The Camden Casket
63 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
Wandering into the Camden Casket with even the smallest shred of uncertainty about what you are about to buy will more than likely end up with your purchasing a new toilet brush, a tin of bourbon crèmes or a bobble hat or something equally irrelevant. If you want to buy anything cheap, it is probably in here. If you walk past here and it’s a bit nippy outside, you can buy gloves and scarf for probably €2. The selection inside varies between poundshop tat, household goods, hardware store, confectioner, chemist and clothes store. The quality of goods is usually fairly low and liable to disintegrate of fall apart eventually but you’ll never pay over the odds.
Most likely to sell you a Rastafarian-patterned cigarette case and 50 pack of tealights.
Beaux Bows
Georges Street Arcade, Dublin 2
Not to be confused with Bow, Beaux Bows also sells independent women’s fashion, but at a much more accessible price point. The Georges Arcade premises – currently cheerfully festooned by chintzy, patterned bunting – is packed full of dresses, blouses, tees, jackets and – you guessed it – BOWS. Long trailing bows to place over ponytails, little cute bows to clip just above your ear, bows that hang from dresses and bows disguised as jewelry. Unsurprisingly, much of the stock has a very retro feel – tapping into an appealing vein of 50s-inspired glamour, but updated for a fun and energetic modern-day market, with bright colours and loud prints reigning supreme. Though primarily for the girlies, Beaux Bows also recently stocked up on Lazy Oaf’s menswear line, which means that Beaux Bows is now open to…beaus! Oh my.
Most likely to sell you bows, bows, and bows.
Project 51
South William Street, Dublin 2
Although offering the facade of a boutique, Project 51 is, above anything else, a creative space for Irish designers. Upstairs is a designing loft, where you might find an upcoming Irish designer sketching away at their latest work. In the main shop, the stunning bespoke pieces are suspended from the ceiling with wire, giving the store an industrial yet modern feel. Project 51 concentrates solely on Irish fashion, with store assistants who know their stuff. Prices range on the more expensive end of the scale, but if you are shopping for a special occasion, without the dreaded thought of somebody else wearing it- then this is the place to go.
Most likely to sell you an original.
John Gunn Camera Shop
16 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
For those of you holding firm and resisting the digital revolution, John Gunn is definitely the shop to get your films developed. No week-long wait, or disheartened cries of “One day my prints will come!” – you’ll get them back the next day, and a lovely chat with John Gunn himself into the bargain. Not only will they develop films, but they’ll deliver invaluable advice about what to buy if you fancy throwing together a darkroom of your own at home. And don’t fear if analogue isn’t your thing – the shop is just as well equipped to tackle your digital needs. There’s no hipster frills here, just real expertise from the friendly staff, and lots of fun cameras to ogle while you’re there.
Most likely to sell you you might just pop in to get your prints back, but may well leave with a natty little Fuji Instax Camera so that you can pretend you had a Polaroid before it was indie.
The Winding Stair Bookshop
40 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
The Winding Stair Bookshop has stood with its lovely high windows, overlooking the Liffey since the seventies; these days it’s positively an institution. Still, it remains a great little haunt, and not just because you can have a glass of wine whilst you peruse their vast selection, though this is certainly a highlight. As well as the usual latest releases, there’s a hearty representation on the Irish interest front, along with some snazzy photo books that would look pretty swish on your coffee table. Out back there’s lots of inexpensive classics and an abundance of musty smelling second hand books – a treasure trove for all you booky types.
Most likely to sell you: A copy of that Brian Friel play that you read in school and are still all sentimental about. Also perhaps a nice little winding stair book bag, cunningly placed by the counter.
