Phoenix Park Visitors Centre

So tiny in the huge Phoenix park but great for tourists and people who dont know the story of the park! :) See the animals that live in the park and go visit the old castle houses people lived in. Theres a huge playground for the kids (one of the nicest, cleanest ones ive been at) and theres a nice little café that has great salads and lunches. when I say little its 3 tables and no buggys allowed (worth it for lunch). And the visitor center is also free of charge! :)

When we first started coming here I was sleep-​walking most of the time. You know your life has changed too dramatically to really contemplate (in fact contemplation is no longer something you can really contemplate) when you find yourself walking around the Phoenix Park at around 8.30 in the morning on a Sunday, and it feels as if the day is half over (despite clear evidence to the contrary), simply because otherwise how could you already have been up for so long? And, no, you’re not taking a shortcut on your way home from an all-​night party.
It’s likely that if you instantly recognise this scenario you have now or have in the past had small children. Of the non-​sleeping variety. Their day begins at anything from 5am in summer, when they’re at their liveliest. By 7am, having imbibed your third coffee, you’re running short of entertainment ideas. By 9 you’ve already been in the park for some time. You feel deep palpable relief when the café opens and you can rest your weary limbs for a while and weep quietly into your cup as your kid (s) finally drop off for a nap.
Roll the clock forward a few years and this is still a regular haunt for us though thankfully much later in the morning. It will inevitably be teeming with small kids and the little maze is a brilliant distraction for them, though unfortunately it’s too short for them to ever get truly lost in.
The surroundings are just beautiful and on a summer’s day it is the ideal outdoor spot — enclosed, balmy, with picnic benches, and a great café. Though the latter is usually way too busy with a long queue so be prepared. In fairness the food is really good, and the cakes better. Cleverly they’ve recently opened a ‘Coffee Shack’ outside, handy if you don’t want food and don’t have 20 minutes to spare standing in line.
There’s an amazing sprawling tree which small kids (and bigger ones) can entertain themselves in for ages; a magical space that is more fun and definitely less hassle than a playground. On which, there’s one of those too, round the back. Plus a lovely restored old walled garden (check mother-​in-​law box) which supplies veg to the café when in season.
I suppose I should know something at this stage about the actual visitors centre, and maybe some day I will, but to date this hasn’t been our reason to come here. But as you can tell, you don’t need any reason other than enjoying the outdoors and passing time. And when you have small insomniacal kids, you know all about the need for that.

The Phoenix Park to me is one of the best places in Ireland to visit. Taking a break by the visitor’s centre can help clue you into even more about why this place is so unique. There is also a charming café and patio area in the same courtyard as the visitor’s area.
You could relax with a book and sit outside on a nice day at the café, or enjoy a bit to eat inside the café with guests. The park has so much to offer, but only one café, so I wondered why it wasn’t bursting with ques. I was glad for myself that it wasn’t, but that did make me wonder if there was something lacking, because the atmosphere is grand.
By the looks of things, the cakes and pastries look delicious. The lunch specials also sound divine going by their display cases and text descriptions. But I didn’t sample anything on either visit yet I’ve had, because for me the price is too high. I am not convinced it’s worth the bite. The coffee is priced reasonably the same as most places in town (i.e. 2 euro for filter coffee) and does offer a good break if you’re out on a run or spin. I’ve warmed up with a cup or two now and have been grateful.

Since I’m lucky to live right next the park and the visitor’s centre is only a few minutes away, it’s great to stop by the café for some chai latte and one of their home-​baked cakes (cheesecake, carrot cake are ones I’ve tried).
You can sit outside as well, which is really nice when the sun is out. It’s pretty dog friendly for folks who have their dogs on the leash outside. Super kid friendly as well.
The Visitors Centre is great to check up on the history of the park, and fun for kids as well.

This little visitor center is a little gem in the middle of the vast park that is the Phoenix park. It has a lovely little café (a bit expensive), a visitor center with loads of history on the park and it’s unusual history, a maze and a brand new playground which always keeps the kids delighted. I even found myself getting into the tiny picnic table and swinging around on a little dizzymaking thingy.
A nice place away from the crowds at the zoo and even dogs are welcome.

lovely gardens and a really nice wee café — I’ll bet every tourist who goes near the park knows about this place — I only found out about it when I had to go there on business recently!
Definitely worth a visit on those days when the zoo is too full and the queues are too long!

This is a really good and informative visitors centre located inside the Phoenix Park itself.
The centre has an exhibition on the history of the park as well as an exhibition on the wildlife of the park which is really great. It also has an audio visual presentation showing how the park has progressed and changed throughout the ages from 3500BC to the present day! It is such a cool video!