Dublin's Food Scene
Dublin has undergone a culinary revolution in the last decade. The city now has everything from high-quality fine dining to brilliant casual neighbourhood spots. The food scene is dominated by modern Irish cuisine (seasonal, locally sourced ingredients), excellent seafood (oysters, smoked salmon, mussels), and a thriving coffee culture. The 'trad Irish pub grub' stereotype is alive and well too: but the quality has improved dramatically.
Traditional Irish Food
Start with the classics. A proper Irish breakfast (the 'full Irish': bacon, sausages, black and white pudding, eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sometimes potato bread) is a rite of passage. For a traditional dinner, look for Irish stew (lamb or beef with potatoes and root vegetables), coddle (a Dublin speciality of sausages, bacon, and potatoes), or boxty (potato pancake).
- Gallagher's Boxty House (Temple Bar): Boxty in all forms, from brunch to dinner
- The Bankers Bar (Dame Street): Excellent classic Irish pub grub
- John Mulligan's (Poolbeg Street): Traditional pub with excellent sandwiches
- Leo Burdock's (Werburgh Street)ublin's most famous chipper (fish and chips), since 1913
Breakfast & Brunch
Dubliners take brunch very seriously, especially on weekends. Expect queues at popular spots.
- Queen of Tarts (Dame Street): Legendary scones, cakes, and breakfast tarts. €10 — €18 per person.
- Brother Hubbard (Capel Street / Rathmines): Middle Eastern-inspired brunch. The shakshuka is famous. €12 — €18.
- Meet Me in the Morning (Pleasants Street): Small, charming, incredible pastries and coffee. €10 — €16.
- Two Pups (Francis Street): Seasonal menu, excellent coffee, cool vibe. €10 — €16.
- Oxmantown (Smithfield): Big, hearty breakfasts in a relaxed setting. €10 — €15.
- Bastible Coffee Bar (Leonard's Corner): Outstanding coffee and simple, perfect breakfast baps.
Lunch & Casual Dining
- Exchequer Street / South William Street: The epicentre of Dublin's lunch scene. Try Bóbós (build-your-own Vietnamese baguettes, €8 — €11) or Sprout (healthy bowls, €9 — €13).
- Kaph (Drury Street): Tiny spot with amazing coffee and simple, perfect food.
- Umi Falafel (multiple locations): The best falafel in Dublin. €8 — €12.
- First Draft Coffee (Temple Bar): Excellent sandwiches, coffee, and craft beer.
- The Fumbally (Fumbally Lane): Quirky, communal tables, seasonal lunch options. €10 — €16.
- Chapter One by Mokhtar (Capel Street): Middle Eastern bowls, fantastic value. €9 — €14.
Mid-Range Dinner
- L. Mulligan Grocer (Stoneybatter): Gastro-pub with incredible food and craft beer. Try the beef cheek. €25 — €40 per person.
- The Pig's Ear (Nassau Street): Modern Irish cooking with great views of Trinity. €35 — €50 per person (set menu at lunch: €25).
- Richmond (Portobello): Italian/European in a cosy setting. Excellent pasta. €30 — €50 per person.
- Dax (George's Street): Tapas and shared plates, great wine list. €30 — €45 per person.
- Host (Ranelagh): Small plates, great vibes, always busy. €30 — €50 per person.
- Etto (Merrion Row): Simple, elegant seasonal menu. Lunch: €20 — €25, dinner: €40 — €55.
Fine Dining & Michelin
Dublin has two Michelin-starred restaurants that are consistently among the best in Ireland:
- Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen (Parnell Square): Two Michelin stars. Modern Irish with Scandinavian and French influences. Lunch: €70 — €85. Tasting menu: €150 — €190.
- Liam (Dublin 8): One Michelin star. New Irish cuisine with seasonal tasting menus. €110 — €140.
- Variety Jones (Dublin 8): One Michelin star. Small, intimate, incredible cooking. Tasting menu: €85.
- Bastible (Leonard's Corner): Michelin mention (Bib Gourmand). Outstanding value for the quality. Set menu: €55 — €65.
Seafood
- Klaus Schwab's Seafood (Bull Wall, Clontarf): Simple, fresh seafood from a shack on the coast. Cash only. €8 — €18.
- The Winding Stair (Lower Ormond Quay): Bookshop restaurant with exceptional seafood. €35 — €55 per person.
- Fish Shop (Benburb Street): No-frills fish restaurant with excellent daily specials. €25 — €40.
- McDonagh's Fish & Chips (Howth): The best chipper in Dublin: and the freshest fish. €10 — €18.
Coffee
Dublin has a truly excellent coffee scene. Speciality roasters include 3fe (Sussex Street), Cloud Picker (Chancery Lane), Imbibe (Merrion Row), and Bell Lane. Most independent cafés serve one of these roasters. Expect to pay €3.50 — €4.50 for a flat white: worth every cent.
Cost Guide
- Breakfast/brunch: €10 — €18 per person
- Lunch (sandwich/bowl): €8 — €14
- Dinner (mid-range with wine): €35 — €55 per person
- Dinner (fine dining tasting menu): €85 — €190 per person
- Pint of Guinness: €5.50 — €7.00
- Coffee: €3.50–€4.50
Dining in Dublin in 2026: What's Changed
Dublin's dining scene keeps evolving, and 2026 has been a year of consolidation: a wave of high-profile closures in 2024–2025 pushed prices up at the venues that survived, and the city's restaurant market is now firmly mid-range rather than bargain-priced. Bookings are essential at anywhere with a good reputation — most popular spots run two or three sittings a night and weekend tables go days ahead. The 23% VAT rate on food service remains one of the highest in Europe, which is why a main course that costs €22 in London can hit €26–€30 in Dublin.
Two trends are worth knowing: the casual-dining boom (wine bars and small-plates places around Ranelagh, Phibsboro and the Liberties) now offers the best value in the city, and brunch culture has become a weekend institution — expect queues at the top spots from 10am. If you are watching your budget, lunch menus (€14–€18 for two courses) and early-bird menus (before 6pm) at mid-range restaurants deliver the same kitchens at 30–40% below dinner prices. Use the Michelin Guide and the Irish Times food pages to spot newcomers, and always check whether a service charge (usually 10–12.5%) is included before you tip.