Where to eat in February

New Michelin stars and Bibs you should be racing to book; the sushi trend we can't get enough of; and the most aesthetic coffee shop that looks like it feel out of a design magazine. Did we mention there's bagels too? Here's where we suggest spending your cash this month...

For the brand new Michelin star in town:

Forest Avenue, Dublin 4

While last night's awards overall left Dublin feeling down in the dumps, the one bright spot was Forest Avenue finally getting a Michelin star after 13 years of toil. It goes without saying that they woke up to an inbox full of new reservations this morning, so get your bookings in now before it's too late. Lunchtime and midweek are your best bets for the next few weeks, or you can go on standby if you have a Michelin star worthy occasion coming up.

For the brand new Bib in town:

Borgo, Phibsborough

Not many restaurants get awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand within six months birth, but Borgo isn't your average new opening. From the same zeitgeist-understanding team behind Hera, Achara and Crudo, the Dublin 7 'Osteria Locale' took off like a rocket thanks to cold cuts, handmade pasta and Lambrusco by the glass, and it's hasn't slowed an inch. Take any table you can get and see what all the noise is about.

For the coffee shop everyone's talking about:

Volumes

When we heard that Dublin Coffee Guide author Paddy Kirk was opening new café Volumes near Tara Street station with As One's Mark Cashen, we presumed that high end, drip coffee would take centre stage. We weren't expecting homemade bagels, breakfast rolls and hash browns to be part of the package - and that;s not a complaint. The space is design-led and jaw-droppingly stunning, and we're just waiting for the buzz to die down just a little before heading in for some candied bacon and a flat white.

For the hottest new small plates on the block:

Vada, Stoneybatter

Former café-only Vada's head chef Hannah O'Donnell has put them on the map as an evening eatery to take seriously - this was signed, sealed and delivered when Michelin added them to their Dublin guide in December. Her cooking feels unique and distinctive, far from the copy and paste playlist so many neighbourhood wine bars cook from, and the natural wine list sets off the plates perfectly. Read our once over here.

For a major restaurant refresh:

Bang

Kicky's' Eric Matthews and Richie Barrett have pulled Richie's family restaurant Bang out of the corporate doldrums and breathed a bit of San Sebastien into its bones. The interiors have had a very sharp update, and the menu is a what's what of Northern Spanish cooking. The tortilla "cal pep" already has a legion of fans, and opening prices feel more reasonable than their sister restaurant. This one's very busy so you'll have to plan ahead. Read our once over here.

For celebrating Chinese New Year in style:

Kaizen, Blanchardstown

Chinese New Year starts with the second new moon after winter solstice (i.e. February 17th), and if you want to get involved in the celebrations this year, we'd advise you book into Kaizen on Thursday 26th for their special 'Year of the Horse' celebration. Tickets are €60 for an eight-course tasting menu, a glass of prosecco, and live Chinese harp music, and reservations can be made by calling them on 01-824 3388. The cut off for bookings is Wednesday 19th February, so don't put it on the long finger.

For brilliant sushi boats:

Sushi & Go

We really weren't expecting to love Sushi & Go as much we did, but it turns out there was a huge gap in the market for onigiri and inari before they opened their doors on Montague Street. At €3.50 per sushi boat and €5 per onigiri it's the ultimate accessible food stop, and while the flavour combinations might seem wacky, we promise you'll be convinced at first bite. Read our two minute review here.