Photography by Stacey Van Berkel

Day 2: Start your day with a walk to the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History, located in Collins Barracks, an old army base dating to 1704. The museum houses a fine collection of artisanal Irish wares, including glass work, silverware and turned wood, as well as traditional furniture pieces that speak to the country’s domestic history. See the exhibition devoted to Irish modernist pioneer Eileen Gray, which includes her groundbreaking adjustable chrome table and non-conformist chair. Leaving the museum, head south across the river. Your destination is Iveagh Gardens, but take a detour by Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to ogle this venerable 800-year-old institution.

Before reaching the gardens, have lunch at nearby Drury Street’s Considered by Helen James, where you’ll dine at communal tables side by side with the locals. Owned by Dunnes stores, the café also features a full range of designer Helen James’s foodstuffs, tableware and accessories. Industry & Co., a lifestyle decor store across the street, also includes a great café. Carry on to Iveagh Gardens, one of Dublin’s best hidden spaces, and lose yourself among the statuary, rockeries, fountains, waterfall and grotto. Small (you can see it all in about an hour) and free, this verdant garden was envisioned by famed landscape architect Ninian Niven in 1865. Soak up the atmosphere at this peaceful oasis as a counterpoint to the hustle and bustle beyond the gates.