Restaurants

We have used the following symbols to give an idea of the price for an average meal for one, including a service charge of 10–15 percent but excluding wine or other drinks:

€€€€ over 45 euros

€€ 20–30 euros

€€€ 30–45 euros

€ below 20 euros

City Centre South

Bewley’s Grafton Street Café € 78–79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2, tel: 672 7720, www.bewleys.com. Open Mon–Wed 8am–10pm, Thur–Sat 8am–11pm, Sun 9am–10pm. No-one should miss a trip to the original Bewley’s Oriental Café with its art deco windows and paintings. Delicious Fair Trade coffee, teas and a range of dishes are on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit the Bewley’s Theatre for lunchtime and evening musical and theatrical performances.

Café en Seine € 40 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-677 4567, www.cafeenseine.ie. Mon–Sat 12pm to late, Sun brunch noon–5pm. This is the trendy place to be: stunning Art Deco interior with three-storey atrium featuring intimate bars within bars. The casual, contemporary food is on offer all day and well into the night.

La Cave €€ 28 South Anne Street, Dublin 2, tel: 679 4409, www.lacavewinebar.com. Open Mon–Sat 12.30–11pm, Sun 6–11pm. Dublin’s oldest authentic French wine bar, with reasonably priced bistro-style dishes. It is decorated with nostalgic posters and prints, and has an excellent wine list plus a late night menu after 11pm.

The Cedar Tree €€ 11a St Andrew Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 2121. Open Mon–Wed 5.30–11.30pm, Thur–Fri 5.30pm–midnight, Sat–Sun 5.30–10.45pm. The Lebanese food here is authentic and reasonably priced, with good vegetarian options.

Chili Club €€ 1 Anne’s Lane, off South Anne Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 3721, www.chiliclub.ie. Open Mon–Fri 12.30–2.30pm and daily 5.30–11pm (Sun to 10pm). One of the oldest Thai restaurants in Dublin. Good, authentic food served in a small, friendly setting. Vegetarian options on an extensive menu.

Cornucopia € 19 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 7583, www.cornucopia.ie. Open Mon–Fri 8.30am–9pm, Sat 8.30am–8pm, Sun noon–7pm. The food is now better than ever at this favourite vegetarian restaurant. A small, informal place that non-vegetarians can enjoy too. Excellent breakfast spot.

Damson Diner € 52 South William Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-677 6007, www.damsondiner.com. Daily noon–10.30pm. Cool, friendly ambience over three floors in the Grafton Street area with an interesting mix of 50s-style American diner and Asian style food – from American ribs to fennel bhaji. Food cooked to order producing vibrant tasty plates.

Dax €€€€ 23 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, tel: 676 1494, www.dax.ie. Open Tue–Fri 12.30–2.30pm, Tue–Sat 6–11pm. Dax is worth visiting for its delightful rustic and continental food with a French emphasis. There is tapas available in the bar.

Diep Le Shaker €€€€ 55 Pembroke Lane, Dublin 2, tel: 661 1829, www.diep.net. Open Tue–Thur noon–2.30pm, Fri noon–5pm, Tue–Wed 5–10.30pm, Thur–Sat 6–11.30pm. A smart, upmarket Thai restaurant with contemporary interior design and an authentic menu. It is a little outside the centre of town but is worth the walk.

Dunne & Crescenzi €€ 14–16 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 3815, www.dunneandcrescenzi.com. Open Mon–Sat 7.30am–11pm, Sun 10am–10pm. The tables are packed into this small but pleasantly authentic Italian joint, which focuses more on panini and antipasti than on hot dishes. Everything is well prepared and big on taste.

L’Ecrivain €€€€ 109a Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, tel: 661 1919, www.lecrivain.com. Open Mon, Wed–Fri 12.30–2pm, Mon, Wed–Sat 6.30–10.30pm. One of the best restaurants in the city, with two Michelin stars for new Irish cuisine prepared with a French accent. It is famous for its fish dishes, using same-day catch from all around Ireland.

Eden €€€ Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, tel: 670 5372. Open Mon–Fri 12.30–3pm, Sun–Thur 5–10pm, Fri–Sat 6–10pm, Sat–Sun brunch noon–3pm (Sun until 4pm). Serving contemporary food with an Irish twist, Eden has a modern, airy interior with outdoor seating on Meeting House Square.

Fallon & Byrne €€€ 11–17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2; tel: 472 1000, www.fallonandbyrne.com. Open Mon–Tue noon–3pm, 6–9pm, Wed–Thur noon–3pm, 6–10pm, Fri–Sat noon–3pm, 6–11pm, Sun noon–4pm. Fallon & Bryne’s beautiful dining room makes it a particularly pleasant place to enjoy lunch or Sunday brunch. This French restaurant has good service, quality bistro cooking and a fabulous New York-style deli downstairs – if you have any room left.

Il Fornaio € IFSC, 1b Valentia House, Custom House Square, Dublin 1, tel: 01-672 1852, www.ilfornaio.ie. Mon–Fri 9am–10pm, Sat 11am–11pm, Sun 11am–9pm. All day menu. No frills, but there is authentic homemade Italian food at reasonable prices. One of several branches in Dublin, this one located in the up-and-coming financial district. It is fairly small but has outdoor tables to enjoy al fresco dining during better weather.

The Fumbally € Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8, tel: 01-5299 8732, www.thefumbally.ie, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm. The owner-chef co-operative gained experience cooking at festivals and travelling, and the result is a distinctly different eatery, casual and friendly. Local organic and free-range produce is cooked with Middle-eastern and Mediterranean spices.

Good World Chinese Restaurant €€ 18 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 5373. Daily 12.30pm–midnight. This is a popular place, with the best dim sum in the city. The cooking is good, and less geared to Western tastes than most.

L’Gueuleton €€€ Fade Street, Dublin 2; tel: 675 3708, www.lgueuleton.com. Open Mon–Sat noon–3pm and 6–10pm, Sun 1–4pm, 6–9pm. This rustic yet contemporary French restaurant serves up robust dishes with a classic bistro edge. It is hugely popular and has an undeniable charm with its rickety wooden tables and blackboards. No bookings taken.

Jaipur €€€ 41 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2, tel: 677 0999. Daily 5–11pm. Fabulous restaurant serving modern Indian food using Irish ingredients such as organic Wicklow lamb, and with a wine list specially chosen to complement the spicy dishes.

La Mère Zou €€€€ 22 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, tel: 661 6669, www.lamerezou.ie. Mon–Fri 12.30–2.30pm, Mon–Sat from 6pm. A beguiling French-Belgian restaurant with a country air, downstairs on the north side of the Green. Very good food, delicious desserts and friendly service.

Queen of Tarts € Cork Hill, Dame Street, Dublin 2, tel: 670 7499. Mon–Fri 7.30am–7pm, Sat–Sun 9am–7pm. Squeeze yourself into the wonderfully quaint teashop with an array of delectable pastries, cakes and salads to delight your tastebuds. Sisters Yvonne and Regina also have a larger branch around the corner in Cow’s Lane.

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud €€€€ 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 4, tel: 676 4192, www.restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie. Tue–Sat 12.30–2.15pm, (Sat opens at 1pm) and 7.30–10.15pm. Set in an elegant 18th-century townhouse adjoining the Merrion Hotel, this is Dublin’s finest French restaurant, with prices to match.

The Rustic Stone €€ 17 South Great George’s St, Dublin 2, tel: 01-707 9596, www.rusticstone.ie. Mon–Fri, noon–4.30pm, 5.30pm–10.30pm, Sat 1pm–11pm, Sun, 2pm–9pm. Chef Dylan McGrath prepares the best meat and fish in tasty marinades, and guests cook it themselves at the table on a hot stone. A tempting tapas menu of healthy but indulgent bites, and a ‘rustic raw’ lunch menu, attract a lively and glam clientele. This is Dublin dining at its liveliest.

Saba €€€ 26–28 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2, tel: 679 2000, www.sabadublin.com. Mon–Sun noon until late. A popular Thai and Vietnamese eatery, known for its authentic menu and contemporary interior. Wok-based dishes, salads, noodles and curries.

Shanahan’s on the Green €€€€ 119 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, tel: 01-407 0939, www.shanahans.ie. Mon–Fri, from 5.30pm, Fri only 12.30–2pm, Sat from 6pm; Sun May–Sept 5.30pm–6.45pm. Luxurious, fashionable and very expensive American steakhouse. The certified Irish Angus beef steaks are magnificent. Good wine list, strong on California.

Steps of Rome €€ 1 Chatham Court, Dublin 2, tel: 670 5630, www.stepsofrome.ie. Mon–Sat noon–11.30pm, Sun 1pm–10pm. This tiny restaurant has great pizza; the best in Dublin. The service is friendly, and you can take away. Get there early – there are only a few tables. No credit cards and no service charge.

Thornton’s Restaurant €€€€ St Stephen’s Green West, Dublin 2, tel: 01-478 7008, www.thorntonsrestaurant.com. Thur–Sat noon–2pm, Tue–Sat 6–10pm. One Michelin star for one of Dublin’s special places. Kevin Thornton is a gifted chef, using fantastic ingredients beautifully presented, with emphasis on flavour, all in deep comfort with impeccable service.

Town Bar and Grill €€€€ 21 Kildare Street, Dublin 2; tel: 662 4800, www.townbarandgrill.com. Tue–Sat 12.30–2.30pm, 5.30–11pm Regarded as one of Dublin’s best restaurants serving sophisticated trattoria-style Italian dishes.

Unicorn 12B €€€€ 12b Merrion Court, off Merrion Row, Dublin 2, tel: 662 4757, www.unicornrestaurant.com. Mon–Sat 12.30–4.30pm, 6–11pm. Popular with Dublin’s media set, the Unicorn comes into its own in the summer when the doors open out onto a pretty courtyard. The regional Italian food is well executed and the huge buffet lunches are a treat.

Yamamori Noodles €€ 71 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, tel: 475 5001, www.yamamorinoodles.ie. Daily from 12.30pm, last orders at 11.30pm. Japanese restaurant and a good choice for noodles. The clientele is predominantly cool.

Old Town/Liberties

Les Frères Jacques €€€€ 74 Dame Street, Dublin 2, tel: 679 4555, www.lesfreresjacques.com. Mon–Sat 12.30–2.30pm, and 7–10.30pm. Next to the Olympia Theatre, this small restaurant offers French cuisine in a pleasant, relaxed setting.

Leo Burdock’s € 2 Werburgh Street, Dublin 8, tel: 454 0306, www.leoburdocks.com. Mon–Sat noon–midnight, Sun 4pm–midnight. Dublin’s most famous chippy, established in 1913, has no indoor seating but serves the freshest, most delicious fish and chips to take away. Opposite Christchurch Cathedral.

Temple Bar

Elephant and Castle €€ 19 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, tel: 679 3121, www.elephantandcastle.ie. Mon–Fri 8.30am–11.30pm, Sat–Sun 10.30am–11.30pm. Good food and reasonable prices have assured the continuing popularity of this informal place. Come here for burgers and salads as well as the famous spicy chicken wings.

Gallagher’s Boxty House €€ 20–21 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, tel: 677 2762, www.boxtyhouse.ie. Daily 10am–11.30pm, Sat from 9am. Boxty is an old Irish dish: potato pancakes stuffed with a variety of fillings (including vegetarian), served at long tables to traditional Irish background music; a must stop for every tourist.

City Centre North

Chapter One Restaurant €€€€ 18–19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, tel: 873 2266, www.chapteronerestaurant.com. Tue–Fri 12.30–2pm, Tue–Sat 6–10.30pm. One of the city’s best restaurants, set in the basement of the Dublin Writers Museum, with excellent modern Irish dishes accompanied by fine wines.

Ely Gastropub €€ Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2 tel: 633 9986, www.elywinebar.ie. Daily noon–10pm, later on Fri and Sat. Clearly aimed at the young crowd, in the up-and-coming Dockland area, this gastro pub serves good organic food, a wide range of beers and great wine.

Gallery Restaurant at the Church €€ Mary Street, Dublin 1, tel: 828 0102, www.thechurch.ie. 5–10pm or later. This is a stunning venue that comes complete with a massive church organ and stained-glass windows. An international menu with an Irish twist is served.

South Suburbs

The Lobster Pot €€€€ 9 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4, tel: 668 0025, www.thelobsterpot.ie. Mon–Fri noon–2pm, 6–10.30pm, Sat 6–10.30pm. This restaurant has a charming, old-world atmosphere and an exquisite fish menu. Choose from the daily catch and have it cooked to your liking.

Roly’s Bistro €€€ 7 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4, tel: 668 0623, www.rolysbistro.ie. Noon–3pm and 5.45–10pm. Attractive bistro restaurant on two floors, with imaginative and well-presented menus, usually focused on classic fish and meat dishes. Good service and a lively atmosphere.

Outside Dublin

Caviston’s €€€ 59 Glasthule Road, Sandycove, County Dublin, tel: 280 9245, www.cavistons.com. Tue–Sat, lunch is over three sittings: noon–1.30pm, 1.30–3pm and 3–5pm; Fri–Sat, dinner is over two sittings: 6–8.15pm, 8.15pm–close. This tiny fish-restaurant has gained an excellent reputation for the freshest fish.

King Sitric, €€€€ East Pier, Howth, Co. Dublin, tel: 01-832 5235, www.kingsitric.ie. Thur–Sat, 6.30–10pm, Sun1–5pm & 6.30–10pm. A long-established fine-dining restaurant in a lovely waterside setting. Chef/patron Aidan McManus is committed to fish fresh from the boats (or his own lobster pots) and has a fine wine list. The East Café Bar (€) is open for light bites (tapas-style menu) from 10.30am Wed–Sun.

Nautilus €€ Marine Court, The Green, Malahide, Co Dublin, tel: 01-845 1233. Mon–Fri from 5pm, Sat–Sun 1pm–late. Elegant and relaxed dining atmosphere in an elevated room overlooking Malahide Marina. Beautifully presented plates of local seafood and Irish meat dishes served by friendly, efficient staff. Try the Seafood Platter.