Grafton street is yet another hip and happening area of Dublin, packed full of shops and restaurants. The street was named after the first Duke of Grafton, who owned land in the area. The street was developed from a then existing country lane by the Dawson family in 1708, after whom the parallel Dawson Street is named. Grafton Street joins Trinity College and St Stephens Green, and contains some of Dublin’s most select shops. One little curiosity is that there are no pubs on Grafton Street, in deference to some ancient planning law. Instead the surrounding streets make up for it and contain some of Dublin’s most famous traditional pubs, many steeped in literary and other history. Buskers, including musicians, poets and mime artists commonly perform to the shopping crowds and help to turn Grafton street into a lively and colorful scene.

There are many restaurants, some in the street and also in the general area. Café Bar Deli is the place to go for enjoying quality Mediterranean food in an atmosphere which can be described as busy, bustling and very welcoming. It is on the corner of Grafton street but most of the other restaurants lie off on side streets, servicing the many shoppers who march up and down Grafton street all day long looking for bargains.

Some of the many other options in the general Grafton street area include Cusack’s restaurant for European food, or for something different there is the Aya contemporary Japanese sushi bar and Deli. Grafton Street is quite short. It will take you no more than five minutes to walk it if your in a hurry, but I’d allow at least a half hour, and much much more if you want to experience some of the cafes, restaurants and bars that lie on the side streets.