Best restaurants in Dublin

Best places to eat and drink in Dublin

Chapter One – for Michelin-starred dining

Though open since 1992 a new era emerged in 2021 when Finnish chef Mickael Viljanen (formerly of the celebrated, now closed, Greenhouse restaurant) joined Michelin-starred Chapter One, taking over from chef-proprietor Ross Lewis. Within a year he and his team clinched a coveted second star and many believe it to be in pole position to eventually clinch the elusive third star, which no restaurant to date in Ireland has achieved. A subterranean dining room on Parnell Square, elegantly styled and full of expressive artwork, Chapter One is the holy grail of Dublin dining with one of the best wine cellars, too. Don’t miss manager Juba Paridi’s iconic Irish coffee service to finish. chapteronerestaurant.com

Etto – for a neighbourhood Italian

We can’t imagine Dublin without Etto, Merrion Row’s enduring neighbourhood Italian right by government buildings. When Nigella Lawson came to town we had to take her for lunch here and order most of the menu, and every meal simply must end with the red wine prunes and whipped mascarpone, those are the rules. A staple since 2013, the same team is also behind Bib Gourmand awarded Uno Mas on Aungier Street, and newly opened Lena by the canal in Portobello. etto.ie

Allta – for Irish produce

Dublin of the future is evident in the regenerated and revitalised Docklands area, where Niall Davidson’s roving Allta restaurant concept (the name is Irish for ‘wild’) has finally found its permanent home. The luxe warehouse-like space offers an unrivalled vibe, all laid-back yet refined with exceptional cocktails and dishes from the grill that typify the best in Dublin dining right now. allta.ie

Vada – for brioche breakfast sandwiches

Technically in Stoneybatter but set on Smithfield’s fringe, this new café zones in on seasonality, sustainability and zero waste. Walk-ins only, expect a queue down the street for the morning bowls, brioche breakfast sandwiches and herby hash with kefir-candied bacon. hellovada.com

Reggie’s – for pizza

Reggie White is a name synonymous with epic pizza in the city, having been the skilled hands behind several of the city’s best pizza ovens (Pi, Little Forest) and later a dough cognoscente consulting on pizza for various restaurants around the country. In late 2024 he opened his long-awaited debut restaurant, the self-titled Reggie’s, a neighbourhood pizzeria right at the heart of Rathmines in a beautiful, red brick former bank building. Come for Reggie’s stellar pizza but also be dazzled by the snacks and starters, like ricotta meatballs, cacio e pepe arancini and the most glorious garlic bread imaginable: brown butter and confit garlic sourdough focaccia. reggies.ie

Liath – for Michelin-starred dining

Blink and you might miss the diminutive but dazzling Liath, hidden in a tiny corner of Blackrock Market. A space so small and awkward it’s a wonder it works but Damien Grey has dug his heels in and turned what was formerly one Michelin starred Heron and Grey in the same space into stellar second album success, ascending to a second star in 2022. From a microscopic kitchen in a long, dining car style room, the best of Irish ingredients come elevated to nonsensical levels of brilliance, the most filigree details and flavour nuances offset by unapologetic boldness. liathrestaurant.com

Fish Shop – for elegant seafood

A staple on Benburb Street for a decade, pull up a bar stool at this tiny contemporary bistro celebrating the daily landed catch with elegant takes on seafood classics alongside one of the best wine lists in Dublin city. Bookings are very much advised. (Online only: Open six days a week (closed Tuesdays) for lunch and dinner, bookings are very much advised.) fish-shop.ie

The Gravediggers – for traditional Irish food

If in Dublin’s fair city and looking to get your chops around some traditional Irish food head to The Gravediggers in Glasnevin, next to the beautiful Glasnevin Cemetery. Here Ciarán Kavanagh – the seventh generation to run the historic and beloved pub – has convinced locals and visitors alike on his award-winning coddle, the iconically Dublin dish of stewed pork and potatoes. instagram.com/gravediggers2/

Fidelity Bar/Sister7 – for natural wine and pan-Asian small plates

Self-described as an ‘audiophile’ bar, Fidelity is all sleek and handsome with a fit-out designed around a state-of-the-art sound system. Expect local craft beers, natural wines and inventive cocktails in this collaborative space. The kitchen, run by Sister 7, slings incredible bao, jiaozi and other pan-Asian small plates. fidelitybar.ie/food

The Pig's Ear – for Irish food with a view

In the city centre, The Pig’s Ear offers an unrivalled view of Trinity College’s cricket grounds from its first-floor perch on Nassau Street where chef-owner Stephen McAllister’s menu is unapologetically classically Irish, inspired by dishes remarked in famed Irish literature from writers like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde. thepigsear.ie

The Winding Stair – for Irish homecooking

Another literary-inspired first-floor restaurant, but on the other side of the Liffey, is The Winding Stair where the menu champions Ireland’s larder and landscape by way of its artisan producers, from Goatsbridge Trout to Wooded Pig charcuterie and Irish farmhouse cheeses served with a glass of Móinéir berry wine from Wicklow. winding-stair.com

Best pizza restaurants in Dublin

Dublin’s original New York style slice shop DiFontaine’s is still going strong, originally setting up shop on Crown Alley in Temple Bar in 2002 and now perched on Parliament Street in the shadow of Dublin Castle. In recent years a slice shop revolution has gripped the city, from the permanently packed Bambino with its signature Hot Pep slice and now two locations (Stephen Street Lower, Merrion Street Upper) to Mani, a pizza al taglio joint on Drury Street where the carbonara and cacio e pepe square slices are unmissable. Newest of the lot is Doom Slice on Dame Lane slinging Detroit-style slices for around €5-6.

More places to eat and drink in Dublin

Bar 1661 – for a cocktail tasting menu

Try a world-first 28-course cocktail tasting menu at Bar 1661, Dublin’s most celebrated, cutting-edge cocktail bar. Owner Dave Mulligan and team guide aficionados through 28 sips, all mini comparative flights, alongside bar snacks for €165 per person. bar1661.ie

The Cobblestone – for a cosy pub

Looking for a cosy, authentic pub for a pint soundtracked by live musicians playing practically day and night? This cherished, family-run pub on the north side of Smithfield Square outlaws televisions, doesn’t serve food and celebrates music above all else, singing a sweet, sweet song of Dublin of old at every session. cobblestonepub.ie

No Messin’ Bakery/Proper Order Coffee Co – for cardamom buns

You can’t come to Dublin 7 and not stuff your face with a Cardi B (cardamom bun, FYI) from micro bakery No Messin’, whose immensely popular bakes kick tradition to the curb in favour of cleverly named seasonally changing hybrid creations. Solely available at sister café Proper Order which handily serves sensational flat whites and elegant pour-over on Smithfield Square. properordercoffeeco.com

Restaurants near Dublin worth travelling for

Hop on the DART, Dublin’s rail network which hugs the coastline from north to south, to explore some of the seaside villages and towns, like Blackrock, Malahide or Greystones. Howth in the far north has a harbour area thronging with seafood restaurants, like family-owned King Sitric for oysters and lobster, or contemporary modern Irish bistro Mamó with its iconic ‘cod chip’ dish. Up for a hike? Take the Howth Cliff Walk beginning from the DART station which rewards with breathtaking coastal views at the headland’s summit.

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