Dublin Restaurant News

- The second opening from the Variety Jones crew, Mongoose , finally opens next weekend after what's seemed like an endless run of delays and bad luck (including a major fire). No menu yet but bookings are already disappearing   - Mermaid in Monkstown  has reopened, just in time for sunnier weather   - There's a new residency at Leonard's Corner in Dublin 8. Gaffe will be running lunch and dinner from Thursday - Saturday, and the opening menu  looks tasty   - If you've been d

The middle of the month only means one thing around here - nine more chances to be an ATF Insider winner! Once you're signed up to ATF Insiders , you’re automatically entered into our monthly draws , with nine brilliant prizes each month from some of the best restaurants, hotels, food and drink businesses around. April's winners will be drawn on Saturday 18th , with the winners announced on social media and contacted directly by email. If you’re not an Insider yet, just s

- The guys behind Dudley's bar in Dublin 8 opened Bar Anam  over the weekend in the old Taco Libre site in Dublin 1. There's cocktails, natural wines, and "Korean-inspired soul food" from Dak   - Big Michelin news that chef Adam Nevin is leaving The Morrison Room at Carton House, just over a year after winning a Michelin star. There's no word on why he's going or what he's doing next, but his lack of thanks to the owners of the property in this leaving post could be read into

What’s the story with Deano's Woodfired Pizza?   Tucked beside the CherryTree pub in Walkinstown, Deano’s Woodfired Pizza has built a fiercely loyal local following since opening in 2022. Owner and head chef Jordan Grossman brings serious credentials to the hatch, having trained in Naples with renowned pizzaiolo Enzo Coccia , owner of La Notizia 53 – one of Italy’s most celebrated pizzerias.   Jordan told us that the flour, meats and cheeses all come from Italicatessen , a

What’s the story with Volumes?   “ He literally wrote the book on coffee! ” is the clear pitch for Volumes , and what volume it's been pitched at since Dublin Coffee Guide  author Paddy Kirk teamed up with As One  owner Mark Cashen, and ex- Bastible and Delahunt  chef Fionn Dwyer Hyland to give us this new Scandi-chic café. It’s the must-have Insta-backdrop du jour  – but is it any good?   Well?   On this team’s well-documented desire  to deliver a Copenhagen-style community

We've got seafood on the brain this week, just in time for a rise in the mercury; there's a new b ánh mì on the block that we want to get to know better; and the pizza/Indian collab we've got to get our hands on before the end of April... 1) Bánh Mì , Babble Deli Babble Deli in Lucan appeared in its aesthetically pleasing form in Lucan at the end of last year, and they've been slowly building quite the grid of beautiful looking sandwiches, sausage rolls and açaí bowls. The Bá

You know how much we love Volpe Nera , and you know how much we love ATF Insiders , so when they ask/beg/plead with us to do something, we do our best to make it happen. We've had so many readers ask us to do an event that they could bring their children along to (lucky kids), so the launch of Volpe Nera 's new Sunday lunch menu, designed with families in mind, is the perfect opportunity. Volpe Nera 's   new Sunday à la carte menu  will also feature a " chef's choice menu ",

- Xi'an Street Food  have open a very shiny, much bigger new space on Suffolk Street in the old Tolteca site. Check out the  beautiful fit out   - There's a new café coming to Lennox Street where 31 Lennox used to be. Sister is due to open in May   - The Linen Yard , a new outdoor communal space in Harold's Cross with food trucks is now open from Friday - Sunday   - Nan Chinese is no more. After a valiant effort to bring Huaiyang cuisine to Dublin, the team have given up the

What's the background on Cinnamood?   Viral German cinnamon roll brand Cinnamood has landed on O’Connell Street after months of teasing , bringing queues , hype and talk of “ iconic ”, “ next level ” buns. Founded in Cologne in 2022, the brand has franchised rapidly across Europe , with its Irish debut operated by Vertex Horizon Holdings , who claim to " create obsession-worthy products that outlast trends and compound in cultural relevance ". Just what we look for in a bak

Fancy Easter eggs have always been a premium commodity, but as recent horror stories of spiking cocoa costs pushing penny-pinching companies to sub palm oil for cocoa butter in what they now legally need to call “chocolate-flavoured” products, the real deal is starting to seem more prestige than ever. Still, our survey of top-tier options this year shows that the higher end of the market is generally doing their level best to keep price inflation down – compared to the mass-m

Did somebody just cut a VAT rate in here or what? After a long, cold winter, where only stray dribs and drabs of new openings gave us anything to look forward to sinking our teeth into, since February there’s been a glut of new openings cascading across Dublin. While many of these may be existing operations expanding their footprints from the safety of a solidly bankable base, there are enough new and novel concepts cropping up to give you faith for better times ahead in 2026

The world feels a bit mad at the moment, and it seems to be seeping into menus too. We're talking butter chicken benedict for breakfast, a black garlic aioli bánh mì for lunch, and a wavy, upright tiramisu for dessert, but food-based madness is something we're on board with... 1) Butter Chicken Benedict , Cora We love an unexpected breakfast option (there are only so many pancakes, granola bowls and 'full Irish's anyone can tolerate), so this butter chicken benedict has put C

- Ranelagh's newest restaurant, Chongqing Hotpot, soft launched this week, and there's a lot from this menu  we want to try asap   - New restaurant Kindee has gone in where Indochine was on Leeson Street, with the old restaurant's chefs now in charge   - Jamie's Italian in Dundrum has quietly closed  after 14 years. Anyone else amazed it lasted that long?   - Bread 41 are promising to double their footprint over the next 18 months with four new bakeries , including one on Dub

- Boco opened their second permanent location in Clontarf on Friday, after a long delay! It's looking like it could be worth the wait ...   - Dave's Hot Chicken, the US fast food chain backed by Drake and Samuel L Jackson is coming to Central Plaza   - Also in Central Plaza, Díon has gotten a  multi-million euro loan from a Belfast-based lender. Maybe they can finally finish the floors   - What was Ian's Kitchen in Kimmage is coming back as Elle's , after a partnership with

Just think how much better your (hopefully long) St Patrick's weekend will be if we drop into your inbox with one of these brilliant prizes this Wednesday . If you're already an Insider , you’re automatically entered into our monthly draws , with nine prizes handpicked by us, from some of the best restaurants, hotels, food and drink businesses around. March’s draw happens on Wednesday 18th , with the winners announced on social media and contacted directly by email. If you’re

Two weeks ago we were asking if the weather apocalypse was over yet. This week it's the same question but about the world's latest war. It's too easy to go into a dark hole of " what is going on in the world/how did these sado masochists get into power/will I be able to afford to drive my car next month ", but 99.9% of us are helpless to change literally anything, so the best thing you can do is try not to let it get in on yourself, and maybe turn off the news once in a while

What’s with all the buzz about Tribe Coffee?   Founded by friends Simon Lambert and Finn McGarry, Tribe Coffee opened in 2021 at St. Enda’s GAA club in Ballyboden, before opening a café proper in Rathmines in 2022. Their latest and third opening in Rathgar village answered a request from regulars - more seats. The new space keeps their signature pastel palette and has been designed with social media snaps in mind – look at that purple La Marzocco coffee machine. Natural ligh

- The new Mani is getting close, and she is looking fabulous   - Cantina Latina  opens in The Button Factory in Temple Bar this week. It's from the team behind Flavouritos in Priory Market and they'll be serving "Latin Street Food"   - Niall Sabongi's seafood food truck Salty Buoy is moving into CHQ , serving hake kievs, smoked salmon bagels, and lobster rolls from Monday - Friday at lunchtime   - We've been fielding messages about it for months, but it looks like Daddy's in

- Rosa Madre had The Foo Fighters  in for dinner this week, and the legends surprised the restaurant's team and families with VIP tickets for their gig at The Academy   - There's a new café/restaurant in Mount Merrion where Esther's/Little Mike's used to be. Tábla is "a French bistro born of love for Irish ingredients", from owners Tanguy and Thomas who met working at Piglet. They're only open daytime hours right now but dinner's coming soon   - The Music Café on the quays ha

What’s the story with Honest to Goodness?   A smart social media presence and everything-in-house ethos had Liberties café Honest to Goodness  on our hitlist long before their turkey meatball Christmas wrap leapfrogged the competition to land best-in-class in our seasonal sandwich rankings . With a revamped menu just launched, and another sopping day leaving us in dire need of a lift, it was time to dig deeper.   What should we order?   They really do make almost everything o

The Bealtaine brigade will tell you spring set off all of three weeks ago, but judging by *gestures at everything*, we’re not quite ready to concede winter has passed us by yet. Look down from gloomy skies to rejigged menus though, and there’s no doubt the end is in sight. From a bounty of blood oranges and feasts of forced rhubarb, to the first wafts of wild garlic and weirdly early white asparagus, here’s everything out there to get a taste of spring in until you can feel i

Is it over? The weather apocalypse of the past month must have been brutal for Dublin's food and drink business, with more people choosing to work from home, cancel plans to avoid a soaking, and order in to avoid going out. With the brief respite we're currently seeing it's time to make hay, and here's some inspiration if you're procrastinating on getting work done by wondering where to eat this week... 1) Sumac and pomegranate lamb, Chubby's Despite there being no tables ava

- It's been a week for The Hoxton, who saw a big protest outside their Exchequer Street hotel earlier this week after the building's leaseholders took neighbours Yamamori Izakaya to court to try to get an injunction against them playing their nightly music . Yamamori hit back , then The Hoxton released a statement attempting to distance themselves from the court action, even though it was the hotel's manager named on the affidavit . Watch this space   - And in news of other h

After years of begging Grano 's Roberto Mungo to let us take over the most in demand restaurant in Dublin for one night, he's finally gotten sick of our pleading and given in. On Monday 16th March   Grano is opening especially for ATF Insiders , for a social dining experience that's going to show you why their next available tables are in May. We'll start with a sparkling Calabrian apertivo in A Fianco  at 7pm, their wine bar next door, before moving into the restaurant for t

As you sit trying to remember what the sun looks like, and wondering whether you'll ever have dry shoes again, just think - we could be dropping into your inbox with a brilliant prize this Wednesday . If you're already an Insider , you’re automatically entered into our monthly draws, with nine of the best prizes handpicked by us, from some of the best restaurants, hotels and food businesses around. February’s draw will take place on Wednesday 18th , with the winners announced

- What were The Hoxton thinking opening up next door to last night venue Yamamori Izakaya, then seeking a high court injunction  to get them to turn the noise levels down. They say they've had to close 31 rooms, and are looking at losses of €300k by the end of March, and they are currently the subject of many, many  piss takes . Irish artist Maser also shared the story and claimed that the same hotel offered him €10 per painting to be displayed on their walls, saying it would

What’s the story with Dollars?   After being impressed by the Peruvian plates at The Hoxton’s Cantina Valentina , we were quietly curious if daytime deli Dollars  could repeat the magic. With New York deli counter culture a dime a dozen in Dublin these days there’s no novel niche-filling here – especially with so much local competition about. Add to that all those years we had to walk through the ugly hoarding outside, and these would want to be good.   And?   There are worse

If you didn't leave the house last week thanks to the slightly inclement weather we've been having, we wouldn't blame you, but it's a new week and it's time to get back out there. We're thinking tiramisu oats for breakfast, buffalo chicken bowls for lunch, and all the gildas for dinner. And maybe a black forest dessert...? 1) Black Forest mousse, Orwell Road Black forest anything has been severely under-represented since the 80's, amiright? Orwell Road in Terenure agree, and

While it was a night of big celebrations for Forest Avenue in Dublin and The Pullman in Galway, the only two new stars for Ireland in the 2026 Michelin Guide, it was otherwise a damp squib of a ceremony, for a country certain that its time in the spotlight had come. There was widespread feeling across the industry that the guide holding the culinary industry's most prestigious awards in Dublin for the first time was symbolic, and that it was going to be a bonanza year for o

- The Michelin awards take place in Dublin tomorrow night! Irish Times food critic Corinna Hardgrave made her predictions here , but most other people are keeping schtum as these guys are nothing if unpredictable. We would love to see Comet and Amai by Viktor get the chef's jacket, and if anyone's in line for three our money's on Chapter One or Dede. You can tune in at home here   - Allta soft launched their new cocktail bar this weekend. Our eyes can't look away from the car

- Volumes, the new Tara Street café from Paddy Kirk as As One's Mark Cashen opens this Tuesday, and  the space looks stunning   - The guys behind Mani are opening a new sandwich shop in the space once they make the move across the road. Morso is promising big sandwiches and no shortcuts   - Zaytoon on Camden Street is closing after 26 years ! Very much end of an era stuff   - RIP TGI Fridays   - Marée is still on course for a spring opening, and here's a sneak peek   - The tw

Six months on from Christmas and with nine years still to go to the start of spring, it’s fair to say this January has been an endless, soaking slog we can’t wait to be rid of. All that’s keeping us going is sneaking in whatever catchups we didn't get around to at Christmas, but with everyone’s bank balance still hurting from the festive season, value options are key. Here's our best bets for treating yourself while feeling smug about the minimal outlay involved...   Chiya, D

What’s the story with Sushi & Go?   A few weeks ago, breathy posts started appearing on social media about new grab and go sushi on Montague Street. Sushi & Go 's website only has limited information (find their Insta here ), but there was enough different here to colour us interested. Most of Dublin's sushi places have nothing major to set them apart, but Sushi & Go has come in with Onigiri (stuffed Japanese rice in the shape of a triangle), and Inari (sweet, savoury, stuff

We're nearly there people. The longest month since time began has only five days left (still another five!?), and we're plodding our way through with thoughts of fresh fig pizza, balsamic mushroom and comté pastries, and stuffed brioche buns that look like they've landed straight from a Bologna sandwich shop. Here's this week's eating hit list... 1) Mortadella, stracciatella and pistachio brioche, Elliot's Praise be for Elliot's doing the actual Lord's work with this mortadel

- Langkawi in Dublin 4 has closed after a massive 36 years!   - Vice is the latest addition to Dundrum's growing food scene. They're building their third site  as we type   -  Gerard's Café  is coming to Hatch Street, which might take some of the lunchtime pressure off Tír Deli   - Oliver Dunne has announced that Bon Appetit's Malahide replacement  will be Italian   - Donnybrook Fair have closed their Dundrum location , after a review of "the long term viability of the store"

- It was a week to remember for Kaldero, who were added to the Michelin guide  just six months after the couple behind Bahay took it over, opening Dublin's first fully Filipino restaurant. The Old Spot in Dublin 4 were  also re-added for the first time since 2023, under Head Chef Mark Ahessy   - Scéal are coming back to Dublin 8! They've been revealed as the new owner/operators of what was Little Bird in Portobello, and locals are beside themselves   - The brand new and impro

A new year means a brand-new set of ATF Insider giveaways - and we’re starting 2026 as we mean to go on. If you're an Insider , you’re automatically entered into our monthly draws, with nine brilliant prizes handpicked by us, from some of the best restaurants, hotels and food businesses around. January’s draw will take place on Sunday 18th January , with the winners announced on social media and contacted directly by email. If you’re not an Insider yet, you can join before

Our 35 hottest list features the most talked about restaurants in Dublin right now, based on column inches, Insta love and the general pain involved in getting a booking. There are the restaurants with all the buzz, in alphabetical order, with four new entries for 2026... (It might also be useful to read our guide on how to tables in the top ten hardest to book restaurants in Dublin) * This list doesn't include cafés or lunch-only options, everywhere here is open for dinner

With the festive season’s wallet and waistline-busting indulgence maxing most of us out in more ways than one, January tends to be the quietest time of the year on the restaurant scene with plenty of places keeping their doors closed into mid-month. But between offers looking to lure people back out, healthy specials studded with stuff that’s good for your gut, and just plain-old piping-hot winter warmers to put some life back in your frozen soul, there’s plenty out there to

New year, new us, right? Not likely. If you're looking for us we'll be hoofing coppa and crescentina, eating more Semlor than is recommended, and slicing into a Galette de Rois with abandon, but we will balance it out with veggie sambos so all isn't completely lost... 1) Coppa & Crescentina, Borgo It's no secret that we're big fans of all things Italia around here, and this Antica Coppa with Crescentina Fritti from Borgo is the best looking one we've seen outside Bologna. If

What’s the story with Street Frites?   After the short-lived (much loved) Vi's House  closed after a year of trading, 21 Duke Lane sat empty for much of 2025. Former fans were a flutter when the lights went back on before Christmas, hoping that Vi was making a comeback, but it was something new. Street Frites is "Belgian-style fries using the best Irish potatoes", from commercial grower Meade Farm in Navan, with chips cut and sauces made in house. They've got on-the-go cone

- Bastible have introduced a new Saturday lunch menu  for €75, with four courses plus extras, and there's a vegetarian option   - New café Baked and Bottled opened in Ashtown this week, with Korean baker Eojin finally having somewhere to showcase her baking skills. Coffee is sadly commercial Italian and not anything worth travelling for (many of you have been asking)   - Bare Bone , a new cocktail bar and meat-focused restaurant, has opened on Wexford Street where Against The

- Happy new year from ATF! We hope you had proper break over Christmas, full of only the best food and drinks, although we'd bet like us you're now more than ready to get back to the regular routine - there's only so long we can go with mince pies and Irish cream coffees as our key macros. Things are still only waking up out there, but here's some bits you may have missed...   - Matsukawa very, very quietly soft launched their new restaurant Yakiniku Matsukawa , above their m

We thought last year was peak Christmas sandwich hysteria, but each year it seems to shift into a new gear. This year's seen Japanese sandos, off piste meats like duck and beef cheek, and "pigs in blanket gildas" being served on top, which clearly we were straight off to try. Last year we said it was getting impossible to find a Christmas sandwich under €10, this year a lot are edging towards €15 (one was €17.50!!), so it's even more important that you know where is worth you

- Scéal are coming back to Dublin! They'll open location number two  at Wilton Park in Dublin 2 next summer   - The guys behind Kicky's, chef Eric Matthews and FOH Richie Barrett are taking over Bang  on Merrion Row (Richie's family's restaurant) in the New Year   - It's been another week of break-ins around the city, with Tribe in Rathgar , Deano's in Walkinstown , Melo in Castleknock   - Bang Bang in Phibsboro is changing ownership ! It's the end of an era, but what a lovel

We've got to end the year with a bang right? Well BOOM as Paul would say - here's the nine outrageous prizes we've got up for grabs for our premium subscribers in December. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders goes automatically into the draw, you don't need to do anything else. As an ad and invite-free platform , ATF Insiders is how we're funded, ensuring that the recommendations we give you are 100% genuine, without PR influence, and untainted by invites and free food. Eve

- We nearly fainted this morning when one of our readers sent us images of fire trucks outside Variety Jones, but thankfully the team said it was a smoke issue and there was no fire. It's been 18 months since the original fire in their new premises  sent them back to the old one while repair works were done, and they're only back in since earlier this year. Of all nights/mornings for it to happen, Saturday/Sunday was the best, as their next sitting isn't until Wednesday   - M

Silly season has landed, and while we prefer to hibernate over all the partying at this time of year, us gals and guys still have to eat. So IF we were out on the town this week, THIS is what we'd be racing for... 1) All the winter treats, OMMA OMMA matcha bar in BT's have just launched a new winter treats menu with chef Maeve Scully and wait till you get a load of this. Toasted miso banana bread with mascarpone cinnamon cream and miso caramel; Matcha white chocolate almond b

We’d barely published our first festive food and drink rundown  before we were bursting at the seams with enough for a second – even outside of the insane sandwich scene  (don’t miss our ever-updating verdicts ), Dublin is really gone crackers for Christmas this year. From seasonal salads to Christmas cocktails, here’s another helping of yuletide treats to eat and drink your way through the city with... Quince pies, Elliots We went into mince pie overdrive last time with all

This article used to be "where to get a Christmas sandwich in Dublin", but each year more and more places jump on the festive sandwich bandwagon, so instead it's where to get the most interesting ones. We're not including your bog-standard turkey, ham, stuffing and cranberry - there needs to be something extra going on. If you want a full and comprehensive list of where to get one, check out our Christmas sandwich map here , and our verdicts on what we've tried so far here .