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

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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

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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/

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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

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It has a Spar and a Centra.

Northside

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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.

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New York style (how did you guess?) diner in the docklands development next to the IFSC. Next to the financial district, so I expect it's worth avoiding during the week. On a Sunday, though, it's a pretty chilled out place to get Eggs Benedict or a vast array of bagels. Next to the river (by the Jeannie Johnston boat).

Lower Mayor St.
Opposite NCI (National College of Ireland). A short walk from Busáras (the main bus/coach terminus) or Connolly Station (DART [rail] / LUAS [tram])

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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A stylish cafe with great food and service within the art gallery.

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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.

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"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/

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On a Saturday morning, wander the Temple Bar food market, scoffing samples. Best are the Irish cheeses, smoked fish and organic produce from family farms outside Dublin.

Meeting House Square, Temple Bar; Saturday 10am-5pm; see www.temple-bar.ie/culture_markets_food.asp for a list of traders.

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Brave the queues at the legendary Leo Burdock's chipper near Christchurch cathedral.

2 Werburgh Street; Tel: 00 353 1 454 0306

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