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$ | Dublin South |
Head chef Alex Zhang has brought his own brand of daring Northern Chinese cuisine to this cool, new, city-center spot. The menu changes regularly, but the deep-fried duck wings tossed in secret seasoning and the fresh Irish lobster with tofu egg custard are typically thrilling dishes.
16 Aungier Street, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Innovative Chinese food
- Buzzing atmosphere
- Regular new dishes
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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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$$ | Georgian Dublin |
The Japanese teppanyaki area at this classy Pan-Asian restaurant on bustling Baggot Street, where the chef cooks your food right on your tabletop, is a feast for the eye as well as the palate. The simplicity of the white walls and dark lacquered furnishings are enhanced by the delicate glassware and fine green-washed porcelain. The menu picks the best from Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes, with the Asian tapas a good eat-and-go option.
100 Lower Baggot St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Great fun with kids
- Live music some evenings
- Bustling atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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$$$ | 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
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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$$$ | Georgian Dublin |
When is a wine bar not just a wine bar? When it's also one of the city's most talked-about restaurants where you can drink or dine (tapas-style) at the bar, in the lush armchairs of the open-plan lounge, or in the more formal, restrained-modern dining room. The Roscoff onion tart is an adventurous starter, while the cold meat platter is a finger-lickin' little bar dish. The wine list is the envy of many a more expensive eatery, and with a couple of dozen wines poured by the glass you can dare to try something really special. There's a sister café in the same building with equally scrumptious offerings at a lower price point.
23 Pembroke St. Upper, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Impressive by-the-glass wines
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Great bar-food options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | 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
Known For
- Generous portions
- Family-friendly vibes
- Bustling Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | Southside |
Former Michelin-star celebrity chef Dylan McGrath has another hit on his hands with Fade Street Social, a cavernous tapas bar, restaurant, and pub all rolled into one. At 8,000 square feet, the place can seem a bit overwhelming, but if you want a busy, fun, all-in-one dining-and-drinking experience, this place is ideal. Try a seat at the bar, where you can watch the kitchen staff work their magic as they turn out exquisite tapas and hearty but inventive meat dishes, all with a modern Irish twist. The whole poached pigeon is an original tapas offering, while the braised rabbit leg is already a favorite main.
4 Fade St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Amazing staff who go above and beyond
- Great selection of vegan dishes
- Inventive cocktails
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$$$ | Dublin South |
Its name is the Gaelic word for green, and all things local and natural are at the heart of Dublin's first high-end vegetarian restaurant. The brash, luxurious interior matches the daring menu, which includes barbecue celeriac with roast potato puree, cucumber, mint, and potato paper. Try the carrot sponge with spiced cream and pear and hay sorbet for dessert.
15/16 Chatham St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- High-end vegetarian dishes
- Lush interior
- Welcoming vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.--Thurs.
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$$ | Southside |
Foodie and fashionista couple Chloe Kearney and Niall McDermott returned from London to open this standout addition to the flourishing Ranelagh dining scene. Behind the minimalist white exterior lies a small but buzzing ambience and some inventive food with a Mediterranean twist. The menu is short but very adventurous: the lobster, crab, and kohlrabi is a stylish starter and the shiitake mushroom tagliolini a favorite main. Add delicious sides like broccoli with pomegranate and yogurt then finish with a dessert of ricotta cheesecake with black currant.
13 Ranelagh, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 6, Ireland
Known For
- Warm, attentive staff
- Every dish perfectly executed
- Can be hard to get a reservation
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sun.--Fri.
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$$ | |
Joan and Aidan MacManus's well-known seafood bar down by the harbor attracts many contemporary visitors to the old town. It's in a Georgian house, with the yacht marina and port on one side and sea views from which you can watch the boats land the very fish that might be tomorrow's special. A house specialty is the smoked haddock smokies, but lobster, caught just yards away in Balscadden Bay, is the big treat—it's best at its simplest, in butter sauce. Sitric was an 11th-century Norse king of Dublin who seemed to be very fond of Howth.
East Pier, Howth, Co. Dublin, 13, Ireland
Known For
- Warm, friendly atmosphere
- Fillet of turbot with crab mash and caviar cream sauce
- Tempura prawns
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.–Sat. No dinner Sun.
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$ | Dublin North |
Don't let the down-at-heels canteen decor put you off—this place has been around for a long time and is a master of the art of fish-and-chips. Their menu is full of seafood surprises like such Dublin favorites as cod and ray (or more unusual choices like mackerel) and you can even order a whole sea bass and rainbow trout. Kingfisher's huge Irish breakfasts have won awards, with all the meats sourced fresh from the owners' own farm. The Northside locals love this place and give it a lively community atmosphere.
166–168 Parnell St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 1, Ireland
Known For
- Homemade tartar sauce
- Friendly, warm atmosphere
- Great value menu
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$$$ | Southside |
This exceptional eatery just off George's Street lost a little of its intimacy when it expanded, but the crowds still come for authentic French food at a fair price. Start with 12 snails, fresh herbs, garlic, and pastis butter. For a main course, the slow-roasted pork belly with black pudding manages to be hearty and adventurous at the same time. Desserts have a devilishly childish touch to them—passion-fruit cake with white chocolate sauce is a typical example. Pop next door to Hogan's bar while you're waiting.
1 Fade St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Decadent desserts
- Great people-watching
- Tip-top service
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$$$ | Southside |
This Breton-inspired, unpretentious eatery has one of the most inviting and good-value menus in the city. The look is very much casual bistro, a satisfying backdrop for starters like the beet risotto with winter truffles, and such mouthwatering mains as the loin of venison with red cabbage and celeriac paste.
15 Castle Market, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Quality wine list
- Intimate atmosphere
- Irresistible chocolate fondant
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Dublin West |
Old man Burdock has moved on and the place hasn't been the same since, but the hordes still join the inevitable queue at Dublin's famous 100-year-old takeout fish-and-chips shop. You can't eat here, but why would you anyway, when you can sit in the gardens of St. Patrick's Cathedral a few minutes away. Fresh cod is a classic, and the battered sausage a particular Dublin favorite, but the real stars here are the long, thick, freshly cut chips, which have a slightly smoky aftertaste. Look like a local and ask to season your chips with "crispy bits."
2 Werburgh St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
Known For
- Fresh cod and chips
- Battered sausage
- A line outside
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$$$ | Georgian Dublin |
It's all about the seafood at this small family restaurant a little way outside the Southside city center. The atmosphere is warm and übercasual, and the fish is fresh off the boat from nearby Dublin Bay. Try the John Dory fritti with garlic and chili dressing, followed by lemon sole with lobster fish cakes, tender stem broccoli and garlic butter. The homemade chips are a delight.
57 Deerpark Rd., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Known For
- Beautiful desserts
- Menu tied to local catch
- Family-owned vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed.
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$$ | Temple Bar |
You might not expect to come to Dublin for fabulous Nepalese cuisine, but this place is a real standout. The decor is nothing to write home about, but the food at this little eatery in the middle of bustling Temple Bar is as authentic as it is unique. Kachela, raw minced lamb with garlic, ginger, herbs, and spices, served with roti bread (a delicacy among the Newars of Kathmandu) or a shot of whiskey, is a more adventurous starter. For a main course try momos, dumplings served with momo chutney, a favorite street dish in Kathmandu.
28 Eustace St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Known For
- Spicy, tasty curries
- Surprisingly varied wine menu
- Celiac-friendly menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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$$$ | Dublin North |
The stuffed fox on the wall with the pistol in his hand inspired the name of this warm, gamy, stylish new eatery in a Georgian basement conveniently located near the Gate Theatre. The chef-owner graduated from a Michelin-star kitchen and he brings that elevated standard to the seasonal, fixed-price menu, with dishes like venison with parsnip, black pudding, chestnut, and blackberries. Lighter choices include a roast barley risotto, with pickled mushrooms and smoked ricotta. The staff at Mr Fox know their wines and love nothing more than to match a bottle to your meal choice. The cozy little bar is perfect for a predinner tipple.
38 Parnell Sq. W, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
Known For
- Classical French-Irish food with modern touches
- Sister restaurant of the Pig's Ear
- Pig's head croquettes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Phoenix Park and Environs |
There's a fine line between re-creating tradition and looking like a theme bar, but Nancy Hands just about pulls it off. A galleylike room juxtaposes old wood, raw brick, and antiques with contemporary art to create a convivial, cozy dining area. The quality is high for bar food, with the rib-eye steak a standout. Other popular mains include the schnitzel with seasonal veg and a pie of the week with hand-cut fries and house salad. Numerous wines are served by the glass, and the selection of spirits is one of the most impressive in the country.
30–32 Parkgate St., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
Known For
- Great value food and cheap pints of Guinness
- Hearty Irish dishes
- Warm and friendly staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$ | Georgian Dublin |
While the bistro food at this Ballsbridge stalwart is always top-class, it's the jovial atmosphere and superb service that keep locals coming back. It's famed for the wine list, with great options by the glass, and that certainly helps to explain the wonderful buzz that always seems to be about this popular neighborhood place. For a starter try the Dublin Bay prawn bisque. The grilled hake with linguine, wild mushrooms, artichokes, and tarragon cream is a standout main course.
7 Ballsbridge Terr., Dublin, Co. Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Known For
- Separate vegan and vegetarian menu
- Traditional Sunday lunch offering
- Heated terrace
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$$$ | 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
Known For
- Excellent breakfasts
- Superb cocktails
- Superwarm and friendly staff
