Eating Out becoming a Luxury?

I find Dublin City centre very condensed.

Like, the suburbs are just sprawling housing estates with the odd pub or strip of shops so people do most of their socialising and eating in the city centre.

Also loads of jobs in the city centre.

In comparison London (I know it's much bigger) has different areas that people go to like Camden or Clapham.

Berlin is similar and even Glasgow to an extent.

But in Dublin though, you head to the city centre or nowhere else (except maybe Ranelagh or Thomas St maybe).

There's not much in the suburbs for young people. My local pubs are mostly just old people.

That's why there's such a density of pubs, cafes, restaurants in the city centre.

In some parts of Dublin but it is fairly brutal there as well from talking to people in the industry.

An awful lot of people running restaurants would be better off doing anything else.

Just because a place is packed doesn't mean a long term viability is there. It does help though.

It'll never happen but there should be a talk about how hostile an environment we now have for the self employed and SME sector. It's not a trendy area as far as the govt are concerned but it is where a large majority of people are employed.

I don't think there's a huge difference in professional wages though. Also rent is much cheaper.

If it's wasted on you, just don't drink it at all. More savings:-)

Some people love living cheap.

I know indian lads who live off Dhal and rice and don't drink or smoke or go out.

They must spend 10 or 20 yoyos a week.

I would disagree a little there as Dublin has plenty of villages with bars and restaurants scattered around, which means you dont need to go into the city centre at all to experience the night time economy.

Ranelagh, Rathmines, Ballsbridge, Blackrock, Monkstown, Dun Laoghaire, Smithfield, Stoneybatter, Drumcondra, Phibsboro, Liberties etc.

All have their own vibrant villages with late opening bars & restaurants.

Some of the villages host comedy gigs, cinema, theatre and live music.

Its one of the great things about Dublin. The variety.

You can eat and drink but they're kind-of dead except maybe Ranelagh and Rathmines. It's nice to stay local though also.

Ballsbridge, Blackrock, Dun Laoighre are pretty dead when I'm there.

Also these are the older suburbs.

The likes of Stillorgan, Sandyford, Ballinteer, Rathfarnham, Dundrum etc have very little.

I know Dundrum has a shopping centre and a few pubs but check it out on a Friday or Saturday night and it's pretty dead but town would be buzzing.

Compared to 20 or 30 years ago everywhere is dead now, such is the nature of the times though.

Is 78 a head, a 5 or 6 course?

I think you're speaking as an older person but I know the southside well from walking or cycling home at night.

The Bridge in Ballsbridge can be lively but the other pubs are dead. Sandymount likewise. These areas have older populations so young people will head to town normally. I know someone who said Blackrock was buzzing back in the late 90s and early 00s but is dead now.

Anyway, my original point was just saying Dublin City Centre is buzzing cos it's such a draw to young people compared to the suburbs.

London's not a good comparison I guess, but young Londoners will head to Camden or Clapham or Hoxton Sq or Brixton etc for a night out but I don't think young Dubs will head to Phibsborough or Howth for a night out, they'll just go to town.

Berlin is the same. Maybe it's a scale thing.

I don't know similar sized cities well enough though to compare.

But the newer suburbs in Dublin will have one big suburban pub and then just sprawl for miles, so it's fine for a local night with friends but not a great night out.

Also your local will have neighbours and friends of your parents, so kinda lacks that energy you'll get in town cos you feel like you're being watched.

Anyway it's not a bad thing. Just an observation.

4 restaurants have closed in cork since Christmas one there over 60 years and another over 30.

Yeah the new suburbs arent built around a village unfortunatley.

But if you are in Dublin, you wouldnt be too far from a village with a bit of life.

Plenty of folks from Sandyford etc get Luas to Ranelagh or Rathmines for a night out, rather than staying on into town.

Similar with folks coming on Luas into Smithfield or Phibs/Drumcondra.

Dublin does lack good public transport for the size of the population though and that has an impact on how viable the villages are. (how many people can get there and back easily, late at night)

But overall, Dublin has a lot of options/villages outside of the city centre for a city of its size.

Restaurants and bars in Dalkey are all busy 7 nights a week from what I can see, a lot of what people are saying they have given up because of price sounds like a health boom, cigarettes, alcohol and chipper food.

eating out has always been a luxury but everything is expensive now I think with COVID people just realised and got out of the habit.