Dublin Foodie Tips
Going to Dublin was decided more on a whim, than anything else. After booking the flights relatively last minute, armed with a trusty Lonely Planet guide, we were off to visit the Irish capital without much research beforehand. I thought I’d compile this Dublin foodie tips list for future reference for myself, as well as for anyone heading that way in the near future. By the way, Dublin is wonderful in the fall!
When it came to booking restaurants and deciding where we would eat, I had to decide rather fast. Thankfully, Dublin has it all. From upscale eateries housed in 5 star hotels, to delicious fish and chips one can have for 10 euro, as well as everything in between, you will not go hungry in this city (and neither will the seagulls, which are extremely insistent when it comes to stealing your food).
This Dublin foodie tips list is by no means exhaustive, after all we only spent 3 days in Dublin (and how I wish it would have been more).
Our first meal was dinner at Pickle. I had high expectations from Indian restaurants in Ireland and I was not deceived. Everything was delicious and fresh, the atmosphere is quite cool and modern, the service fantastic. The Aloo Tikki I had as a starter was probably the best I’ve had and the prawns in the curry were huge and perfectly cooked. Desserts were dreamy, with the Gulab Jamun (served with creamy vanilla ice cream) still in my dreams to this day.
My two tiny criticisms are that if you book, they will charge a 25 euro fee per person, which is not refundable for late cancellation (but will be deducted from your final bill) and curries do not automatically come with rice, it must be ordered (and paid for) separately. Really small things however, which do not take away from the overall wonderful quality of the place.
I am a sucker for all day breakfast, and the one at Avoca was plentiful and soooo delicious. My eyes were wayyyy bigger than my stomach and I ended up ordering a scone on top of my avocado toast, which was ginormous to begin with. I cannot complain though as both were very delicious and kept me full until dinner. The coffee and tea were strong and fuelled us up for a day of sightseeing and I slightly regret not getting a bellini to enhance the holiday feeling.
Lunch at Leo Burdock in their iconic Christchurch location consisted of a giant pile of chips (french fries*) with a piece of battered cod on top. I find that fish and chips is just the bets in the UK and Ireland and i couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit what was deemed as one of Dublin’s best chippies. Golden and crisp, it hit the spot - the ingredients are so fresh and the salt and vinegar flavour just can’t be beat! The place has nowhere to sit, but should you cross the road to the cathedral, there are a few benches with a wonderful view.
Excuse the terrible photograph, I was simultaneously trying to save my lunch from a couple of hungry seagulls and take pictures, something’s gotta give.
I could go on and on about dinner at Wilde. This is elevated Irish cuisine at its best. The oysters are not to be missed (I’m not sure where you could get them any fresher), while the mains were so hard to choose from. As it is all very seasonal I wouldn’t specifically recommend a certain dish but I can confidently say everything looked divine.
The service was, as expected in such an establishment, absolutely perfect, and their recommendations for food and wine were on point. I’d definitely book ahead as it isn’t a huge place and even during a weeknight they were completely full.
As far as snacks go, I need to recommend The Rolling Donut, one of Dublin’s oldest donut shops. The donuts are delicious, freshly made, and my S’mores flavoured one almost brought tears to my eyes. It’s a good thing we walked it off after. There are several locations around Dublin so make sure to keep your eyes open for them.
When it comes to drinking, one HAS to stop by an Irish pub for a pint. They often have live music and the atmosphere is just unbeatable. Not being a beer drinker myself, I got to try quite a few ciders, as well as the iconic Irish Coffee which is not to be missed! A few good spots filled with booze and history include The Temple Bar, Stag’s Head, The Palace Bar but really, if there is one thing that’s easy to find in Dublin, it’s a decent watering hole. Sláinte!
An honourable mention goes to the House of Guinness Tour, which is full of whimsy and, for beer connoisseurs, very informative. Tickets can be booked in advance for a certain time and you get to see the full process of beer making, as well as learn more about the history of this iconic brewery. There is a beer tasting experience with the tiniest, cutest, baby Guinness glasses, while a free pint is included in the ticket price, at the end of the tour.
And that’s it for now, this is all we managed to eat and drink around Dublin during our very short 3 day stay. I am definitely looking forward to going back and trying out some other spots! Don’t hesitate to let me know of other places you recommend and in the meantime subscribe in order to not miss any foodie travel news! xx