minded, the National Gallery is free and easy to dip in and out of.. Find a shady table at Il Valentino and sip something warm.
If you’re into music, pop into Freebird Records for a browse and a bit of crate-digging.
And if you’re feeling lucky (or caffeinated), wander into a side street. Some of Temple Bar’s best discoveries are the ones not on Google Maps.
Let Dublin do it's thing. You're just here to enjoy it.
6:30 PM – Sunday Sessions at Thunder Road
And then — just as the weekend winds down — the lights go low again, and Thunder Road brings the music back.
Every Sunday from 6:30PM, it’s live acoustic sets and easy conversation. Familiar songs played just right. A space to unwind without the noise, surrounded by locals who know this is the best way to end a weekend. With a load of Sunday Session Specials to top off the evening
Order a cocktail. Order nothing. Stay until the music stops.
There’s nowhere else you need to be.
Start here, end here, or make it your entire weekend.
Why This Isn’t Just Another Dublin Guide
You won’t find museum opening hours or hop-on-hop-off buses here. This is a local’s guide to Dublin City — built around flavour, rhythm, and all the little spots that make weekends in the capital feel like something more.
Start with brunch. End with music. And in between, let Dublin lead the way.
📋 [View the Menu]
🎟️ [Book your table]
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
find us:
📍 52 - 57 Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin
🚇 5 min walk from Trinity College, or a 2 min walk from Aston Quay or Westmoreland Street
🍷 come by, drink too much, and stay late.
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