Dublin Restaurants

With the Irish food revolution long over and won, Dublin now has a city full of fabulous, hip, and suavely sophisticated restaurants. More realistic rents have seen a new cohort of experimental eateries crop up alongside award-winning Euro-toques and their sous-chefs who continue to come up with new and glorious ways to abuse your waistline. Instead of just spuds, glorious spuds, you’ll find delicious new entries to New Irish cuisine like roast scallops with spiced pork belly and cauliflower au gratin topped with a daring caper-and-raisin sauce or sautéed rabbit loin with Clonakilty black pudding. Okay, there’s a good chance spuds will still appear on your menu—and most likely offered in several different ways.

As for lunches or munchies on the run, there are scores of independent cafés serving excellent coffee, and often good sandwiches. Other eateries, borrowing trends from all around the world, serve inexpensive pizzas, focaccia, pitas, tacos, and wraps (which are fast gaining in popularity over the sandwich).

Dubliners dine later than the rest of Ireland. They stay up later, too, and reservations are usually not booked before 6:30 or 7 pm and up to around 10 pm. Lunch is generally served from 12:30 to 2:30. Pubs often serve food through the day—until 8:30 or 9 pm. Most pubs are family-friendly and welcome children until 7 pm. The Irish are an informal bunch, so smart-casual dress is typical.

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  • 1. Forest Avenue

    $$$$ | Georgian Dublin

    Named after the street in Queens where chef-owner Sandy Wyer grew up, Forest Avenue is a star on the Dublin food stage. The menu is a five-course taster, and while choice is limited, quality and value are off the charts. The open kitchen gives the place a lively vibe and Sandy and her Irish husband, John, are only too willing to discuss each dish with interested guests. A floor-to-ceiling glass frontage allows the light to flood in across the elegant white-brick walls. Try the confit cod with pumpkin and crab velouté. They do a cheaper three-course lunch menu Thursday to Saturday.

    8 Sussex Terr., Dublin, Co. Dublin, 4, Ireland
    01-667–8337

    Known For

    • Warm, friendly vibe
    • Daring tasting menu
    • Pairing wine with food

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch Wed.
  • 2. Hen's Teeth

    $$ | The Liberties

    This effortlessly cool, award-winning eatery slots neatly into the gallery/shop that makes up the rest of the Hen's Teeth empire. Located in the working-class Blackpitts area of the Liberties, the atmosphere is diner casual, while the food is a tapas-inspired trip into small-plate adventure. Try the smoked duck salad with chicory, blackberries and deep-fried cheese cubes, or the ceviche of sea bream with watermelon and cucumber. 

    Blackpits, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
    01-561--3036

    Known For

    • DJs on weekends
    • Sunday roast dinners
    • Fun cocktails

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 3. Mackenzie's

    $

    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
    01-533--7566

    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
  • 4. Bibi's

    $ | Dublin West

    The small menu at this tiny café in the middle of a quiet, off-the-beaten-track residential street emphasizes creative breakfasts and lunch (and brunch on the weekend) with a local twist. It's a good spot to sit and watch locals go about their everyday lives as you eat black rice quinoa porridge with coconut milk, miso, and banana or their wonderful spicy cannellini beans with chorizo, crème fraîche, and thyme. Don't leave without hitting up their devilishly tempting cake selection.

    14b Emorville Ave., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
    01-454–7421

    Known For

    • True neighborhood feel
    • Healthy breakfasts
    • Popular, so can be hard to get a table

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 5. Charlotte Quay

    $$$ | Dublin South

    With a stunning location right on the Grand Canal Dock, this elegant new eatery has a great view over the water to the impressive Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on the other side. The pre-theater menu is a great option, with heirloom beetroot with Wicklow blue cheese and candied walnuts as a gorgeous, light starter. The hake with celeriac, pomme mousseline, samphire, and sorrel is a favorite main. 

    Charlotte Quay Dock, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
    01-908--9490

    Known For

    • Great for larger groups
    • Attentive and friendly staff
    • Tempting desserts such as buttermilk and vanilla

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.--Fri.
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  • 6. Elephant & Castle

    $$ | Temple Bar

    The Elephant was long established in Temple Bar before the Tiger (Celtic, that is) came and went and changed the neighborhood forever. Large windows are great for people-watching in the city's trendiest area, but "nothing fancy" would be a good motto for the traditional American food. Charcoal-grilled burgers, salads, omelets, sandwiches, and pasta make up the much-thumbed menu.  When the service is good, the turnover tends to be quick, although you may be inclined to linger. New Yorkers, take note: yes, this is a cousin of the restaurant of the same name in Greenwich Village.

    18 Temple Bar, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
    01-679–3121

    Known For

    • Generous portions
    • Family-friendly vibes
    • Bustling Sunday brunch

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
  • 7. Honey Truffle

    $ | Dublin North

    Recently voted the best café in the city, this busy little breakfast and lunch spot is the brainchild of former Avoca head chef Eimer Rainsford. Salads dominate the menu, with wonderful combinations to choose from for your salad box. Try the beetroot, apple, and quinoa or spiced potatoes with giant couscous and roasted peppers. Dressings or dips are equally creative like the yogurt with cumin and lemon. Other popular dishes include Asian noodles with broccoli, lime and chili. All that healthy eating probably earns you one of the killer chocolate brownies with raspberry and blackberry.

    45 Pearse St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dubin 2, Ireland
    01-537--7766

    Known For

    • Interesting salads
    • Great coffee
    • Genuine service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 8. Il Valentino Bakery and Cafe

    $ | Dublin South

    Located in a nondescript building in Grand Canal Harbour, this stylish café is gaining a reputation for its impressive baked goods. Nearby tech workers flock here in hordes for the inventive salads, sandwiches, handmade pasta and focaccia romana, but it's the stunning array of cakes, tarts, and buns that really entice. Try the outrageous strawberry Charlotte or the explosion of color and taste that is the mango bavaroise.

    5 Gallery Quay, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
    01-633--1100

    Known For

    • Value lunch offerings
    • Decadent cakes
    • Bustling atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 9. Ryleighs

    $$$ | Dublin North

    Sitting atop the stylish Mayson Hotel, this rooftop steak house is all about the views, with walls of floor-to-ceiling windows offering vistas of Dublin Bay and the mountains beyond. Decked out in dark wood and leather booths, the sleek interior is contemporary-cool meets 1930s saloon. Meat is the star of the menu, with quality steaks complemented with delicious sides like Parmesan and tarragon fries. Alternative mains include grilled sea bream with caper lemon dressing. The pear and almond ricotta cake is the perfect cap to a great meal.

    81/82 North Wall Quay, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 1, Ireland
    01-245--7911

    Known For

    • Excellent breakfasts
    • Superb cocktails
    • Superwarm and friendly staff

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