Dublin is a city of contrasts: Georgian architecture, worldclass pubs and a centuries-old art scene define its culture, but a young, highly educated population has transformed this once quiet metropolis into a hub of business and technology. Those who have been tracking Ireland’s seismic transformation in the last two decades will not be surprised by the country’s success in luring high-profile international investors to its shores. In fact, five of the world’s top 10 information communications technology companies are well represented in Ireland — with more than 220 ICT companies generating about $120 billion in exports.

Other top businesses include pharmaceuticals, engineering and medical technology, with a number of top companies operating headquarters in Dublin, including Google, eBay, Microsoft, Intel and IBM.

Helping generate all this activity since 1987, the International Financial Services Centre, Dublin counts more than 430 international companies approved for trading under its aegis. An additional 700 do business under IFSC, including half of the top 50 banks in the world and half of the top 20 insurance companies. The list of members reads like a who’s who in banking, among them Citibank, AIG, Chase and Merrill Lynch.

Some of the latest entries into Dublin’s business landscape include Microsoft’s 2007 announcement of a nearly $560 million EMEA data center, as well as Novell’s EMEA TeleWeb operation.

It stands to reason that all this business development attracts an increasingly large number of meeting and convention travelers. With that in mind, Dublin is constructing the Convention Centre Dublin, set to open in September 2010. Located on Spencer Dock on the banks of the River Liffey, the center will accommodate as many as 8,000 visitors.

LODGING

THE FITZWILLIAM HOTEL

This ultra-contemporary property, which marks its 10th anniversary in 2008, recently debuted 139 renovated executive and superior guestrooms with a sleek, luxurious décor. The hotel, which also joined Preferred Hotels and Resorts this year, went all out with furnishings by top international designers and suppliers, such as Balmoral Furniture Ireland, Exclusive Linen London, Couristan, Wild & Wolf and Hawkins Brothers London. For dining, try the award-winning Citron Brasserie or the Michelin star Thornton’s Restaurant overlooking St. Stephen’s Green.$$$$
THE FITZWILLIAM HOTEL
St. Stephen’s Green
tel 353 1 478 7000
http://www.fitzwilliamhotel.com

THE SHELBOURNE DUBLIN

The newly restored Shelbourne, which re-opened in March 2007, has already racked up an array of awards. The 265- room 5-star property is loaded with such upscale amenities as Egyptian cotton bedding, flat-screen TVs and marble bathrooms. Sip a cocktail or Guinness at the Horseshoe Bar, or dine at the Oyster Bar or The Saddle Room Restaurant. There are 13 banquet and meeting rooms, as well as event planning and onsite catering, and a spa is set to open in 2009. Have a few Irish descendents on your family tree? Don’t miss the genealogy butler, who helps guests reconnect with their roots. $$$$
THE SHELBOURNE DUBLIN
27 St. Stephen’s Green
tel 353 1 663 4500
http://www.theshelbourne.ie

THE WESTIN DUBLIN

The whiff of money still lingers in the air at this 5-star property situated in the former Allied Irish Bank building across from Trinity College. Only a hop away from the financial district, the building has been lovingly restored to its 19th-century glamour, particularly in the Banking Hall with its crystal chandeliers and original architectural details. Amenities include wireless high-speed Internet, meeting and dinner space for up to 250, as well as a fitness center and the Art Deco Exchange Restaurant that can be reserved for private dining for 30 to 50 diners. Guests can also stop by for all-day dining at the Atrium lounge or have a drink in the Mint Bar, located in the former bank vaults.$$$$
THE WESTIN DUBLIN
College Green
tel 353 1 645 1000
http://www.starwoodhotels.com

DINING

RESTAURANT PATRICK GUILBAUD

When one Michelin star isn’t enough, try this 2-star restaurant in the tony Merrion Hotel. The menu is modern Irish with starters including foie gras and fresh oysters from Galway Bay. Vegetarian options are available — try the truffle and leek salad or the aubergine tart — along with more carnivorous entrees, such as spiced pigeon and Irish beef.
A seven-course tasting menu, created by Executive Chef Guillaume Lebrun, will set you back about $280 a person, but an elegant two-course fixed-price lunch is priced under $60.$$$$
RESTAURANT PATRICK GUILBAUD
21 Upper Merrion St.
tel 353 1 676 4192
http://www.restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie

SOUTH BAR & RESTAURANT
This new eatery serves up European bistro fare in Beacon South Quarter at Sandyford, one of the city’s most interesting emerging neighborhoods. The restaurant accommodates up to 200 diners on three floors, all decorated with a modern sensibility. A private room can seat up to 60, and the first-floor bar has an impressive wine list. The menu offers everything from roasted crab claws to cider-braised rabbit, and live music revs things up on weekends. $$$$
SOUTH BAR & RESTAURANT
Blackthorn Road
tel 353 1 293 4050
http://www.south.ie

BON APÉTIT
Chef Oliver Dunne presides over this restaurant — which won its first Michelin star in 2008 — in the Malahide section of Dublin. Goat cheese with sevruga caviar, scallops with Muscat pumpkin puree, risotto of crab with avocado sorbet and shellfish bisque are among the items on this elegant menu. Or go all out for the Menu Prestige for about $140 per person. A private dining room seats up to 40 guests, and the bar on the first floor offers an array of cocktails and wine.$$$$
BON APÉTIT
9 James’s Terrace
tel 353 1 845 0314
http://www.bonappetit.ie

DIVERSIONS

Pamper yourself with a shave at the men-only Grafton Barber Shop (51 Grafton St., tel 353 1 679 6984, http://www.graftonbarbers.com), where the Royal Open Razor shave has drawn such celebrities as Johnny Depp, Dennis Hopper and Colin Farrell. There are locations all over Dublin, each in an area that offers plenty of amusements for both genders, such as Weirs Jewellers, Brown Thomas, and BT2. The Grafton Street location is in Temple Bar (12 E. Essex St., http://www.temple-bar.ie), one of Dublin’s most chic areas and packed with restaurants, bars, shops and indoor and outdoor venues for art, music and film.

No visit to Dublin is complete without a pub crawl, even more appealing now that smoking is prohibited in all public places in Ireland. Combine fun and culture with a two-hour Dublin Literary Pub Crawl (9 Duke St., tel 353 1 670 5602, http://www.dublinpubcrawl.com) led by actors who bring the past alive with scenes and readings from the works of such greats as James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Brendan Behan. Or sample a brew — and learn about the history of the brewing process — overlooking the city at the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse (St. James’s Gate, tel 353 1 408 4800, http://www.guinness-storehouse.com).

Discover Dublin’s past through Historical Walking Tours of Dublin (Trinity College Front Gate, tel 353 878 0227, http://www.historicalinsights.ie) led by Trinity College students who can point out the architectural wonders of the Old Parliament House, Temple Bar, City Hall, Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral. Special tours are available for visitors who want to delve into the city’s medieval past.

Dublin is famous for its robust and historic theater scene, and one of the most renowned venues is the Abbey Theatre(26 Lower Abbey St., tel 353 1 878 7222, http://www.abbeytheatre.ie), which has been showcasing Irish playwrights for more than a century. Productions range from classic (Shakespeare and Chekhov) to contemporary — and sometimes controversial — works by living authors.

The Hugh Lane Art Gallery (Parnell Square North, tel 353 1 222 5550, http://www.hughlane.ie), which marks its centenary this year, boasts a stellar collection of contemporary and modern art including works by Renoir, Manet, Monet and Degas. Or go even more modern at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Military Road, Kilmainham, tel 353 1 612 9900, http://www.modernart.ie), located in the restored Royal Hospital. For more traditional tastes, nothing beats the Book of Kells and the Old Library at Trinity College (College Green, tel 353 1 896 1661, http://www.tcd.ie) or Dublin Castle (City Center, tel 353 1 677 7129, http://www.dublincastle.ie), a 13th-century fortress that overlooks the River Liffey.

INFO TO GO

Dublin Airport (DUB), the only airport serving Ireland’s capital, is situated about seven miles from city center. From the airport, the city is accessible via taxi or Airlink bus, which also serves the city’s train and bus stations. The new Aerdart Shuttle Bus Service now links the airport to the Dublin Area Rapid Transport (DART) system. Ferry service from Ireland and the U.K. (http://www.irishferries.com) operates via two ferry ports: Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire, about six miles from city center. Visitors who purchase a Dublin Pass, (http://www.visit dublin.ie) receive free transportation by Aircoach bus from the airport to the city, as well as free admission to more than 30 top attractions. Avoid renting a car in the city, as the traffic is heavy and the parking scarce. There are 30 DART stations, and trains run frequently. The Dublin Bus also runs often but doesn’t adhere as strictly to timetables. Taxis are metered and the minimum charge is just over $5, but the city is so compact you may be tempted to forgo the ride for a stroll. The suburbs can be reached via Luas (http://www.luas.ie), the light rail transit system, which also has several stops in the city. For general information, visit http://www.discoverireland.com