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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

With Paddy's day done for another year we're hoping brighter days and warmer temperatures are in our near futures. Until then we plan on warming up with fried chicken, cheese-stuffed sandwiches, and smoky lamb belly, all new to the capital's menus... 1) Haddington Fried Chicken, Oliveto Oliveto in Dun Laoghaire are veering slightly from their Italian anima to join the premium fried chicken ranks. Their HFC sees boneless free-range chicken thigh marinated for 24 hours in buttermilk, then coated in a crispy crumb, flash-fried and finished in the oven, before being drizzled with hot honey (which improves absolutely everything). There's also some ‘nduja and peperoncino mayo on the side, and between that and a brisk walk down the pier, any cobwebs will be well cast off. 2) Spiced lamb belly, Green Man Wines We love a wine bar, and we love when their small plates are big and bold enough to stand up to all the wines we want to drink. Never one to expect customers to exist on cheese and charcuterie alone, Green Man Wines in Terenure are constantly adding to the menu, and their newest addition is this slow-cooked lamb belly with cannellini beans, sesame broth, and pickled Guindilla peppers. They promise it goes with practically all the wines by the glass, and that they've done copious research to make sure. Find it in the wine bar from Thursday - Saturday. 3) Smoked halloumi melt, Tír Deli Few people make veggie sandwiches look as sexy as Tír Deli , whose commitment to Irish ingredients is a citywide benchmark. Their " celeriac and hallou-mi" has left the building, to be replaced by the new "smoked halloumi melt", with Toonsbridge cheese, roasted Abercorn Farm greens, fermented hot honey, wild garlic pesto, pickled Irish mushrooms and toasted pumpkin seeds. It all comes on Oaksmoke Bakery ciabatta, and sounds like yet another knockout. 4) Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa , Osteria Lucio Osteria Lucio has all the quiet confidence of somewhere that's not here for the Tiktok trends. This is classic Italian cooking letting prime ingredients do the talking, and this orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa with Italian sausage ragu, turnip tops, chilli, and Felsina 1st press extra olive oil looks like a case in point. 5) Belfast coffee Basque cheesecake How Elliot's keep coming up with one banger after another is more than our tiny brains can process. This weekend saw them join forces with Bar 1661 for a Belfast coffee Basque cheesecake, spiked with Ban Poitin, cold brew coffee, dark panela sugar and freshly grated nutmeg. Paddy's weekend saw its first debut, but if demand is there we can't see why this wouldn't be a permanent addition to the menu. Tell them we sent you.

What should we know about Mama Shee? Few of last year’s closures were as disappointing as Bless Up . The Tallaght opener lasted just six months, serving up a pan-African offering heavy on Nigerian favourites like jollof and efo riro. That’s why we jumped at the news that D24 was to get a second taste with the opening of a sit-down spot for Mama Shee . Edizemi Onilenla’s brand has done stalwart trade on Moore Street and other market locations since 2019, building a growing chorus of fans in the process. What should we have? The buffet-style setup gives you the option to mix-and-match, getting as much variety as possible. It's a little confusing though as the menu shows set prices for each dish, but we were charged €25 each for "all you can eat". We earned some side eye with a smile from our server at the “eclectic plates” we assembled, but found it a fun way to greedily gorge. Most other punters played it straight with one of the meats or stews heaped on a plate of rice, served with a side of fried plantain. Everything here has its distinctive merits, the rice chief among them. Jollof is a mainstay of Nigerian cuisine, long-grain rice cooked in a fragrant tomato sauce until soft, sweet and spicy. Mama Shee’s is a prime specimen, flavourful enough to devour without anything else on it – but where’s the fun in that? Fried rice has just as much taste, if a little less character - for us, it’s jollof all the way. Asoro is a yam porridge with varying mashed and whole chunk textures, and the subtle starchy flavours of the stewed tuber pair well with the jollof's light spice – it's a top tip for vegetarians. So too is the efo riro, with a welcome kick of heat giving the spinach stew staying power - a big bowl of this would make for a satisfying meal on its own. Egusi “soup” is thicker than the title might suggest, with the pounded melon seeds it takes its name from giving a creamy texture swaddling yet more yam. Carnivores will delight in the variety of meat here, with everything from smoked turkey to snails (!) among the dishes we spotted in weeks of Insta-eyeing. Against the idea of those, neither which were on the day we dropped in, tender chicken thighs couldn’t stack up, for all their juicy, charred-skin goodness. Beef in a sauce of roast red and chilli peppers was better, with fatty cuts dissolving into a rich broth. The same sauce plays host to a curious combo of goat and turkey, the former’s bone-in chunks beautifully tender. The more adventurous should single out the the ayamase, a distinctively black stew of boiled eggs and tripe that's a tasty treat for anyone into offal. Why should I go? For a crash course in the cuisine of Africa’s most populous country, you won't do better. Mama Shee ’s diverse dish array offers a welcome chance to dive headlong into a food culture heretofore not widely available in Ireland, and more’s the pity. We’re already keeping tabs on the rotating specialties and planning a return -those snails can’t come soon enough. Mama Shee 1 Belgard Square West, Tallaght, D24 instagram.com/mamashee

What should we know about Chiya? Opening in November, Chiya would look set to threaten the Dame Street dominance of Reyna in the kebab stakes, if not for the fact it’s the same family team behind both. This newer venture sits across from city hall in the old Beshoff Bros location - where we were briefly and tantalisingly promised popup 'Meyhane' before being landed with nondescript chicken joint Bird Box for a few months - and goes all in on “Berlin-style” döner sandwiches. What should we have? While bowls are also available, it’s all about the bread. Though the “Berlin-style” pitch speaks to this thicker-crusted kind’s popularity in the German capital, it’s a Turkish diaspora dish - why it’s only migrated here now to join its more common flatbread fellows we wish we knew. We're not gonna mince words - this bread is a sensation, light and airy inside, gloriously crusty on the outside. The diamond-shaped dough from a family recipe is grilled fresh to order before the puffed-up final product is pinched open and crammed full of filling, and its just-cooked crispness is a real weak at the knees moment - we’d happily eat this without anything inside. It's a bonus then that Chiya’s fillings are every bit as good as the bread, with 24-hour marinated mixed chicken and beef the star. Threaded on the rotisserie between layers of fat to allow it to crisp up without drying out, the thin-sliced, brown-edged meat is a marvel, and one they don’t shy away from piling high. Blissfully, veggie tagalongs have three choices, giving them more options than the carnivores. We tried the müjver, falafel-esque fritters of grated courgette (other options have halloumi and mixed veg), and the well-seasoned sweetness and golden coating make this a must-try. Played off the crisp comfort of the bread and you-can-feel-it freshness of the mixed veg, these fillings have all the makings to be our new go-to fave about town. The most important factor for many these days will be price, and here’s where Chiya really excels, with all four sandwiches giving change from a tenner (€8.90 - €9.90). This is incredible value for 2025 Dublin, not least when it’s among the best to boot. Bowls will leave a bigger dent in your pocket, but portions are substantial, with rice, barley, veg or fries forming the base in their curated or build-your-own options, but we can’t fathom a reason outside of strict dietary requirements why anyone would forego this bread. Curly fries have kicked up some early attention from social media punters, but after trying them we're no wiser as to why - they’re not much more than fine, with paprika-flecked crisp edges making for solid grazing alongside the glory of everything else. Save the stomach space for the main event, and pile high those house pickles sitting pretty on every table. Why should I go? Chiya is not the first sight of this kind of döner to Dublin - Richmond Street’s Berliner beat it by a few months - but its almighty lead on quality and price versus the local competition, mark an arrival in style. Late-night louts have never had it so good, but this is food worth making a trip for any time of the day. Chiya 71 Dame Street, Dublin 1 instagram.com/chiyadublin

Nothing says I love you like flowers, but nothing says I get you like an artisan cheese hamper. We’re always looking for gifts to send our fellow food-obsessed mates, whether the occasion is a birthday, a new baby, an engagement or a breakup, so we did some digging on the best places to order seasonal patisserie, Irish craft beer, and extraordinary tinned fish, and they're all just a click away from landing on someone you love’s doorstep. Toonsbridge Initially known for their cheeses, Toonsbridge branched out into provisions with their offshoot The Real Olive Company, and it's hard to think of a more perfect housewarming gift than their Food Box to Fill Your Pantry (€88.00). We’ve all had that moment late in the move where you’re faced with empty cupboards and not a huge amount of will to live - here's the antidote. Good tinned fish, pickled Cippolini onions, mustards, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a cloth shopping bag, and even a bar of Provencal soap for beside your new sink - check out their hampers here . Toonsbridge deliver all over Ireland from Monday to Wednesday, with shipping free on orders over €85.00. Le Patissier We discovered Le Patissier during the pandemic, when staying indoors and eating became an international pastime. Their selection of seasonal patisserie can be ordered for delivery in most areas of Co. Dublin for a flat rate of €10.00, arriving as a box of perfectly rendered jewel-like cakes, tarts and mousses. Their current spring collection (€50.00) features an Alphonso mango mousse with a passion fruit curd centre; a pistachio tart; and a milk chocolate tonka bean cremeux with cherry gel; all as beautiful as they are delicious. Dublin delivery costs €10. Sheridan's Sheridan’s are the OG of Irish cheesemongers, their green and white striped branding recognisable the country over, signifying delicious things within. Their website is a wonderland for gifting, featuring old world wines, tinned seafood, jams, chutneys, and of course, cheese. We love the straight to the point Cheese, Chutney and Wine Hamper (€80), but for very special occasions there’s the Luxury Hamper (€250.00), full of characteristically assertive cheeses, wines, Pedro Ximenez sherry, aged balsamic vinegar, acacia honey and smoked almonds. Delivery anywhere in Ireland is €10.00, or €50.00 to anywhere in the EU. Check out their gifts here . Laudurée One for the bougiest amongst us, Ladurée ’s distinctive pastel boxes of macarons can be delivered nationwide for €10.00, along with bottles of Rosé Champagne, chocolates and teas. Available in boxes of eight (€33.00) to thirty five (€120.00) macarons, the website has a very cute feature allowing you to click on various flavours to populate your virtual box before adding it to your cart. Another adorable option is a mixed box of langue du chat biscuits (€24.00) with a charming cat illustration on the box which is giving both Wes Anderson and Marie Antoinette. Who doesn’t want to feel like an indie princess on their birthday? Nationwide delivery is €10. Gannet Fishmongers / eatmorefish.ie Gannet Fishmongers through their Eat More Fish website are on a mission to supply Ireland with sustainable seafood, and both their ethos and taste in gifts are excellent. They have one of the best selections of tinned fish we've ever seen, from Nazarena sardines in spicy olive oil (beyond good on sourdough toast) and hot smoked anchovies (ditto), to cockles with ginger and kombu and jarred sea spaghetti. Putting together your own selection to send to your seafood obsessed friend is the move here - maybe adding in one of their wooden handled oyster knives for good measure. Home delivery is only available for orders over €35.00 and it's a flat rate of €8.50. Indie Füde Indie Füde are going well beyond the typical wine-chocolate-teddy bear hampers with their range of lovingly sourced Irish-food-forward hampers delivering all over the country. Featuring producers like Burren Balsamics, Monto chocolates and Broighter Gold oils, they have a brilliantly curated hamper for every occasion. We love The Weekender (£58.95), full of biscuits, coffee and charcuterie for a relaxing weekend in, or the Incredible Irish Indulgence box (£169.95), featuring some of the best and brightest producers from across the country. Delivery costs £12.95 to the Republic of Ireland (£16.90 for chilled products), or £6.95 (£10.90) up North. Check out their hampers here . Naomi's Kitchen Sometimes it’s not always possible to find the time to cook, and it tends to be at those times when you most need a nourishing meal. The meals from Naomi’s Kitchen are pure comfort, exactly what you might need in challenging times, with wholesome dinners like beef bourguignon, lasagne, and chicken and broccoli crumble. Everything is handmade from scratch by Naomi and her team, and everything freezes, ready to be heated up as needed. An ideal and possibly sanity preserving gift for new parents, a friend going through a bereavement, or someone recovering from an illness. Naomi’s Kitchen is currently only delivering within Dublin for orders over €50.00, but collection is available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from their Glenageary kitchen. Ardkeen Ardkeen specialise in artisan Irish foods and their gift section showcases all that expertise in a thoughtful range of hampers. We particularly like the Craft Beer and Snack selection (€59.00), with everything you might need for an evening in with friends - a selection of Irish IPAs, ales and stout with snacks like Keogh’s crisps and Blanco Nino tortilla chips. Some of their hampers are available for international delivery, like the Love Irish Food Favourites hamper (€50.00). Full of tayto crisps, Club Orange and even a soda bread mix, it’s an ideal gift for someone missing home. Hampers can be shipped throughout Ireland from €8.50, or over to the States from €25.30. Fallon & Byrne Most people will be familiar with Fallon & Byrne , but not everyone is aware that they deliver their range of food and wine hampers nationwide. We love their Ultimate Vegan hamper (€100.00), made to spoil the vegan in your life with Harry’s Nut Butter, Nobó Chocolate and Plaza Del Sol black truffle crisps - delicious products that are incidentally vegan without carrying the yoke of virtuousness that can too often tar the lifestyle. Nationwide delivery is free for orders over €100.00, or €10.00 for orders under. Urru Urru don’t do hampers, they do “ Urruboxes ” - a limited and thoughtful range of curated food gifts. Their taste of the year Urrbox (€170.00) is a round up of the Irish food products that have impressed them most throughout the year, with the 2024/25 edition showcasing Filligan’s Fiery Pepper Relish and Whisky Marmalade, Seymour’s Chilli Sable crackers and Shine’s Lobster Pate, among many other brilliant small producers. Send it to someone lucky nationwide for €10.00 (or free within Bandon town). On The Pig's Back Cork based On The Pig’s Back carries the best Irish and French charcuterie, and you can bless your friends with it via their seasonal gift store. This is one for meat lovers - whether you want to send one of their pre-made hampers or build your own selection, they're laden down with pork rillettes, Jack McCarthy’s pastrami, chicken liver pate with smoked bacon and port, and all of the extra bits to enjoy them with (Okina savoury biscuits, pickled gherkins, and red onion marmalade to name a few). Nationwide shipping is free on orders over €120. Otherwise it's €15 for orders under €50, or €10 for orders over €50.

Spring is in the air and on those plates, and the new openings are coming like a bullet train. From Peking duck to all the pies, here's where hot for March... For the buzziest opening of 2025 so far: Lena, Portobello Locks is dead. Long live Lena ! While locals (and many more) might have shed a tear at the thought of Locks no longer residing at 1 Windsor Terrace, in reality it's just had a major glow up. Liz Matthews and Simon Barrett, the restaurateur icons behind Etto and Uno Mas , have joined chef/owner Paul McNamara (also a partner in Uno Mas ) to bring us neighbourhood Italian Lena , and if you haven't had the sage leaf and anchovy fritti, lardo toast and Osso Bucco by the end of March, can you really call yourself a Dubliner...? Read our once over here . For the return of one of Dublin's greats: Assassination Custard, Dublin 8 After pulling the shutters down last summer (read about why in this great piece from the Irish Independent), Gwen McGrath and Ken Doherty's Assassination Custard is back - and this time you can book. There's still only around 10 seats, the menu's still written on a paper bag, and there are now two sittings at 12:00 and 13:30. They've also introduced a minimum spend of €25 - €30 to make it worth opening, but if you weren't already spending that you weren't doing it right (order it all). To book, call them on 0874701577. For the best value lunch in town right now: Coppinger, Dublin 2 We never fail to be impressed at those restaurateurs who innovate rather than capitulate, and what better way to get bums out of office chairs and into nicer ones than with a two course lunch for FIFTEEN EURO. IN A RESTAURANT. Or three courses for €20, with an optional glass of wine for an additional €5 (we don't endorse drinking on the job, but we don't not endorse it either). Coppinger are having to work smart with their "Menu del Dia" dishes, but we hear the chefs are loving the challenge, and the diners clearly love those prices. Available Wednesday - Friday, 12:00 - 15:00. For the slickest new Asian experience in South Dublin: China Tang, Monkstown The group behind Hakkahan in Stoneybatter and Nan Chinese in the city centre have just opened a fine dining Cantonese restaurant in Monkstown, and the pre-order whole Peking duck , sliced and served by the chef at your table, is right at the top of our want list for March. China Tang (no relation to the one at The Dorchester in London) has a suppliers list that includes Silverhill Duck, Andarl Farm and FX Buckley, and the menu is full of Cantonese dishes we've never seen in Dublin before. Get us in there. For pies to widen your eyes: Cellar 22 Dublin has never been somewhere that had its pick of the pies, but Cellar 22 are on a mission to change that and become the city's prime pie destination. Their 'Cellar Pie' changes daily so there's always something new to try, and we're very keen to get in here for one of these and a glass of red while it's still chilly outside. To save money on food and go bigger on wine: Monty's of Kathmandu Monty's of Kathmandu is best known for Momos (Nepalese dumplings), being a warm escape from tourists in Temple Bar, and for having a hell of a wine cellar. Their new set menu, running Thursday - Saturday at lunchtime, and all night Sunday - Thursday will let you dive even deeper into those bottles, with two courses for €32 or three for €37. Go for deconstructed samosa chat, and owner Lina's Achari chicken, and take your pick from that tome of a wine list, with margins well below the city's average. For when you can't be bothered to leave the house but want something nice: DropChef's collaboration with The Salt Project DropChef , the Irish-owned meal kit delivery service, have enlisted The Salt Project 's Caomhán de Brí for a special St. Patrick's Day collaboration. The chef, known for his hyper-local sourcing, has designed four new meal kits, available for delivery from the 16th March, all incorporating the best of Irish food, like an Irish Farmhouse cheese and onion tart; and pork fillet wrapped in bacon with Keeling's Black Apple Butter and Olly's Farm Hot Dublin Honey Glaze. Each kit comes with step-by-step instructions to cook and serve within 30 minutes, and it's the ideal delivery the next time you don't have the energy to flip through recipe books, but can't be arsed going out.

It's our favourite food holiday! Which means pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, amirite ? While our own pancakes pans are going to get a serious workout today, here's the ones we most want to eat around town... (P.s. don't come at us for how many of these are in Dublin 8 - we don't decide who kills it on pancake day) Alma, Portobello Alma can be depended on for their dulce de leche pancakes 52 weeks of the year, but there's a savoury special today too - the Jamon Serrano ones. We spy eggs, we spy pickled roasted chickpeas, we spy strawberry harissa, we spy limited numbers that won't last long in Portobello so don't delay. Space Jaru, Dublin 8 Miso. Caramel. Pancakes. We have no other details, and we need no other details. A Korean spin on an Irish tradition from Space Jaru will always get our vote. Flower & Bean, Dublin 8 Flower & Bean in Dublin 8 always go hard for our most special of food holidays, and this year as well as sweet pancakes with rhubarb and rose; protein pancakes with chilli, banana and bacon; and teddy bear pancakes for the smallies, there's also this ridiculously adorable baby pancake bowl with yoghurt, Harry's nutbutter, cinnamon, pomegranate and blood orange. Would you be well? Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2 Former Allta head chef Hugh Higgins is serving fresh pancakes from 8am-6pm today in Fallon & Byrne 's Food Hall, where he's now the development chef. Traditional lemon & sugar are two for €5, and for the pistachio obsessives they'll have one with house-made pistachio crème & Irish strawberries. At lunchtime the savoury option features house-baked ham, Hegarty’s smoked cheddar and béchamel, and they're all made using Killadoon Farm milk. Slice, Stoneybatter Slice are bringing all the dessert pancakes to Dublin 7 this year. Their banoffee pancakes come topped with dulce de leche, banana cremeux and a biscuit crumb, while the apple crumble comes with caramelised apple, crumble, and cardamom custard. Two Pups, Dublin 8 and Fairview Two Pups have fluffy stacked pancakes on the go in Dublin 8 and in Fairview, with miso caramel, blood orange, homemade honeycomb and whipped ricotta. How's that for a combo. Hidden, Smithfield Hidden in Smithfield picked a good time of year to introduce their "Dubai chocolate pancakes to the menu", and they're reduced to €15 just for today. The whole thing is homemade, even the chocolate bar on the side, and their regular sweet and savoury pancake options are also reduced to €11 for one day only. Ango's, Dublin 8 If you like more of a simple life, without all those fancy ingredients and exotic toppings, and just want a plate of pancakes like your mammy used to make, head to Ango's in The Liberties for thin, cripsy crêpes topped with whatever you'd like. Go fruit, go jam, go honey, go nuts, or ask them to rock out the lemon and sugar if that's how you want to play it. The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke, Rialto Not into pancakes? Celebrate with a pancake cupcake instead from The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke . There are f our flavours available - vanilla, red velvet, oreo and chocolate, and each is topped with three mini pancakes, a chocolate drizzle and sprinkles. Happy Pancake Day to all who celebrate. At Home - Ottolenghi's fluffy stack and Nigella's crêpes Can't get to any of these places? Make the fluffy stacks served in Ottolenghi's cafés at home, and top with whatever you've got to hand. Find the recipe here . For crêpes Nigella's version never fails, and if you're more of a savoury person, this recipe for Okonymiyaki is one of the best.

We’re not sure we’ve ever felt as much sheer seasonal relief as on our first sighting of forced rhubarb stalks over the last week - the perfect pastel pink summons the sense of spring to our mind like little else, and tells us that – finally! – winter has come to a close. We’re looking forward to pigging out on all things rhubarb, blood orange and early wild garlic and white asparagus in the weeks to come, but here are the spring dishes already on our eat list... Granola with rhubarb-lime compote, Honey Truffle The drabness of an Irish winter giving way to the bright brilliant pink of rhubarb is one of the best bits of the year – we feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t love it. Honey Truffle have brought out the colour even more with a splash of lime (you don’t see that every day), and spooned the lot over their house granola. No better way to start the day, or the season. Blood orange, fennel and radicchio salad, Baa Baa Blood orange is another seasonal beauty that’s becoming increasingly common about town - once only the preserve of fancier restaurants, it’s made its way to more cafés and grocers the last few years. Baa Baa ’s salad treatment shines a smart spotlight, played off creamy burrata and bitter radicchio to bring out its sweet and juicy best.   White asparagus and sea bream, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen We’re still scratching our head wondering what it will take for Michelin to dole out a third star to Chapter One - we’ve been to enough in our time to know Mickael Viljanen and co are operating at the top of the game. This white asparagus wonder is a case in point, partly for the perfectly-cooked stalk itself, but all the more so for the foam served alongside that had us almost erupting in tears of joy.   Rhubarb black sesame bun, Elliot‘s Elliot’s  are at it again with this deceptively simple-seeming seasonal specimen - you can bet plenty of time-intensive testing went into perfecting it. They’ve opted for black sesame to bring out the best of rhubarb, with a toasted seed sugar and crémeux balancing out the tart tang in a crème within, and poached batons atop.   Blood orange donuts, Flower ‘n’ Bean It’s just as well Flower ‘n’ Bean  are serving these doughnuts on Fridays only, or we’d be in every day of the week. For the day that’s in it  they’re doing a duo of blood orange and rhubarb pancakes today too, plus a first sighting of wild garlic in their weekly soup and sandwich special – it’s a seasonal feast.   Gnocchi with wild garlic, Coppinger Wild garlic has wound its way over to Coppinger  too, and just look at the colour they’ve teased out from the first shoots. Confit and BBQ King oyster mushrooms, and teasingly charred pan-fried gnocchi join the bright green puree on the plate, all lifted with lemon ricotta dollops and a pop of pickled shallot. Wipe your mouth there...   Rhubarb waffles, Urbanity We can always rely on Urbanity  to lean in hard to seasonal specials, and this weekend waffle dish is no exception. Ginger is a classic bedfellow of rhubarb for good reason - here they’ve doubled up with a ginger custard (genius) and a spiced ginger and oat crumble both working to balance the stewed stalks across the plate.   Blood orange and pistachio croissant buns, Bread Naturally “Homemade blood orange and vanilla marmalade” is a sequence of words guaranteed to stop us in our tracks. We’d welcome the chance to buy that by the jar, but until then, getting it within Bread Naturally ’s croissant buns will have to do. They’ve topped it with a pistachio mascarpone cream and pistachio crumb, plus a candied slice of blood orange to really show it all off.   Scallop and blood orange, Mamo We’re as much, if not more, excited to see savoury treatments of seasonal fruits as sweet, and Mamo  always accommodate with a seafood slant out in Howth. The sweetness and slight sharpness of blood orange accentuates and elevates the subtle flavours of scallop, not to mention just how very pretty it looks in the shell.   Rhubarb, tarragon and pistachio buns, Fable If it ain’t broke… This spring Fable have gone back to the well and put last year’s rhubarb recipe bun right back on the menu. Considering we tried and failed five times to get one before they’d sold out, that’s no bad thing in our book. The gorgeous golden hue of the buns plays off the perfect pink of the rhubarb for a very seductive snack.   Salmon with blood orange, The Seafood Cafe More smart seafood treatment of everyone’s favourite spring citrus from the folks at The Seafood Café – they really do what they say on the tin here. Cured organic salmon is another clever foil to play off the sweetness of the blood orange, while the kick of elderflower vinegar ties it all together – we can almost taste the freshness from here.   Blood orange pancakes, Two Pups We usually wouldn’t allow something so short-term on a rundown meant to last the season, but we can’t not spare a moment for Two Pups ’ pancake plate of the day. You rarely get to see blood orange heaped on a stack; we don’t think we’ve ever seen it paired with miso caramel and a homemade honeycomb. It’s just as well they say they’ve made a big batch. See more pancakes we want to eat in Dublin today here .

Chefs Victor Lara and Celina Altamirano have been ripping up cacti over in Ranelagh with their Mexico-city style plates at Suertudo , deeply inspired by their Jalisco and Oaxacan homelands. ATF's Ronan Doyle called the revamp of what was formerly Dillinger's " the kind of bold move we badly need more of around town "; the Irish Times noted its " flashes of brilliance "; and the Irish Independent said it's brought " the spark back " to a prime location. We're taking over Suertudo on the night of Tuesday 11th March, and the kitchen team are determined to show our readers what they're all about, with a liberal, nine-course menu featuring ceviche, pork, octopus, mole, tacos and more for the first-rate price of €68pp. They're even throwing in a welcome cocktail - 'The Jaguar Sip'. There will be two sittings on the night at 17:30 and 20:15, and Lara and Altamirano are going to ensure you leave with no Mexico-city stone unturned, after trying camotito, housemade tortilla chips, two types of mole and all the tacos. The chefs themselves will also be on site all night to serve the dishes and chat with diners. T his is an ATF Insiders-only event - sign up here  for €5 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 a guest 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. As this is a group dining event, you may be sitting at a table with other people. Unfortunately it's not possible to offer a vegetarian menu for this event, or make dish substitutions, but if you're someone who eats All The Food , then take a look at the feast we've got in store for you... Bookings for our Suertudo takeover on Tuesday 11th March go live tomorrow, Tuesday 4th March at 12pm. 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.

We're finally beginning to be spoiled for choice when it comes to Dublin’s bakery scene, rather than trekking for miles each weekend to stand in line because if we're doing pastry, we're only doing the best. Between new arrivals like Bold Boy and institutions like Bread 41 , it’s easy to get decision fatigue trying to figure out what’s going to go best with your morning coffee (or get you past an afternoon slump), so to help you out, here’s a round up of what we think are the flagship pastries from Dublin’s best bakeries - the one product that encapsulates what these heavy hitters do best... Scéal Bakery - Everything Croissant Scéal Bakery started back in the Fumbally Stables in 2017, but decamped to the seaside in recent years and have been very much missed. Lucky for all of the inhabitants of Dublin 8 and beyond, they've now returned, operating out of The Wine Pair on Saturday mornings only. Their Everything Croissant is indeed everything we want in a savoury breakfast situation - flaky croissant dough topped with a perfectly piped blob of their housemade cream cheese, sweet red onions and everything bagel seed mix. Equal parts crunchy, buttery, salty, creamy and rich, with a hyper savoury allium note. Bold Boy Bakery - PB&J Danish Bold Boy Bakery is the newest addition to the Dublin pastry scene, and we love everything from their tongue in cheek branding to their original range of pastries. The P&B danish is everything we want from a pastry moment - nostalgic and revelatory, it takes a well known flavour combination and works a textural magic. The almost-sharp jam is offset with a rich whipped cloud of peanut butter cream, on a raft of flaky buttery pastry, and finished with a shard of peanut brittle. Joyous. Fable Bakery - Cinnamon Bun Fable Bakery ’s focus is on perfecting and extending the concept of the Scandinavian style bun, with almond, chocolate and classic cinnamon versions, alongside savoury options like sundried tomato, an everything bagel, and a consistently delicious seasonal special. The cinnamon bun is the one to go for, and is the platonic ideal of its kind - sturdy but squidgy, sticky, spiced and deeply flavoured with little pops of texture from the sugar pearls on top. Una Bakery - Almond Croissant Una Bakery is everything you could ask for in a neighbourhood bakery - a well considered range of takes on classics, and a view into the kitchen where you can watch the bakers laminating and shaping the dough as you wait for your coffee. We loved their almond croissant when we visited in April , a prime example of the genre, realised with such skill that it felt a little like tasting one for the first time. Almond croissants can tend towards stodge, but this one is magically light with great almond flavour and shatteringly delicate layers. The Bakery by the Cupcake Bloke - Mikado The Bakery by the Cupcake Bloke is a haven in Rialto village, carrying a range of preserves, cheese and baking equipment as well as cupcakes, biscuits and brack. Graham Herterich is Ireland’s answer to Christina Tosi, injecting a distinctly Irish nostalgia into his recipes, and while his brack is a cult in its own right, the thing to get here is his version of the Mikado biscuit. Tangy jam, soft marshmallow and a crumbly biscuit will take you right back to childhood by way of a (slightly) more sophisticated adult palate. Bread 41 - Custardo Bread 41 was one of Dublin’s contemporary bakery first movers, and has firmly established itself as both a neighbourhood stalwart and a destination bakery for literally everyone from further afield. They like to keep things exciting with a rotating range of daily & weekend specials, and we almost don’t want to be prescriptive here. Getting out of bed early on a Saturday and rocking up to see what looks good is almost certainly the move, but on a weekday their Custardo is a perfect little bite every single time, showcasing both their buttery layered pastry and their attention to flavour in a rich vanilla custard. Elliot's - Pain Suisse There’s a sense of peace about Elliot's' two locations, even though they’re almost constantly out the door with customers. From the understated monochrome branding to their thoughtful range of bread and pastries, it’s very clear that they take what they’re doing seriously, and the proof is in the quality. Their viennoiserie is all top tier, but the one to go for is the Pain Suisse. Generous with good dark chocolate and vanilla pastry cream, the cross laminated shell is perfectly crisp, and the best bits are undoubtedly the sweet chewy edges where the chocolate and custard have oozed out during baking and caramelised on the tray. No Messin - Cardi B Characteristic of Dublin’s “third wave” bakeries, No Messin’ has little interest in interpreting the classics - you won’t find a croissant or pain au chocolat on the counter of Proper Order . Instead, No Messin's interest lies in creating their own brilliant hybrid creations. Their lineup includes cutely named inventions like the Almond and Chocolate Frankies, but we love the OG Cardi B - a twist of spiced filling and light and buttery brioche drenched in a syrup that keeps it moist, making it as good a decision in the afternoon as it is in the morning (if they haven’t sold out). Hong Kong taste - Bento Cake Hong Kong Taste is the place to go in Dublin for pillowy yeasted buns and airy delicate cakes, with the Hong Kong style of confectionary featuring cotton-light sponges filled with barely sweet whipped cream and fresh fruit. As the antithesis to the hurriedly purchased waxy and synthetic supermarket old reliables (no hate Colin), their personalised bento sized cakes are a beautiful option to take along to a birthday dinner or picnic date. Adorable and delicious Noisette - Cruffin Noisette ’s pastries are world class, and their preoccupation with good ingredients is more than apparent in the quality of their products. Made with Isigny butter and organic flour, their range of cruffins are standout - tall swirls of croissant pastry rolled in sugar and filled with a changing assortment of seasonal flavours, like pear and caramel, pistachio cream and Black Forest. Blossom Artisan Bakery - Tonka Bean Tart Lucky for North Dublin locals, Blossom Artisan Bakery set up shop in Buddy’s Farmers Market in Ballymun in 2023 . Their pistachio and tonka bean tart was supposed to be a seasonal special, but people ( waves ) went so crazy for it that they had to make it permanent. A flaky croissant base is filled with white chocolate tonka bean cream, and finished with a pistachio crumb. Tonka bean has has the profile of a more complex vanilla, nutty, spicy and floral, and while we’re surprised more bakeries aren’t taking advantage of this beautiful ingredient, we’re glad Blossom took the lead in this utterly perfect creation. Russell Street Bakery - Croissant Russell Street Bakery is the place to go for classic viennoiserie - they’re playing the hits and doing so perfectly. This is for the plain croissant purists, because Russell Street’s version is exemplary - delicate honeycomb layers housed in a shatteringly tender golden shell. There’s often an issue with some Dublin bakeries who shall not be named selling stale pastries, and a croissant lives and dies by the amount of time that passes between the oven and your mouth. Russell Street have never hit a bum note in our experience, and they bake throughout the day so there’s always something fresh from the oven. The Rock Bakery - Sausage rolls It's almost impossible to pick one must order at The Rock Bakery , because this micro bakery in Skerries change their endlessly creative menu every.single.month. Sausage rolls are one thing that are permanent, but they're never the same - this month it's garlic and herb, last month's was black pudding, the one before that was bacon and sage stuffing - and like everything else here, they're impeccable.