Where to Eat and Drink in Dublin, Ireland

If you thought food in Ireland was just boring meat and potatoes, think again. The restaurant scene in the Emerald Isle’s capital is well-represented by cuisines from all over the world. Whether you’re looking for a satisfying burger, delicious dim sum, or bold curries, you’ll be sure to find them all in Dublin. And of course, when it comes to drinking, there are plenty of pubs bursting with that good ol’ Irish craic and of course, some excellent pints of Guinness.

Below are restaurant recommendations we received from renowned Dublin chefs via our sister site Eats Abroad, as well as some of our favorite places that we frequented during our time living in Dublin. Recommended bars can be found at the end of the list.

American:

Token: Token is a restaurant/bar/retro arcade all in one. The food here is probably best described as American-style, with burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and chili fries dominating the menu. It’s basically all the American comfort food you can think of, but elevated to a higher standard and often fused with Asian and Latin flavors. Best of all, they also offer vegetarian and vegan versions of many of their dishes. Beer selection here skews more mainstream (think Heineken, Smithwicks, Bulmers).

Burgers:

BuJo: Juicy, crave-worthy, no-frills burgers. They also serve Beyond Meat veggie and vegan burgers. Don’t miss out on their fabulous milkshakes, either.

Bunsen: Recommended by John and Sandy Wyer, owners, Forest Avenue and Forest & Marcy, and Karl Whelan, chef and co-owner, Hang Dai

When you’re craving a straight-up burger, go to Bunsen. Their menu literally fits (and is presented) on a business card: there’s only a single or double hamburger or cheeseburger (with your choice of usual toppings like lettuce, tomato, and ketchup); three types of fries (hand-cut, shoestring, or sweet potato), and several drink offerings. That’s it. But everything is done well here. It’s “fast” food done right.

Five Guys: “I like a burger. There’s a Five Guys in Dundrum. I love it. It’s delicious.” —Ciaran Sweeney, former head chef, Forest & Marcy

The Generator: One of the best burgers in Dublin … in a hostel? Yup. We ate here regularly for two years (it was a couple minutes’ walk from our flat), and almost every single time, we couldn’t get over how good the Beefeater burger was. I say “almost every single time” because there were a couple of occasions where the beef patty tasted a little different (maybe a different cook was manning the grill?), so the quality wasn’t always consistent. Great value for a burger and fries.

Cafes:

3fe: Recommended for coffee by John and Sandy Wyer

Avoca: “Order the soup of the day and their amazing brown bread and butter.” —Eileen Dunne, co-owner, Dunne & Crescenzi, Bar Italia, L’Officina

A cozy cafe, great for a relaxing coffee/tea, meal, or dessert after browsing the wares in Avoca’s shop downstairs or spending an afternoon shopping on Grafton Street.

Clement & Pekoe: “I love a good coffee and something sweet with the coffee. There’s a really good coffee shop just on S. William Street, Clement & Pekoe … lovely vibe.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Fia: “They do a stunning breakfast/brunch. It’s class. Their buckwheat chocolate granola … stunning.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Five Points: “Breakfast, I’d go to Five Points in Harold’s Cross and have the Gubbeen chorizo with a coffee.” —Karl Whelan

Foodgame: “For breakfast we would go to the Foodgame down the road on Bath Avenue. We would have porridge with banana and walnuts followed by scrambled eggs and brown bread.” —John and Sandy Wyer

The Fumbally: “Nice, casual eating, but eating really well. A lot of people doing some cool things.” —Ciaran Sweeney

“The Fumbally is a great space with simple food with good ingredients.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Come here on a Saturday morning to grab some breakfast or lunch, and to peruse the Food Market at the Fumbally Stables next door. Our favorite bakery, Scéal Bakery, sells their breads and pastries here, and there are also a number of other fantastic local vendors.

Kaph: Recommended for coffee by John and Sandy Wyer

The Westbury: “The Westbury hotel beckons for late afternoon scones, clotted cream and home made preserve with a pot of good loose leaf tea.” —Eileen Dunne

Chinese:

China Sichuan: “I love China Sichuan. I live literally a 3-minutes’ walk from China Sichuan. It’s class, it’s just delicious every time. It’s so well-cooked . . . just very clean, very flavorful. I have to say because I go there at least once a month, I know [owner] Kevin [Hui] really well. We’re regulars there. They do lovely pork and chicken dumplings with a hot chili broth. You have to have it.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Duck: “Pork belly, truly authentic. The best I have had outside of Hong Kong.” —Eileen Dunne

Good World: “You don’t go here for smiles, you go here for dim sum at lunch time. Great selection of dim sum, each better than the next, all made in house and as good as you would find in Hong Kong.” —Karl Whelan

Hang Dai: This is a fantastic spot for a special occasion. It’s not your typical cheap Chinese takeout joint, but more of a refined, uber-trendy dining experience where the pièce de résistance is the amazing applewood-fired duck (go with friends and get a whole duck to share).

Deli:

Listons: “Great variety of foods. Pick up Auntie Trisha’s yummy apple pie.” —Eileen Dunne

The Pig & Heifer: Recommended for the New York-style pastrami sandwich by Eileen Dunne

Food Hall:

Fallon & Byrne: “A visit to Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer Street is always great. There is a wonderful wine cellar in the basement.” —John and Sandy Wyer

It’s a joy to aimlessly walk around here. Peruse the gorgeous organic produce, dine in the upstairs restaurant, or sip and nosh on snacks in the wine cellar below. If you’re looking for hard-to-find ingredients, there’s a good chance Fallon & Byrne might have them.

French:

Le Petit Breton: Crêpes are the specialty at this cheery eatery in north Dublin, and you get the real deal here, as the chef and owner hails from Brittany, France. Le Petit Breton was the first place we had breakfast the day after we moved to Dublin, and it became one of our favorite brunch spots. Breakfast is served all day, and they have a wide selection of sweet and savory crêpes.

Greek:

Yeeros: A Greek coworker of mine raved about this place, so I had to give it a try. Just thinking about the gyros here makes my mouth water. The best we’ve had in Dublin.

Indian:

Pickle: “Amazing Indian food.” —John and Sandy Wyer

“On a night out, I really like to eat at Pickle. I have such a craving for Indian food. My partner asked where I wanted to go for my birthday this year, and I said Pickle. I know Sunil [Ghai] who’s the head chef there, and he’s just an amazing chef.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Pickle offers excellent Indian food, but know that it’s higher-end and therefore pricier than most Indian restaurants you might be used to (i.e., a main meat curry dish with rice will be just over €20). It’s a great option for celebrating a special occasion, or if you want to try some sophisticated dishes you wouldn’t be able to find at a takeaway.

Rasam: “Rasam in Glasthule merits a visit and involves a pleasant DART (metro) ride. Here, the food offers an explosion of tastes and honestly I could dine on the starters all evening – palak patta (crunchy spinach leaves) and imli ki macchi (ginger and tamarind red snapper).” —Eileen Dunne

Rasoi: “There’s a great takeaway in Ranelagh we go to sometimes called Rasoi. They do really good curry.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Irish:

Bastible: “They do a stunning Sunday lunch style concept with the big roast as the main, two small plates, and a dessert. It’s really, really nice.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Chapter One: “A little off the beaten track but a must on your dining bucket list for the best of Irish food cooked to a Michelin star level.” —Kevin Arundel, owner, The Chop House

Recommended for its tasting menu by Karl Whelan

Delahunt: “Exceptional food in an extraordinary building that was redone by the owner himself. Very good cooking and great ingredients.” —John and Sandy Wyer

“Great local ingredients cooked with finesse. Here they have done an amazing restoration of one of the most beautiful buildings on the street. It also has a killer cocktail bar upstairs.” —Karl Whelan

Forest & Marcy: “Forest & Marcy is outstanding—small dishes and snacks, great wines so you can build your own tasting menu.” —Karl Whelan

The Gravediggers: “Dublin coddle (a slow-cooked Irish stew) is a rare dish to find served. To eat the best, travel to Glasnevin to The Gravediggers, where you will find a very warm welcome and a delicious bowl of coddle.” —Kevin Arundel

Recommended for the best pint of Guinness in Dublin by Karl Whelan

Locks Restaurant: “Beautiful food in an amazing location along the canal.” —John and Sandy Wyer

“I love to go to Locks on a Sunday. I go there with my girlfriend and my baby and just have a lovely Sunday. Pastries are very good. They do a sharing côte de boeuf for two, it’s just incredible with all the trimmings. Locks is stunning.” —Ciaran Sweeney

The Pig’s Ear: “The Pig’s Ear is very good. They have shepherd’s pie with minced lamb and mashed potato and they grill it and serve it. That’s beautiful.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud: Recommended fine dining restaurant by Kevin Arundel

The Winding Stair: “A visit to The Winding Stair is a must for all visitors – quirky, quaint and quintessentially Irish. The Wexford lamb with Jerusalem artichokes, mint, and caper gravy is our family favorite.” —Eileen Dunne

Italian:

Paulie’s: “We are lucky to have what I consider the best pizza restaurant right across the street from us. Paulie’s does the best sourdough pizza bases with excellent toppings sympathetic to both Italy and New York.” —Kevin Arundel

Japanese:

The Ramen Bar: This was easily our favorite place for ramen in Dublin. With nearly 20 varieties on the menu, you’re bound to find one that suits your tastes. Noodles are made in-house.

Taste at Rustic: “Amazing Japanese-inspired food. They have brought over a sushi chef from Japan.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Ukiyo: “Ukiyo on Exchequer Street does a great bento box for €10.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Korean:

Han Sung: Han Sung is an Asian market, but walk all the way towards the back and you’ll find a small Korean and Chinese restaurant. Every dish there is under €10, and they all feature generous portions and plenty of flavor. Our go-tos were the kimchi fried rice, dolsot bibimbap, and the jjajangmyun. Cash only.

Lebanese:

The Cedar Tree: “It does amazing Middle Eastern food and great price.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Oasis Cafe: If you’re a fan of “street meat” from New York City (a.k.a. lamb and/or chicken over rice, served out of a food truck), you’ll want to check out Oasis Cafe. We always got the mixed kebab over rice (which comes with both lamb doner and chicken), and it came with just the right amount of spice and sauce.

Mediterranean:

Etto: “You cannot beat the welcome from Simon [Barrett] and Liz [Matthews], the owners, and their staff, food, wine and service here are outstanding—one of our favorites! They offer seasonal, ingredient driven dishes, as well … For lunch we would have a perfectly cooked piece of cod or gorgeous tomato salad whilst chatting to Simon and Liz over a few glasses of wine.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Mexican:

777: “I visit Arizona on a regular basis to see family and friends and have a real passion for the Southwest and Mexican style cooking. My wife and I enjoy 777, which is a Mexican restaurant in the city center serving high-end tacos with good ingredients. My guilty pleasure would be the tacos in 777, washed down by a very good house marguerite.” —Kevin Arundel

“I love Mexican cuisine and I love their margaritas and I love all their small plates. Every time I go in there, I don’t know when to stop eating or drinking the margaritas. I’ll be there for hours. The food’s so flavorful and it’s fun food. The street corn there is ridiculous . . . grilled, spices, and butter. Great buzz in there.” —Ciaran Sweeney

“777 does amazing Mexican food and brilliant margaritas. Our guilty pleasure is margaritas and any of the food in 777. There is a lot of depth of flavor in the food. And it just hits the spot sometimes! It is always buzzy and a great atmosphere.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Middle Eastern:

Tang: Another one of our favorite places for brunch. Bold flavors and hearty portions, and dishes beautifully presented. Hummus eggs, mushrooms on toast, and shakshuka are all winners.

Modern European:

The Greenhouse: “The Greenhouse on Dawson Street under the command of Mickael Viljanen has to be one of the best restaurants for that special occasion. The flavors, the food combinations … sublime!” —Kevin Arundel

“The Greenhouse is in a different league. The attention to detail, the cooking, the finesse. It’s just incredible … Definitely that’s my number one in Ireland—not even Dublin—in Ireland. Mickael does this chocolate dish where it’s like a chocolate crémeux with coffee and a salted milk sorbet, and he’s had it on the menu all the time as a dessert and it’s just unbelievable. It’s like the best dessert. There’s coffee and milk and chocolate, some acidic puree with it, maybe yuzu or lemon. But it’s just out of this world. I could have that dessert every time. The foie gras royale, it’s just unbelievable.” —Ciaran Sweeney

“The Greenhouse for the best cooking in the country. Exceptional wines and service, more on the high end side of things.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Pakistani:

Kinara Kitchen: “Specializing in traditional dishes from Pakistan and serving delicious cocktails in a secret vintage-style cocktail bar on the first floor.” —Kevin Arundel (also recommends its speakeasy for cocktails)

Pastries:

Clarkes Bakery: “Brilliant breads, cakes, and lunch.” —Eileen Dunne

Le Petit Parisien: Recommended for pastries by Ciaran Sweeney

Queen of Tarts: “I like to go Queen of Tarts sometimes. It’s real old-school, it’s been there for years, but they do some good pastries.” —Ciaran Sweeney

“I cannot resist a muffin from the Queen of Tarts pastry shop.” —Eileen Dunne

Scéal Bakery: Recommended for pastries, croissants, and sourdough breads by Ciaran Sweeney
Their Irish butter croissants, cruffins, and sesame miso sourdough loaves are to die for.

Seafood:

The Fish Shop: “The Fish Shop is meant to be very good for fish and chips in Stoneybatter.” —John and Sandy Wyer

We can personally vouch for The Fish Shop. It was our go-to when the craving for fish and chips struck, and it wasn’t because it was a few blocks from our flat. The chips are perfectly cooked, while the fish (and the golden batter) have excellent flavor. There’s limited indoor seating, but you can order the fish and chips for takeaway.

Klaw: Recommended for oysters by John and Sandy Wyer

The Lido: Recommended for fish and chips by Eileen Dunne

Steakhouse:

The Butcher Grill: “Great steaks.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Featherblade: If you’re craving some meat, Featherblade will satiate your appetite. Steaks and sides are great here, but the burger, which is only available as a lunch special, is a can’t-miss. A smoked patty with melted cheddar, sugar pit bacon, and beef dripping mayo — drooling yet?

Vegetarian/Vegan:

The Happy Pear: This restaurant and shop isn’t in Dublin proper, but in Greystones, a town south of the capital in County Wicklow. We’re adding this to our list since many tourists visit Greystones to do the popular Bray to Greystones cliff walk. The Happy Pear is a must-stop, and if you’re one of those people who assume vegan food is boring and tasteless, twin owners David and Stephen Flynn will quickly prove you wrong.

Kale + Coco: This was a favorite of ours after my long run sessions while training for the Berlin Marathon. Choose between refreshing smoothie bowls topped with fresh fruit and seeds, or savory nourish bowls packed with fresh ingredients. Coffees and smoothies here are excellent, too. We loved everything we tried here, but if we had to pick favorites, we’d go with the Protein Punch smoothie bowl and the #Gainz nourish bowl.

Umi Falafel: “Seriously good falafel.” —Eileen Dunne

Pubs/Wine Bars:

Angelina’s: “For a truly great cocktail, try Angelina’s.” —Kevin Arundel

Anseo: “I go to Anseo on Camden Street a lot—great selection of craft beers and vinyl only-DJ every night. Great local spot.” —Karl Whelan

Bonobo: This bar opened up in the last few months we lived in Dublin, and it was literally a 5-minute walk from our flat. Great selection of beers, both mainstream and craft, and delicious pizzas out of a wood-fire oven by Dublin Pizza Company. The indoor area is spacious, and there’s a large beer garden out back; come early to snag a table when the weather’s nice, as everyone from the neighborhood will be here.

The Brazen Head: Recommended bar by Eileen Dunne

Coppinger Row: “You should go to Coppinger Row off of South William Street for a Flo and Basy cocktail.” —John and Sandy Wyer

Fallon’s: “There’s a bar I used to live beside in Dublin, it was one of my favorites, Fallon’s by Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Best pint of Guinness, I’m telling you. People don’t know it that well because it’s a little further out.” —Ciaran Sweeney

The French Paradox: Recommended wine bar by Kevin Arundel

The Ginger Man: Recommended bar by Eileen Dunne

The Long Hall: Recommended bar by Ciaran Sweeney and Karl Whelan

M O’Briens: “The pub next to us, O’Briens, is great and they do a beautiful pint of Guinness.” —John and Sandy Wyer

“I like O’Briens just around the corner. I love having a pint of Guinness.” —Ciaran Sweeney

Mulligans: Recommended bar by Eileen Dunne

O’Donoghues: Recommended bar by Eileen Dunne

O’Neills: “My brothers are adamant that O’Neills on Pearse Street pulls the best pint of Guinness.” —Eileen Dunne

The Old Spot: “The Old Spot on Bath Avenue is attractive because it has a great food menu and is recommended for those travelers attending the Aviva Stadium.” —Eileen Dunne

Paddle & Peel: We weren’t nightly regulars here, but we did come here pretty frequently, probably about every other week. The pizzas and calzones always hit the spot, and they have a wide selection of craft beers. In fact, as a Galway Bay Brewery pub, you won’t find mainstream beers like Guinness here — only craft beers by Galway Bay Brewery and other brewers. (If you’re looking for strong, hoppy, American-style beers, check out Paddle & Peel or any of the other Galway Bay Brewery bars.)

Rooftop Bar & Terrace at the Marker Hotel: “A wonderful place to have a cocktail.” —Eileen Dunne

Also recommended by Karl Whelan and John and Sandy Wyer

Toners: “For a great pint in true Dublin style, I love to stroll to Toners of Baggot Street, an institution in the city since 1818. The best pint of Guinness!” —Kevin Arundel