A neighbourhood café just off Parnell Street, Blas has been serving feel-good breakfast, brunch and lunch since 2014. The large, high-ceilinged space draws a wide range of customers including WFH-ers looking for a change of scene (there’s good WiFi and plugs), parents pushing buggies, and anyone wanting to eat good food from a team who care where it’s from. Chicken and eggs are free range, they use organic and local where possible, and there’s no issue catering for dietary requirements. Prices are democratic in the extreme - another reason people keep coming back. Blas Website blascafe.ie Address 26 King's Inns Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story A neighbourhood café just off Parnell Street, Blas has been serving feel-good breakfast, brunch and lunch since 2014. The large, high-ceilinged space draws a wide range of customers including WFH-ers looking for a change of scene (there’s good WiFi and plugs), parents pushing buggies, and anyone wanting to eat good food from a team who care where it’s from. Chicken and eggs are free range, they use organic and local where possible, and there’s no issue catering for dietary requirements. Prices are democratic in the extreme - another reason people keep coming back. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Fia Website fia.ie Address 155B, Rathgar Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

This sweet Italian café has a legion of local fans who come for simple plates of pasta, paninis, salads and more. This is homestyle cooking served with Italian warmth, and pretty much everything is made fresh in house. Check out the monthly set menu with specialities from a different Italian region each month. Bell Pesto Website instagram.com/bellpestocafe Address 44 James's St, The Liberties, Dublin, Ireland Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story This sweet Italian café has a legion of local fans who come for simple plates of pasta, paninis, salads and more. This is homestyle cooking served with Italian warmth, and pretty much everything is made fresh in house. Check out the monthly set menu with specialities from a different Italian region each month. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Some of the most exciting Indian cooking in the country in a no frills dining room in Blackrock Market. Husband and wife team Santosh and Millie (chef and host) have gained a serious following for their pani puri, daily changing curries and excellent value. At weekday lunch they serve a taster thali so you can try a bit of everything, and they've got options for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. 3 Leaves Website 3leaves.ie Address Unit 30, Blackrock Market, 19A Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Some of the most exciting Indian cooking in the country in a no frills dining room in Blackrock Market. Husband and wife team Santosh and Millie (chef and host) have gained a serious following for their pani puri, daily changing curries and excellent value. At weekday lunch they serve a taster thali so you can try a bit of everything, and they've got options for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Open since 2010, the southside outpost of the Kinara Group has is still as big a part of the Ranelagh dining scene as ever. The food is mainly Pakistani but you'll find plenty you recognise from your local Indian too. There's a cocktail bar and open-air terrace upstairs. Kinara Kitchen Ranelagh Website kinarakitchen.ie Address 17 Ranelagh Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Open since 2010, the southside outpost of the Kinara Group has is still as big a part of the Ranelagh dining scene as ever. The food is mainly Pakistani but you'll find plenty you recognise from your local Indian too. There's a cocktail bar and open-air terrace upstairs. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Oliveto at Haddington House, with its "Italian heart, Irish soul", has an extensive menu of small plates, pasta, pizza and mains of meat and fish. Enjoy handmade pasta, chargrilled octopus or Ossobuco Milanese, in their sleek atmospheric dining room with sea views. A cocktail before or after dinner in the adjoining Parlour bar is a must. Oliveto Website haddingtonhouse.ie/oliveto-22 Address Haddington House, 9-12 Haddington Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Oliveto at Haddington House, with its "Italian heart, Irish soul", has an extensive menu of small plates, pasta, pizza and mains of meat and fish. Enjoy handmade pasta, chargrilled octopus or Ossobuco Milanese, in their sleek atmospheric dining room with sea views. A cocktail before or after dinner in the adjoining Parlour bar is a must. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Mexican taqueria (formerly in Temple Bar) with a cult following. Tacos, tortillas and tortas are cheap and tasty, and it's more authentic than most. El Grito Website facebook.com/elgritodublin Address 20 Mountjoy Square East, Dublin 1 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Mexican taqueria (formerly in Temple Bar) with a cult following. Tacos, tortillas and tortas are cheap and tasty, and it's more authentic than most. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Pakistani/Eastern food that's adored by locals and should be booked well in advance. Small plates include the 'Molly Malone Masala' with cockles and mussels, and mains lean heavily into their Tandoor grill. Meat is Irish with free-range chicken and locally-caught fish, and they like to include modern twists on dishes that diners might be familiar with. Taza Website taza.ie Address 2 Ardcollum Avenue, Beaumont, Dublin 5 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Pakistani/Eastern food that's adored by locals and should be booked well in advance. Small plates include the 'Molly Malone Masala' with cockles and mussels, and mains lean heavily into their Tandoor grill. Meat is Irish with free-range chicken and locally-caught fish, and they like to include modern twists on dishes that diners might be familiar with. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Bovinity Capel Street gets a sleek new steakhouse Posted: 9 Aug 2022 Neighbourhood Neighborhood Name Address Restaurant Address Website Website Name Restaurant Info View the Listing >> Written by: Lisa Cope What's the story? Bovinity just appeared, fully formed, on social media at the end of June, and opened its doors to influencers and celebrities (Keith Duffy himself graced their presence on opening night) mere days later. With the neon signs, industrial chic fit out and high end cocktail shots it was clear who their target demographic was, but we struggled to get more meaningful information out of them - like who owns it and where they were sourcing their food. We eventually found out through the grapevine that it's the same owners as All Bar Chicken across the road and in Stoneybatter, which we've never been to due to the absence of free-range chicken, and were told that their steaks are sourced from FX Buckley. Things were looking up. With all the eye-catching Instagram posts and reels, including some from those there on an #invite , you guys wanted to know what it was really like, and whether Hawksmoor have anything to worry about. Where should I sit? It's a big space and there are loads of seating options. High tables seating a max of four run almost along the full wall leading from the front to the back, where you'll find lower tables and semi-private seating areas that would be ideal for small groups. There's also a lovely booth at the front inside the window that would seat at least six, but they might let you push it to more. Generally we're more fans of natural light than neon, so we'd be out front, but if you're trying to hide, talk in private or carrying out an illicit affair, head to the back. Decor is sleek, modern and industrial, and they've done a great job on the fit out. What's the food like? This is a steak house for the TikTok generation. It's simple, accessible, and there's no fancy information on there, like the provenance of their meat, fish and vegetables, or who the chef is. If you're a fan of Featherblade on Dawson Street you'll find the menu is quite similar here, with a little less flair. We started with some "bits" - very good Nocellara olives, and slightly over-toasted sourdough with truffle mascarpone. Let's be straight, there is absolutely no need for bread in a steakhouse, but it disappeared almost as fast as it hit the table - that "just sat down and starving" hunger tends to do that. If however you feel as Irish Times food critic Corinna Hardgrave does about truffle oil (that it has no place in civilised society and should be extinguished from the planet) you might want to avoid it. (Read more about that here ) On "oyster shooter" came in a pleasant Asian style dressing flecked with chilli and sesame, but when we asked where it was from we were surprised to hear "France". Even in months not ending in R (the generally accepted best months to eat oysters) there are plenty of farmed oysters available across the country, so we can only assume the choice to use imported ones was for cost reasons, and this one was very small. A starter of burrata, mixed heritage tomatoes, splodges of puréed basil and an olive crumb on the other hand hit all the right notes. A clever addition of pink pickled onions brought welcome sour notes to the plate of sweet tomatoes, creamy cheese, fragrant basil and that crunchy crumb, and this is exactly the type of summery starter you might want before diving into a steak - with a whole ball of burrata you could even share it. Our other starter of "prawns pil pil" had enough chilli, garlic and lemon to wake up the most jaded palate, and we unashamedly cleaned the plate with extra bread, but the pedantic in us was irritated by the fact that this is not pil pil - there is no lemon or any form of creaminess in pil pil. Either cook the original dish in bubbling hot, spicy, garlic oil (bread on the side thanks), or just call this prawns with garlic, lemon and chilli and we'll chill out. Onto mains and there was a choice of three steaks (one sharing), a double smash burger, and spiced aubergine for the veggies with dukkah and whipped feta. We started with the burger and were very pleasantly surprised at how good it was (we thought the steak would be the star). Two juicy patties (they would have been better if they were more pink but it takes a brave soul to do that with Environmental Health Officers breathing down your neck), excellent burger sauce, a single leaf of lettuce, cucumber pickle, melted cheese (there could have been more) and a nicely toasted brioche bun was almost faultless, and any burger chasers will want to add this to your beef patty bucket list. For steak we'd been mentally eating the sharing Côte de boeuf (a bargain at €55-€65 we were told) since Bovinity opened, so there was much dropping of faces when we were told it wasn't on. Instead they had a sharing striploin or a t-bone, priced from €55 - €85, depending on the size). We didn't fancy paying top dollar for either of those cuts, so went with a 'chef's cut' which we were told was flank (€17), and a rib-eye (€23). The chef's cut arrived and we doubted if it was actually flank - it had none of the grain, texture or mounded shape you would associate with that cut of beef. Instead it was very soft and tasted woolly, as if it had been cooked for too long in a water bath. It looked and tasted more like Featherblade, which is a beautiful cut when cooked right, but something had gone wrong here. The rib-eye was much better, cooked perfectly medium-rare, nicely browned on the outside, and great flavour throughout. They're not huge steaks, but as city centre prices go it felt like value for money. We've been told by multiple people that steaks come from FX Buckley, and we're not sure why they're not shouting about that. The only problem with both steaks was the sickly sweet onion marmalade that came on the side, and would be far better suited to a cheese plate than a chef's cut of meat. It was completely over-powering, ruining the flavour of the meat, and we advise you to scrape it to the side or ask them not to bring it at all. Especially because the sauces are so damn good. Both the béarnaise and chimichurri were textbook perfect, so automatically adding the onion stuff to plates is ill-judged. There's also peppercorn, mushroom, and we were very, very tempted to order the bone gravy. Chips were good too, skin on, crisp and hot. You can get them naked or with truffle and parmesan (see earlier note on truffle oil), and one is clearly more wanton than the other so choose based on stomach space/satiety needed. You're going to want to try the onion strings (more wanton abandon here), which consist of long strings of deep fried onion, just cooked so there's still the slightest crunch, and although we thought they would have benefited from being a touch crispier, this is a side of the "take it away from me or I'll keep eating it" variety. The only bum-note came with the 'creamed spinach', which first came as a ramekin of 'dry spinach', flaking around our forks like tiny pieces of crepe paper. We called staff and said we didn't think it was right, and were told "that's how it comes", and had to persist until it was taken back to the kitchen and shown to the chef. Eventually we were delivered actual creamed spinach, and it was actually very good, with the perfect amount of cream and nutmeg - we were just left scratching our heads as to how it went so wrong first time round, and why staff weren't falling over themselves to take this dry pot of flaky greens away from us. There are two desserts on the menu, both incredibly heavy for following steak and chips (and the rest), and we think they would have been wise to have something simple, straightforward and lighter on there to end with. Instead you've got a pistachio and apricot bread and butter pudding with crème anglaise and vanilla ice-cream. It's very good, we'd happily eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, but after a heavy meal you'll want a spoon or two at most. The other one they're calling "The Marathon - If ya know ya know". If ya don't know, it's a bowl of very good (but again very heavy) chocolate ganache with whole peanuts, a light, creamy topping (somewhere between whipped cream and ice-cream), and more chocolate on top along with edible gold leaf. The same applies to this one - a few spoons and you'll be begging for mercy (or a second stomach). Basically you will not need a dessert per person, but they're worth trying. What about drinks? We were told by past visitors to try the bell pepper sour and it was excellent, with all the tang, bitterness and smoky depth you would hope for. It's clear that work and energy has gone into the cocktail list, and there's loads on there we would have liked to order, including their version of a Negroni with Valentia Island vermouth, and a Bloody Mary with tomato and pickle juice. The beer list is short but not the usual suspects either, with local options from Rascals and the Dublin City Brewing Company. An Irish craft cider would complete the picture. Wines are sadly less exciting, and the two we tried tasted sterile, more like something from a supermarket than a quality steakhouse. We had to send back a Mencia as it tasted off, as if it had been open too long. A freshly opened bottle was better, but as Mencia goes this was not a great example. An Italian blend wasn't much better, and we found ourselves wishing we'd stuck to cocktails. Clearly they're focused on price/value rather than trying to create an award-winning wine list, but they could do better, and to not have something big like a Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon by the glass seems like a big oversight. How was the service? Mostly pleasant but after having to call the server a couple of times to complain, there was a subtle sense of "here go the Karens" again. Situations could have been handled with more care and genuine apologies - instead we felt as if we were the problem. We've had far, far worse service experiences, but some training is needed. And the damage? €145.50 before tip for enough food to comfortably feed three hungry adults with a drink each. As the city centre goes right now it felt like decent value, but would be more so if they just tightened things up a bit. The verdict? Bovinity has brought a bit of glam to Capel Street, and many, many Instagrammable/TikTokable opportunities for anyone who walks through the door, phone firmly in hand. There's a lot of potential here if they can tighten up the food and iron out the creases in service, and we imagine they're looking at more sites, so hopefully this is their number one focus before any expansion plans. There's plenty of gaps in the Dublin market when it come to casual, quality dining experiences, on the lower side of spend and the higher side of fun, and if they put all of their energy into elevating the experience here, and forgot about getting screentime on influencer accounts, we think they'd get to where they need to be much sooner. Bovinity 123 Capel Street, Dublin 1 bovinity.ie New Openings & Discoveries More >>

This sweet little Malaysian café in the middle of a housing estate in Palmerstown is one of our finds of 2025, with the best Nasi Lemak we've had outside of Kuala Lumpur. Avoid the non-Malay dishes, there for locals who can't move with the times, and focus on the curry puffs, homemade satay, and rice and noodle dishes. D'Lepak Website d-lepak.ie Address 34 Manor Rd, Redcowfarm, Dublin 20, D20 DY20, Ireland Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story This sweet little Malaysian café in the middle of a housing estate in Palmerstown is one of our finds of 2025, with the best Nasi Lemak we've had outside of Kuala Lumpur. Avoid the non-Malay dishes, there for locals who can't move with the times, and focus on the curry puffs, homemade satay, and rice and noodle dishes. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Virtuous eating to cleanse away the weekend’s excesses from vegetable-obsessed brothers Jack and Theo Kirwan. Eating well while caring for the environment seem to be their life's purpose, and they're even growing some of their own produce on the Sprout farm in Kildare, meaning it gets to customers' plates faster and fresher. Salads are so colourful and vibrant they're almost bursting from the plate, and change with the seasons. Sprout & Co Camden Street Website sproutfoodco.com Address Sprout & Co Camden St, Camden Street Lower, Saint Kevin's, Dublin, Ireland Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Virtuous eating to cleanse away the weekend’s excesses from vegetable-obsessed brothers Jack and Theo Kirwan. Eating well while caring for the environment seem to be their life's purpose, and they're even growing some of their own produce on the Sprout farm in Kildare, meaning it gets to customers' plates faster and fresher. Salads are so colourful and vibrant they're almost bursting from the plate, and change with the seasons. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Note A new chef brings a fresh new energy to the Dublin wine bar and bistro Posted: 24 Mar 2026 Neighbourhood Neighborhood Name Address Restaurant Address Website Website Name Restaurant Info View the Listing >> Written by: Lisa Cope Why are you back to review Note for a second time? Because there's a new chef in town, and it's created a whole new buzz about this wine bar and bistro near Merrion Square. Sam Kindillon has been gone from Ireland for the past 10 years, working at top restaurants in Copenhagen and Berlin, like Amass and Ora. He's the kind of Irish chef abroad we longingly look at through social media, hoping if we will it hard enough they'll eventually come home, bringing their globally-gained talents with them. He started out here in Michelin-starred L’Ecrivain, training under Forest Avenue's John and Sandy Wyer, as well as owner/chef Derry Clarke, but time abroad has formed a strong ethos around collaborating with farms and food producers, and keeping things simple and seasonal - it's all sounding very Scandi. Since their original head chef Essa Fakhry, whose food we loved so much , left for college and cooking in London, things here have been changeable and reports mixed, but Note's owners say they're excited about " this next chapter ". What seats do we want? Ours is always a window street, either looking out to people watch, or sitting back and scanning the room for what other people are eating/drinking/talking about. We're less keen on those tables that float in the middle of the room, and we struggled to get through them to get to the toilet a couple of times. There only seemed to be one viable path, with chairs splayed across others. If you're eating alone, the bar is calling your name, or as a two top it's an easy option for a laid back bite, even if there's no kitchen to peer into. These are the seats you're most likely to stumble on if you chance your arm on a walk in. So what's the new menu like? It's original, that's for sure, without a croqueta, gilda or burrata in sight. Dishes they can honestly claim to be the only ones serving abound, with pork and prawn rosti, venison and coffee tartare, and cuttlefish cavatelli sticking out like a neon sign in a candlelit room. Be aware though that much of the "smaller" dishes are very substantial (with prices to match), so don't treat them like starters. The absolute best way to experience this menu is with a few people who are all happy to share (i.e. the only people to go to dinner with). The "we don't do things like everyone else" statements start with the bread (€6) - instead of the ubiquitous sourdough, brown or brioche, Kindillon is bringing batch to the table, and we can't believe we hadn't seen this done elsewhere. So soft, so crusty, so very Dublin - you'll want a good inch of that salt rock butter on there. We started as strong as it gets with the dish that's been stealing the headlines - a pork and prawn rosti, coated in grated potato before being fried, served in a furikake milk bun with spicy pickles and mayo made from boiled eggs (€18). This minor miracle has all the flavours of the best dumpling you've ever had in the guise of a texturally immense burger, and it's without doubt one of the best things you can eat in Dublin right now. It's also quite a feed (which it would want to be for €18), and we can't see many people being able to eat a whole one before going onto a main. If you're not sharing, this is your main. We pulled it back with raw hamachi (€20) in a clementine sauce vierge, (usually made with olive oil, tomatoes, lemon juice and basil). Maybe it was the thickness of the fish, maybe the sauce, maybe it was what came before it, but no one at the table was jumping up and down for more. There are more invigorating crudo-style dishes on menus around town, like the wild seabass crudo with blood orange and rosemary at Lena , or the yellow fin tuna with blood orange and Japanese spinach at Forest Avenue , and we found ourselves pining for former chef Essa Fakhry's lime-juice and jalapeño spiked ceviches. We went back into hefty territory with a fresh cheese (homemade) and leek borek, a giant slab of filled filo that again no one should consider as a starter before diving into a main. Even between four we worried we'd over done it. We'd love this for breakfast or lunch, but as a wine bar "small plate" it didn't fit. At €18 we're also deep into silly price territory. We have an ongoing compulsion to order any tartare we see, and the pull is even stronger when there's Irish venison at stake. Who knew deer and coffee went so beautifully together, with earthy Jerusalem artichoke coming in as a cream below, and crisps on top (€22). Everyone loved their few bites of this, but agreed they wouldn't have wanted a whole one to themselves - those are some strong, salty flavours. They have four larger plates (one a fish dish for sharing at €80), with a veggie option of hispi cabbage stuffed with chanterelle risotto, and cured egg yolk grated on top (€28). Order this. Even if you struggle to stray from proteins, just do it. Every flavour, texture, component and acidity level is judged so beautifully - it's up there with the rosti. Same goes for the cavatelli pasta with cuttlefish, cockles, asparagus and monksbeard (€36). Forks clashed in the eating of this, diving in for the next bite of treasure, the rich, buttery sauce lifted by plenty of lemon, while we somehow convinced ourselves seafood = light. Winetavern pork from Wicklow (€34) is cooked pink (if you want it more well done we're sure they'll begrudgingly oblige), and is a different animal to anything on the supermarket shelf - you will not need a hand saw to cut through it, a butter knife will do the job. A teeny triangle of pork belly with crackling is the hardest thing here to share, while the white turnips and whey mustard burst through with tingles of added flavour. Beef tallow hand-cut fries (€8) arrived looking like they'd been cut from sweet potatoes (they're actually Ballymakenny Golden Wonders), and were easy to keep throwing back, but they softened as they cooled and we wouldn't have missed them if they weren't there. We tried both desserts, passing on cheese, because who can be bothered paying over the odds for the same assembly we can do at home. A Nica Brown chocolate cake had buckwheat for added texture, and cultured cream to balance the cake's bitterness, but we can't say it left a lasting impression. The other of blood orange portokalopita (a traditional Greek orange cake made with crumbled filo pastry instead of flour) was more of a standout ending, although there was an odd herbal note we couldn't place, and thought it would have been better without it. What are the drinks like? Cocktails have always been a reliable bet in here with five out of the ordinary options for €14 each. The wine list isn't short of interesting bottles, but you'll need plenty of cash to delve in - they lean heavily toward the expensive, with very little at the good value end of the scale. We can't help feeling gutted that what was supposed to be a wine bar enabling those of us who like the finer things in life to drink them at less painful prices, has gone to the other extreme of the scale, and there are scant options under €50, with prices rising very steeply from then on. We drank a sparkling, dry moscato, Mòz , from Italian winery Costadila, but €78 hurt for a relatively simple, very natural fizz. The only other option for a less expensive sparkling was a natural prosecco, or the low alcohol, sweet French sparkling "Cerdon" from Renardat Fache, which is more suited to dessert. Champagnes start at just under €100 for Gobillard, and a good crémant/ Penedès/Lambrusco under €70 is badly missing. The first white wine we ordered wasn't available, and staff happily brought tastes of anything open while we tried to decide on another, but we found the selection under €80 uninspiring so choosing was difficult. We eventually settled on a Rousette de Savoie from Bruno Lupin (€64), which we were confidently told is made from Chardonnay. It is not, but it was pleasant with honeyed pear and peach flavours, if not something we'll be racing to the shops to buy again. At the end we tried to order one each of the two dessert wines on the menu, before being told that one was out of stock and there was no substitute - two out of five wines we tried to order being unavailable aren't great odds. So it was two glasses of sparkling moscato, while we thought about how much better the Sauternes would have been with the blood orange portakalopita. How was the service? Note's new GM is a face many customers will be familiar with. Neil Kenna is the charismatic barman on First Dates Ireland , and is one of Dublin's longest-standing hospitality heads. He's managed Ely, The Old Spot, The Dunmore, Luna and loads more, and it's a bit of a coup by Note to draw him to Fenian Street. He's warm and charming, and must be sick of customers saying "are you the guy from the TV?", but he handles it all with a joke and a smile. Our main server was very pleasant and capable too, but other staff looked lost at times, and requests for more water, a drinks list, the bill went untended to until we flagged down someone else and asked again. What did the bill come to? Just over €98 per person before tip, for 11 plates, two bottles of wine and two dessert wines between four. We were very well sated. What's the verdict on this new iteration of Note? In a sea of sameness, Sam Kindillon's food feels fresh and novel, having more in common with somewhere like Comet than your average Dublin wine bar. While we still think the menu needs honing and refining (the chef is only in the job a matter of weeks), there are enough glimpses of greatness, like that pork and prawn burger, and the chanterelle-stuffed hispi cabbage, to make us want to go back. We'd love to see more wine variety at less nausea inducing prices, and would bet that would go some way to filing the few empty tables on the Friday night we visited, but everyone from couples, to giddy friend groups, to extended families (kids included) looked very happy with their pick and mix dish selections on the table. To get the best out of the new Note, go with a group, order it all, and fight over the last bites of your favourites. New Openings & Discoveries More >>

Upscale seafood restaurant from the owners of O'Connell's pub not far away. Local produce is important and the menu takes risks that plenty of others in the seaside village don't. The Pier House Website thepierhouse.ie Address West Pier, Howth, Dublin 13 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Upscale seafood restaurant from the owners of O'Connell's pub not far away. Local produce is important and the menu takes risks that plenty of others in the seaside village don't. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

After shifting to Japanese-leaning Lotus Eaters in 2024, 2025 saw The Pig’s Ear go back to its roots, and turn the dial up on the Irishness. A brand new menu was launched, with dishes inspired by and featured throughout Dublin’s literary history, and dishes like coddle, tongue n’cheek kidney pudding, and boxty pancakes with Cais na Tire cheese and truffle getting old and new customers excited. A great place to take visitors to. The Pig's Ear Website thepigsear.ie Address The Pig’s Ear Dublin, Nassau Street, Dublin, Ireland Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story After shifting to Japanese-leaning Lotus Eaters in 2024, 2025 saw The Pig’s Ear go back to its roots, and turn the dial up on the Irishness. A brand new menu was launched, with dishes inspired by and featured throughout Dublin’s literary history, and dishes like coddle, tongue n’cheek kidney pudding, and boxty pancakes with Cais na Tire cheese and truffle getting old and new customers excited. A great place to take visitors to. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Jaru Website jaru.ie Address 3A Nutgrove Enterprise Park, Nutgrove Way, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Venezuelan-born Nigely Maasud came to Ireland with hopes of starting a tour company, but after realising the capital was lacking a bonefide 'churreria', she started making them with her mother. Their market stall eventually morphed into a Temple Bar café where the crunchy, airy churros are the main attraction (don't miss the Spanish hot chocolate to dip the plain ones in), but ice-cream, crêpes and savoury Venezuelan tequenos stuffed with cheese are more reasons to take a Temple Bar pitstop. Sweet Churro Website sweetchurro.ie Address 3/4 Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Venezuelan-born Nigely Maasud came to Ireland with hopes of starting a tour company, but after realising the capital was lacking a bonefide 'churreria', she started making them with her mother. Their market stall eventually morphed into a Temple Bar café where the crunchy, airy churros are the main attraction (don't miss the Spanish hot chocolate to dip the plain ones in), but ice-cream, crêpes and savoury Venezuelan tequenos stuffed with cheese are more reasons to take a Temple Bar pitstop. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Exciting food made for sharing in a room that feels more like New York or Copenhagen than Dublin. Chef Kevin Burke made his name as head chef of Michelin-starred The Ninth in London, before returning home mid-pandemic and opening Library Street in the former Allta site, and it immediately became one of the most sought after bookings in the city. The private dining room is one of the best in town. Library Street Website librarystreet.ie Address 101 Setanta Place, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Exciting food made for sharing in a room that feels more like New York or Copenhagen than Dublin. Chef Kevin Burke made his name as head chef of Michelin-starred The Ninth in London, before returning home mid-pandemic and opening Library Street in the former Allta site, and it immediately became one of the most sought after bookings in the city. The private dining room is one of the best in town. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

The best of Irish produce in a bright, airy room overlooking the Liffey. Open since 2006 but feels like it’s been a stalwart of the Dublin restaurant scene forever. The Winding Stair Website winding-stair.com Address 40 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin 1 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story The best of Irish produce in a bright, airy room overlooking the Liffey. Open since 2006 but feels like it’s been a stalwart of the Dublin restaurant scene forever. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Some of the best ramen in the city (if not country), with everything homemade in house, from the noodles to the broth. You'll find lots of fermented foods here, from kimchi to kombucha, all the small plates to share, and the space is large and laid back. Plenty of big tables for group gatherings. Soup Two Website soupramen.ie Address 44 - 47 King St North, Smithfield, Dublin 7 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Some of the best ramen in the city (if not country), with everything homemade in house, from the noodles to the broth. You'll find lots of fermented foods here, from kimchi to kombucha, all the small plates to share, and the space is large and laid back. Plenty of big tables for group gatherings. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

The residents of Newtownpark queue up daily for homemade pastries, brightly coloured granola bowls and piled high paninos at Fable + Stey. Every neighbourhood needs a café putting this much effort and flavour into every plate. Fable and Stey Website fableandstey.ie Address 24 Newtown Park, Newtownpark, Co. Dublin Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story The residents of Newtownpark queue up daily for homemade pastries, brightly coloured granola bowls and piled high paninos at Fable + Stey. Every neighbourhood needs a café putting this much effort and flavour into every plate. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Steak. Sides. Simples. A backbone of Dublin’s (thankfully) growing casual dining scene. Very good Featherblade steaks for €13, huge burgers, and good sides. Featherblade Website featherblade.ie Address 51 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Steak. Sides. Simples. A backbone of Dublin’s (thankfully) growing casual dining scene. Very good Featherblade steaks for €13, huge burgers, and good sides. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Irish/French bistro just off Dame Street, that's been a stalwart of the Dublin dining scene for years. Pichet Website pichet.ie Address 14-15 Trinity Street, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Irish/French bistro just off Dame Street, that's been a stalwart of the Dublin dining scene for years. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Dublin isn't drowning in good Vietnamese food but Pho Kim should be on your hit list. Don't miss the 'Bun Tom Thit Nuong', with marinated pork and prawns, rice vermicelli noodles, peanuts, carrots, coriander, crispy onions, cucumber and a tangy sauce to pour over everything before diving in. Pho Kim Website phokim.ie Address 162 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Dublin isn't drowning in good Vietnamese food but Pho Kim should be on your hit list. Don't miss the 'Bun Tom Thit Nuong', with marinated pork and prawns, rice vermicelli noodles, peanuts, carrots, coriander, crispy onions, cucumber and a tangy sauce to pour over everything before diving in. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

What started as a specialty food and wine shop has morphed into a café and wine bar, from the same owners as Mamó a few doors up. The most perfect place to enjoy a Croque Monsieur and a glass of Jura Chardonnay looking out at Howth's harbour. Margadh Howth Website margadh-howth.ie Address Islandview, Harbour Road, Howth, Dublin 13 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story What started as a specialty food and wine shop has morphed into a café and wine bar, from the same owners as Mamó a few doors up. The most perfect place to enjoy a Croque Monsieur and a glass of Jura Chardonnay looking out at Howth's harbour. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

The original Tang site on Dawson Street facing St. Stephen's Green has a lot less seating space than their Abbey Street and Cumberland Place sites, and you can expect to find a queue throughout lunch, but there are few better places to grab a lamb flatbread or a box of brightly coloured salads and head for a bench in the green. Tang Dawson Street Website tang.ie Address 23C Dawson Street, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story The original Tang site on Dawson Street facing St. Stephen's Green has a lot less seating space than their Abbey Street and Cumberland Place sites, and you can expect to find a queue throughout lunch, but there are few better places to grab a lamb flatbread or a box of brightly coloured salads and head for a bench in the green. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Six by Nico Website sixbynico.ie Address 1 Molesworth Place, Dublin 2, Ireland Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

If you've never tried a Southern Indian crispy pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter, and dipped into coconut, fresh herb and tomato chutneys, get thee to Dosa Dosa for the best in the city. Apart from their namesake, you can (and should) also order kathi rolls, parotta and vada (like pillowy, fragrant Indian doughnuts), with a mango lassi to wash it all down. They have a second truck at Hynes Bar in Stoneybatter, and the only regret you'll have after visiting either is that you didn't go sooner. Dosa Dosa Grand Canal Website dosadosa.ie Address Albert Court East, Grand Canal Street Lower, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story If you've never tried a Southern Indian crispy pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter, and dipped into coconut, fresh herb and tomato chutneys, get thee to Dosa Dosa for the best in the city. Apart from their namesake, you can (and should) also order kathi rolls, parotta and vada (like pillowy, fragrant Indian doughnuts), with a mango lassi to wash it all down. They have a second truck at Hynes Bar in Stoneybatter, and the only regret you'll have after visiting either is that you didn't go sooner. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Replacing Duck next to Asia Market, Hong Kong Wonton is the bustling supermarket's latest foray into fast food, Asia style. The wontons are unsurprisingly the star item, but the Hong Kong-style French toast is drawing the Tiktok crowds. The 15 seats fill up but diners eat and move on quickly, as food comes out fast. Hong Kong Wonton Website hongkongwonton.ie Address Hong Kong Wonton, Fade Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Replacing Duck next to Asia Market, Hong Kong Wonton is the bustling supermarket's latest foray into fast food, Asia style. The wontons are unsurprisingly the star item, but the Hong Kong-style French toast is drawing the Tiktok crowds. The 15 seats fill up but diners eat and move on quickly, as food comes out fast. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

There were cries of devastation across the city when Coppinger Row closed its doors at the end of 2021, but the Bereen Brothers are back next door with a far more of the moment offering. "Wine, Music, Food" is the tagline at Row Wines, and they deliver on all fronts, with a potent small plates menu, engrossing wine list, and "vinyl listening experience". The crab rosti was an early stamp of intention, but everything is good here. Row Wines Website bereenbrothers.com/row Address Coppinger Row Unit , City Assembly House, Dublin 2 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story There were cries of devastation across the city when Coppinger Row closed its doors at the end of 2021, but the Bereen Brothers are back next door with a far more of the moment offering. "Wine, Music, Food" is the tagline at Row Wines, and they deliver on all fronts, with a potent small plates menu, engrossing wine list, and "vinyl listening experience". The crab rosti was an early stamp of intention, but everything is good here. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra

Fast casual, inexpensive pasta and small plates, with almost every ingredient sourced in Ireland. Irish twists on Italian classics with a big focus on sustainability - all drinks are on tap, all packaging is compostible and they’re fully paperless. Sprezzatura Camden Market Website sprezzatura.ie Address 5/6 Camden Market, Dublin 8 Good For Tag 1 Cuisine Tag 1 Once Over Read our Review >> The Story Fast casual, inexpensive pasta and small plates, with almost every ingredient sourced in Ireland. Irish twists on Italian classics with a big focus on sustainability - all drinks are on tap, all packaging is compostible and they’re fully paperless. Where It's At Nearby Locales Yibu by Janet Little Canton Dak @ Bar Anam Mongoose Chongqing Hot Pot Boco Clontarf Bell Pesto Bang Gloria Osteria Cantina Valentina D'Lepak Pera Borgo Amai by Viktor Kaizen Chubbys Badam Table 45 Comet Daruma Malahide Lena The Pig's Ear Notions @ Two Pups The Rooftop @ Anantara The Marker Sofra