Abbey TavernCity/Region: Dublin
Renowned for its traditional-music ballad sessions, this 16th-century tavern, complete with blazing fires, original stone walls and gas lights, features a wonderful restaurant upstairs. The menu changes on a seasonal basis but features such culinary delights as crepes fruits de mer (seafood crepes), roast duckling with ginger and pineapple, or spinach and ricotta tortellini. After the meal, guests can enjoy the live entertainment downstairs in the form of some tradition Irish music. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 11pm.
Bookings are recommended and credit cards accepted.
Address: Abbey St., Howth, Northern Suburbs
Website: www.abbeytavern.ie
Café MaoCity/Region: Dublin
The iconic Café Mao has been a firm favorite with Dubliners since its opening a few years back and is frequented by anyone who's in the mood for a little Asian flair. The exposed kitchen lines an entire wall, and the rest of the space is wide open which makes this an excellent environment for people watchers. The menu comprises everyone's favorite Asian dishes, such as Thai fish cakes, nasi goreng, chicken hoisin and salmon ramen, to name a few. Everything on the menu is delicious and it is hard to go wrong when dining here. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
Address: St. Stephen's Green
NoshCity/Region: Dublin
This trendy laid-back restaurant is highly popular with Dubliners for a tasty weekend brunch where club sandwiches, soups and salads are the order of the day. Dinners are slightly more exotic with Nosh offering some wonderfully different dishes such as grilled filet of plaice with crabmeat. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from noon until 10pm. Closed on Mondays. Reservations recommended.
Address: 111 Coliemore Rd, Dalkey
Website: www.nosh.ie
Jacob's LadderCity/Region: Dublin
Offering wonderful views of
Trinity College, Jacob's Ladder serves some of
Dublin's finest Irish fare, from a rich prawn bisque with sautéed spinach for starters to a roast loin of wild boar with a tarte fine of red onions. The food and service here are excellent. And there is also a good range of vegetarian dishes on the menu. Open Tuesday to Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday dinner only, closed on Sunday and Monday. Reservations recommended.
Address: 4-5
Nassau St
L'EcrivainCity/Region: Dublin
One of Dublin's finest restaurants, L'Ecrivain offers diners a relaxed and unpretentious experience. Chef Derry Clarke's food is absolutely mouth-watering, from his seared wild Irish venison loin with caramelized pear, or seared Bere Island scallops with lobster strudel. Menu prices are changed regularly and are extortionate but L'Ecrivain gives guests the opportunity to sample some of its dishes in the form of a two-course lunch menu at a more reasonable price. Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday dinner only, closed Sunday. Reservations essential.
Address: 109 Lower Baggot St, Fitzwilliam Square
Website: www.lecrivain.com
The Wicked ChefCity/Region: Dublin
This affordable neighborhood eatery serves some of the most humble Irish cuisine Dublin has to offer. It's a firm favorite packed with locals who come to enjoy its flagship dish of Irish stew cooked in Guinness as well as its 'Dublin Coddle', among other local specialties. Open Sunday to Friday for lunch and dinner. Saturday dinner only. Reservations recommended.
Address: 73
Meath St
The Bad Ass CaféCity/Region: Dublin
This loud and busy restaurant has been a much-loved eatery with Dublin's locals for over 20 years. The menu serves old favorites such as burgers, pasta, steaks and salads, appealing to just about everyone. This quirky restaurant, where orders are clipped to a wire before being whizzed off to the kitchen, is known as the place where
Sinead O'Connor used to wait tables. Open daily from 11.30am until late.
Address: 9-11 Crown Alley
Website: www.badasscafe.com
The Red BankCity/Region: Dublin
The Red Bank Restaurant has been a favorite on the Dublin eatery circuit for close on 20 years. This charming and slightly old-fashioned restaurant specializes in lazy dining where guests can enjoy a drink in the lounge before being taken through to their table. The fresh seafood is brought in from local waters and cooked to perfection by Chef Terry McCoy. Service is impeccable and reverently old-school with the dessert cart being wheeled in to display its deliciously mouth watering selection of confectionaries. Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Sunday lunch only. Reservations required.
Address: 7 Church St, Skerries
Yamamori NoodlesCity/Region: Dublin
Popular at lunchtime, Yamamori Noodles has a casual yet lively atmosphere with an exciting menu to boot. Prices range from bargain to complete over indulgence and meals like chile chicken ramen or the yamamori yaki soba with its mound of wok-fried noodles piled high with prawns, squid, chicken, and roast pork won't break the bank. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations only for parties of four or more.
Address: 71-72 S.
Great George's St
Website: www.yamamorinoodles.ie
JuiceCity/Region: Dublin
This aptly named restaurant situated in the Trinity College area offers around 30 types of juices and smoothies. With a wonderfully light and airy décor and such a diverse and exciting menu, most guests at Juice probably wouldn't even notice that it's a vegetarian restaurant. Brunches include pancakes and French toast with fresh fruit and maple syrup, while the rest of the day can be spent sampling dips such as hummus, tapenade and roasted carrot pâté with crudités. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended.
Address: 73-83 S. Great Georges St
Website: www.juice.ie
