Tales Like These

We've lived in Dublin for a couple of years now, so this place is really like home to us. Dublin is famous for many things including its pubs (and the Guinness), their brutal sports (rugby, gaelic football, hurling) and well - the Irish people. What a lot of people don't know is that Dublin actually has an amazing culinary scene due to the multi-cultural society here. We've compiled all of our favourite places in this guide so that you can experience Dublin in the same way as a local would. To make it as easy as possible for you to get around, we've created a shared Google Maps in the bottom of this guide for you to use during your stay.

➳ WHERE TO have DINner in Dublin

777: One of the trendiest places in Dublin. Go here for authentic mexican food, minimal/Electro music and Dublin's best Margaritas. Get here early to get a table as bookings are only taken for parties of +5.

Skinflint: Flatbread pizzas. Very un-pretentious and cosy place in the middle of Temple Bar. Grab an irish pale ale, a mac 'n' cheese serrano ham cup and The Suzie (remember to add some honey to your pizza).

Crackbird: Farm fresh chicken done in a ton of ways. Try the buttermilk chicken in a basket with slaw, bacon baked beans & hot baked potato.

Super Miss Sue: Shellfish platters, Oysters, market fish and a good selection of wines. Premium quality in an amazing setting.

Luna: Super Miss Sue's little  sister. This place is located in the basement of Super Miss Sue and serves up great starters, entrees from the Charcoal Grill (jerk chicken, beef short ribs, and Iberico flank soft tacos) and a lot of sides like chilli corn slaw and smokey bacon beans.

Shanahan’s on the green: an authentic American Style Steakhouse in a 250 year old Georgian building. Dublin’s finest steakhouse.

Bottega Toffoli: A hidden gem and the best pizza in Dublin. Carlos is the owner, the waiter and the chef and prepares everything right in front of you. Make sure to call beforehand, as the place isn't always open. A must-try in Dublin.

San Lorenzo's: A very popular modern italian, new york style, restaurant. Good value and a great buzzing atmosphere. Grab a glass of prosecco and some of the tasty dishes.

Il Vicoletto: Best Italian place in town - on par with the best places we've been to around Italy. Go here and have the Parmigiana di melanzane, the Ragu di salsiccia con Pappardelle and a good bottle of red wine.

Patrick Guilbaud: 2-star Michelin restaurant. Contemporary Irish cuisine with a twist. One of the best dining experiences we ever had. Attention to detail was uncanny. Expect to pay at least 150€ including wine per person (but totally worth it).

➳ WHERE TO BRUNCH in dublin

Bibi's: one of our absolute favorites. There's much to love about this place. From the quiet location in the middle of a tidy residential area to the simple menu of mouthwatering dishes, beautiful interior and outdoor seating. You'll feel the homely atmosphere at once. The butternut squash eggs, french toast and peanut butter brownie are to die for. A must-go place if you’re visiting Dublin.

Avoca Café: This place is seriously popular, and for good reason. A genuine place with a long history, serving fantastic breakfast and lunch. Here you can get anything from middle-eastern inspired dishes, pancakes, burgers and classic Irish dishes. The ingredients are wonderfully fresh. The café is placed on the very top floor of the vibrant Avoca store selling Irish interior items with a shabby chic touch.

Hatch & Sons: We really love this small, quiet place. All day dining of an informal and easy nature. No fuss, just good, honest, Irish food in a trendy, warm setting that will make you wish it was your home. Make sure to try the Spiced Beef Blaas for an out-of-this-world sandwich experience.

The Fumbally: A little off the tracks, but an absolute must-visit. Entering this spacious hipster magnet of a place makes you feel like you're stepping into another world. The interior is quirky and the kitchen wonderfully open, so you can peek at the hip staff while they prepare your dishes with the freshest of ingredients. The café serves great salads, homemade falafel, avocado sandwiches, eggs on brioche and some of the best cakes in town.

Brother Hubbard: If you're going out for brunch in Dublin, Brother Hubbard is an excellent choice. Here you can find breakfast cocktails, baked goods, sour dough bread, pulled pork sandwiches and juices. The atmosphere is cosy and the place gets packed around brunch time, so lots of friendly chatter going on. Their coffee and their pulled pork sandwich comes highly recommended.

Elephant & Castle: This place is situated smack in the middle of Temple Bar. It is famous for their BBQ chicken wings - Dublin's finest. They also serve up a lot of brunch classics such as omelettes, eggs benedict, french toast, salads and burgers. There are about 20 different variations of egg here, so there should be something for any taste.

➳ WHERE TO DRINK in dublin

The Dean: A new boutique hotel in Dublin that feels very 'New York'. The lobby/bar area on the ground floor is great. Furthermore there’s a stylish rooftop bar and restaurant that allows you to get a fantastic view of the city. The trendy crowds new favorite hangout.

Peruke & Periwig: Probably our favorite cocktail bar in Dublin. Make sure to book a table ahead of going. Sink down in their red velvet chairs and enjoy the ambience of the dim-lighted floors. This is truly an experience and feels like you’re going back in time. Try the Invisible Iced Tea or their Smokes Old Fashioned.

Kehoe's: A classic pub just off Grafton Street. Always busy with happy irishmen and women. Go here for one of the best pints of Guinness in town.

Vintage Cocktail Club: Hidden in the busy Temple Bar. VCC is regarded by many as the best cocktail bar in Dublin and definitely one of the most trendy places to go. Book ahead.

Johnnie Foxes: If you have time grab a cab and go to Wicklow Mountains where you’ll find Johnny Foxes. The pub is famed for being the ‘highest’ pub in Ireland and has an amazing view of the mountains. Have a cold Guiness or an Irish Coffee.

The Blind Pig: Go through a back door using a code that you receive when you complete a booking online to enter. Once you get in you go to the downstairs cave, which is all lit up with candles and good music. The waiter here is great at finding the perfect cocktail for you based on your preferences. 

Fallon & Byrne: In the basement of Fallon & Byrne you will find the Wine Cellar. This place has one of the largest selections of wine in Dublin and has a very Parisian feel to it. Great place to have a drink before dinner.

➳ WHERE TO GET COFFEE in dublin

Clement & Pekoe: Our favorite coffee place in Dublin. We go here every saturday and sunday for a Flat White and people watching. 

Kaph: Kaph is definitely a contender for the best coffee in Dublin. Located just off Grafton Street, this is a great place to take a break or order a coffee to go.

3FE: Something of an institution in Dublin. The Dublin coffee scene’s figurehead, and simply unbeatable. That's all.

Coffee Angel: founder Karl is a former Irish barista champion and have now set up the hip Coffee Angel. The interior consists of wood mixed with shades of gray giving it a sleek, modern feel. Come here for a perfectly prepared cup, while having look at their nice stock of cups, coffee makers and grinders.

Blas @ Chocolate Factory: Chocolate factory is a hub for creative companies and people and also houses Blas cafe. The old factory is naturally cool with its high cealing, brick walls and industrial floor to ceiling windows. As you can imagine, the trendy cafe is a perfect spot to bring your notepad and work on your creative projects while enjoying a delicious coffee and light lunch.

Nicks Coffee Company: if you make it to the slightly upscale but chill area of Ranelagh (which you should) don't miss this fantastic little hole in the wall. For reals, this place is tiny, so you'll have to drink your cup by a few outdoor chairs dotted around the place. But that's what makes it genius. Nothing else is needed for a fantastic coffee experience. 

The Cake Cafe: an extremely well hidden gem tucked away in an industrial, quiet area of Dublin, just off Camden Street. Make sure to look it up, because this place is like no other. Small and quirky, with a fantastic selection of home made cake and plenty of different teas and with a small outside area for sunny days. The interior looks like a collection of flea market finds and the staff are a nice bunch of hippies.  

Roasted Brown: this place is spacious, industrial cool and serves up some fantastic coffee. And it's about to get even more interesting, as they are soon be roasting their own coffee. Located in busy Tempel Bar

➳ WHERE TO SLEEP in dublin

The Dean: The 4 star Dean Hotel is one of the newest boutique hotels in Dublin City. Has a great rooftop bar with view of Dublin. 

The Marker: The Marker is Dublin's newest, luxury design hotel located on Grand Canal Square in Dublin’s vibrant new business quarter - close to all of the big tech companies. The Marker also has a fantastic Spa and Wellness Center.

➳ WHERE TO SHOP in dublin

Industry: Offers an evolving collection of carefully curated objects, furniture and wares for the home and everyday life. This is where we get most of the stuff for our apartment.

Article: The shelves are filled with quirky yet functional pieces sourced from around the world.  Go here for Irish woollen throws, handmade candles, coloured glass & colourful stationery.
Irish Design Shop: A love of Irish craft and good design is what makes this store. Irish craft is in focus here. A great place to get an souvenir from Dublin. 

Fallon & Byrne: The ground floor of Fallon & Byrne has one of the finest fresh food markets in Dublin. Go here if you want to get fresh fruit and greens, good meats and premium wines.

Brown Thomas: the most elegant mall of Dublin located on busy and mainstreem Grafton Street. While we aren't normally fans of posh malls, Brown Thomas actually impresses with a range of interesting and modern brands both for a trendy and elegant crowd.

Powerscourt Townhouse Center: an old parking place turned beautiful mall with a great array of small, stylish stores. Powerscourt houses our favorite flower shop, jewlery stores, an exclusive bridal store, interior and a few other unique and quirky stores. The Powerscourt stair is a popular coffe-stop spot on a sunny day.

Indigo & Cloth: this clothing and lifestyle store, creative agency, studio and small Clement & Pekoe coffee bar is a brilliant addition to Dublin's creative scene. Come here for cutting-edge shopping, interior design spotting (by Designgoat) and a lovely cup of Clement coffee.

Tamp & Stitch: A boutique café in the old Temple Bar. It has a trendy selected clothing and unique jewellery line that you can go through while waiting for your coffee to be perfectly brewed by skilled baristas.

Nowhere: being Scandinavian, we were naturally drawn to this 'Scandinavian cool' newcomer to Dublin's men shopping. In a country where Tweed in shades of brown is every gentleman's go-to material, you won't find many stores with the minimalistic edge of Nowhere. We weren't surprised to learn that one of the co-founders is Swedish. A refreshing addition to Dublin shopping, stocking less well-known contemporary labels

➳ USE OUR GOOGLE MAP

Navigate the city with our Google Map, to which we've pinned all of the places in our guide. Simply go to the map when you're online to find your way around the city. If you don't have wifi when you're walking around the city, just make sure to load this map when you have access to wifi (at your hotel or at a café) and you'll be able to find your way around even if you're offline.

Journal posts about Dublin