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Ireland
This is a fab little Cuban place in Ballsbridge. We took our children there early evening and the waiter was delightful, couldn't do enough to make us comfortable and well fed, and the other diners were graciously accommodating of the added fuss. Far more important - the food was fantastic, authentic Cuban grub, and the service duly attentive; and to boot the tab was very reasonable.
11 Ballsbridge Terrace, Dublin 4
I stayed around Baggot Street a few weeks ago. A great location, there are great pubs and restaurants and it's just a few minutes' walk from Trinity College.
I can recommend Dohney & Nesbitts pub, a very traditional pub and great fun and then across the street is Toner Pub, different crowd, but again traditional. Stayed in Baggot Court Townhouse and then for a change moved to Fitzwilliam Square and stayed at Fitzwilliam Townhouse, great places to stay, Georgian buildings and, most of all, good value.
www.baggotcourt.com
www.visitdublin.com (see bars)
www.fitzwilliamtownhouse.com
www.bangcafe.ie
Great little burger bar on the Rathmines Road, great selection of organic meats, three different types of veggie burger and great imaginative and tasty options for the garnish.
There's a DJ booth in the corner and the crowd is young and hip. Alcohol is available and they have a great South African beer. Costs around €12.50 a burger and €5 a beer so not cheap, but is good value. Open quite late on the weekends.
Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6
www.joburger.ie/
Charlies popped up a few years ago as a sort of fast food Chinese restaurant and there are now three or four of them about the centre of town. The food is standard Dublin prices, or in other words a bit more than it should be, and is all right if you get it when the place is quiet. Other than that stay the hell away from them. It's a magnet for the drunk and serves up the vilest food when it gets busy. I've been ill the last two times I've eaten there, and won't be returning.
The main problem is that for the same money you could get a decent enough meal elsewhere.
Around Temple Bar
It's an hilarious Dublin guide filled with serious tips.
Fish and chips in Clontarf. I've lived here three years, and have scoured half the city for fish and chips in crunchy batter. They excel. They also do pretty hot fish cakes.
It's 30 yards from the sea. Go for a walk along the seafront first, afterwards, or even during!
Vernon Avenue. Directions: Next to the Spar in Clontarf village, North Dublin.
Nepalese restaurant: really interesting food. Another of the rare restaurants where you can have a short set menu for an excellent lunch or early evening meal for 20 Euros.
28 Eustace St,Temple Bar,Dublin 2.
Phone:(01) 670-4911
Lebanese restaurant with some interesting and different dishes. One of the relatively few places where you can get a quality early evening meal for less than 20 Euros - but it goes up a lot after 7pm.
11a St Andrew Street Dublin 2 (01) 677 2121
Tante Zoe's is a cajun/creole New Orleans restaurant. It was recommended to us by a taxi driver. We had a really nice evening and the service was fantastic. The steak was lovely!
The menu is available on the website.
1 Crow Street,Dublin 2. Just off Dame Street, opposite Dublin Castle.
www.tantezoes.com
I know, I know, it's a bit hypocritical after telling you to avoid the place in a previous tip, but I actually quite enjoy it there.
It's like going out in a market town in England on a Friday; raucous; loud; packed with fools and too much drink. But it also has some of Dublin's best pubs, live music, galleries and restaurants.
It's rare that the sense of violence, which always seems a wrong look away in London, is felt here.
I wouldn't recommend Temple Bar at night for someone in search of a quiet drink, or a civilized time. The puddles of vomit and p!ss ensure that, but it is great fun if you're in town for a laugh with a group of friends.
the centre of town
Eating out in Dublin can be really expensive, so we looked out for quiet bistro-type places with special offer lunch menus.
We got 2-3 courses, sometimes with a free glass of house red for as little as eight euros a head, great service and fairly quiet and huge portions.
Evening menu's were pretty much the same but cost over 20 euros a head! Temple Bar had enough resaurants to last us the 5 days we were in Dublin, yum! Then there was a fantastic ice crem parlour on the walk back to our hostel - believe me, by this time, we needed the walk!
Temple Bar is a good area of Dublin to find small good quality restaurants, particularly Italian.
Large tapas bar in the heart of the city centre, hidden in behind the George Street Arcade. Decent portions, though not particularly cheap.
Its a massive space with exposed brick and palms. The service is iffy, but the atmosphere is great and mercifully there isn't any music, a rarity these days.
George Street Arcade
Excellent authentic Thai food in a very relaxed and cozy atmosphere.
Great value early bird menu between 6-8pm. Often quiet, but fills up on the weekends.
No bookings taken.
Anne's Lane, just of South Anne Street, which itself is just off Grafton Street.
Although under renovation, this hostel is an excellent place to stay in the centre of town.
The rooms for two offer ensuite facilities and are impeccably clean if basic.
If a couple of chairs were provided they would be even better!
The price might seem expensive for some (70 euros a night for two if booked over the net) but try to find better at a seven minutes walk from the Spire.
There is a kitchen and a minimalist breakfast is included if you want to share it with the school groups.
There is a Thai restaurant across the street and the pub on the corner's public bar (Molloy's) will take you straight back to pre-tourism Dublin - especially at the 11am rush.
A couple of caffs just round the corner on Talbot St offer all-day breakfasts at a very good prices if you can face the cholesterol, yum.
Talbot Place.
A smattering throw back to Dublin's hippy scene, which has been nearly totally decimated. This is really only a shadow of some of Dublin's great markets. Still it has a nice feel to it and there are stalls for second hand books, fresh olives, old records and new Japanese and Chinese fashion. There's Simons Place cafe - a real stalwart, and there's a chipper in one of the stalls. Plus there's an entrance to the excellent Market Bar - with its own entrance for when the arcade is closed. It's a fun wee refuge from the occasional rain. A bit over priced in places tho'
George Street
"Wine bar, karaoke box, sake bar" the restaurant describes itself. I would say great Japanese and Korean food and nice selection of wines and drinks!
Not what you would expect from a sidestreet in Dublin, but a really pleasant surprise with its contemporary decor and nice staff.
I did not check out the karaoke though!
7-9 Exchequer Street
Dublin 2
+353 1 6334071
www.ukiyobar.com/
The kids loved the pizza here, and the fact they could wander round unhindered. The statue of the naked lady in the corner caused great amusement as well. On the very top floor there is a theatre. It's worth finding out if there is a performance on when you're there. We watched an entrancing xmas story monologue, which kept even the jaded Playstationer glued to his seat. Free soup with a ticket was also a bonus on a cold winter's day.
78/9 Grafton Street
+353 1 6727720
www.bewleyscafe.com
It isn’t that long ago that the idea of global cuisine in Ireland barely extended further than sweet’n’sour chicken balls and lasagne. The recent economic boom has coincided with an explosion of gastronomic choice, and this city-centre food hall led the way to the current cappuccino-and-panini culture. It may be a bit overcrowded and chaotic, but that’s part of the charm. And the variety of authentically prepared international food and drink at reasonable prices make it the perfect touchdown spot for footsore sightseers and shoppers with a taste for the exotic.
Location: Entrances on Middle Abbey Street and Liffey Street, Dublin 1.
Mentioned more than once by Joyce, it is a true Dublin literary pub. That said, it hardly looks the same as it did in the great man’s time – the decor a bit reminiscent of a 70s cruise ship disco. But it has great seafood and pints, and the soundtrack is the hum of strong opinions strenuously aired. Joyce would approve.
Address: 21 Duke Street, Dublin 2.
Telephone: (353-1) 6775217
D&C is an 'enoteco' serving wonderful Italian food and a host of wines by the glass. Service is with a smile and staff are knowledgeable and concerned that you enjoy the food. Busy, buzzy, cheap and never fails to cheer.
Just off Nassau Street, close to Trinity College and Grafton Street
www.dunneandcrescenzi.com
14/16 South Frederick Street,
City Centre D2
Tel: 01 677 3815 / 675 9892
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