Dublin is very much a city and scene apart from Europe’s other big cities. Sure, it might have a couple of Ivy restaurants and eight Michelin stars dotted around the city, at the time of writing. But there’s plenty more to Dublin’s foodie scene than staple brands and distant-future booking times.
Whether you are in town on holiday, for business, or attending a conference or sports event, Dublin’s compact nature means you are never far from a great, locally inspired or highly creative, meal out. Part of the demand comes from Dublin’s youthful population, one of the youngest in Europe, on the lookout for new tastes and experiences, plus the city’s attractive nature as a business and cultural hub.
From starting your day with a great full Irish breakfast to lunch or dinner with the taste of the local fields and sea, or fusions with world flavours, there is much to smell, see and devour across the city, whether it’s for a business meeting, date or family event.
Dublin’s Unique Tastes on A Plate
Capable of outdoing London’s Terrace Scene and matching the finest chefs’ kisses of Europe, the best restaurants in Dublin offer vibrant twists on the usual fare. Take the dill-cured local salmon and Guinness bread at Wilde Restaurant on Balfe Street. Or, the clever use of a traditional crispy potato waffle served with duck liver parfait and cherry at Variety Jones on Thomas Street.
Serious eaters in search of a mature atmosphere can head to the adults-only Amai by Viktor (Silva) on Harry Street. It offers South American flavours for a €99 sampling menu that currently delights with smoked eel, suckling pig belly, rump heart and Boyne Valley Bán cheese. The summer menu launches at the end of June with red mullet, lamb saddle, Wicklow Bán and a whiskey and burnt vanilla cigarette.
If you do want to sample Dublin’s best of the best, then the longstanding Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud on Upper Merrion Street has been a fixture in the city for 40 years. It offers signature dishes like lobster ravioli with fresh Irish lobster wrapped in a delicate pasta served with rich bisque sauce.
Dublin is synonymous with pubs and if you want to try the traditional, The Brazen Head is Dublin’s oldest public house. It serves a gastro-menu, from a hearty seafood chowder to a Brazen beef stew, to fill or warm guests up on a breezy day or out of season. Washed down with a Guinness, it is hard to beat as a way to feel Irish culture rushing through your veins.
The New Chefs on Dublin’s Block
Hidden by One Society opened in 2024 and offers Italian flavours for those looking beyond the usual pizza and pasta dishes. From the bucking goat with Toonsbridge mozzarella to pancetta and hot honey pear, every meal comes with a loving twist, while the fennel sausage ragu takes a slow-cooked approach, and is far better than the versions found in many celebrity chef Italian cookbooks.
Temple Bar’s Achara is another newcomer doing a roaring trade in Dublin, mixing Peruvian flavours with local ingredients cooked on a charcoal grill. Crab fried rice, basil chilli lamb, grilled pork cheek, aged pork chop and whole sea bass make for fine curries or grills.
Both are picking up fantastic reviews, but for a truly Irish experience, head to Allta na Farraige, mixing cocktails and seafood based on seasonality and an appreciation of nature. From crab, oysters and scallops to sea bass and tuna, finishing off with Guinness and oyster ice cream, there’s a tapas menu for grazers and a full spring menu for those after a more traditional meal.
Dublin will continue to thrive as a city and culinary destination in the years to come with more international flavours and a love of local produce. Beyond the restaurants, Dublin also has a thriving cafe culture, with eateries trying to differentiate themselves and rethink the traditional. Plus there’s a host of markets selling to the trade and public, offering new themes and ideas as everything from Colcannon and the humble stews and fish dishes get a makeover for a new audience.
