Condom Power (Dame Street)
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This little sex shop is surprising as it’s very easy to miss. Located across from the large Spar on George’s Street, this store has a tiny entrance that is only noticeable because of its slightly disturbing neon sign. Despite its strange location (which reminds me of sneaking into Grimmauld Place in Harry Potter), this place has a nice, cosy atmosphere. There is a bubblegum pink aesthetic that borders between sleazy and really cute. The staff are discrete and happy to ignore you, which can be nice for the more self-conscious shopper. The range of products is limited but satisfactory, fine if you’re only looking for the basics. The price is reasonable if you stick to the less luxurious brands. Overall, Condom Power is an average sex shop which provides what most people need in a fuss-free and generic environment.

Basic Instincts (Eustace Street)
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This large glossy store has a great location on Eustace Street, opposite The Hub which is host to popular gay clubs Prhomo and Sweatbox. The unique selling point of Basic Instincts is that it doesn’t market itself as a “sex shop,” rather its main focus is as a fetish gear and mask store. As soon as you walk through the tinted doors, the first thing you see is not the usual porn and dildos along the shelves, but authentic Venetian masks. The atmosphere is incredibly relaxed yet polished and the staff are very friendly and eager to help you find what you’re looking for. There is a cinema downstairs for private members, but it isn’t often that anyone goes in or emerges from there. This store is very LGBTQ+ friendly both in regard to the range of products that are stocked and the general environment – such as the very obvious HIV testing kit on the front counter. Half of the store is also dedicated to the brand Mr. B, a Dutch gay fetish gear supplier. There are a vast array of high quality products here that are difficult to find elsewhere in Dublin. Although the price range is a little higher than Condom Power, it is definitely worth it for the better products.

Glamworld (Mary Street)
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The upstairs of Glamworld has all the basic tenets of a sex shop with a fair, though not extensive, range of options. Downstairs holds all the BDSM gear and implements. There is an impressive array of fetish products, despite the fact that their display is cluttered and requires time to root out their best pickings. The price is affordable with most of the products being of high quality. This store could almost rival Basic Instinct if it paid closer attention to accessibility of products as a shyer shopper may miss many of the items available.