Cappuccino and latte lovers are in for a treat as the milk for the coffee is super rich and fresh. A few coffee-loving friends and I would try milk-laced drinks even if we were black coffee drinkers — just because. It’s all the dairy— fresh yogurt, cream, and milk. If you have a few days In Dublin I strongly suggest a tour of these must-see sights: The Guinness Storehouse . Though a friend warned me that it is just a marketing ploy, it’s still a Guinness experience and I was curious. You will see how beer is made, how they roast the barley to their signature colour, and how water makes all the difference – which is something I could relate to. It’s just like how you make good coffee: since coffee is 98% water, it is important to know what water to use.

At the Guinness Storehouse they even have a Guinness Academy where you learn how to pour a beer from a draft tap. Although, you know it’s a marketing and souvenir trap for others, it is quite enjoyable learning something new about beer. I learned how to drink a dark beer, pour myself one from a tap, and learned about roasting barley and adding hops. The Trinity College. Also where the famous Book of Kells is located, Trinity has a vast campus that may remind you of Oxford and other famed British universities. Check out the Long room and be awed by the books from hundreds of years ago amidst busts of Plato and Aristotle and their kind. The bridges over Liffey.

Much like Paris, there are more than twenty four bridges and tunnels that cross the Liffey river –from east to west— and some which you cross on foot to visit different parts of the city on foot. Some of the sights on a walking tour you can design yourself. There is an Irish whiskey (add an “E” to make it Irish) museum, and Temple Bar that is very touristy but still worth passing through and sitting down for a beer or Irish coffee. There are cafes and pubs that the locals like to hang out in. What not to miss at restaurants:

Irish Breakfast—they are serious about their first meal. Sausages, eggs and little pies of ground pork ; baked beans and lots of cheese including one with Guinness stout ale in it! Irish Stew—chunks of tender lamb cubes cooked with potatoes, carrots and celery and then served with a big chunk of mashed potatoes ( again made with Irish butter) on top. Fish and chips—fresh haddock fried to a crisp outer (due to the rich batter coating) and served with chips of course. Irish whiskey—goes down warm and strong and perfect for an autumn evening. I had mine at Kennedy’s the home of the popular drink. It has branches around Dublin.

Need I say Irish Whiskey and Irish coffee again? Coffee, cappuccino, latte and macchiato—even if you are a black coffee drinker, do try an espresso-based milky drink like latte or cappuccino, just to taste the milk in this city. Butter—do not miss Irish butter, too. Spread it thickly on freshly-baked bread which the Irish take at every meal.

Want to see the water? Find a ride to Howth. It is an Irish village on the Howth Peninsula, east of the city. It is a fishing village but there is a lot to do so you can even spend a day in Howth. It is definitely a good place for more seafood. Walk on the boardwalk and enjoy an Irish whiskey or a Guinness stout while enjoying the breeze from the Irish Sea. There is a long row of restaurants offering fresh oysters and the catch of the day. And if you’re feeling full and heavy after all the meals, a little shot of Irish whiskey may be the nightcap to put you to sleep.

Taken neat, it’s good and warm. Even without the coffee.

Cover photo from Unsplash.com.