Bray Makes Time Out’s Underrated List

Bray fireworks by Fearghal Breathnach

hen scrolling down through Time Out magazine’s list of the World’s Most Underrated Travel Destinations, it’s a surprise to find Bray there.

Sitting pretty at no.13, our neighbouring town has long been a destination for those keen to escape the big city or take a break from the rugged nothing of the Wicklow Hills.

Still, Bray has slipped a little in the glamour stakes that came with the arrival of the railway in 1854, the recent lockdowns having hit a town that’s all about seaside arcades, eateries and pubs.

Suddenly, that beautiful promenade was purely for those keen to get some fresh air before shutting themselves indoors for another night of Netflix and pills.

Once known as the Brighton Of Ireland, Bray is clearly getting back on its dancing feet though, thanks in no small part to the mighty Duggans, who have a habit of creating drinking holes and restaurants that are pretty dang hard to resist.

Fun fact! The Harbour Bar might just be the finest pub in Ireland. And beyond.

The Time Out gang were also impressed by Butler & Barry, as well as the 800-ft high Bray Head and its panoramic views. As they should be.

The full list of 14 hidden hot spots consists of Mongolia; Lake Bacalar, Mexico; Cuenca, Ecuador; Srebrenik, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico; Gippsland, Australia; Plymouth, England; Burlington, Vermont; Turku, Finland; Karpathos, Greece; Lombok, Indonesia; São Tomé and Príncipe; Bray, Ireland and Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe. Which is a pretty impressive club to be a part of.

So, next time your beloved is complaining about having no particular place to go, pop ’em on the next 84 heading north.

Just, you know, never, ever forget what the main attraction of visiting Bray is…

Cover illustration: Aoife Hester