Explore the real-world places that appear in Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Trinity College Dublin, Poetry Performance Venue, Melissa's House, Nick's Apartment, Frances's Family Home and 5 more.
College Green — Frances and Bobbi's university
Frances studies at Trinity College, where she navigates the social hierarchies and intellectual pretensions of university life. She and Bobbi attend classes here and participate in the literary scene that emerges from the university. Frances often reflects on her academic performance and her uncertain future while walking through the historic campus courtyards.
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's oldest university and one of the most prestigious institutions in Europe. The campus features stunning Georgian architecture and houses the famous Book of Kells in its Old Library.
Trinity remains Ireland's leading university, with over 18,000 students. The historic campus in the heart of Dublin continues to be a center of Irish intellectual and cultural life, attracting visitors from around the world to see the Long Room Library and other architectural treasures.
Visit: Trinity College Dublin (historic site)
Temple Bar area — Where Frances and Bobbi meet Melissa
At a poetry reading in Temple Bar, Frances and Bobbi perform their spoken word pieces to a small but attentive audience. It's here they first encounter Melissa, the sophisticated photographer who will change the trajectory of their lives. The venue represents the Dublin literary scene where young artists like Frances and Bobbi seek recognition and connection.
Temple Bar has been Dublin's cultural quarter since the 1990s, transformed from a declining area into the city's creative heart. The neighborhood became synonymous with Irish arts, music, and literary culture, hosting numerous small venues for emerging artists.
Temple Bar remains Dublin's most famous cultural district, though it's now heavily touristed. Small venues throughout the area continue to host poetry readings, music performances, and art exhibitions, maintaining its role as a hub for Dublin's creative community.
Visit: Temple Bar Cultural Quarter (landmark)
Monkstown area — The photographer's sophisticated home
Melissa's elegant house in the affluent Monkstown area serves as a crucial setting where Frances and Nick's relationship develops. Frances is impressed by the sophisticated décor and the adult world it represents. Here, Frances experiences dinner parties, intimate conversations with Nick, and the complex dynamics between Melissa and her husband that both fascinate and unsettle her.
Monkstown is a historic seaside suburb south of Dublin, developed in the 19th century as a fashionable area for Dublin's wealthy merchant class. The area features Victorian and Edwardian houses with sea views, representing Dublin's more affluent residential areas.
Monkstown remains one of Dublin's most desirable suburbs, known for its period houses, proximity to the coast, and easy access to the city center via the DART rail line. The area attracts professionals and artists who can afford its higher property prices.
City center — Nick's separate living space
Nick's apartment becomes the secret location where he and Frances conduct their affair. The space is modest compared to the family home he shares with Melissa, creating an intimate environment where Frances and Nick explore their complicated relationship. Their encounters here are marked by intensity, vulnerability, and the weight of their deception.
Dublin's city center has long contained a mix of residential and commercial properties, with many Georgian and Victorian buildings converted into apartments. These spaces often house young professionals and artists drawn to urban living.
Dublin's inner city continues to offer apartment living for those who prefer urban convenience. The area mixes historic architecture with modern developments, providing housing for students, professionals, and creatives.
Dublin suburbs — Frances's childhood home
Frances returns to her family home throughout the novel, dealing with her complicated relationship with her mother and the aftermath of her father's alcoholism. The house represents her working-class background and the economic realities that contrast sharply with Melissa and Nick's more privileged world. Family tensions and Frances's sense of not quite belonging anywhere are played out in this domestic space.
Dublin's western suburbs expanded significantly in the 20th century as the city grew, providing housing for working and middle-class families. These areas represent the everyday Dublin experience away from the city center's tourist attractions.
These residential areas continue to house Dublin families, representing the city's suburban growth and the diverse economic backgrounds of its residents. They remain connected to the city center through public transport networks.
Near Trinity College — Frances and Bobbi's meeting place
Frances and Bobbi frequently meet at coffee shops near Trinity College to discuss their writing, their relationships, and their observations about the people around them. These conversations reveal the depth of their friendship and Frances's analytical nature. The coffee shop serves as neutral ground where they can dissect their experiences with Melissa and Nick.
Dublin's coffee culture expanded significantly in the late 20th century, with independent coffee shops becoming important social spaces for students and young professionals. These venues often served as informal meeting places for the city's intellectual and artistic communities.
Dublin boasts a thriving coffee culture with numerous independent cafés throughout the city center and university area. These spaces continue to serve as meeting places for students, writers, and professionals, maintaining their role in Dublin's social fabric.
Visit: Bewley's Grafton Street (restaurant)
Along the River Liffey — Frances's contemplative walks
Frances often walks along the Liffey, using these solitary moments to process her complicated feelings about Nick, her friendship with Bobbi, and her uncertain future. The river provides a space for reflection as she navigates the messy emotions and relationships that define her young adulthood. These walks represent her attempts to understand herself and her place in the world.
The River Liffey has been central to Dublin's development since the city's founding by Vikings in the 9th century. The river divides Dublin into north and south sides and has been lined with quays and bridges that form the backbone of the city's geography.
The Liffey continues to flow through Dublin's heart, with boardwalks and quays providing popular walking routes for residents and tourists. The river is crossed by numerous historic bridges and remains a defining feature of Dublin's urban landscape.
Visit: River Liffey Boardwalk (landmark)
Grafton Street area — Window shopping and observations
Frances moves through Dublin's shopping districts, observing the displays and the people around her with her characteristic detached analysis. These spaces highlight the economic differences between her background and the world she's drawn into through Melissa and Nick. Her observations of consumer culture reflect her broader critique of society and relationships.
Grafton Street has been one of Dublin's premier shopping streets since the 18th century, lined with department stores, boutiques, and cafés. The pedestrianized street became a central part of Dublin's commercial and social life.
Grafton Street remains Dublin's main shopping thoroughfare, featuring a mix of international chains and Irish retailers. The street is also known for its buskers and street performers, contributing to Dublin's cultural atmosphere.
Visit: Grafton Street (landmark)
International arrivals — Connections to the wider world
The airport represents Frances's connections to the wider world and potential escape from her current circumstances. Travel to and from Dublin brings characters together and apart, highlighting the international dimension of their relationships and Frances's sense of being caught between different worlds and possibilities.
Dublin Airport opened in 1940 and became Ireland's primary international gateway. Its development reflected Ireland's increasing connection to Europe and the world, particularly important during the country's economic growth in the latter 20th century.
Dublin Airport is now one of Europe's major international hubs, serving over 30 million passengers annually. It connects Ireland to destinations worldwide and serves as a symbol of the country's global integration.
Visit: Dublin Airport (landmark)
Large public park — Walks and conversations
Frances and her friends sometimes walk through Phoenix Park, using the vast green space for private conversations away from the intensity of their usual social spaces. The park provides a natural setting where relationships can be discussed more openly, away from the confined spaces of apartments and coffee shops where their dramas usually unfold.
Phoenix Park was established in 1662 as a royal deer park and is one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe. It has long served as Dublin's primary green space, hosting everything from papal visits to presidential residences.
Phoenix Park remains Dublin's largest park, covering over 1,750 acres. It houses Dublin Zoo, the residence of Ireland's President, and provides recreational space for Dubliners, maintaining its role as the city's green lung.
Visit: Phoenix Park (park)
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