Where can I disappear in Dublin?

murrrrrrrrph

This isn't supposed to sound all melancholy or anything, but Dublin isn't as big as I thought it would be. I moved here for college last year and love it so much, but I was a bit annoyed when I realized I can't ever go out into town without recognizing a few people. It's selfish/silly/etc I know, I love Dublin but it's smaller than I expected.
So, does anyone know any places where you can just go to have a few hours to yourself? To read or go on your laptop or something? Like a coffee shop, library with a bunch of corners... Can't find anything on Google.
Hate the way I sound writing this lol, but sometimes my flat just feels very small (shared rooms etc) and I want to turn invisible for a little while.

endacl

Where are you based?

murrrrrrrrph

City centre, or South city to be specific! Sorry should have mentioned that lol

server down

murrrrrrrrph wrote: »

City centre, or South city to be specific! Sorry should have mentioned that lol

Dart to bray or greystones might be an option.

Certainly the city centre is small. The walkable shopping area is a few blocks as our American friends say.

punisher5112

Go to library.

Annasopra

The chester beatty library

vicwatson

Go to the gravediggers pub (and see what happens)

endacl

murrrrrrrrph wrote: »

City centre, or South city to be specific! Sorry should have mentioned that lol

Easy answer so. Go north of the river. Plenty of nice little spots to park for a few hours. Head for Phibsboro or Stonybatter for cozy pubs and cafes. ILAC library is plenty big, if a bit industrial. Also plenty of nice village-y suburbs only a short hop on the bus from where you are. Hop on the LUAS green line for Ranelagh or Milltown Park. The city is quite literally your oyster. Make a list of all the places where you see people you know. Pick another place. Job done.

endacl

vicwatson wrote: »

Go to the gravediggers pub (and see what happens)

They'll be left alone to enjoy their pint/cuppa, unless they engage somebody in conversation? In which case they'll get conversation?

Actually a great suggestion, OP. Lovely pub, with great food.

murrrrrrrrph

ahh thank you guys for being so nice even when I'm being a weenie

endacl

murrrrrrrrph wrote: »

ahh thank you guys for being so nice even when I'm being a weenie

I've been that weenie...

killbillvol2

Rathmines library, and Rathmines in general, is great for hiding.

Vojera

There are also lots of free museums to visit if that's your thing. Not great for the evenings but would pass an afternoon if you've a few free hours during the week or weekend.

Examples include the Natural History Museum, the Science Gallery and plenty of art type places.

Ciaran_B

vicwatson wrote: »

Go to the gravediggers pub (and see what happens)

You'll drink some of the best Guinness in Dublin.

messrs

like previous people suggested try a library. I sit in Costa Coffee in Jervis sometimes, very busy in there but noone actually bothers you - i sometimes sit in there to read a book and chill for a while

odyssey06

Dun Laoighaire library... or Wetherspoons forty foot. Great views from both.

branners69

http://winding-stair.com/bookshop/

This was a place to disappear years ago, not too sure if it is still the same?

Eire Go Brach

The square in Tallaght. Amazing library beside it to. Just hop on the luas. Super cool view of the Dublin mountains.

endacl

Eire Go Brach wrote: »

The square in Tallaght. Amazing library beside it to. Just hop on the luas. Super cool view of the Dublin mountains.

Library is nice. Square is a Sh1thole*.

*not being snobby. It’s my local shopping centre.

GBX

I would agree with Enda on the Square.

SteM

endacl wrote: »

Library is nice. Square is a Sh1thole*.

*not being snobby. It’s my local shopping centre.

I don't get you, why is it a ****hole? Seems like every other shopping centre to me. It has parking, shops, places to eat, a cinema etc. I wouldn't recommend it to the OP but I wouldn't call it a ****hole, I'd reserve that description for Crumlin Shopping Centre.

Hammer89

Change your surname to Hutch.

Nekarsulm

The Blessington Street basin.

minikin

Botanic Gardens, IMMA, Phoenix Park for a ramble.

messrs

branners69 wrote: »

http://winding-stair.com/bookshop/

This was a place to disappear years ago, not too sure if it is still the same?

Have never been here - its a place i always see when going by on the bus and say i must check it out. It looks quite cool

endacl

messrs wrote: »

Have never been here - its a place i always see when going by on the bus and say i must check it out. It looks quite cool

It’s mainly a restaurant now. I was going to recommend it as a cafe, which it used to be...

elperello

Trinity College

endacl

SteM wrote: »

I don't get you, why is it a ****hole? Seems like every other shopping centre to me. It has parking, shops, places to eat, a cinema etc. I wouldn't recommend it to the OP but I wouldn't call it a ****hole, I'd reserve that description for Crumlin Shopping Centre.

Disclaimer: Not a fan of any shopping centre. I find them all a bit oppressive and depressing....

The Square is, at best, shabby these days. Generic cut and paste selection of outlets. Drop cheapo teen fashion shops, grey tracksuit and overpriced runners shops, and fast food shyte peddlers, and there’s not a lot left. A couple of miserable supermarkets, and a cinema with a constant coating of popcorn and coke in the floor, and a sea of mobile phones distracting your attention away from the badly tensioned and warped screens. Populated by a zombie horde who go to the square on a Saturday/Sunday, because that’s what you do on a Saturday/Sunday.

The Square is a sh1thole.

xalot

Upstairs in the visitors centre cafe in the Phoenix park. Bit of a walk from the front gates but well worth it for the home made scones.

Amirani

endacl wrote: »

Disclaimer: Not a fan of any shopping centre. I find them all a bit oppressive and depressing....

The Square is, at best, shabby these days. Generic cut and paste selection of outlets. Drop cheapo teen fashion shops, grey tracksuit and overpriced runners shops, and fast food shyte peddlers, and there’s not a lot left. A couple of miserable supermarkets, and a cinema with a constant coating of popcorn and coke in the floor, and a sea of mobile phones distracting your attention away from the badly tensioned and warped screens. Populated by a zombie horde who go to the square on a Saturday/Sunday, because that’s what you do on a Saturday/Sunday.

The Square is a sh1thole.

Never feels particularly spacious or well-lit by comparison with the likes of Blanchardstown or Dundrum either with the exception of the very central section.

endacl

Amirani wrote: »

Never feels particularly spacious or well-lit by comparison with the likes of Blanchardstown or Dundrum either with the exception of the very central section.

Dundrum and Blanch Centres would be two of my top ten least favourite places to go for any reason. That's not the point I was making though. I'm not saying the square is a sh1thole in comparison to shopping centres that I like (there aren't any). I'm saying it's a sh1thole in comparison to places that aren't sh1tholes. The fact that the square is a shopping centre is incidental.

Anyhow, this is starting to veer widely off topic.

blue_blue

Simon's Place (it's a cafe) - George's Street arcade. Downstairs especially. Their chicken sandwiches come a second after Poulet Bonne Femme.

Guy Sajer

You playing that disappearing game alot of teenagers are at lately?

traveller0101

Guy Sajer wrote: »

You playing that disappearing game alot of teenagers are at lately?

What is this comment in reference to?


Anyway OP, if you're based in the city centre.. there's loads of cafes or pubs you could go to without meeting people you know. Unless you really know a lot of people. You can get the Luas out to Renelagh, Dundrum, Sandyford. The DART out to Dun Laoghaire etc

GBX

traveller0101 wrote: »

What is this comment in reference to?


Anyway OP, if you're based in the city centre.. there's loads of cafes or pubs you could go to without meeting people you know. Unless you really know a lot of people. You can get the Luas out to Renelagh, Dundrum, Sandyford. The DART out to Dun Laoghaire etc

Id imagine this is to do with a new fad where teens are going missing for a few hours/days but are actually out of harms way. Probably meant tongue in cheek in relation to the OP's thread title

Nekarsulm

Guy Sajer wrote: »

You playing that disappearing game alot of teenagers are at lately?

Not always a game.
That lad from Ennis was found dead a few days later.

5rtytry56

Disappear off paddy's radar by going inside a hobby shop:
Oddly enough I don't mean a store like "The Art & Hobby" shop as this sort of establish ment is trying to pretends to be a really sophisticated toy shop to children - Paddy will have his hands full talking to little Jonny and Mary what fairy accessories they want to get on thus particular visit
As a grown up, Paddy will be frequenting the likes of Sports Direct and Vodaphone
when he's not in the pub for Sunday breakfast with or without said offspring in tow.

guile4582

blue_blue wrote: »

Their chicken sandwiches come a second after Poulet Bonne Femme.

have you tried saying this sentence out loud to yourself?

you proud? :p:p:p

brownian

The main library in Pearse St.

The Library Bar, upstairs in the Central Hotel.

nilim

Library in Dun Laoghaire is big enough to be not found in!

Obscure bit of the Chester Beatty Library or Dublin castle in general, the coffee shop is nice or if it is a nice day the gardens. Marsh Liberality and or St Patrick cathedral.

The issue your going to have with cafes and the like is lots of students work in them so you might meet someone you know it's the same for all popular place so thinking outside the box only go where the tourists go.

dd972

Upset someone called Kinahan or Hutch then you're guaranteed to disappear OP.

Might be for quite a while though...:pac:

wakka12

Are you just hanging around cafes in the south city centre area? Grafton/dame st/templebar? Like everyone else in the city seemingly
Its funny how dubliners stick to such an incredibly tiny area of the city centre and then places a stones throw away are completely dead. Sometimes I actually feel claustrophobic at grafton street and college green!
I bet you if you wander up to some cafes around parnell square, or the liberties or a bit further out in some nice planes like harolds cross or blessing ton basin or phibsborough you won't run into anyone you know

So many nice areas in the city that don't get nearly the footfall they deserve !

Dr Crayfish

So you just moved here and you keep bumping into people you know in town? I have lived here most of my 37 years and work in the city centre and it's extremely rare that I randomly bump into people I know. It's a very bustling busy centre we have. I don't really understand what you're looking for.

maccydoodies

endacl wrote: »

Library is nice. Square is a Sh1thole*.

*not being snobby. It’s my local shopping centre.

Ah lads come on now. It has improved recently and they are really trying.

Nekarsulm

We're talking to ourselves, lads. Muuurph hasnt been seen for a week!

Ben D Bus

All the main galleries & museums have cafes

The National Library on Kildare St has a nice one. Or Collins Barracks. Or IMMA. Not to mention the National Gallery, National Museum Kildare St. The Hugh Lane on Parnell Square. A couple of good cafes in the IFSC including the usual Starbucks/Costa/Nero/Insomnia chains if that's your thing.

You can sit all day in CHQ without having to even buy a coffee as far as I can see. Then there's Dublin 7 and Dublin 8. Ever tried either of those huge central parts of town?

I could go on all day, but as another poster suggested I imagine you're restricting yourself to your own perceived and very narrow definition of where central Dublin actually is.