Dublin Restaurants
Dublin has seen the restaurant trade - and the diversity and quality of the food that is within it - come on in leaps and bounds in the last 20 years. We have become a multi-cultural society and one of the benefits of this is clear to see in the restaurant industry with various different ethnic cuisines now on offer all over the city. There has always been several quality French and Chinese restaurants in Dublin, now add to this Indian, Pakistani, Polish, Korean, Greek, Mexican, Japanese, Spanish, Vietnamese and whatever else you could desire.
On the home front the levels of skills and confidence seen in our homegrown chefs is at an all time high. Michelin stars adorn the walls of several restaurants in Dublin and there is a clear recognition that quality ingredients cooked simply offer the best taste.
There is always great debate in Dublin about the cost of everything in what is now one of Europe's most expensive cities. This is also the case with Dublin Restaurants, but there are plenty of budget conscious options available to the visitor to Dublin with ready to go creperies such as Lemon on South William Street, or cheap and healthy meals in Gruel on Dame Street and there is always the option to eat on one of the many pizza joints around the city centre.
There is also plenty of choice around Dame Street for the beer drinker who is seeking a good kebab before turning in at the end of the night.
We have listed out some of the best dining options below for visitors to city centre Dublin, we have outlined the formal, the fun, the trendy and the best together with those who want to spend their money on anything other than food i.e. beer!
For the more budget conscious:
Acapulco - Tex-Mex on Georges Street which has a happy tequila vibe.
Avoca Café - Quality local produce, good lunch venue.
Botticelli - Quality pizzas in Temple Bar.
Café Bar Deli - Cheap & Cheerful chain of restaurants with branches on Grafton and Georges Street. A great place to go with large groups.
Captain Americas - US style burger and cocktail joint on Grafton Street.
Dunne & Crescenzi - one of a chain of eternally popular Italian restaurants that encourage visitors to drop in for a meal or just a coffee or wine. Ingredients are of the highest quality.
Elephant & Castle - Dublin's most famous wings in Temple Bar.
Gotham Café - Cheap and cheerful, diner style food.
Gruel - Fancy a feed for around €10, don't want takeaway and in the Dame Street area? This is the place to come for a belly full of healthy stew or something similar.
Havana - One of the Dublin's first Tapas bars.
Kilkenny Restaurant & Café - Near Trinity College provides a great place to have a break whilst shopping.
Layla - Turkish restaurant complete with belly dancers just off Baggot Street.
Lemon - tasty, cheap crepes on South William Street.
Luigi Malone's - If meat is your thing then this is the spot for you. The massive portions of wings and ribs that you get here are unparalleled in Ireland, also do great salads, chicken and fish. In the heart of Temple Bar.
The Port House - The latest addition and possibly the best within the Dublin Tapas scene.
Salamanca - Conveniently located Tapas restaurant next to the Tourist Centre.
Steps of Rome - Cheap and cheerful Italian in the heart of Temple Bar.
Wagamama - Branch of the UK based noodle restaurant next to St. Stephens Green Centre.
The Winding Stair - This newly refurbished restaurant/café above a bookshop overlooking the river Liffey has been making waves since it reopened with its high quality, home cooked food.
Middle of the road price wise:
101 Talbot - Cheap and cheerful with quality food for the prices just off O'Connell Street.
Aya - Sushi bar/restaurant behind Brown Thomas, Grafton Street
Bang - A cool restaurant serving high quality cuisine, well worth a visit if you want to treat yourself on a visit to Dublin.
Chili Club - Dublin's first authentic Thai restaurant 2 mins from Grafton Street.
Cornucopia - for the coeliac and vegetarians out there, just off Grafton Street.
Darwins - Aungier/Georges Street restaurant owned by a butcher a couple of doors down, loved by all who go there for the funky looks and quality food.
Fallon & Byrne - French restaurant with great food, maybe lacking a bit in atmosphere.
Fire - Wood burning grill cuisine in an environment that has been designed around a Celtic theme.
Ho Sen - Dublin's first authentic Vietnamese, located in Temple Bar it has received awards.
Imperial Chinese - a popular restaurant that has been well established for many years.
Jaipur - new wave Indian restaurant on Georges Street, excellent.
L'Gueueleton - French restaurant off Georges Street, this is one of Dublin's most popular restaurants and doesn't take bookings.
Mermaid Café - popular with the trendy set, great brunches on a Sunday.
Odessa Lounge & Grill - contemporary restaurant that appeals to young go getters, famous for their great brunch at the weekend.
Saba - Recent addition to Dublin's restaurants, this Vietnamese is proving to be mighty popular already.
Venu - French brasserie style set up by the son of Patrick Guilbaud (see below)
Formal Restaurants where money can't be an issue:
Chapter One - Northside Dublin's finest restaurant has recently been awarded a Michelin star to add to the awards that it has received over the years.
Dax - Appealing French restaurant and wine bar on Pembroke Street set up by one time manager of Thornton's (see below).
L'Ecrivain - Derry Clarke is one of Dublin's most well known chefs due to the food and ambience that is found at his Baggot Street restaurant.
One Pico - In common ownership with Bleu Restaurant around the corner, Eamonn O'Reilly is one of the biggest names in cheffing in Dublin. This is one of the most popular high quality restaurants near St. Stephen's Green.
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud - Dublin's leading fine dining restaurant for 20 years, 2 Michelin stars amongst a bevvy of other awards.
Peploe's - Its' St. Stephens Green location and quality of food and wine has met with critical acclaim. this is a more relaxed wine bar/restaurant than many of the others in this section.
Shanahans - Dublin's leading steak house in fabulous, opulent surroundings, you pay for what you get! Conveniently located on St. Stephen's Green.
Thorntons - One of Ireland's most famous chefs operates this recently refurbished restaurant overlooking St. Stephen's Green.
Town Bar & Grill - An extremely popular fine dining venue that is located opposite the government buildings on Kildare Street just off St. Stephen's Green. A great place to enjoy good food and wine, with one sitting you will not be rushed off your table.