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BBQ scallops with crunchy chicken skin; beef tonnato with added ooomph; and iced horchata for the summer drink of 2025. Here's what we're eyeing up in Dublin this week... 1) Strawberry & white chocolate eclairs, French Revolution There were too many strawberries around town this week to include them all in our round up of the best seasonal dishes on menus right now , but luckily we have another place to highlight them here. French Revolution 's newest flavour to the menu is this white chocolate and stawberry eclair, and if you haven't made the trip to Dun Laoghaire yet, here's a good reason to do so. They say they're coming very soon - we hope that means tomorrow. 2) Chocolate horchata, Picado Mexican Iced coffee is so last year. 2025 is all about iced chocolate. Picado 's new Horchata sees Proper Chocolate's Mexican drinking chocolate merged with rice, Mexican cinnamon, milk, and Picado's own vanilla essence that's been aged for nine years(!), and this looks like the cool, sweet pick-me-up of the summer. Find it at both of their locations in Portobello and Dublin 8. 3) Beef tonnato, Woodruff Woodruff are never not giving the people of Dublin good reason to get out to Stepaside, and this dry aged beef tonnato is just the latest. Usually made with veal, this one's going strong on flavour with only the best from Higgins Butchers , topping the tuna and anchovy sauce with crispy capers, fermented garlic scapes and sourdough crisps. 4) BBQ scallops, Orwell Road Orwell Road made their name on a scallop and stuffed chicken wing dish , and the theme is back with a brand new bag. This time the scallops are barbecued and served with cauliflower, coconut and crispy chicken skin for crunch. We reckon this might even top the original. 5) Dahi Puri, Kasi Café It's been a while since we had Dahi Puri, and Kasi in Temple Bar have just reminded us to rectify that. If you've never had the pleasure of those crispy shells filled with yoghurt, chutneys, potato, sev, onion, chickpeas and spices, Kasi is a great place to start. Just remember - no biting, down in one.

Where does one season leave off and another latch on? The old Gaelic festivals of Imbolg, Bealtaine, Lughnasa and Samhain maintain a firm hold over many in Ireland, by which May marks the start of summer – given the one that just was, they have a point. Science has its say via the meteorological seasons, which say summer starts Sunday and we’re all still stuck in Spring, and then there’s the astronomical types, howling at the moon that it’s all another three weeks after that – the less said about those, the better. Nature couldn’t give a fig about the squabbling though - she bring the bounty when she’s good and ready... Gooseberry choux, Scéal We were surprised to catch sight of gooseberry in mid-May – as if the last few weeks’ weather wasn’t a treat enough in its own right, it’s also ushered in one of summer’s great flavours a little earlier than usual. Trust Scéal  to have found them – that they’re serving with a cicely-infused crème pât and a candied gorse flower powder tells you all you need to know about these guys’ foraging game. Strawberry buns, Fable There are few bakeries about town we’ll scope out quicker than Fable  at the turn of the season, with all manner of goodies bringing out the best of what’s on offer. Strawberry season brings this beautiful brioche bun, stuffed with strawberry-apple jam and thick crème diplomat, sprinkled with crunchy ginger buckwheat crumble. Get there early for these. Strawberry galettes, Bread Naturally Celebrate it simply is our motto when it comes to any ingredient just back in season, and over in Raheny, Bread Naturally  feel the same. Sure, you’ll also get matcha croissant buns and cream maritozzi among the ends they put new Wexford strawberries to, but this combo of jam and sugar-tossed halves is our first order. Summer granola, BaaBaa Chapelizod café BaaBaa  are always reliable for celebrating the seasons, and their new summer granola bowl has us feeling it every step of the way. More strawberries meet roast apricot and mint on top of house granola and yogurt – be it spring or summer, a sunny start to the day with this and a walk through the Phoenix Park sounds like heaven. Macerated strawberries, Mister S Dessert is rarely what leaps to mind when anyone thinks of Mister S , but here’s a seasonal arrival to turn that on its head. Balsamic vinegar is a classic with strawberry for good reason - spooned over a lemon and thyme sorbet, we can just imagine this tart and sweet symphony’s the perfect follow-up to all that grilled goodness. Strawberry sorbet, Delahunt Delahunt saying their strawberry dessert takes like spring just sums up the subjectivity of seasons - our first sight always signals summer to us. Whatever your take, they’re delicious, even more so made into a sorbet and played off the sweetness of white chocolate and acidic zing of elderflower gel, with textures of meringue and crumble. Stuffed morels, La Gordita Enough fruit? The season-straddling marvels that are morels (or colmenillas en español) are at their best right as spring segues into summer, and La Gordita have complemented their earthy intensity with a stuffing of pine nuts and raisins. Get in and gulp them down while you can, and make sure to match them with a good glass of red while you’re at it. Poached cod and peas, The Seafood Café The peak of peas is still to come - we picked up our first pods at the weekend - but right in with the early treatment to beat is Temple Bar’s The Seafood Café . This riff on a classic Portuguese cod dish poaches the fish in a house stock, and surrounds it with coriander and mint to complement the bright pop of pea green. Could you get more seasonal? Anchovy and peach, Forêt It’s early days for peach season but that hasn’t stopped French bistro Forêt going for an off-piste pairing already. The mild sweetness of wet garlic, itself only in season for about another month, joins stone fruit chunks to balance out the vinegary kick of white anchovy (or boquerones) – sounds ingenious. A feta-flavoured smoked tomato tart is also among their new seasonal offerings. Lobster roll, King Sitric Full credit to King Sitric for not only not pocketing the extra profit off cheaper lobster at this time of year, but sharing the inside scoop too - they’ve knocked a cool 15% off across the board given the extra sea spoils coming their way. We’ll raise a lobster roll to that. Tuna and pickled watermelon, Osteria Lucio We’re a few months out from watermelon reaching its sweet peak, so Osteria Lucio ’s pickling and pairing with tuna is a very smart way to indulge a little early, all the more so with the aniseed hit of fennel and a mild chilli kick. Tomato consommé dressing is another lovely little hat-tip to all that summer’s got in store. Stuffed courgette flower, Volpe Nera Volpe Nera’ s neighbourhood menu is one of the best deals in the city at the moment, with blink-and-you’ll-miss –‘em beauties like this crispy stuffed courgette flower popping up week to week – it’s best to keep an eye on their Instagram and get down quick. Never fret if you missed it though - their regular lunch and dinner menu will have it on all season.

The team from Dede, Cork, minus owner/head chef Ahmet Dede

From April's worst weather of the year to May's best, we've got nine sunshine-filled prizes to keep the good vibes going this month, with everyone signed up to ATF Insiders automatically going into the draw! As an ad and invite-free website, ATF Insiders is how we operate, ensuring every recommendation is made without bias, and you can trust that reviews are honest and uninfluenced. Everyone who signs up for ATF Insiders by midnight on Friday May 17th will be entered into this month's prize draw, and winners will be selected on Sunday, May 18th... 1) Cocktails and Asian small plates for four at The Rooftop Bar and Terrace @ The Marker The Rooftop Bar & Terrace at Anantara The Marker Dublin is at the top of our list for dinner and drinks in the sunshine - where else can you get panoramic views of the city, feeling more like LA than next to the Liffey. They've just added a new fire-pit, and the glazed section will keep you dry and warm in case of weather changes. Their new small plates menu uses Asian flavours like lemongrass, chilli, lime and coconut, and there's a new cocktail list with options like Storm in Bangkok , with Szechuan pepper, vodka and Campari. We've got two rounds of cocktails and Asian plates for four to give away this month, and while the Rooftop Bar and Terrace is currently open Wednesday to Sunday, it should be open daily from June, weather permitting. 2) A €200 voucher for Queen Stop, Rathmines After the success of Boss Stop on George’s Street, the team behind it have just opened Queen Stop in Rathmines. It's focused on the same idea of serving authentic Asian cuisine with innovative tweaks, and their experienced kitchen team cook up sizzling hot plates, handmade dumplings and all the small plates designed for sharing. Queen Stop has a more expansive menu than Boss Stop, drawing inspiration from across Asia, and we've got a €200 voucher to give away this month so you can run the gamut of Hong Kong char siu pork, Sichuan Mala chicken, and cumin lamb. Check them out here . 3) Lunch for two with wine at Craft, Terenure It looks like 2025 will be remembered as the year the set lunch deal came back with a bang, and the latest restaurant offering us max value for cash is Craft in Terenure . Their new no choice set lunch is only €25 for three courses (!!), and it's available Friday and Saturday from 12:30 - 15:00. This week's menu includes salmon and hake croquettes, pappardelle with bolognese, and chocolate mousse with yuzu for dessert - an absolute steal of a deal. We're giving away a set lunch for two with wine, and you can check out their menus and book here . 4) Dinner for four with cocktails in Saba's Secret Garden As if Saba 's secret garden on Baggot Street (prime outdoor dining ) wasn't enough of a reason to book in, they're also giving diners FREE COCKTAILS all summer long when dining. You can pick from any drink on the list, from their most loved, signature and low abv selections, and you just need to have one of their Thai or Vietnamese mains to bag the offer. We're sending one of you in with three pals for dinner and cocktails on Saba, and you need to book in while the weather's like this. 5) Four tickets for Taste of Dublin It's hard to believe that this summer will be the 20th Taste of Dublin , back in its new and improved home of Merrion Square from the 12th to 15th of June. The weekend will be full of cookery demonstrations and food activations, and there's so much on the activity roster . Restaurants confirmed to appear include Big Fan, Parilla, Nomo Ramen, Chimac and Bar Italia, and you can check out the line up here . Tickets for Taste of Dublin 2025 are on sale here , but we've got four tickets to give away for a session on Thursday, Friday or Sunday. 6) €100 voucher for Siam Thai, Rathmines Siam Thai Restaurants are celebrating 30 years of business, and they've just launched a new "Thai Bites Menu" and "Satori" cocktails menu to mark this massive milestone. They've given us a €100 voucher to use in their Rathmines restaurant and cocktail bar, and we suggest going early for the two-course early bird for €33.95pp to maximise the budget. Check them out here . 7) Tickets to the Birdhill Coffee Festival and a three-month supply of coffee Ireland's only destination coffee festival (for adults only) is back at The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Tipperary from the 27th - 29th June, with 12 educational classes, six guest speakers and six guest roasters over three days. The Old Barracks are celebrating 10 years of brewing specialty coffee with interactive workshops, barista competitions, brewing demos and exclusive tastings. There's also a BBQ dinner and wine tasting on Friday, night as well as a Boozy Brew Bar for coffee cocktails and Irish coffees. We've got four tickets, Espresso Martinis on arrival and a three-month supply of Old Barracks coffee to give away this month, and we're picking TWO winners , so double the good vibes. Check out the line up here . 8) Meet the cheesemakers and a Sheridan's hamper Boyne Valley Cheese The Centre of Food Culture in Boyne Valley has just launched a new “ Meet the Cheesemaker ” event series, showcasing Ireland's world-class farmhouse cheeses and the people making them. The summer programme lets the public meet artisan cheesemakers, tour their farms and dairies, and taste their best. Cheesemakers opening their door include Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese in Meath, Coolattin Cheddar in Carlow, and Leitrim Hill Creamery in Leitrim, with events running from June - September. We've got two tickets to give away to a Meet the Cheesemaker event of your choice, plus a hamper from Sheridan's Cheesemongers featuring all the cheeses from the series. Tickets are €25 and you can see the programme here . 9) A €100 voucher for Fired Up Pizza Fired Up Pizza is celebrating their fifth birthday week by opening a brand new location in Cornelscourt! This joins their Goatstown, Donnybrook and Rathfarnham locations, as they slowly conquer the southside with their Neapolitan pizza bases and best of Irish toppings. This month's winner of a €100 voucher for Fired Up Pizza will be able to have their pick of pizza toppings like Limerick baked ham, Five Mile Town goat's cheese, Wooded Pig pepperoni, and Toonsbridge smoked Scamorza, for dine in or take away. Check them out here . Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in May (both new and old) will be automatically entered into the prize draw. You don't need to do anything. If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Saturday 17th May. Your support promotes independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and allows you to get answers to any dining questions directly from us.

What should we know about Square Dish? It's Dublin's newest pizza restaurant (no we haven't peaked yet), with a fancy fit out on one of the capital's most desirable streets - St. Stephen's Green. While the combination of those elements initially made us think Square Dish must be from a big hospitality group with money coming out the wazoo, it's actually husband and wife team Andrew Eakin and Naomi Murtagh who are behind it. Eakin started London wine shops Bottle Apostle many moons ago, before moving into the wine industry in France. Murtagh is a designer specialising in leather goods, most recently based in London.

Tell us about with Tucano? If you came across Tucano on Instagram you might think they were in Curitiba rather than off O’Connell Street, with their posts almost entirely in Portugese. There's little or no food on there either, just videos of staff talking animatedly into the camera with all the effects - they could as easily be promoting a casino or supermarket. Word is out in the Brazilian community, and the only language in the heaving room was Portugese - our server tried to take our order in it. There are lots of Brazilian restaurants in Dublin, who all seem to serve the same style of food to the same people, but barely any have had a national review, or featured on best restaurant lists. Is this a journalistic oversight, or are none of them hitting the heights? We wanted to try one of the most talked about to get some clarity. What should I eat? Our server recommended the most popular dishes - picanha steak, and feijoada (Brazil's iconic bean and meat stew). We added mini chicken coxinhas and fried tapioca - snacks that anyone who's visited Brazil ate their body weight in. Mini coxinhas (€7.99) are easier to eat than palm-sized ones, but eight was overkill. The stodgy snack of breaded, deep-fried dough had shredded chicken in the centre, and while well seasoned they needed the garlic dip - even still they lose their appeal fast. Fried tapioca cubes (€7.99), another carb-heavy snack, are often served with red pepper jelly in Brazil - here it tasted like bottled sweet chilli sauce. They're crispy and satisfyingly chewy, but after a couple there's no reason to keep going back. Feijoada, a slow-cooked bean, pork and beef stew (€14.50), is a warming bowl, but we would have liked to know what parts of what animals were in there – at one point we lifted something resembling a pig’s snout. It came with "crackling" (unpleasant chunks of skin and fat), "cabbage" (raw kale), "vinaigrette" (Brazilian salsa), farofa (toasted cassava flour), and rice. Asking how we wanted our thin steak cooked was moot, but the Brazilian meat (€17.50) had expert flavour and seasoning. You get a choice of black or brown beans, farofa to dip it in, vinaigrette, and cassava or fries. The cassava was extremely bland, but the rest was the best thing we ate here. There are six desserts including honey bread and passion fruit mousse, but when in Brazil, it's got to be pudim. Similar to Spain's flan de queso, or F rance's crème caramel, it's made with eggs, milk, condensed milk and caramel, and is very sweet, but this is an excellent version. What about drinks? Soft drinks and beer, as well as fresh juices like cashew, passion fruit and acerola (similar to cherry). Our guava was more like a smoothie or a slushie - no bad thing. Why should I go? We don’t think Tucano is about to go viral with an Irish crowd, but we can see why Brazilians flood the place. It's the type of food someone's Mum or Aunt would make, and clearly the taste of home so many are missing. It’s also a fun, inexpensive option the next time you want to try something different. Tucano 4 Talbot Street, North City, Dublin 1 instagram.com/tucanodublin

Raspbery cheong buns, small farm Irish Wagyu burgers, and there's a new Berlin kebab in town. Read on for our must eat hit list this week... 1) Hash brown and chorizo snacks, Craft, Terenure We all agree that snacks are the best part of the meal right? Snacks are the most exciting, mains are the least, and everything else is on a sliding scale in between. When we snack, we like to snack hard, and this one from the current menu at Craft in Terenure has us itching to jump on the number 16 bus. Hash browns topped with Parmesan, Iberico chorizo and beer pickled onions . What genius came up with this epic opening? 2) The Perfect Wagyu, Bujo You know what else we do hard? Burgering. We have no time for dry, over-cooked, flavour-light mounds of meat drowning in competing toppings. A burger is a committment, with only the best passing ATF muster, and we feel ready to commit to Bujo 's new 'perfect Wagyu', with meat from just one Irish farmer. The flame-grilled patty is topped with Dubliner mature cheddar, chimichurri, crunchy pickles and smoky grilled leek, and sandwiched in a Tartine organic brioche bun. We will... 3) Berlin Kebab, Margadh RHA In the plot twist no one saw coming, Margadh at the RHA have collabed with Mani on Drury Street for a new lunchtime takeaway Berlin kebab. They're taking Mani's 72hr fermented sourdough and stuffing it with marinated chicken, secret chili sauce, aioli, red cabbage, iceberg lettuce, red onion and tomato, for the princely sum of €9.90, and it looks like a worthy contender to Chiya . 4) Çılbır , Urbanity Something about summer always has us wanting Turkish eggs with warm flatbreads all day errry day, so this Çılbır from Urbanity made the world stop turning for a moment. Their version has lemon labneh, asparagus, wild garlic, salsa verde, pimenton butter, onion dukkah and organic poached eggs, serving it with a side of Tartine organic sourdough. It's a lot fancier than what we make at home, and sure isn't that the whole reason we leave the house. 5) Raspberry cheong hun buns, No Messin' Bakery We were this years old when we learnt that a 'cheong' is a traditional Korean fermented syrup made from fruits, flowers, herbs or vegetables. No Messin' Bakery have been using them a lot lately, culminating in these raspberry cheong and cream hun buns, which will be back on the counter this weekend. There's also some Irish wholegrain in the choux pastry, for max feel good vibes.

The guys behind Hera , Juno , Achara and Crudo seem to have the magic touch at the moment, serving the kind of food we want to eat, with an endlessly interesting drinks list, and pricing that doesn't hurt when the bill arrives. We loved Hera, their revamped bar serving food on Dorset Street, with ATF editor Lisa calling it " dream gastropub stuff ", the Irish Times food critic Corinna Hardgrave calling the food " clever ... with a delicacy and originality to it ", and the Irish Examiner's Leslie Williams saying it's " a culinary highlight for Dublin's rising Northside ". We're taking over Hera on the night of Thursday 22nd May, so that chef Joe Smith  and the kitchen team can really show off, with an 11-part menu featuring what we and they think are their best dishes right now. We've gotten them to come up with an incredible offering for €60pp (with the option to add a Carlingford Oyster flambéed table side in smoked butter for €4), and because we always look after you, there's a welcome cocktail included too. There will be two sittings at 17:30 and 20:00, and as usual with our events the team will be on site all night to serve the dishes, chat and answer your questions. This is an ATF Insiders-only event - sign up here  for €6 a month if you're not already part of the best food club in Dublin. Each Insider can book a table for two, and bring one non-Insider with them.  If you're coming with friends who are also signed up and you want to sit together, just make a note on your booking. Here's the menu for the takeover, AND there's a vegetarian option  if you want to go fish and meat free, but as dishes are for sharing, both people at the table need to have the same menu. (If you'd like the vegetarian menu you'll need to note this when you book) Bookings for our Hera takeover on Thursday 22nd May go live tomorrow, Thursday 8th May at 11am. Everyone signed up to ATF Insiders  will receive the booking link in their inbox. If you're not already signed up you can do so below. .

Lunch just doesn’t get the love it deserves anymore. In our fast-paced world of pre-ordered salad bowls and sad wraps to go, the fine art of the afternoon repast is being lost along the way, and if regular requests from ATF Insiders   are anything to by, it’s getting harder than ever to find great places in the city for a long, luxurious luncheon. Whether you want to make the most of a midweek day off, treat yourself while the kids are safely set aside in school, celebrate a special occasion earlier in the day, or just sneak into a swish spot for a better deal than you’ll get at dinner, here’s our top picks for a set lunch in the city... TOP VALUE   Coppinger, Coppinger Row We’ve double, triple and quadruple checked this one – Coppinger really does a three course lunch for €20. You won’t find the deal listed on their site (maybe they don’t want to be mobbed) but keep an eye on Insta for regular   reveals  of the no choice, set dishes for each week, served Wednesday through Friday from 12:00 to 15:00. As if all that wasn’t value enough, you can add in a glass of house red or white for €5, but with your savings on food, you can go big on wine and cocktails with less bank balance guilt. Note, Fenian Street Nights out at Note  don’t come cheap, but afternoons can with their eye-catching lunch deal. It’s €32 for three dishes with a choice of two mains, leaving room for any veggies at the table too - see the current menu here . That’s seriously good value for seriously good food, though if you’re anything like us you won’t be able to resist racking up a bigger bill by dipping into the BTG list. Get it Fridays and Saturdays only from 12.30 to 14:00. The Seafood Café, Temple Bar Temple Bar institution The Seafood Café ’s table d'hôte menu runs every weekday from 12:00 to 18:30 – ideal for late lunches and early dinners. It changes on the regular with three to four dishes typically on for starters and mains, and will set you back €27 for two courses or €32 for three – unless you’re an ATF Insider  of course, in which case you’ll get another 15% off. Don’t say we don’t treat you right. Piglet, Temple Bar A top pick for group lunches is Piglet , whose four options across each course should keep most people happy. It’s traditional French fare begging to be washed down with their excellent selection of wines – their pairing suggestions are always second to none. They serve it Thursday to Monday from 12.30 to 17.30 (hellooo long and late lunches), with two courses for €29.50 or three for €35. If you’re really treating yourself, throw in the confit duck gizzards to snack on while you wait. Hawksmoor, College Green Doing dinner right at Hawksmoor  isn't easy on the bank balance, but we come bearing good news. Their shorter, early bird express menu is also served for lunch, with three options for each course served at €32 for two or €36 for three – you can also upgrade the rump steak option to a fillet tail for a €6 supplement. Monday through Thursday it’s on from 12:00 to 15:00, and if you fancy a later lunch, Friday and Saturday they run it right through to 18:00. Monty’s of Kathmandu, Temple Bar The economics of set menus mean there often isn’t a huge amount of choice – fair enough, it’s not easy making margins work at these price points, but not so at Monty’s of Kathmandu  with their five starter and six main options. Two courses are €32, with three going for €37, and at prices like that, we’ll happily take the €5 supplement for bone-in goat curry. It’s available from 12:00 to 13:45 Monday to Saturday, and in the evening from Sunday - Thursday too. TREAT YOURSELF   Woodruff, Stepaside Sustainable, seasonal, suburban restaurant Woodruff  runs straight from lunch into their early bird menu, so you’ve got plenty of time to make your way out to Stepaside and indulge in a late lunch. Their three starter and main choices are always great on veggie and pescatarian options – a group with mixed diets will be very happy here. It’s two courses for €35 or three for €42, served Thursday through Saturday from 12.30 to 19:00 (18:00 on weekends). Mamó, Howth Lunch overlooking Howth harbour? Don’t mind if we do. Mamó offers two courses for €39 or three for €44 on Mondays (except bank holidays), Thursdays and Fridays from 12:30 to 14.45, and the regularly-rotating seasonal selection is a real treat with a whole fish or côte de boeuf for two also available at an additional price. The iconic cod chip snack and their ever-excellent bread and butter are included in the price too - how many more carrots do you need. Bresson, Monkstown Make for Monkstown if you really want to feel fancy, with French bistro Bresson ’s two courses for €39.95 or three for €44.95 also including a "petite soupe" on arrival and petits fours – it’s the little things. Sea bass Veronique and a poached pear and Roquefort salad are among the dishes that have us licking our lips, and you can book in from Thursday to Saturday, 12:00 to 14.30, or on Sunday until 15:30 (three courses only). Pichet, Trinity Street The only entry on this list that offers a single course option, which isn’t so much a set menu as… just a dish, French bistro Pichet runs the gamut from torched mackerel and salt-baked celeriac, to   Barbary duck breast and Knockanore agnolotti across its four-of-each options. You’ll pay €28 for one plate with an extra €9 for every added course after that (€37 for two, €46 for three), with the set menu served 12:00 to 15:15 from Wednesday to Saturday. The Saddle Room, St. Stephen's Green There’s a bit of a bring your well-dressed granny vibe to the Shelbourne’s Saddle Room  set menu, between the ham hock terrine and chicken supreme, but we’ll give them all the props for being the only one here to offer a whole vegan menu. They’re also the only option who offer their set lunch menu every day, from 12:30 to 14:30 on weekdays, and 13:00 to 14:30 on weekends. It’ll set you back €40 for two courses or €47 for three. Forest Avenue, Sussex Terrace Lunch set menus are often a chance to get a more streamlined taste of the higher end of the market than their pricier dinner tasting options – so it is at the regularly Michelin-tipped Forest Avenue , where three plates for €49 represents exceptional value at this level of cooking. You can choose between fish or meat for the main but otherwise it’s set plates, and dessert can be swapped out for a cheese course at an additional cost of €6. They serve it Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 to 13.30. BLOWOUT CELEBRATION   Dax, Pembroke Street Upper Don’t let the white tablecloths put you off – for all the French formality of its style, the staff at Dax ’s sheer charm will set you at ease for the most relaxed, luxe lunch imaginable. Versus the €92 bill you’ll rack up for dinner, the set lunch here is priced at €44 for two courses or €60 for three, with Castletownbere scallops, Tipperary beef tartare and Curragh Plains lamb shoulder among the provenance-forward options available. Get it from 12:30 to 14:00 Wednesday to Friday. and 13:00 to 14:00 on Saturday. One Pico, Molesworth Place It’s notable that One Pico ’s pricing has shifted only very slightly in the nigh-on four years since we went to review lunch   – you might not be likely to get turbot again at these rates, but let’s hear it for the places working to keep prices accessible. These days two courses with canapés and bread come to €48, with the option to add dessert and petit fours for another €12. It runs Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12:00 to 14:00. Allta, Grand Canal Dock There are seven, yes seven, dishes going on Allta ’s set lunch (a further slimmed variation on their evening early bird) that comes in at €65 versus the full dinner’s €135 – a more affordable chance to try great dishes like their cuttlefish doughnut, bluefin tuna tostada and Woodtown Jersey beef. The Michelin man is likely to come knocking here before long, so this is a deal to snap up while you can. It runs Thursdays to Saturdays from 12:30 to 14:00 Glovers Alley, St. Stephen's Green You can knock a solid third off the price of a Michelin star bill by lunching at Glovers Alley from Wednesdays to Saturday, 12:30 to 14:00 – the three course option is €75 versus the €115 you’ll pay at dinner. Dishes are different of course, but we wouldn't turn our noses up at squid tagliatelle, or wild brill with smoked eel. Go crazy and have the four course tasting for €90 if you’re really celebrating. Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, Parnell Square We’re not ashamed to say we’ve indulged in lunch at Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen  more times than we can count at this stage – for research purposes, you understand. €90 a head for three courses puts it squarely in the very special occasion category, but given dinner’s four courses come to €175, isn’t tasting two star food on the cheap a special occasion in itself? Find it from Thursday to Saturday between 12:00 and 14:00.   Did we miss a great set lunch in Dublin? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie .

Easter may be over, but that doesn’t we're going to stop indulging in anything and everything around town - especially not with all of this deliciousness appearing on Dublin menus this week. From Dublin Bay prawns to carbonara ramen, and the best take on steak tartare we've seen in ages, here's what we're dying to eat this week... 1) Dublin Bay prawns, Sea Shanty Something about the barest lick of sunshine gets us craving fresh seafood like nothing else. This is the way to do it with fresh, sweet Dublin Bay prawns and two punchy sauces - a spicy, nutty salsa macha, and a fragrant, creamy green Thai curry. Sea Shanty in Blackrock served it alongside a cooling shot of panela , but you should also take a look at their confidently curated wine list for mo re über suitable accompaniments. 2) New season white asparagus, Brighton Road White asparagus season is short, and this is the perfect way to enjoy this years glut of the delicate vegetable before it’s gone for another year. Brighton Road chargrills theirs, intensifying its natural nuttiness, and serves it with salty prosciutto and a creamy hollandaise sauce - you'll understand why this is a classic combination the second you taste it. 3) Blood orange koshō, Fairmental Talented purveyors of all things funky, Fairmental haved moved into koshō. Usually made with yuzu, Fairmental are mixing it up with blood orange, fermenting citrus and chilli into a bright, salty condiment. Catch us adding it to marinades, mixing it into mayo and shaking it into salad dressings. It’s a genius way to prolong your relationship with that sweet, short seasoned, ruby fleshed fruit. 4) Carbonara mazemen, Nomo Ramen Fusion cooking doesn’t get much more appealing than this - the combination that makes so much instinctive sense we feel like we’ve been waiting for it all our lives. Silky, chewy ramen noodles; salty, crispy bacon; a rich parmesan sauce; spring onions - Nomo 's carbonara mazemen is doing all the same things as a traditional carbonara, in its own brilliant way. 5) Steak tartare, Mister S Notorious for expertly cooking meat over flames, Mister S’s new menu item deviates deliciously off their usual course by not cooking the meat at all. Crispy rafts of potato terrine are topped with smoked garlic aioli, hand chopped steak tartare and an egg yolk emulsion, and it’s been keeping us up at night since we realised it exists.

What should we know about OMMA? It's a Japan-inspired tea brand founded by Ukranian in Ireland Nastya Kharytonova, who was asked by Brown Thomas to set up a pop up matcha café in a corner of Planet Beauty on Clarendon Street for a couple of months. The team discovered her matcha at other Dublin cafés, and thought there was a green gap in the market, so they moved some beauty products out, and Nastya's tea in. Go her. Kharytonova is a matcha obsessive, using ceremonial grade tea for matcha ceremonies, workshops and café collaborations, and you may have already come across OMMA in 3fe , Hatch , Indigo & Cloth among others. She's a frequent visitor to Japan and spent months living with a Japanese tea family to master its cultivation and preparation, training under experienced tea masters. OMMA started in 2021 when Nastya, burnt out, anxious and fatigued by Covid and digital overload, wanted to start a daily ritual to improve her mood. What started as an act of self-care has turned into a mission to showcase Ukrainian talent, with Nastya's boyfriend and friends involved with creating textiles, illustrating graphics, designing the pop up space, and one coming all the way from Kyiv to create matcha desserts. Their slogan is 'Me time – tea time', and they say they want people to reconnect with themselves through Japanese tea culture, engaging all five senses in a tea ritual they promise brings presence, relaxation, and self-discovery. Sounds idyllic. What's on the menu? Hot and cold matcha and hojicha (roasted green tea) drinks, and sweets from Ukranian bakery Kasu Teira (whose founder Dasha flew to Dublin to make a big batch of goodies that they blast froze), as well as Japanese bakery Gopan , and Dublin micro-bakery Offcuts . Bear in mind that there's a whole tea ceremony process, so don't expect to dive in and out. Patience is key. Matcha is definitely an acquired taste (we're still in the process of acquiring it), and if you've never had the green, grassy drink before we'd probably start with a citrus blend, or an iced latté, before diving into a hot one. There's also the roasted tea option of hojicha, with more toasty, chocolatey flavours - perfect for matcha beginners. The sweet menu here makes OMMA worth the trip, even if you're not mad for matcha. You must try the zingy, creamy, Q-textured yuzu mascarpone mochi from Gopan (€4), sprinkled with raspberry powder to make it even more extra, and the matcha truffle (€4.50) and green tea brownies (€6) from Kasu Teira taste too good to have added health benefits. They're promising Japanese fruit sandos and yuzu buns too but they weren't there on our visit. Why should we go? Matcha lovers are already racing to OMMA - there was a queue for the duration we were in there, but matcha newbies can get their first introduction here from a trusted source with a user-friendly menu. Plus, we're all trying to drink less coffee right? At €5.80 a latté and €6.30 a spritz, this is more of a treat than a multiple times a day occurrence like our trusty flat white, but when have we ever denied ourselves a lil treat. OMMA Planet Beauty @ Brown Thomas, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 omma.world

Another month in ATF land means we have nine fantastic prizes to offer our ATF Insiders . We appreciate your support in keeping our platform ad-free and content-rich. As an invite-free website, ATF Insiders helps us operate, ensuring every recommendation is genuinely made. You can trust that all our reviews are honest and uninfluenced. Everyone who signs up for ATF Insiders by midnight on Monday, March 17th, will be entered into our exciting prize draw. Winners will be selected and notified on Tuesday, March 18th. Here's what prizes we have lined up for you this month... 1) Four Tickets for Wellfest Worth Over €350 Europe's largest outdoor health and wellness festival, WellFest , returns to Dublin this May with its biggest lineup yet. On the food front, you'll find renowned TV Chef Erica Drum, Dublin dumpling expert Janet Liu, and talented plant-based chefs Conor Spacey and Christina Soteriou, among others. WellFest will take place at IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin 8, on Saturday, May 10th, and Sunday, May 11th. We have four tickets worth over €350 to give away to one lucky winner! Check out the full programme here . 2) €100 Voucher for Suertudo, Ranelagh Earlier this week, we took over Suertudo , a delightful piece of Mexico in Ranelagh. Our ATF Insiders enjoyed freshly made tacos, delicious mole, and our new obsession—camotito with homemade nachos. We sipped on Jaguar Sips and aged tequila, leaving us rolling onto the Luas after an amazing evening. If you haven't been yet or are dying for a return visit, you could win a €100 voucher for a delightful meal. Check out Suertudo here . 3) Lunch for Two with Wine at Ely Wine Bar Exciting news – lunch is coming to Ely Wine Bar from Wednesday, March 19th! A new menu by chef James Agnew (formerly of Chapter One) will be available from 12 pm to 3 pm Wednesday to Friday. Expect tasty options like blue cheese and candied walnut vol-au-vents, Skeaghanore duck ragu with homemade pappardelle, and raspberry and elderflower doughnuts for dessert. One lucky Insider will win a three-course lunch with wine, so prepare for a gastronomic delight! For those who love a bit of charm, Neil Kenna from First Dates is now part of the team. 4) Four-Course West African Dinner for Two from IBILE Dublin’s pioneering West African dining, IBILE , is back at the Fumbally Stables for a special Mother's Day dining experience. Their four-course tasting menu offers a delightful journey through authentic West African cuisine, paired with unique African wines and cocktails. Tickets are €50, including a drink on arrival, and we’re giving away a table for two at your preferred seating. Check out IBILE here and book your Mother's Day table here . 5) Pizzas and Pints for Four from Rascals Brewing Rascals Brewing , an Inchicore pizzeria and brewery, has recently earned a McKennas' Guides Best In Ireland plaque for the fourth year running. They're introducing a taste of Brazil to Dublin 8 in March with a new special pizza called "The Dogfather." Inspired by the unique Brazilian hot dog known as "Cachorro-Quente Brasileiro," this pizza features a mouthwatering blend of toppings. Rascals Brewing is offering one of our lucky Insiders pizzas and pints for four people. We can’t wait to hear all about the delicious experience! 6) A Nespresso Vertuo Pop Coffee Machine To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Nespresso has partnered with award-winning Bar 1661 to provide a unique coffee experience in Dublin. From March 14th to March 17th, the Nespresso Duke Street shop transforms into a cocktail lounge, serving creative non-alcoholic coffee cocktails, including an Irish Coffee and Nespresso Martini, using their new decaffeinated range. One winner will receive a Nespresso Vertuo Pop coffee machine paired with six sleeves of coffee. 7) Two Limited Edition Whiskeys from Glendalough Glendalough Distillery has just launched its limited-edition Pot Still Peated whiskey. This whiskey is produced from malted and unmalted barley, distilled in traditional copper pot stills, and aged for over seven years. We've got a bottle of both the Pot Still Peated and Double Barrel Cask Strength to give away. The latter is rich and complex, offering dark fruits, nuts, citrus, and nutmeg in its flavor. Discover Glendalough Distillery here or follow them on Instagram . 8) €100 Voucher for Dropchef's All-Irish Meal Kits Irish-owned meal kit delivery service DropChef showcases all-Irish options for St. Patrick’s Day. Their new ‘Chef Drop’ collaboration with The Salt Project is led by chef Caomhán de Brí. He’s known for his focus on hyper-local food sourcing. Their meal kits highlight seasonal Irish produce and celebrate the best local producers. One winner will receive a €100 voucher to order from DropChef , enabling them to create delicious, easy-to-cook Irish dishes in 30 minutes or less. 9) A Whiskey Prize Package from Roe & Co Distillery Roe & Co Distillery , recently recognized as Visitor Attraction of the Year, is preparing for a St. Patrick's Festival weekend at their distillery in Dublin 8. From March 14th to March 17th, expect live music, watercolor artists, and a cocktail menu showcasing contemporary Irish dishes. If you can’t come by, enter to win a bottle of Roe & Co Solera Single Malt Irish Whiskey along with tickets to their Beyond the Blend experience. Everyone signed up for ATF Insiders in March (both new and returning members) will be automatically entered into the prize draw. You don't need to take any additional steps. If you're not signed up yet, join here before midnight on Monday, March 17th. Your support promotes independent reviews and news in Dublin and beyond, and allows you to get answers to any dining questions directly from us.

Although a 2022 survey ranked Dublin as the most accessible city in the world, does this really reflect reality? The Irish Wheelchair Association found that over seventy percent of people with physical disabilities report poor access to public spaces, with wheelchair users in particular facing challenges navigating the city, and being effectively banned from many buildings due to access issues. In 2019, after being contacted by, and then dining out with wheelchair users , former Irish Times restaurant critic Catherine Cleary added an accessibility rating to her restaurant reviews, highlighting that sometimes a restaurant can be accessible, but not have an appropriate toilet, leaving the diner to have to leave the restaurant in search of one elsewhere when nature calls. It isn’t always easy to find accessibility information online, with the details rarely listed on restaurant websites, so we’ve compiled a guide to Dublin’s best wheelchair friendly dining spots - with accessible entry and a fully accessible toilet. While it's not as serious as issue for buggy-pushing parents who can generally lift it up steps and into narrower spaces, we get copious requests from readers asking what café and restaurants are buggy friendly and have a toilet big enough for changing a nappy, so this guide should be useful for them too. We'll keep this updated so please let us know if you think somewhere else should should make the cut... Dublin 2 Achara, Aston Quay Thai-inspired food using Irish produce, from the guys behind Crudo and Hera. Great wine and cocktails, and a stellar group menu. Margadh RHA, Ely Place Café by day, wine bar by night, with ever changing small plates and a tasting menu that delivers some of the best value in town. Library Street, Setanta Plc Snacks, small and large plates that are all designed for sharing, in a floral draped room with cool tunes and a view right into the kitchen. Pi, George's Street Some of Dublin's best pizza served in an unpretentious space. Red and white pies, standout dough, vegetarian and vegan options and a compact wine list. Drury Buildings, Drury St Cocktails and a tapas inspired menu in a buzzy central bar and restaurant. Get the night started here with a drink and a snack before hitting the town. Fade St Social, Fade St Uncomplicated bistro classics downstairs, woodfired flatbreads on the rooftop terrace. Signature cocktail menu alongside the usual suspects. Bunsen, all locations (except Temple Bar) Dublin's go-to burger joint serving black Aberdeen Angus burgers on Amish dinner roll buns. Menu the size of a business card needing no embellishment. Allta, Grand Canal Dock Niall Davidson's nomadic restaurant concept settles in the docklands, featuring gorgeous plates and good wine. Pared back onsite sister Allta Bar serves outstanding bar food and burgers. Lennan's Yard, Dawson St Spanish style à la carte dining from the guys behind Asador, alongside a more traditional gastropub menu. Lots of options in this sprawling space near Stephen's Green. Chimac, Aungier Street Crispy, Korean-style fried chicken, with bright, spicy, punchy signature sauces and OTT sides in a chilled out setting. Burgers, nugs and wings are all winners. Big Fan, Aungier Street Outrageously delicious Hong Kong style eatery. Dim Sum adjacent small plates and steamed buns stuffed with flavour-packed fillings, in a laid back neon dining room. Coppinger, Coppinger Row Approachable and vibey wine bar and restaurant with a menu of excellent small and large plates and a crowd-pleasing drinks selection. Neon, Camden Street Affordable Thai street food that you order at the counter before fetching your own cutlery. Communal dining on a long central table, and you can fill your own ice cream cone for dessert. Balfe's, Balfe Street Vibrant New York-does-Paris bistro serving signature cocktails alongside an extended menu (with a dedicated section for healthy options). A good bet for brunch. Dunne & Crescenzi, Frederick Street South A Dublin institution. Trattoria style restaurant showcasing Irish produce and Italian imports. Menu of pasta, salads, meat and fish, and very family friendly. Dublin 1 Bar Italia, Ormond Quay Traditional Roman-style Italian serving house made pasta overlooking the Millennium Bridge. The carbonara and caci e pepe are standout Woollen Mills, Ormond Quay Contemporary twists on classic menu items in a historic building. Great for a relaxed midweek lunch overlooking the Liffey, or when you want lots of space. One Society, Gardiner Contemporary cafe serving an extensive pancake menu. Family friendly with lots of child-focused options, and meat is sourced from the owner's sister's farm. Brother Hubbard, Capel St Middle Eastern inspired menu featuring seasonal flavours, excellent coffee and baked goods. Hard to beat for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner. Hera, Dorset Street Platonic ideal of the modern gastropub featuring nicely put together small plates and snacks. Drinkswise there's an inventive cocktail menu and well priced wines. Dublin 7 Sister 7, Queen Street A buzzy and stylish space with an Asian influenced menu. A collaboration between Big Fan and Fidelity, expect good tunes, great food, and all the vibes. Urbanity, Coke Lane Great coffee and an ever changing selection of imaginative specials. Nice list of natural wines and an excellent brunch menu on weekends. Hidden, Smithfield Sister café of One Society in Dublin 1, serving brunch and lunch until 3pm, and pizza/ Italian tapas from 4:30pm. Nice wine list to pair with the food and friendly vibes. Dublin 8 Space Jaru, Meath Street A casual Korean diner showcasing some of the best kimchi on the island, handmade in-house. Enjoy alongside authentic Korean street food dishes and sharing plates. Gaillot et Gray, Clanbrassil Street French style bakery and pizzeria, meaning thin crusts and Emmental cheese in place of Mozzarella. Fresh pastries baked in house in the morning, and a good natural wine list at night. South Dublin Lottie's, Rathmines Michelin Bib Gourmand brasserie serving a modern European menu. Classy yet casual, and good value. Lovely high-ceilinged room with plenty of space. Reggie's Rathmines Relaxed neighbourhood pizzeria by Dublin pizza King Reggie White. Standout pies and snacks in a laid back space and about as family friendly as restaurants get. Forest Avenue, Sussex Tce Thoughtful, seasonal, produce driven cooking. Beautiful plates, and an equally excellent wine list. A no choice tasting menu in the evening - we'd trust them. Brother Hubbard, Ranelagh Mezze plates, Middle Eastern flavours and the perfect brunch in Brother Hubbard's first suburban venture. They also do dinner at the weekend as "Yves". Craft, Harold's Cross Modern Irish restaurant by chef Philip Yeung. Seasonal dishes served in a minimalist setting, with a reasonably priced chef's menu for the indecisive. A great neighbourhood restaurant. Crudo, Dublin 4 Warm and welcoming family friendly, Mediterranean-style neighbourhood jewel. A seafood-forward menu featuring generous portions and everything done just as you hoped.

RIP summer 2025. That was it last week. Not to be seen again until 2026. Oh well. Let's drown our sorrows and warm up again with savoury hot cross buns, Brazilian cheese bread, and spicy oysters... 1) Crab hot cross buns, The Seafood Café The Seafood Café are having a moment, and they've just knocked it out of the park again with these SAVOURY hot cross buns. They're filling them with Lambay Island crab and serving them from 12pm - 4pm every day until Easter. 2) Hot cross buns with whipped butter and blood orange marmalade , Scéal Bakery @ The Wine Pair If that all sounded like too much change, you can keep it classic with this one instead. Scéal 's iconic hot cross buns are back in the headlines, and when you dine in they're served with whipped salted butter and blood orange marmalade. Find them in Greystones or at The Wine Pair in Dublin 8. 3) Foie gras and chicken liver parfait with brioche, Cellar 22 We have always been and will always be suckers for a good parfait, and this foie gras and chicken one at Cellar 22 , served with the most perfect slices of warm brioche is currently high on the want list. 4) Michelada oysters, Suertudo Last year was the year of the Michelada , this year is the year of the Michelada oyster. Suertudo in Ranelagh are beautifying these crustaceans with beer gel, fresh cucumber, clamato juice and Tajín, and suggest an ice-cold cerveza on the side. They had us at Michelada. 5) Pão de Queijo, Bootleg What was Bootleg on Drury Street is now hosting Brazilian pop up Rei Momo , and while we have no idea how long this one will stick around, we think these incredible looking Pão de Queijo (cassava bread filled with cheese) might help with directing football into the restaurant.

Last week we asked ATF Insiders (Dublin's most dedicated eaters and restaurant goers, obvs) for their opinions on the Dublin restaurants at the top of their game, the ones they think are over-hyped and under-deliver, and their best and worst service experiences of the year so far. We've painstakingly gone through your responses and collated them for you along with some lovely graphics, because why we obviously think our opinions are great, we thought you might like to hear each others too. Here's some of your most tightly held opinions on where to find the best and worst service in the city, your special occasion fail safes, and whose restaurant reviews you actually believe... The restaurants at the top of their game By far the most amount of answers came in for the restaurants you think are operating at the highest level right now, across food, wine and service, and the top five come as little surprise. The joint top answers you gave were Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen and Uno Mas (named by 22% of respondents), followed by Host (20%), Library Street (18%) and Variety Jones (14%).

Drury Street. Irish Times

Irish Times

The clocks have finally gone back after the longest winter in history, which means brighter nights on the town, more excuses for getting out and meeting up with friends, and ensuring you have the best outdoor dining spots on hand for when the mercury rises to coat-free levels. Here's where we think you should be eating in April... For the new wine bar in town: Notions by Two Pups The plethora of cafés turning into wine bars throughout 2024 took a slight pause for the start of 2025, but Two Pups in Dublin 8 have kicked things off again. Their new evening wine bar Notions opens this Thursday from 5pm, and will be open each week from Thursday - Sunday, 5pm - late. Little news yet on what the wine list and menu will look like, but these deep-fried polenta chips look promising. For great value seafood (yes it exists): The Seafood Café, Temple Bar While the early bird/table d'h ôte at The Seafood Café has risen in price since last year (what hasn't), we still think it's offering great value for fresh Irish seafood at €32 for two courses or €38 for three (with some supplements for pricier ingredients). The menu changes regularly depending on the daily catch, but on our last visit we had clams with garlic and olive oil; scallops with brown shrimp; and a crab roll with fries and salad. It's available Monday - Friday from 12:00 - 18:30, and the best part? ATF Insiders get another 15% off . For Sunday/Monday night dining: Mamó, Howth Sunday/Monday night dining is the eternal conundrum for anyone who works weekends, has visitors at inopportune parts of the week, or has a special occasion fall on a less than perfect day. That's when it's very handy to have somewhere as special as Mamó in your back pocket. The last booking for dinner on both days is 19:00, but you'll have plenty of time to enjoy their market fish crudo, beef tartare or halibut with velouté of Irish sea shrimp, to end/start your week off on the best possible note (and you'll get a free portion of cod chips if you show them your ATF Insiders subscription). For dim sum in D15: Kaizen, Blanchardstown For all the complaints from Dublin 15 dwellers that there is literally nowhere to eat , Kaizen , the new dim sum restaurant from the same people behind Ka Shing on Wicklow street has fallen somewhat under the radar. Perhaps that's because it's in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre next to McDonalds, but don't let that put you off - these guys are experts at Siu Mai, BBQ pork buns and xiao long bao. We'd love to say there's a nice wine bar nearby for a drink after but there is literally nowhere to drink , so maybe plan a post-dinner cinema trip. For lunch in the sun: Tang, Cumberland Place Do you feel it? It's been so long we almost forgot what warmth on our skin felt like, but this appears to be the teaser week for summer. That means we need to start thinking about where to eat outdoors when the temperatures go above 15c, and one of the loveliest, calmest pockets of nature in the middle of the city centre is outside Tang on Cumberland Place. Breakfast and lunch are served from Monday - Saturday, with a Middle Eastern-inspired dinner Fridays and Saturdays, and when the weather's with us, there's nowhere better to sit back and absorb some vitamin D. For Turkish mezze and a shopping break: Sofra, Liffey Street What was formerly Sweet O'Clock, just off Henry Street, went back to their Turkish roots a month ago, reopening as Sofra Café and Grill . Turkish people and others familiar with the cuisine are now all over the internet praising the complimentary mezze, the "on point" Adana kebabs, and that it's like stepping into Turkey for an hour. With the grand stretch now fully operational it's the perfect excuse for some late night shopping and an amble in here whenever you're done. For the kind of bakery that's on every corner in France: La Boulangerie Francaise, Swords Don't go to Applewood in Swords expecting the northside's answer to Bread 41 or Scéal, but sometimes all you want is a simple French bakery - the kind that you can't throw a block of cheese in France without hitting. The sweet pastries are the best bits of La Boulangerie Francaise (but special mention for the parma ham, cheese and bechamel croissant), and we can never, ever skip the fruit and custard Danishes in all the flavours, and the crunchy cinnamon twists. The breads aren't God-tier but tick the box, and the straight from France preserves should also go in your shopping bag.

Summer's so close we can smell it, and with that comes caviar cones, wild garlic pasta, and rhubarb and custard ice-cream. Just watch out for all of those April's fools posts going around today - we very nearly fell for this one ... 1) Caviar cones, Hang Dai Well excuse us - we didn't see Hang Dai jumping on the caviar train, but we're not mad at it. They're serving Oscietra caviar in a crispy rice cone, with nori-infused crème fraîche for an even bigger umami bomb in your mouth. 2) Bourbon smoked pork belly, Pitt Bros Good, honest, time-infused BBQ is still pretty elusive in Dublin, but Pitt Bros want to show us how it's done in the Deep South, with their Bullit Bourbon smoked pork belly. Meat from FX Buckley is cooked low and slow, before being finished on the grill for a crispy top. They're glazing it with homemade Bullit Bourbon BBQ glaze, and it comes with two sides of your choice. A much speedier option than firing up the smoker out back. 3) Rhubarb & custard affogato, Hera Never one to operate from someone else's playbook, new Drumcondra gastropub Hera are shaking up the affogato. Instead of a scoop of vanilla you're getting custard ice-cream on a bed of rhubarb. Instead of an espresso shot poured over the top, you're getting Campari. What's not to like about this new-age combo. 4) Wild garlic congilile , Fallon & Byrne Since ex-Allta head chef Hugh Higgins took over menu development at Fallon & Byrne , our eyes are being drawn there more and more. They've just added some new spring dishes to the wine cellar's menu, and we're not sure if we want the wild garlic congilile, the truffle bruschetta or the rhubarb and white chocolate panna cotta more. Let's be real, we could absolutely fit all three. 5) Pistacio praliné Danish, Noisette Noisette Bakery is always a good excuse for a road trip to Rush, but this pistachio praliné cream and Valrhona white chocolate Danish has thinking about packing up the car with the buckets and spades and heading for the beach - pastry in one hand, coffee in the other. Don't forget a warm coat if you actually do this - we're still in Ireland.

One of the most common questions we get asked every week by ATF Insiders is "where should I book for a group?" There's usually a caveat - we have veggies/vegans, need gluten free options, have older family members who can't handle too much noise, a fussy eater who needs plainer options - group dining isn't for the faint of heart. There are our top choices for private dining rooms, set menus to satisfy a wide range of tastes and budgets, and big splurges for serious celebrations... Dublin 2 Achara Thai-inspired Achara on Aston Quay was created with groups in mind, the plates designed for sharing, the drinks so good you won't want to move on. The family-style group menu will keep everyone happy at the purse friendly price of €45, for five small plates, five large plates and dessert - a relative bargain in Dublin these days. We've never had service that's been anything less than lovely, and it's a buzzy place where you won't be concerned about noise levels getting too high. Floritz, St Stephen's Green If your group is looking for a special room to get dressed up for, Floritz on St Stephen's Green have four different tasting menus priced from €65 - €120. For the big spenders you can go all out with bluefin tuna, Lambay Island lobster and Wagyu steak, or keep it simple (and less expensive) with chicken sesame skewers, pork belly bao and rice chips with Dragon sauce. The room at the back can be configured for all kinds of table layouts, and the floral-covered, plant-filled, gold-dripping room is a dream to spend a few hours in. Coppinger, Coppinger Row Coppinger don't advertise a group menu, but one of our ATF Insiders booked her post-wedding lunch there with a group dining option of €55. It's a brilliant, buzzy space in a prime city centre location, and the tastiest plates of handmade pasta, BBQ fish, and those now legendary garlic and chilli gambas will have you licking your fingers to make sure you've got it all - just make sure any white dresses are well covered with napkins. Hawksmoor, College Green Hawksmoor have two private dining rooms, both named after award-winning cattle. 'None the Wiser' sits eighteen, while 'Croom-A-Boo' sits fourteen, and there's Wi-Fi and an AV system if you want to bring your own tunes. Group evening menus are priced from €50 - €80 depending on how many courses you're having and whether you want meat, fish or the veggie option, and the space is like nowhere else in Dublin. This has work dinner all over it, and will taste even sweeter if someone else is footing the bill. Hang Dai, Camden Street Hang Dai is available for private hire (with up to 60 downstairs in the main restaurant), but for smaller groups the Gold Bar upstairs can seat up to 30. If the weather is temperate it's hard to beat the terrace looking out over Camden Street, but otherwise you can sit inside surrounded by red leather, brass fittings and a gold ceiling. Their set menu is priced at €60pp and includes dishes like Iberico pork dumplings, seabass with ginger and spring onion, and those cheeseburger spring rolls you can't visit without trying. Library Street, South Frederick Street Library Street 's downstairs PDR seating 6 - 10 people is group dining goals. There's a minimum spend of €100 a head for food and drinks, and chef Kevin Burke will design a menu just for you featuring no end of delicious dishes from the kitchen (and you can make adjustments if needed). There's a full sound system and record player and it's completely private. We did it , and we loved it, then we did it again . La Maison, Castle Market La Maison on Castle Market have five areas that they can box off for private events and group bookings, for anything from eight people up. They offer a set three-course lunch or dinner for groups on request, with all the classic French dishes like Coquille Saint-Jacques, moules-frites and duck confit, and you can't get a more central location if people are coming from different parts of the city. Dax, Pembroke Street For fine dining group style, Dax have a couple of cavernous areas in their basement dining room that you can take over. They do a set menu with three courses for €92, featuring all of chef Graham Neville's classic, French/Irish dishes, and it's a good option if there are older members of the group who like a low noise level and no surprises. Mister S, Camden Street The semi-private space down the stairs at the back of Mister S takes bookings of up to 18 people across three booths, and it's the perfect laid back setting for plate upon plate of fire-cooked food, like their burnt end rendang spring rolls, scallops with smoked beurre blanc, and short ribs with chimichurri. Just get your booking in early because the crowds don't let up in here. Big Fan, Aungier Street BIGFAN can cater for groups of up to 15 in their outside space at the front, and up to 75 indoors. Their group menu is €45pp with a choice of bao, a banquet of dumplings, all the BIGFAN classics and dessert - who wouldn't be thrilled with that. Staff are the loveliest and the drinks will keep on flowing - read our once over here . The Pig's Ear, Nassau Street The Pig’s Ear turned into Lotus Eaters last year, but has now gone back to the original, with a clever menu bringing traditional Irish dishes right up to date. They have three rooms overlooking Trinity College's playing grounds, seating 10 - 55 guests, who can dine on pork potato farls with bone marrow gravy; boxty pancakes with Cais na Tire cheese and truffle; and a Dublin lawyer lobster omelette. One Pico, Molesworth Street The upstairs Polo Room in One Pico seats 12 - 43, with your own special menu and private entrance around the side. The evening set menu is €98, with supplements for pricier ingredients, so this is one for the bigger spenders where the budget's out the window, The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne For groups of up to 20, The Saddle Room offers privacy and five-star elegance if you and your gang feel like splashing out. If it's the right time of year you can start in the Champagne Terrace upstairs for an aperitif, before coming down for chef Gary Hughes' €72 three-course Table d’Hote, featuring dishes like Shelbourne whiskey-cured Castletownbere salmon; slow-cooked shoulder of Kildare lamb; and smoked Knockanore cheese ravioli with Green Spot cream. Brookwood, Baggot Street The club room is located on the top floor of Brookwood on Baggot Street if a PDR focused on steak and seafood is your thing. They can cater for groups of up to 16 for €65-€90 for three courses, and there's a personal music system and flatscreen TV in case you want to listen to or watch something. It also gets our votes for one of the prettiest chandeliers in Dublin. Dublin 1 Bar Italia, Ormond Quay Bar Italia can host groups of up to 37 in their downstairs enclave, working with you on a menu and drinks to fit your group, and offering extras like a prosecco reception or homemade cake. There's pasta, pizza, risotto, fish and meat specials, so it won't be difficult to please a wide range of tastes, and we'd crawl along the quays for their carbonara. Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, Parnell Square For the ultimate, no expenses spared group night out, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen , has a few choices for private, or just more secluded dining. The Chef’s Table, in the kitchen, seats up to six, the (semi-private) Demi-Salle seats four - six, and The Middleton Room seats up to 10. As far as experiences with family or friends go, this is one you'll never forget. Krewe, Capel Street 'NOLA-inspired' Krewe on Capel Street is great for groups where no-one wants to spend too much, and diners are of the fried chicken/burgers/brightly coloured cocktails variety. Downstairs can seat a few long tables, while upstairs is made for a full takeover, and it's easy to get in and out for around €50 a head. Mr Fox, Parnell Square Mr Fox can cater for groups up to 65, the full capacity of the restaurant, or a smaller number. Groups are usually seated in the back room, and their set seasonal menu is €93 per person, so this is very much special occasion territory. The Woollen Mills, Ormond Quay The Woollen Mills is tailor-made for private dining, with a whopping four options seating up to 80 people, and access for wheelchairs - surprisingly hard when it comes to private dining rooms that are generally up or down stairs. The Riverrun room overlooks the Liffey, as does the smaller Joyce room, and the fully heated and covered room terrace can take up to 80 people. M&L Chinese Our go-to place for Sichuan food, upstairs in M&L Chinese off O'Connell Street there’s a private room that seats 10-12. You can BYO for €5 a bottle so it's a great value option if you like drinking the good stuff (just consider bringing your own glasses), and if you've yet to try the handmade dumplings, Szechuan green beans and deep-fried fish, your next group outing is the perfect excuse. South Dublin Lena What was Locks in Portobello is now Lena , the newest opening from the team behind Uno Mas and Etto. Lena hit the exact same heights as its siblings from the second its doors opened, and their two private dining rooms upstairs seat groups of 8 - 24. The food is neighbourhood Italian on another level, with the sage and anchovy fritti; wild seabass crudo; and osso bucco some of our 2025 dining highlights, and a three course set menu will cost your gang €69pp, including bread, sides and dessert, which is pretty good value for an experience this special. Shaku Maku, Rathmines Shaku Maku (from the same people as Umi Falafel) is an easy going Middle Eastern diner, perfect for pulling up at a long table with your friends or family and ordering all the mezze. There are grilled meats, tagines, Manakeesh (Middle Eastern flatbreads), and this is pick and mix dining at very fair prices. The Old Spot, Beggar's Bush The Old Spot have two spaces upstairs for groups of up to 20 or 50, with their largest single table seating 12-14. They do a three-course set menu which is €55 for lunch or €70 for dinner, with a choice of starters, mains and desserts, including their deep-fried truffle mac and cheese; and a Ridgeway Waygu beef burger. Bear in mind though that you're paying a premium for the set menu at dinner, with the same dishes considerably cheaper when eaten off the à la carte - if your group isn't too large you might be better off trying to get a regular table downstairs. Bresson, Monkstown The first floor private dining room in Bresson , Monkstown, can seat 20-46 people, with a bar, sound system and dedicated staff to serve your party. Their four course dinner menu is €80 and for the very hungry - it includes bread, Hors d'Oeuvres, sorbet and Petit Fours on top of your starter, main and dessert. North Dublin Sister Seven, Smithfield Big Fan's Northside debut came inside Fidelity Studio in Smithfield, and the two together are a food loving, craft beer drinking, audiophile's dream. They take groups of all sizes, and their set menu features baos, bites, jiaozi, and meaty mains like pork char siu and Fidelity fried chicken for €40pp. Slice, Stoneybatter When you think of Slice in Stoneybatter you might think of brunch with a side of mimosas, but you can also book the space for evening meals of 15-30 guests. They'll work with you on a menu, drinks and pricing, and you can ensure that all the Irish produce will feature heavily. Prices start from €45pp including a welcome cocktail, canapés and three courses, and taking over a space that's opening just for you really puts the private in private dining. Shouk, Drumcondra Shouk in Drumcondra is tailor-made for groups, with a 'feasting menu' available for tables of 10 or more. For €40 a head you'll be laden down with mezze, salads, dips, arayes, shawarma and schnitzel. There's even hot drinks and baklawa to end - who could argue with that. Old Street, Malahide Old Street in Malahide cater for groups of all sizes in their sunlight-flooded first floor, and we recommend a walk by the sea afterwards. A three-course lunch for a minimum of 10 people is €45 with dinner €55, and you can see menus on their website . Did we miss your favourite place for a group? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie

Brunch - the most important meal of the week. We’ve approached it here as a holistic exercise - it’s not just about the food, it’s also about the location. Is there a sea walk nearby to blow the cobwebs away? Or a salvage yard to go searching for that one-of-a-kind piece? Or a sunny patch of pavement where you can people-watch from behind soothing sunglasses? Brunch is about leisure. This should be a meal without stress, and possibly with a daytime cocktail or two. With that in mind, here are the best brunches the suburbs have to offer to save you the trek into town, and yes there's a whole section on Dublin 8 -we don't make the brunch rules... (If you're set on heading into town, here are the best brunch options in the city centre ) Northside Little Washer, Glasnevin An Italian leaning wine bar by night, Little Washer   serves brunch from 9am on weekends (with pizza options kicking in from midday). The baked eggs with fennel and sausage ragu is the one to go for here, covered in a shower of aged parmesan and served with ciabatta toast. Follow it up with a stroll around the Botanic Gardens and you’ll be fit to face the week ahead. Two Boys Brew, Phibsborough   Kevin and Taurean of Two Boys Brew opened up the now iconic Dublin 7 café back in 2016 inspired by their time in Berlin, Copenhagen and Australia. They're still pumping out some of the best brunch on the Northside, with dishes like eggs benedict with slow cooked Irish beef cheek; soft scrambled eggs with herb infused feta; and a magnificent french toast. They're also pouring some of the best coffee in the area and are eternally busy - brunch starts at 9am so get there early if you want to avoid getting hangry in the queue. 3fe, Phibsborough   Now becoming something of a cookie cutter operation, 3fe ’s first suburban Northside location is right next to Two Boys Brew - an interesting move. Their menu is now the same across all locations, with easy going options like the breakfast bap, chorizo hash, and granola and yoghurt, but you can't deny the coffee is great. Bang Bang, Phibsborough Slightly off Phibsborough’s main drag, just behind Dalymount Stadium, nestled among the 1890s red brick houses is Bang Bang , home of the legendary brunch burger - a Dublin brunch right of passage. Their specials change daily, with an option each for carnivores, veggies and vegans, they pour Silverskin coffee and all the sweet stuff is homemade. Great food, banging tunes and friendly staff - what more could you ask from brunch. Slice, Stoneybatter Stoneybatter is heaven for food loving D7 dwellers, but for brunch Slice is where it's at . All-day brunch is served seven days a week, with the most tantalising flavour combinations that outshine the vast majority of other brunch menus, everywhere. There's additional outdoor seating, and it's the brunch spot to be on a cracking day. Last summer they were serving watermelon Aperol Spritzes and we're still not over it. Social Fabric Café, Stoneybatter   Another point on the scoreboard for Stoneybatter is Social Fabric , located in an old post office now transformed into a friendly, community focused space. Their brunch menu is a rundown of the classics, with some tasty twists - Turkish eggs are made with spicy nduja sausage, and eggs benedict comes with two perfectly crispy-fried cuboid potato cakes. They serve reliably good Cloud Picker coffee too, so drop by for a flat white, a good feed, and a wander along Stoneybatter’s main drag.   Two Pups, Fairview   2023 was a good year for brunch seekers in Fairview when the revered Two Pups in Dublin 8 expanded across the Liffey with a slightly smaller premises and a more brunch forward menu than the original. Aside from their twin brioche breakfast bun creations (The McDivil - scrambled egg, mustard mayo, gherkins and a sausage patty, and The Boldy - egg, miso aioli, cheese, chives and caramelised onion) they serve other brunch friendly options li ke açai, granola and burritos . Freshly baked pastries are now supplied by their own Bold Boy Bakery . Póg, Clontarf, Howth & Malahide Póg is a protein pancake palace, with a full menu of sauces, toppings and premium add ons for their signature stacks. If that's not your bag there's also the wallet busting avocado on toast (sixteen of your finest euros), breakfast brioche and açai bowls. Although they started in the city centre, the last couple of years have seen them expand to the specifically seaside North Dublin suburbs of Howth, Malahide and Clontarf. Orani, Blanchardstown Orani in Blanchardstown might not be the first spot you think of for brunch, but trust us, it should be. They describe themselves as "Asian Fusion" with dishes like Orani eggs Benedict with a miso hollandaise, and quinoa taco pancakes, but the owners' Filipino roots have thankfully spilled onto their brunch menu too. Orani is the place to try popular Filipino breakfast staples Longsilog - sausage with garlic rice and a fried egg - and Tapsilog - an all-day breakfast dish with beef tapa, fried egg, garlic fried rice and fresh vegetables. Baa Baa, Chapelizod This sweet spot in Chapelizod reopened recently with a makeover to their interior, and they’re still serving the most beautiful plates around. Baa Baa 's dishes are an explosion of colour and texture, like the crispy rosemary panko halloumi bowl with tabbouleh, pomegranate and pickles, or the acai coconut bowl loaded with nut butter, granola and fruit. With true attention to eating the rainbow, this is a slightly healthier option too - although nothing tastes overly virtuous. Dublin 8 3fe, Clancy Quay Here to help us heal from the tragic loss of Storyboard, 3fe ’s latest opening in the old Storyboard site in Islandbridge has all the usual 3fe dependables, along with their reliably excellent coffee. Sit down for the Dirty Gertie, 3fe's version of the full Irish, followed by a leisurely walk around the Memorial Gardens and a rummage through Mac’s Warehouse. The perfect Sunday. Riggers, Inchicore A beyond decent brunch spot on Emmet Road, Riggers is slinging the classics with avocado toast - their version has pineapple pico de gallo and feta - and fluffy stacks of pancakes with dulce du leche creme anglais and whipped mascarpone. Nab yourself a seat outside come summer and enjoy the micro sun trap that seems to manifest around brunchtime, as you watch the world go by Flower and Bean, Cork Street Brightening up a fairly quiet stretch of Cork Street is Flower and Bean , a space with a slightly DIY vibe and a mountain of charm. Brunch is served in beautiful enamelware, and they’re very child friendly (are the unbreakable dishes a coincidence? We think not), running regular meet ups and competitions for families with kids. A special mention here for the doughnuts - soft pillowy balls of light, enriched dough filled with seasonal fillings and rolled in crunchy sugar. Daddy's, Rialto Daddy’s  have recently changed ownership, but seem to be keeping up the good work bringing their modern Irish dishes to the people of Rialto. They do an all-day brunch menu on the weekend, and have a few brunch style dishes on their weekday menu too, including the now iconic bacon egg and cheese croissandwich and Turkish eggs with thick yogurt and spiced butter. Decisions, decisions... The Fumbally, Fumbally Lane   Some of the best chefs and food entrepreneurs in Ireland have ‘graduated’ from The Fumbally , which operates a non-hierarchical kitchen, allowing everyone the equal chance to create new menu items. This freedom has paid off for both the employees and the café, with a queue of hopeful young chefs waiting in the wings to get their shot. The result is an ever evolving menu of exciting, seasonal and imaginative dishes - no wonder there’s usually a queue to beat. ALMA, Portobello   Another Portobello diamond, ALMA is a family operation, with the name stemming from the four initials of the children, and you’ll usually see one or more of them on the floor. ALMA’s creations always sound a little bit nutty on the page, but their flavour driven dishes hit every delicious note. Try their Korean take on the traditional Argentinian choripan with Argentinian style sausage and kimchi, and their fluffy buttermilk pancakes with dulce-du-leche and orange mascarpone. Special shoutout to their adorable merch - we want that Brunch Club t-shirt BAD. Groundstate Coffee, The Liberties   This café roastery based in the Liberties, Dublin 8 works with small growers for their coffee beans and roast everything in small batches in-house. They're keen to use quality local suppliers and are nailing it with McNally Farm, Firehouse Bakery and Pigs on the Green are all on their roster. Overnight oats are a popular order, but they also have weekend worthy dishes like brioche brekkie buns and spicy chorizo eggs. Grab a bag of their excellent coffee to take home on your way out the door.   Bibi's, Portobello   This quiet but buzzy little spot has been open for years, but never feels dated. The menu shifts seasonally but always includes some timeless Bibi’s brunch classics - we find ourselves returning again and again for their squash eggs with silky sweet slices of roasted butternut squash, garlicky yogurt, chilli oil and perfectly poached eggs, with perfect sourdough toast Southside Two Fifty Square, Rathmines With three outposts across South Dublin, Two Fifty Square serve brunch out of their recently renovated Rathmines location, a pleasantly bright and high ceilinged space. It’s the perfect spot if you’re the kind to compulsively photograph your food (guilty) as the overhead light makes every plate look amazing, not that they need help. The menu is a rundown of well-realised reliables, with a particularly pretty avo toast and picture perfect corn fritter with halloumi and herb oil. Grove Road, Rathmines   Located right at Portobello Bridge, snag a window seat here for peak people watching as you sip your flat white. Grove Road serves brunch all day on the weekends and even have a smaller brunch menu that they serve all day during the week, so you don’t need to wait until the weekend to enjoy their avocado and feta smash toast with properly crispy bacon. Mad Yolks, Rathmines Brothers Hugh and Eoin O’Reilly of Mad Yolks  expanded from their Smithfield location to Rathmines back in 2023, which we're sure the locals were very happy about. The menu is the same as their Smithfield spot, with free-range egg sandwiches, homemade hash browns and chilled mimosas. Flavour combinations are ace, and you should prepare to leave with a newfound grá for eggs. You'll never, ever, need to eat an Egg McMuffin again. Read our once over here .   Brother Hubbard, Ranelagh After blessing Dublin 8, Capel Street, and the good shoppers of Arnotts with their Middle Eastern inspired flavours, Brother Hubbard ’s Ranelagh opening delighted residents back in 2022, where they continue to serve up the fundamentals like Eggs Menemen and seasonal french toast. They also have arguably the best vegan brunch option in the city with their Sabiche - roasted aubergine flatbread with creamy hummus, amba sauce and dukkah. Happy Out, Donnybrook and Dun Laoghaire   We challenge you not to get a coffee from Happy Out when you're going for a walk along Bull Island or Dun Laoghaire pier. Or if the weather is wild or your head is feeling a bit too tender, try their Donnybrook location. In Dun Laoghaire they’ve collaborated with Together Academy in the most stunning spot right on the water in the historic Dun Laoghaire Baths building. Sea views, toasties, and killer coffee. What more could you want out of this little old life. Juniors, Beggar's Bush   Juniors  is owned by brothers Paul and Barry McNeary, who are also behind Paulie's Pizza and Lotts and Co. , and it’s been on the go for years, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their brunch has rowed back from American-style to more of a classic offering, with bacon and egg rolls, American-style pancakes, and a full Irish. Good for some recovery after a night on the tiles. Crudo, Sandymount Known for their casually incredible Italian dishes, Crudo ’s brunch offerings are a textural dream - fluffy ricotta scrambled eggs with toasted Oaksmoke Bakery sourdough and grated salty pecorino cheese, with optional crispy pancetta for the perfect bite. Their characteristically Italian take on french toast (should we say Italian toast?) sounds terrific - a slab of focaccia soaked in amaretto custard and served with whipped mascarpone and seasonal fruit. Deliziosa... 3fe Five Points, Harold's Cross Far from the first mention of the ubiquitous 3fe on this list, and it's to be expected, as they seem to be popping up on every corner, with no arguments from us. Similar to the other locations, you've got the staples like the fried chicken bap, Boston beans, and chai spiced porridge. It seems like no matter where you are, you can increasingly enjoy 3fe from the comfort of your own neighborhood. Southbank, Harold's Cross Much as we might fancy the comfort of an old favourite, we’ve always got eyes open for something distinctive on a brunch menu. That’s where Southbank ’s charred cabbage on toast comes in, topped with beetroot hummus, crispy shallots and peanut rayu – you won’t find that anywhere else around town. Fear not if that’s a bridge too far - there are full Irishes and eggs benedicts aplenty too. With an under-12s kids menu available at weekends, it's also a great bet if you’re brunching with little ones. Hatch, Blackrock Hatch  serve a small but perfectly formed brunch menu, which includes an incredible confit tomato and ricotta toast along with one of the best iterations of the breakfast bap we’ve ever tried. Don’t miss out on their brown butter cookie which scooped a silver medal in the 2023 Blas na hÉireann awards. It's the perfect spot for early birds as they start serving from 08:00 on the weekend, and from 07:00 midweek. Koda, Deansgrange Newish opening   Koda  in Deansgrange has a fairly pork-forward proposition when it comes to brunch. Their standout dishes are the breakfast bap (pork patty, sriracha mayo, fried egg, hash brown), and an incredible looking pork belly with crispy rice and a poached egg. TJ Crowes sausages take pride of place in the Koda grill, and buttermilk pancakes are served with crispy bacon and maple syrup. One for meat lovers. Bibi’s, Dun Laoghaire The new outpost of the Portobello institution is the perfect place to enjoy a seaside brunch. Come to enjoy their Turkish eggs or one of their excellent toasties, stay for the view out over the sea. Can we also give a mention to the fact that they always give you the right amount of butter with your toast? (Read: loads). This is a busy one and queues are to be expected. Riggers South, Sandycove Sister to Riggers Inchicore, Riggers South was born last summer in the seaside suburb of Glasthule, and unlike some other sibling restaurants, South has a markedly different menu. Our eye was caught by the gochujang chicken and waffles and croissant pain perdu (a particularly rich and custardy bread and butter pudding), and Filet-O-fish girlies will appreciate the crispy fish burger with lime cabbage slaw and fermented mango salsa on a brioche bun. Overends Kitchen, Dundrum Sitting on the large Airfield Estate in Dundrum, Overends Kitchen  has probably the most locally grown produce around as lots of it is grown on the grounds, and their menus change depending on the harvest. It’s a family friendly spot and designed to be explored and enjoyed by all. You could arrive early and help collect the eggs that will end up in your breakfast, or burn off some of your brunch with a walk around the six acre gardens. Either way, you won’t be disappointed by the garden greens shakshuka, buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, or brioche French toast. Looking for brunch in the city ? Check out our guide to the best brunches in the city centre here .

Dublin is not just the capital of Ireland; it is also a thriving hub for culinary enthusiasts. With a rich tapestry of flavors, influences, and ingredients, Dublin's food scene boasts an array of options ranging from traditional Irish dishes to modern gastronomic delights. Whether you're a local or a visitor, exploring the city's culinary treasures will be a memorable experience. Dublin Restaurants: A Taste of Tradition Dublin’s culinary history is deeply rooted in its local traditions. In many restaurants across the city, you can find hearty Irish fare, which often features a blend of local ingredients. Dishes such as Beef and Guinness Stew, Irish Lamb Chops, and Colcannon make for a delicious introduction to the flavors of Ireland. One popular spot to experience authentic Irish cuisine is The Woollen Mills . Located near the River Liffey, this eatery is known for its traditional dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Visitors rave about their shepherd's pie, oozing with flavor and made from quality meat and fresh vegetables. The Woollen Mills: A classic Dublin restaurant known for traditional Irish dishes. International Flavors in Dublin While Dublin's local cuisine shines brightly, the city's restaurant scene is also incredibly diverse. Immigrant communities have brought a multitude of culinary traditions to the city, leading to a flavorful melting pot of international cuisines. If you’re craving something different, pay a visit to Zaytoon , a popular eatery known for its delicious Middle Eastern fare. From the warm, fluffy pita to the vibrant falafel, Zaytoon offers a delightful blend of flavors. Be sure to try their mixed grill platter, which features tender meats chargrilled to perfection. A vibrant platter showcasing Middle Eastern delicacies at Zaytoon. Bridging the Gap: Modern Irish Cuisine In recent years, Dublin's culinary scene has seen a rise in modern Irish cuisine, where traditional recipes meet contemporary cooking techniques. Many chefs are now focusing on innovation while staying true to their Irish roots. A standout example of this is Chapter One , which holds a Michelin star for its commitment to gastronomic excellence. The restaurant offers a menu that changes seasonally, emphasizing local ingredients while crafting innovative dishes. Diners can enjoy a tasting menu that showcases the best of Ireland, paired with fine wines that elevate the dining experience. An expertly crafted dish at Chapter One, highlighting modern Irish cuisine. Hidden Gems: Dublin’s Local Cafés Beyond the well-known restaurants, Dublin is dotted with charming cafés that offer an array of delectable treats. Whether you are in the mood for a comforting cup of coffee or freshly baked pastries, there’s something for everyone. Bewley's Grafton Street is one such café. Established in 1927, it has maintained its historic charm while serving delectable dishes. Their famous coffee blends are complemented by a variety of breakfast and lunch options. The atmosphere is perfect for those looking to unwind and enjoy the bustling energy of Grafton Street. A cozy ambiance at Bewley's Grafton Street café, inviting patrons to relax. Dublin’s Market Scene: A Food Lover’s Paradise For those who truly want to immerse themselves in the local culinary scene, Dublin's markets offer a fantastic way to experience the flavors of the city. Local farmers and artisans come together to showcase their freshest produce, baked goods, and specialty items. One of the most popular markets is the Temple Bar Food Market , held every Saturday. Visitors can find everything from organic vegetables to artisanal cheeses. This market not only provides an opportunity to sample local products but also to engage with passionate vendors who are eager to share their stories. Exploring these markets offers a unique insight into Dublin’s food culture, where you can taste the essence of local ingredients while supporting small businesses. Your Culinary Adventure Awaits Dublin's culinary landscape is rich, varied, and constantly evolving. From traditional Irish fare to international cuisines, the city offers something to satisfy every palate. Don't miss the opportunity to indulge in the best that Dublin has to offer by exploring local restaurants, modern eateries, and bustling markets. Whether you’re looking for the best restaurants dublin or quaint cafes to relax in, Dublin’s culinary treasures are waiting for you to discover. So grab your fork and knife, and embark on an unforgettable culinary adventure in this beautiful city!

Our 35 hottest list (up from 30) 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 SIX new entries for February... * This list doesn't include cafés or lunch-only options, everywhere here is open for dinner at a minimum

What should we know about Parnell Street Bakery? We’ve mourned a lot of closures in recent times, but few as deeply as primo Dublin sandwich shop 147 Deli . Shoes to fill don’t come bigger, but if anyone’s up to the task it’s Thibauld Peigne, who pivoted from best-in-the-biz wholesale baking with Tartine , to a retail outlet of his own with Russell Street Bakery  in 2023. Parnell Street Bakery is the second opening in what we'd love to think will be a Northside bakery massive. What should we have? An annual medical checkup in the diary - there is so much buttery brilliance here that your arteries will need a deep clean after you’ve guzzled your way through the menu. We made off with all our greedy hands could carry across three separate visits and still wanted more. As at Russell Street , the pastries are perfection, high-art exemplars of Peigne’s classical boulangerie craft. This is baking that’s showstopping but never showy, laminated layers and golden crusts galore. The pistachio New York roll and pain au chocolat’s paper-thin pastry layers submit to the bite with a crackle to make ASMR audiences swoon. Both lean heavily on the rich simplicity and flavour of top-tier butter, though the former’s hidden bounties of nutty cream won out over the latter’s modest chocolate baton. The cinnamon bun’s pillowy, spiced sugar-dusted dough and the apple crumble danish’s tart crunch offer every bit as much to savour – you can’t go wrong with the sweet pastries here. We fared less well for savoury - generous mounds of ham were welcome in a croissant, but a longer spell in the oven was needed to make the most of the cheese, and while we’re not complaining about the sandwiches, the fillings are three-star foils to the five-star bread. Stick to focaccia, and marvel at its near-transparent texture - if there’s a better one about town we’ve yet to find it. Both the potato and garlic, and goat’s cheese and tomato subscribed to the less-is-more school of thought - luscious flavour pops poked into superb sourdough. As we’ve recently reported , Dublin’s high-end patisserie game has stepped up a gear – trust the French to rise to the challenge. Peigne’s confections are a marvel, the feather-in-the-cap finale that puts Parnell Street Bakery among the city’s best. The éclair is a paragon of patisserie technique, structurally sound but oh-so soft, a delight of duelling redcurrant and rhubarb flavours. Only the fraisier we found a little lacking - the picture-perfect strawberry sponge looks the part, but the too-thick cream couldn’t match it on taste. The salted caramel tart however met the raised expectations of a glorious glossy sheen with rich and complex chocolate, and while a hazelnut-heavy Paris-Brest is a pastry we've never not said gimme-that-right-now to, this one is a sensation. Look out Library Street , there’s a new challenger in town. Why should I go? In a lovely little madeleine washed down with an Imbibe coffee, you'll find the essence of Parnell Street Bakery . For all the frills and fancy flourishes, it’s this simple, classic craft, tirelessly perfected, that defines the place. Parnell Street Bakery 147 Parnel Street, Dublin 1 instagram.com/parnellst.bakery