The best Christmas food and drink in Dublin right now

There’s no escaping it anymore: the window displays are out in force, the nights are setting in when we've barely finished lunch; the supermarket soundtracks are unbearable. It’s Christmastime in Dublin alright, and the city’s menus are shifting to prove it. From the top-tier mince pies we wait all year for, to creative confections from new kids on the block, Christmas cocktails to hot chocolate, here’s the best festive food and drink popping up around town...

Christmas Dinner Danish, Two Boys

Sweet cheese-us is all we can say to this one – maybe a Christmas sandwich can be beaten after all. Two Pups, via their offshoot Bold Boy Bakery, have made all our decadent dreams come through with a tight stuffed dinner danish of creamy cauliflower cheese and crusty stuffing, plus dollops of cranberry sauce and roast veg to boot. Now that’s naughty and nice.

Mince pies, No Messin’

Far be it from us to play favourites, but when a bakery is out there citing their suet provenance, you know they're going to place somewhere at the top of the table. No Messin’ mince pies are legendary (as the rapidly-going slots for collection attest) for their flaky-crunchy-spicy-sweet symphony of seasonal sensation. They launch next Monday and pre-order slots are gone, so you'll have to pop by Proper Order in Smithfield to get one (or 10) from the counter.

Mince pies, Fable Bakery

Also vying for top mincer in town, Fable Bakery are now happily housed in their new Dún Laoghaire home after packing up the Dawson Street premises earlier this year. The great news is that means even more space to store the mountain of marinating filling they prep each year, as per the Mince Pie Manifesto – yes, they’re that serious. Sounds extra? So’s the flavour, and that pastry will make you feel totes emosh. Get them fresh from the counter or pre-order a box.

Mince pie buns, Cakes by Emma

It’s full marks for Yuletide invention to Cakes by Emma, popping up at the Swords Castle Christmas Market over the next two weekends with these fab-u-lous creations. It's the mince pie bun that's the one that we'll be making a beeline to Swords for, but we'd feel obligated to grab an OG cinni bun while we're there.

Hot Chocolate, Perky’s

Christmas is a crowded space for seasonal drinks and eat but Perky’s in Raheny have elbowed their way in time and again with this head-turning s’more-style hot chocolate. Top-quality house hot chocolate is rich enough even before the cup’s rimmed in chocolate and digestive crumbs, and topped with a torched marshmallow. We love that they’ve got vegan mallows on hand too. Be warned: this place is RAMMED at the weekend, so prepare to wait for the good stuff.

Christmas cocktails, 1661

“A little more spirit than the usual” – that’s seasonal music to our ears. Bar 1661 was already a top destination for Christmas catchups even before they launched a new range of five festive serves. This gimlet-style creation with cranberry cordial and pine needle is first out of the traps, and we’ll be refreshing regularly to check out the rest as the season winds on.

The Noël pizza, Nino's, Portrane

Nino's in Portrane (from the same people as Pronto Pasta) are quietly building a name for themselves for homemade pizza and pasta in North County Dublin, and they might just speed up their reach with creations like this. The Noël is their take on pigs in blankets, with sausage; crispy pancetta, sweet onions marinated in Worcestershire sauce and honey; mozzarella, herby stuffing and crispy sage.

Chocolate panettone, Sugarloaf

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a panettone under the tree, and Brazilian bakery Sugarloaf is straight out in front this season with this chocolate chonkster. They’ve gone all-out this year with four varieties of the classic cake available at their Dorset Street site, or save yourself the hard choice and get a three-pack mini gift box to try a trio.

Mince pies, Happy Tummy Co

They may be all the way out in Westport, but these Happy Tummy Co creations look far too good to be kept off this list – that they deliver to Dublin is the icing sugar on the mince pie. Three wholegrain flours and all-organic fruit filling (lashed with Jameson and Bushmills) push these into premium price territory at €25 a box, but what’s Christmas for if not treating yourself?

Festive French Toast, Two Boys Brew

Phibsborough’s famed café Two Boys Brew has very good mince pies but it’s their festive French toast that’s turned our heads this time. Bulky brioche bathed in house salted caramel gets spread with their spiced apple and blackberry compote, all topped off with a chai spiced vanilla mousse (!) and crunchy crumbs of white chocolate and pecan brittle. We need a sit down just looking at it.

Santa hat, Bloom’s Café

The picture-perfect patisserie was by far and away what we enjoyed most at Bloom’s Café back when it opened in February, so it’s great to see them lean in with a seasonal specialty now. Mulled wine jam is a phrase we wish we heard more often, all the more so in combination with cinnamon mousse.

Mince pies, Scéal

Always a highlight among the thronged competition, Scéal tend to tweak their recipe a little every year, forever in search of mince pie perfection. A distinctively flaky spelt pastry case is a standout USP, with intense whiskey and apple flavour in the filling and a crunchy oat-demerara crumble topping. A generous dollop of house brandy butter on the side tops it all off – sure you might as well pick up a jar of that to bring home as you’re at it. (Ed. Don't you love how we just keep forgetting Scéal aren't 'technically' in Dublin any more?)

Gingerbread protein pancakes, Urban Health

It’s fighting words from Ranelagh’s Urban Health to say they might have created something better than a Christmas sandwich – as card-carrying connoisseurs of festive sambos, we can confirm there’s no such thing. But for a healthier feast in the unlikely event we ever have our fill, these cranberry compote and gingerbread cookie-coated pancakes look like just the thing.

Christmas pizza, Goats Gruff

Speaking of sandwiches, Goats Gruff up at the Strawberry Beds regularly emerge among the top of the pack when it comes to seasonal rankings, so it’s no surprise to see them sashay their way into festive pizza too. Turkey, ham and all the trimmings on a perfect pizza base? Deck the halls indeed.