A couple of years ago, I had the fortunate experience of visiting Dublin, Ireland, and I fell in love with the Irish food scene. The Irish are by nature a warm and generous people, and you will discover these very traits in their service, recipes and ample portions. If you plan to travel to Dublin in the near future and want to know some of the best places to eat, read on for some first-hand recommendations.
Breakfast
If you visit Dublin, make sure you don’t miss breakfast because Dublin goes all out for this first meal of the day. Most of the city’s hotels serve a full Irish breakfast, which often includes a smorgasbord of eggs, rashers of bacon, sausages, fried potatoes, blood pudding, baked beans, tomato and Irish soda bread all served up with piping Irish tea or coffee. However, if you prefer to have breakfast in one of the city’s restaurants, one of the most popular is Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton Street. The friendly service and delicious food here will fill your stomach, put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
Other good restaurants for breakfast include the Queen of Tarts on Dame Street. Here, you will fall in love with their divine, freshly baked pastries and scones. If you are an early riser, you can head over to the Abbey Cafe on Mary’s Abbey Street, which begins serving breakfast earlier than most other Dublin eateries and offers a great value for those on a budget as well.
Lunch
For a midday bite, you can enjoy traditional Irish fare in many of Dublin’s fine pubs, like O’Neil’s Pub, for example. Located on Suffolks Street, O’Neil’s offers the likes of fresh fish and chips or hearty Irish stew with your choice of Guinness, coffee, tea or soda. If you just want a light sandwich with tea or coffee, the Cake Cafe at Pleasants Place is a good choice. If you are hungry and want to fill up on fresh, scrumptious seafood, head over to Bath Avenue and check out Juniors restaurant.
Dinner
Dinner in Dublin opens a wide range of restaurant doors. If you want a cozy, intimate setting with quality Irish fare, try out the Pig’s Ear, located at Nassau Street. Here, you will be served with the likes of traditional Irish foods like pork and barely meatballs, shepherd’s pie and freshly baked brown bread. If you prefer a succulent steak dinner, head over to St. Stephen’s Green and check out Shanahan’s restaurant. You will not be disappointed.
Looking for an upscale restaurant for a special dinner? Try out the Bang Restaurant, located at Merrion Row. You can delight in the elegant atmosphere while you savor excellent dishes like honey and roasted Soya duck salad, Irish bangers and mash, dry-aged kettle steak and divine Black Forest cheesecake. If you would like to enjoy a wonderful Irish meal that is accompanied by live, traditional music and dancing, the Arlington Hotel by the O’Connell Bridge is a perfect place.
