The Brazen Head has a doughty accolade to its name: it is officially Ireland’s oldest pub, dating back to the end of the 12th century. Built from sturdy masoned stone, the interior plays up to its Medieval heritage while maintaining a warmth and modernity native to any good pub. As well as a cheerful interior, for the summers an attractively decorated beer garden courtyard keeps guests joyful under the sun. House favourites like beef & Guinness stew and the sizzling glazed loin of bacon accompany traditional favourites like bangers and mash.
Entertainment is frequent, with local guitarists and fiddlers often performing on weekends to imbue a real atmosphere of Irish hospitality, while storytelling evenings confer mystique and suspense as you enjoy your meal. The superb location a short ways up from Temple Bar near the Post Office on the River Liffey make this pub a great stop off during afternoons or evenings. Patrons rate The Brazen Head highly for its lovely, charming staff, its commitment to authenticity, and its menu’s all-round tastiness.
The Church is a classically decked out bar, nightclub and pub in the centre of Dublin. Together, these venues inhabit a fully renovated large church, collectively tipping their hat toward modern trends in hospitality. Alongside traditional whiskies and beers are numerous cocktails, while old-school Irish dancing and folk performances sit alongside modern sound systems and drum kits. Through care and practice, the mash-up works – thousands of people every month arrive here to be sated and regaled, with burgers, steaks, lamb shanks, seafood and traditional stews well-represented on the menu.
Something of a unique attraction, The Church boasts several contrasting atmospheres to suit anyone. An outdoor beer garden, and interior halls complete with the gorgeous Gallery Restaurant, together with a nightclub for those wanting to party. Parts of the venue are available for hire or for large-scale reservations – fully-catered weddings and foods which span the traditional and the contemporary keep the bookings coming in, while the glittering décor applied in the festive time brings The Church a sizeable seasonal crowd.
The Celt Pub works hard to keep traditional hospitality alive in central Dublin. Its walls are heavily adorned by pictures, tokens and memorabilia of Dublin and wider Eire’s past couple of centuries. Light lunches of sandwiches and full-on main courses like Irish stew are offered throughout the day, while entertainment in the form of folk music is a nightly event. The beautifully prepared pub fare, from scallops to burgers to fish and chips, settle and satiate patrons in the homely atmosphere ideal for craic.
The staff at The Celt have tons of experience in hospitality, keeping guests happy and relaxed throughout their time inside. A lively crowd, forever a mixture of local Dubliners and visitors, converse and enjoy the atmosphere. Whether you want to stay for long or just pop in for a quick Guinness, the Celt’s location a quick stroll north of the Liffey means you’re able to carry on with your Dublin sojourns with ease. Small wonder that feedback about the venue consists of high praise and appreciation.
The Queen of Tarts has attained cult status in Dublin – unique in menu and appearance, this café accompanies the usual fare of sandwiches and soups with its own special cakes and tarts. Founded and run by two pastry chefs trained in New York City, the quirky atmosphere, outdoor terrace and impressive selection – from simple sponges and pastries to gigantic gateaus – widen its appeal. Fresh ingredients, such as fruits for toppings and fillings, emphasize the quality offered.
Groups of 3 or more commonly attend this patisserie to share a cake, while seasonal offerings such as Christmas-themed sweets keep customers visiting through festive times. The astounding range available makes catering and collection a possibility, while the delicious gourmet coffee and recent addition of a wines list offer reason aplenty to hang about. For foodies and those with a sweet tooth visiting Dublin, the Queen of Tarts is justifiably considered a rite of passage.
Dining at Dublin’s Red Torch Ginger, you’ll find a authentic selection of the most vibrant and colourful dishes from Thailand and Asia. The contemporary yet classy design of the place, replete with flowered artwork and mood lighting, stuns then relaxes diners. Notable favourites like steamed dumplings are made compelling with the multiple fillings uniquely made by the top class chefs in the kitchens, while local fresh caught scallops and fish are graced with an authentic Thai treatment and vegetable accompaniment.
For those wanting a delectable lunch that goes beyond mass-made fare, the bargain Japanese style Bento boxes burst with flavoursome Oriental fare. Those preferring the evening will find the cocktail and wine selection appealing, with the venue’s savvy chefs even combining wine with the favourite house main, Drunken Prawns. Factor in the spectacularly good service, the absence of artificial flavourings in all meals, and the superbly sourced fresh vegetables, Irish beef and Red Torch Ginger’s excellence as a place to eat out becomes clear.
When diners visit Roly’s Bistro, a classy atmosphere in one of most affluent districts of Dublin greets them. Longtime favourites in Irish cuisine, from succulent Kerry lamb to the creamed potatoes of Colcannon, grace the fabulous menu while all-time classics like shepherd’s pie and good old bangers and mash also have pride of place. Alongside these traditional flavours a versatile wines list, specially selected to go with the dishes offered, their fineness having patrons licking their lips.
Having been in business for over 20 years, Roly’s experience in mouth-watering, impeccably prepared food is beyond any doubt. Their experienced chefs, trained in Ireland and further afield in Europe, capably assemble food to result in the highest satisfaction. For local office workers looking to go beyond factory made fare are Roly’s lunches which cater for up to 10 people. Casual diners looking to stop by for a quick bite without the formality will appreciate the café adjacent to the restaurant too.
Saba is a Clarendon Street situated restaurant whose Thai and Vietnamese cuisine has consistently stunned the critics to the point of awards being dispensed. Named for the Thai term for ‘happy meeting place’, Saba deftly lives up to its name with a Thai beef and ginger grass salad and selection of noodle dishes formidable. Meanwhile, eastern favourites like Xao Hao Lu and Phad Prik Sod find delicious accompaniment of meat, or tofu as the vegetarian option. So successful is Saba’s formula, that they have opened up a second branch in Baggot Street.
Those in search of internationally renowned dishes like Thai green curry won’t be let down; in the curry department the restaurant impresses and innovates with its own take on the ‘caveman’ curry a favourite. To drink, Saba’s series of cocktails and non-alcoholic ‘mocktails’ go down a treat, while wine, sake and beer is likewise present. All this tastiness is enjoyed in the venue’s relaxing ambiance – warm paper lanterns and purple textures beautifully contrast the dark tables. Whether you’re departing onward to Temple Bar, or slinking back to your hotel for a satiated sleep, this eatery’s excellent location a smidgeon from Trinity College won’t disappoint.
The fine South American cuisine showcased at Sabor Brazil is yet another chapter in the culinary odyssey one can savour within the streets of Dublin. An opulent manner of décor, from large wall-mounted embossed crests and paintings in the Enlightenment style, create a sense of intimacy few restaurants ever ascend to. For couples only, and with tables only available by booking in advance the classiness here is matched, dish-for-dish, by the exotic, relentlessly tasty food present.
Food offered includes the Brazilian Vatapá; a rich yet delicate main whose ground peanuts, cashews and coconut milk form the basis of excellence. A cheeky swerve to the Asiatic is achieved with a course of sushi, while the authentic jellies leading to the final dessert – a choice of cakes, or the venue’s unforgettable cheeseboard – which never fails to impress. The service is gently paced – guests report staying for a good four hours – and attentive to the needs and desires of every diner. With consistent, near-perfect appraisals from customers, the Sabor Brazil is a place truly justifying its premium price tag.
F.X. Buckley Steakhouse brings its own trademark dimension to meat cooking, the chain being one of Dublin’s hottest spots for sublimely good tasting steaks and cutlets. Having given Dubliners and visitors to Ireland alike the sizzling, delectable meat they savour for generations, the business today enjoys a presence right at the core of Temple Bar. Being as this is a family-owned small chain, the service is as authentic and homely as it gets while the atmosphere carries pleasant notes of the weathered historic.
All manner of sirloin, rib-eye and frying steaks enjoy a presence at F.X. Buckley Grand Canal, while accompaniments range from simple salads to lusciously prepared truffle oil chips. Local joints of meat have always been core to the appeal of this eatery – close ties with a network of farmers raising grass-fed cattle means you’ll receive the best, tenderest and most succulent meat for a truly memorable meal. To drink, there’s some lovely Irish cask ales carefully selected so the taste blends especially well with the steaks offered.
Both of Dublin’s Farm Restaurants offer visitors to Ireland the paramount authenticity lacking in certain other eateries. Their produce and meats has been a fixture for years in the Christchurch and city centre areas, the premises offering lovely views out onto this cultured district. Local people wanting a proper lunch between working hours, and visitors looking for that special something are rarely – if ever – displeased with the scrumptious snacks and meals here. These two restaurants are located in Dawson St. and Upper Leeson Street, both close by some of the most stunning attractions in the city.
The two Farm Restaurants are distinguished for using ingredients completely free in additives or harvested from GM crops. The commitment to organic has attracted vegetarians and vegans alike, while meat eaters enjoy plentiful choice in the form of the Irish salmon and chicken dishes present. Unfailingly committed to freshness, this venue’s takeaway options mean you can have lunch on the move, with a selection of burgers and sandwiches made the same morning.
