It seems like new restaurants in Dublin open its doors in Dublin with each passing week, triggering ripples of enthusiasm across a town that enjoys nothing more than an out-of-the-box food place. This is a city where at a food market you can order a dish of freshly shucked oysters, carry an artisan pie to the bar to indulge next to a chilled pint, or sit down for a two-Michelin-starred dinner that you can never stop telling your friends about. Forget the same old stereotypes, about Irish cuisine being dull and unimaginative.
The food you’ll find in Ireland is as fine, if not better, than anywhere else in the world, whether it’s fat lobsters from the coast of Sligo or creamy mozzarella from milk made in Cork by a herd of buffalo. Stick to the right ingredients and you can’t go wrong. Looking to stuff your mouth after a long day discovering the countless brilliant attractions of this town? These, we can bet, are the best restaurants in Dublin.
Variety Jones
Variety Jones is situated on Thomas Street in Dublin, between the towering Christ Church Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse, a restaurant so tiny and unassuming that if you blink, you might miss it. However, due to the open fire that crackles merrily in the little open kitchen, you can undoubtedly detect it. All sorts of fresh veggies, seasonal meat and entire fish go along with this, offering smoky, chargrilled dishes full of flavor. With an ever-rotating catalogue of dishes followed by a clever wine list supervised by the enthusiastic sommelier of the restaurant, the limited menu contains sharing plates which varies regularly.
The Vintage Kitchen
The Vintage Kitchen, a tiny restaurant closely lined with tables and chairs that are scarcely seen unoccupied. The place is typically brimming with keen diners, is discreetly tucked away on a side street just beside Trinity College Dublin. With dishes such as wicklow duck liver milk with lime jelly, and tender lamb shank and vegetables, it serves a fixed evening menu better represented as hearty modern Irish. There are large portions here, so make sure to come with an appetite. The Vintage Kitchen would even let you play your favorite LP on its 1970s record player, as well as a BYOB policy, which is relatively rare for Dublin.
Pickle Restaurant
This lively restaurant’s vivid, colour-saturated interior is the ultimate measure of the quality of its cuisine. Pickle specializes in Indian cuisine with a western twist – brightly spiced and a riot of texture and colour. You’ll find the likes of locally sourced tandoori scallops, fiery fauzi chicken wings and venison samosas alongside typical curries. Famous as one of the best restaurants in Dublin is famous for its kid goat lean curry, a black cardamom studded moreish dish, and there are plenty of tasty veggie choices too. Pickle is somewhat more pricey than the typical curry restaurant, but for anything a bit extra, it is well worth it. The lunch menu, however, is moderately priced.
Bunsen
The humble burger at the enormously famous Bunsen has been elevated to a cult gastronomic piece. A fluffy amish dinner roll, pure Irish beef patty, pickles, cheese and its signature sauce, this mini-empire has devoted itself to the craft of the burger, coming up with a successful recipe. These are proper roll-up-your-sleeves burgers that have developed a devoted fanbase, which has seen the privately run restaurant grow with numerous locations across and outside Dublin. Bunsen does one thing here and does it good, which also implies that although it offers delicious fries, there are no vegetarian alternatives.
Chimac
Go to Chimac in Dublin’s city centre for a sample of Korean comfort food. The name of the restaurant incorporates the words chikin (chicken) and maekju (beer) in Korean, two things it does really well. Chimac loads decadent sandwiches with traditional Korean fried chicken, try the KimCheese, which is livened up with dripping cheddar, kimchi and gochujang mayo. The chicken is also served with a side of pickled daikon and crispy nuggets, while vegetarians are satisfied with a panko-breadcrumbed tofu choice. Wash it all down with frosé or a craft beer.
Forest Avenue
At Forest Avenue, a trendy restaurant in Dublin’s leafy Ballsbridge neighbourhood, you don’t have to decide what to order. It requires faith to serve just a six-course tasting menu, but this kitchen more than offers a contemporary, imaginative menu that looks as amazing as it tastes. The elegant plating helps the seasonal and local ingredients to show, and the menu changes regularly, while vegetarians still have a choice. With bare white walls and pendant lights, the decor is pared back, whilst the service from the husband-wife team behind this elegant restaurant is impeccable.
UnoMas
At Uno Mas, you won’t find any uninspired olive bowls and it’s Spanish cuisine that elevates the normal tapas experience. A dazzling selection of pintxo and sharing dishes, as well as more extensive starters and mains, is compact but trendy eatery, which features bare white walls and deep-green leather seating. The menu varies periodically, but there are still a selection of real Spanish bites, such as croquetas of salt cod, squid a la plancha, chorizo and jamón ibérico. With plenty of choices for both palates and price ranges, as well as some unique ports and sherries for those who want a nice ending to their dinner, the wine list is long and comprehensive.
Social Fade Street
In this corner of the area, it’s always buzzing and you can watch all of the activity happen from the outdoor seats at Fade Street Social. Opt for a menu of tapas, and don’t be shy with your order. The pink duck breast slivers with pickled kumquats are a must, but do not miss the smaller sides-standout is the salted popcorn combined with crispy truffled meat.
Featherblade
If you’re in a steak mood, then hotfoot it up at Featherblade. This steakhouse focuses on unique cuts of outstanding meat, utilizing original techniques to get the best results, not a spot to bring a vegetarian, and the rates are good to boot. Depending on what’s in, the selection varies, but you’ll still notice the namesake cut feather blade and an outstanding variety of side dishes, from truffled mac and cheese to dripping chips of beef.
Although Dublin was once recognized primarily for its vibrant music and bar scene, the Irish capital has become a food destination in recent years. In the city’s dining establishments, the next wave of talented young chefs have taken up residence, changing the culinary landscape and throwing a spotlight on Irish food, whether it is outstanding beef, organic dairy or seasonal vegetables. Visitors to Dublin will experience an array of dining opportunities today. If you hanker for haute cuisine or cafe fare, there’s somewhere to please the taste buds of all.
A real smorgasbord of culinary delights is how Dublin’s restaurant scene can be defined. There’s never been a broader selection of enticing places to eat, with gastropubs, barbecue shops, fine dining, fast-casual restaurants in Dublin and more.
We hope you enjoyed this guide of the best restaurants in Dublin!
