Restaurants

Restaurants

Restaurants
Expensive

Bon Appetit
It is well worth the DART ride out of the city to sample Michelin star cooking at a restaurant that has only been open since 2006. Head chef Oliver Dunne works miracles in the kitchen with fresh local ingredients key. The multi-course tasting menus are a decadent popular option, while also on site is more affordable but still excellent brasserie.

9 James Terrace, Malahide
Tel: (01) 845 0314.
Website: www.bonappetit.ie

Fallon & Byrne
A great but very informal way of delving into Ireland’s top class local produce. This venue boasts both a restaurant and a food hall, which works well with clients looking for an informal meal with shopping either side and also for hosts looking to offer gifts with a story attached. As you might expect the wine choices are excellent as there is a wine cellar on site too.

11- 17 Exchequer Street
Tel: (01) 472 1000.
Website: www.fallonandbyrne.com

Farm
There are not many places that serve Irish food this good and so well sourced right in the centre of Dublin. Opened in 2007 this bright modern restaurant has already attracted a loyal clientele who come to enjoy the certified organic beef and lamb. The cooking is simple and the ingredients are left to speak very loudly for themselves. Probably the best and freshest children’s menu in town for trendy kids too.

3 Dawson Street
Tel: (01) 671 8654.
Website: www.thefarmrestaurant.ie

Les Frères Jacques
Located in the city centre, opposite Dublin Castle, Dublin's top French restaurant is celebrated for its classic, seasonal cuisine and its superb seafood, with west coast oysters and grilled lobster especially popular choices. The intimate, traditional décor, combined with crisp white linens, an exemplary wine list and impeccable, formal service, make it an especially popular choice for business lunches.

74 Dame Street
Tel: (01) 679 4555.
Website: www.lesfreresjacques.com

Pig’s Ear
The Pig’s Ear has recently sprung up near Trinity College and has wasted no time establishing itself. The menu covers a lot of classics such as potted crab to start and shepherd’s pie, but also experiments with a rough terrine spiced up with a pineapple chutney.

4 Nassau Street
Tel: (01) 670 3865.
Website: www.thepigsear.ie

Shanahan’s on the Green
Ireland is famous for its beef and there is no better place to feast on red meat than here on St. Stephen’s Green. Besuited business people toting expense accounts enjoy quality cuts cooked exactly as they like it with a comforting array of side dishes. The wine list is credit card cracking and after a night here the Celtic Tiger still seems well and truly to be roaring.

119 St. Stephen’s Green West
Tel: (01) 407 0939.
Website: www.shanahans.ie

The Dylan Restaurant
It comes as no surprise that this is one of the city’ chicest dining spaces given the style of the hotel itself. Thoughtful local sourcing backs up a comforting menu that goes for fine ingredients and strong flavours rather than too much experimentation. Starters include the likes of Dublin Bay Prawns with pork belly while the main course boasts such treats as saddle of Irish lamb served with dauphinoise potatoes, pancetta and mushrooms.

Eastmoreland Place
Tel: (01) 660 3000.
Website: www.dylan.ie

Café Mao
Exotic curries, spicy satays and other innovative Asian dishes are the order of the day in this small, trendy cafe-restaurant located near Grafton Street. The interior is stylishly decorated in brilliant blues, reds and yellows. There is frequently a queue, but it is well worth the wait.

2-3 Chatham Row
Tel: (01) 670 4899.
Website: www.cafemao.com

Avoca Café
This stylish cafe, on the top floor of the well-known Avoca Handweavers craft store, serves hearty soups, delicious home-baked breads, imaginative quiches and salads, freshly squeezed juices, tea, coffee and gorgeous cream cakes to weary shoppers.

11-13 Suffolk Street
Tel: (01) 672 6019.
Website: www.avoca.ie

Bang Cafe
Now something of an institution amongst the local trendy set. The setting is pleasingly pretentious, all striking colours, sharp lines and chandeliers. The menu plays it relatively safe with international comfort food, which should come as no surprise with an ex-chef from London’s The Ivy part of the kitchen team. Mains include the likes of pan-fried fillet of Irish Beef with sautéed wild mushrooms, braised shallots and Dauphinoise potatoes or bangers with chive mash and mustard shallot jus.

11 Merrion Row
Tel: (01) 676 0898.
Website: www.bangrestaurant.com

Elephant and Castle
This cheerful cafe-restaurant, with simple décor and large wooden tables, is located at the heart of Temple Bar. It is renowned for its baskets of spicy chicken wings, its homemade burgers and its gigantic bowls of salad, served all day. It is also a popular venue for American-style Sunday brunch.

18 Temple Bar
Tel: (01) 679 3121.
Website: www.elephantandcastle.ie

Ely
This lively wine bar, occupying the ground floor and basement of a splendid Georgian townhouse near St Stephen's Green, serves tasty Irish fare (including Irish stew and genuine Dublin coddle, which consists of bacon, bangers and potatoes) and around 80 different wines by the glass.

22 Ely Place
Tel: (01) 676 8986.
Website: www.elywinebar.ie

Gallagher's Boxty House
This popular, traditional Irish restaurant, in upbeat Temple Bar, has a simple, homely décor of pine dressers and bookcases. It specialises in boxties (griddled potato cakes containing savoury fillings, such as beef and Beamish stout, smoked fish or bacon and cabbage) and other tasty Irish fare.

20-21 Temple Bar
Tel: (01) 677 2762.
Website: www.boxtyhouse.ie

Leo Burdock's
Be prepared to queue awhile at the oldest and best fish 'n' chip shop in town, for delicious fresh fish and huge portions of crispy chips made with the finest Irish potatoes.

2 Werburgh Street
Tel: (01) 454 0306.