Must-see restaurants in Dublin

  • The street entrance to Chapter One

    Chapter One

    North of the Liffey

    Flawless haute cuisine and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere make this Michelin-starred restaurant in the basement of the Dublin Writers Museum our choice…

  • Exterior of Etto, Merrion Row

    Etto

    Dublin

    Award-winning restaurant and wine bar that does contemporary versions of classic Italian cuisine. All the ingredients are fresh, the presentation is…

  • Exterior of Banyi restaurant, Temple Bar

    Banyi Japanese Dining

    Temple Bar

    This compact restaurant in the heart of Temple Bar has arguably the best Japanese cuisine in Dublin. The rolls are divine, and the sushi as good as any…

  • Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud

    Dublin

    This Michelin two-star is understandably considered the best in the country by its devotees, who proclaim Guillaume Lebrun's French haute cuisine the most…

  • Pi Pizza

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Reg White cut his pie-making teeth at flour + water in San Francisco before opening this fabulous restaurant in 2018, and it's already a contender for…

  • Assassination Custard

    Dublin

    It doesn't look like much, but this is one of the tastiest treats in town. The small menu changes daily – think roasted cauliflower with toasted dukkah,…

  • Michael's

    Dublin

    Sure, it's a little bit of a trek from the city centre. But a trip to Michael's is well worth the effort – this is probably the best seafood in the city…

  • Clanbrassil House

    Dublin

    With an emphasis on family-style sharing plates, this intimate restaurant consistently turns out exquisite dishes, cooked on a charcoal grill. Think rib…

  • Da Mimmo's

    Dublin

    The son of the original owners converted what was once a traditional fish-and-chip shop into this sit-down restaurant, now serving some of the best…

  • Mr Fox

    North of the Liffey

    In a gorgeous Georgian townhouse on Parnell Sq, the fantastic Mr Fox is cooking some of the finest food in the city. The plates celebrate Irish…

  • The setting inside Coburg Brasserie

    Coburg Brasserie

    Dublin

    The French-inspired, seafood-leaning cuisine at this revamped hotel brasserie puts the emphasis on shellfish: the all-day menu offers oysters, mussels and…

  • Farmer Brown's

    Dublin

    The hicky-chic decor and mismatched furniture won't be to everyone's liking, but there's no disagreement about the food, which makes this spot our choice…

  • Fegan's 1924

    North of the Liffey

    A slice of rural Ireland in the city centre: this wonderful cafe is all distressed furniture and rustic charm, but there's nothing old-fashioned about the…

  • Juniors Deli & Cafe

    Dublin

    Cramped and easily mistaken for any old cafe, Juniors is hardly ordinary. Designed to imitate a New York deli, the food (Italian-influenced, all locally…

  • Legal Eagle

    North of the Liffey

    With the aesthetic of an old Dublin pub, combined with a kitchen churning out top-notch comfort food, this is one of Dublin's best new restaurants. There…

  • Manifesto

    Dublin

    A table at this tiny Italian joint, which has a loyal legion of fans, is worth the wait. Pizzas are expertly charred with carefully curated toppings like…

  • An exterior shot of Camden Kitchen at night

    Camden Kitchen

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Tucked away off busy Camden St, this inviting little bistro prides itself on its fresh, seasonal menu of changing and beautifully presented dishes, like…

  • Bangers and Mash

    Fade Street Social

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Two restaurants in one, courtesy of renowned chef Dylan McGrath. At the front, the buzzy tapas bar, which serves gourmet bites from a beautiful open…

  • Shopfront for Murphy's Ice Cream

    Murphy's Ice Cream

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Get your sugar hit on with a visit to what might be the best ice-cream shop in the country. Everything is handmade with fresh ingredients from Dingle,…

  • Eatyard sign

    Eatyard

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Spend an hour or two eating and drinking your way through a dozen or so of the city’s best food vendors. There's always seasonal produce, and plenty of…

  • The bar at the front of Pichet restaurant

    Pichet

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Head chef Stephen Gibson (formerly of L'Ecrivain) delivers his version of modern French cuisine to this newly refurbished dining room, whose elegance…

  • Outside the Port House

    Port House

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    This dark cavern restaurant is full of flickering candlelight. The extensive, delicious Spanish tapas menu is best enjoyed with the impressive Iberian…

  • Dillingers' American-style diner interior

    Dillinger's

    Dublin

    This trendy American-style diner is small, so expect a wait if you want to go for the (excellent) weekend brunch. It’s worth it just to taste the amazing…

  • Legit facade

    Legit Coffee Co

    Dublin

    A rare trendy spot in the middle of one of Dublin’s most traditional streets, Legit is full of stripped-down wood, speciality teas and strong espressos. A…

  • The 80's inspired entrance to Thundercut Alley

    Thundercut Alley

    North of the Liffey

    This tiny, hipper-than-thou joint is a great little spot full of electric-bright '80s decor with a menu of delicious cocktails and mouthwatering nibbles…

  • Bunsen

    Temple Bar

    The tag line says Straight Up Burgers, but Bunsen serves only the tastiest, most succulent lumps of prime beef cooked to perfection and served between two…

  • Uno Mas

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Sister restaurant to Dublin favourite Etto, Uno Mas quickly rose in the popularity stakes following its launch in late 2018. Expect to see dishes like…

  • Silk Road Café

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    This vaguely Middle Eastern–North African–Mediterranean gem on the ground floor of the Chester Beatty Library is no ordinary museum cafe. Complementing…

  • Enoteca Delle Langhe

    North of the Liffey

    Developer, Italophile and, latterly, outspoken parliamentarian Mick Wallace's Italian Quarter – as the lane between Ormond Quay and Great Strand St is…

  • Musashi Noodles & Sushi Bar

    North of the Liffey

    One of the better Japanese restaurants in town is this low-lit spot that serves freshly crafted sushi and other Japanese specialities for those who don't…

  • Winding Stair

    North of the Liffey

    In a beautiful Georgian building that once housed the city’s most beloved bookshop – the ground floor still is one – the Winding Stair’s conversion to…

  • Yarn

    North of the Liffey

    With a 1st-floor terrace view of the Ha'Penny Bridge, this might be the city's coolest pizza joint. Add that it serves excellent drinks (pizza and Aperol,…

  • Neon

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    A brilliant spot that specialises in authentic Thai and Vietnamese street food, served in takeaway boxes, which you can eat at home or in the canteen…

  • Little Bird

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    This cafe started life as an adjunct to the yoga studio upstairs and has since grown into one of Portobello's most desirable coffee spots, which in this…

  • Fallon & Byrne

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Dublin's answer to the American Dean & DeLuca chain is this upmarket food hall and wine cellar, which is where discerning Dubliners come to buy their…

  • Kinara

    Dublin

    Connoisseurs of the various cuisines of South Asia can distinguish between Indian and Pakistani fare; this exceptional restaurant specialising in the…

  • Brother Hubbard

    North of the Liffey

    Anchored by its excellent baristas (beans by coffee experts 3FE), this cafe also does a fantastic menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and salads. The recent…

  • Chameleon

    Temple Bar

    Friendly and full of character, Chameleon is draped in exotic fabrics and serves renditions of Indonesian classics such as satay, gado gado and nasi…

  • Coppinger Row

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Virtually all of the Mediterranean basin is represented on the ever-changing, imaginative menu here. Choices include the likes of pan-fried hake with…

  • Cliff Townhouse

    Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green

    Located in a beautiful townhouse on St Stephen's Green, Cliff Townhouse is a confident expression of the very best of Irish cuisine. The emphasis is on…