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$ | Southside |
At this dreamy little cafe, local, organic, and seasonal are the words to live by, where you can chow down on simple savory and sweet delights, all made with a loving, homey touch. The plant-filled courtyard is also the perfect summer spot for a daytime glass of prosecco and small bites. The surprising eggs and soldiers with roast tomatoes and shallots is a typically delicious dish. Save room for the delicate tarts and moist sugar-dusted sponges. Ask about the fun cooking classes: they're the talk of the town.
Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Pitch-perfect cakes
- Personal touches
- Slow-food philosophy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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$$$$ | Dublin North |
When Michelin-starred chef Mickael Viljanen partnered up with this venerable Dublin dining institution, great things were expected. We weren't disappointed. This wonderful, culture-vulture favorite gets its name from its location, downstairs in the vaulted, stone-wall basement of the Dublin Writers Museum; the natural stone-and-wood setting makes it cozily cavelike. The daringly modern French, four-course, set dinner menu is the talk of the town and W. B. Yeats himself would have loved the roast pigeon, brussels sprouts, pear, offal tart all with sauce perigourdine. The only downside is the place is so popular you have to book well in advance.
18–19 Parnell Sq., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 1, Ireland
Known For
- Polite and attentive staff
- Offers chef's table experience
- Flawless food and service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
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$ | Southside |
The unpretentious brilliance of this husband-and-wife restaurant and deli just off Nassau Street is what makes the classy little Italian joint so popular. The menu is extensive but simple: panini, a horde of antipasti, a few choice pasta specials, and some evening meat dishes and desserts. The all-Italian kitchen staff work wonders with high-quality imported ingredients. The gnocchi with a slow-cooked ragù of Gilligan's Hereford Irish beef makes a great lunch. A couple of long tables are perfect for groups, and the hundreds of bottles of wine on shelves cover every inch of the walls.
14 S. Fredrick St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Italian wine cellar
- Killer antipasti
- Great for large groups
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Located on the Grand Canal Basin which connects the River Liffey and the Grand Canal, this popular new spot features an upturned rowboat on the ceiling, a nod to its location between these two iconic bodies of water. An open kitchen lines the back wall of the restaurant, and features a copper wood-fired pizza oven. The fare is classic American, with generous pancake platters, cheeseburgers, pizzas, sundaes, and giant cookies all designed to encourage lively, casual gatherings and sharing. The bar is a lively spot for after-work drinks and the outdoor terrace overlooking the canal is the place to be for weekend brunch, a fairly new concept and dining category in this city.
6 Hanover Quay, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D2, Ireland
Known For
- Bright and stylish dining room
- Delicious waffles with buttermilk-fried chicken
- Close to Bord Gáis Energy Theatre so great for pre-theater drinks and dinner
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$$ | Dublin North |
Close to the Abbey and Gate theaters, so there's no danger of missing a curtain call, this creative eatery focusing on contemporary food—with eclectic Mediterranean and Eastern influences—uses fresh local ingredients. It's very popular with the artistic and literary set. The venison with potato rösti and a red wine jus is a standout.
101 Talbot St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 1, Ireland
Known For
- Artsy clientele
- Pre-theater option
- Strong vegetarian choices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Dublin North |
A delightful slow-food sanctuary within the Dublin dining scene, Brother Hubbard is a cozy, elegantly designed Northside café with a stripped-down but standout menu. The healthy emphasis is on fresh salads and soups with delicious twists; dishes tend to have a Middle Eastern feel, with an Irish touch here and there. It's strong on detail, from the muted tones and unobtrusive-but-striking modern design with elegant, cosy terrace, to the addition of cute little patterns in your cappuccino froth. The pea-and-mint soup with a dash of harissa oil is a perfect lunchtime treat. Try the flourless orange-and-almond cake for dessert.
153 Capel St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 1, Ireland
Known For
- Meze
- Guilty-pleasure cakes
- Great coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. and Mon.
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$ | Southside |
One of the city center's best-situated spots for a bit of people-watching, this bustling, bohemian café emphasizes good, wholesome food. Organic ingredients play a prominent role on a menu that's laden with delicious salads and sandwiches. Try the grilled goat-cheese salad served with walnut-and-raisin toast and sun-dried-tomato tapenade on a bed of arugula. The delicious ploughman's sandwich—with Irish cheddar, vine tomatoes, branston pickle, and mayo served on brown bread—is a must.
41–42 S. William St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Grilled goat-cheese salad
- Ideal location for people-watching
- Bohemian buzz
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | Dublin West |
This unassuming little shop on Francis Street conjures up some of the best pastries in town. There's no seating in this powerhouse patisserie, but long counters allow space for perching your coffee and tucking into the finest sweet and savory treats. Try the tomato, basil, aubergine, and goat cheese quiche or the hearty duck pie; or simply take afternoon tea with a pear tartlet or scone. Expect queues at lunchtime, and buy in bulk for the tastiest of take-out picnics.
49 Francis St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
Known For
- Great quiches and pastries
- Quality coffee
- Fast service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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$$$$ | Southside |
Glowing with gilded chandeliers and graced with a few marble fireplaces, this American-style steak house in a restored Georgian town house offers a sleekly elegant setting in which to chow down on some of the most tender Irish Angus beef this side of the Atlantic (they cook it in a special high-temperature oven, searing the outside to keep the inside good and juicy). If steak doesn't float your boat, they also do a mean baked turbot with mussels, clams, and creamed fennel and leek. Oreo-cookie-crust cheesecake is the perfect way to finish off the feast, but many will consider the decor—think sash windows, gilt mirrors, and plush carpets—rich enough.
119 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Amazing cheesecake
- Sumptuous surroundings
- Deep wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.–Thurs., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Southside |
It can be hard to re-create that classic bistro feel outside France, but this intimate spot at the heart of busy Dublin has managed to get the mix of bustle and tranquility just right. A quick glance at the gilt-framed, mirrored menu reveals that this kitchen is all about rich, evocative French fare—two winners are the rib eye and the panfried bass. The Earl Grey cheesecake is an original, tangy take of a classic dessert. A mix of warm brick walls dotted with black-and-white snaps of French film stars from the 1950s and wood paneling with tongue-in-cheek French movie posters keeps the vibe informal. Lunch is a great value, and keep an eye out for adventurous plats du jour and lively wine list.
33 Exchequer St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Best confit in town
- Adventurous plats du jour
- Informal bistro vibe
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$$$ | Dublin North |
Once Dublin's favorite secondhand bookshop–café, the Winding Stair now houses an atmospheric, buzzing little restaurant, with old wooden floors, simple decor, a downstairs bookshop, and grand views of the Ha'penny Bridge and the river Liffey. Hearty portions of upscale traditional Irish food rely on Irish-only ingredients; the pork chop with crispy pigs’ ears and hispi cabbage is a standout. Upstairs, former habitués will enjoy seeing the old bookcases around the walls (some of which are now stacked with wine). An inventive wine list and a wonderful Irish farmhouse-cheese selection are two more treats on offer, and your sweet tooth insists that you try the rice pudding with melted plums.
40 Ormond Quay, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 1, Ireland
Known For
- Views of the River Liffey
- Historic location
- Irish produce–inspired cooking
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$ | Temple Bar |
A genuine trattoria in the heart of crazy Temple Bar, Toscana buzzes with chatter all evening long and offers a popular pre-theater menu. A Mediterranean slant to the simple dining room includes plenty of Italian landscapes, cream tones, and wood. A typical starter is the traditional Tuscan bean soup. For a main try the seafood risotto with copious fresh mussels, prawns, and clams. The meat and pizza dishes are also always reliable, and the sticky toffee pudding is a dessert that will send you home with a smile on your face.
3 Cork Hill, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Quality pizza
- Seafood
- Bailey's cheesecake
