Best Restaurants Dublin: 19 Stunners In 2023

Our guide to the best restaurants in Dublin City Centre and beyond only contains places that we’ve eaten in 3+ times and have found to be consistently excellent.

It’s packed with everything from places that dish up delectable steaks, like Brookwood, to some of the most celebrated Michelin star restaurants Dublin has to offer!

So, regardless of whether you’re in the humour for some tantalising teppanyaki or some knock-you-sideways seafood, you’ll find the very best places to eat in Dublin below. Enjoy!

The best restaurants in Dublin in 2023

From institutions, like Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, to some of the more unique places to eat in Dublin, like Hang Dai, there’s an endless choice in the capital when it comes to food.

The article below provides you with a handy ‘food bucket list’ of the best restaurants in Dublin City Centre and beyond to dive into. So, let’s get started!

1. SOLE Seafood & Grill (South William St)

If you’re wondering where to eat in Dublin for impeccable seafood, aim for SOLE on bustling St William Street where you’ll find a sweeping colonnade at the centrepiece of its chic bronze and grey interior. 

With a strong focus on provenance, SOLE crafts dishes using the very best of locally sourced Irish seafood and meat.

For starters, the West Cork mussels steamed in red Thai curry and the Dingle brown crab claws (with lemon beurre blance, garlic and samphire) are the pick of the bunch.

For mains, you’ll have a hard time choosing. During previous visits, I’ve had the Coquilles St. Jacques (king scallops, gruyère cream and mash) and the Sea Bass (pan-seared with mussel and coconut Thai curry cream) – both were ridiculously good.

Why we keep going back: The combination of a cosy, elegant setting, top-class service and exceptional food makes every visit to SOLE a memorable one!

2. Chapter One (Parnell Square)

Setting the standard in Dublin for over 20 years, Chapter One on Parnell Square offers contemporary Irish cuisine with a French twist courtesy of two Michelin star Head Chef and co-owner Mickael Viljanen.

With an elegant dining room with starched white tablecloths nicely offset by warm lighting, Viljanen combines classical French techniques with plenty of creativity and personality. 

Several members of The Irish Road Trip Team have eaten here in recent years, mainly off the lunch menu which, at the time of typing, is €80. Expect beautifully prepared canapés and adventurous dishes like their Sika Deer “En Croute”

There’s a waitlist: As this is widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in Dublin, there’s an often lengthy waitlist (view it here)

3. Pickle (Camden Street Lower)

Crafted by multi-award-winning chef Sunil Ghai, Camden Street’s Pickle is one of our long-standing favourites and it’s arguably one of (if not the) top restaurants in Dublin for Indian food.

I’ve been here for the lunch menu a clatter of times now – for starters, the Punjabi Samosa Chaat (crispy pastry filled with potatoes and green peas and drizzled with chutney) and the Semolina bubbles (with chickpea and tamarind chutney) are hard to beat.

On the mains, there are several contenders for the top spot, with the Nathuram’s Choley Bhature (Delhi special chickpea curry) and the Lahsooni Fish Curry (stone bass fish simmered in slow cooked tomato
and coconut curry) both worthy contenders.

There are set sittings: It’s well worth booking ahead (you can do so here) as there are set dining times here

4. Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud (Merrion St.)

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud on Merrion Street is, in our opinion, one of the best restaurants Dublin has to offer if you’re looking to really push the boat out for a special occasion.

40 years of exceptional fine dining and this Dublin institution is still going strong. Their secret sauce? Flawless delivery – on every front!

If you have cash-to-splash, try the €245 8-course tasting menu prepared with the finest ingredients in season. There’s also a popular lunch menu for €95.

Expect starters like Steamed Soufflé of Blue Lobster Bisque and Cauliflower and Almond Soup and mains like Braised Short Rib of Beef and Kampot Pepper Crusted Halibut.

Excellent since 1981: Few Dublin restaurants have been consistently excellent for a period of time like this one. A memorable experience awaits. 

5. Trocadero (St Andrew’s St.)

Located a stone’s throw from the Molly Malone Statue, the hugely popular Trocadero is spread over two 18th century red-bricks at the heart of Dublin’s cultural centre.

It has been arguably one of the best places to eat in Dublin for over 60 years and boasts a range of fine food set in a handsome Art Deco dining room.

There are two great-value menus here – the €48 and the €58 set menus. I’ve had the former several times, with starters like Chicken Liver Pâté and Prawn and Sambuca Risotto on offer.

For mains, there are plenty of hearty options, like the 10oz Sirloin Steak, the Confit Duck Leg and the delicious Roast Chicken Supreme.

It gets busy, so book: Trocadero is listed as one of the best Dublin restaurants in many tourist guides, so it’s rarely not busy (and for good reason!)

6. F.X. Buckley (Pembroke Street)

One of the original steakhouse restaurants in Dublin, the popular F.X. Buckley has been an institution for over 30 years since opening their first restaurant on Pembroke Street in 1987.

Their story actually goes much further back than that – the first F.X. Buckley’s branded shop opened on Moore Street in 1930 and the first record of a Buckley’s butcher dates to 1660!

But enough of the history. F.X. Buckley is all about perfectly cooked beef. I’ve eaten here 8+ times over the years and, on every occasion, have shared the chateaubriand for two (around €105).

It’s a 16oz fillet of beef and it comes with beef dripping chips, mash, vegetables, caramelised onions, mushrooms and a selection of sauces (you’ll need to be rolled out of the place!).

Look-out for the lunch specials: There’s great value to be had from the lunch menu, like the 8oz striploin for €26

7. PHX Bistro (Smithfield)

Next is another of the best restaurants in Dublin when it comes to beef – the brilliant PHX Bistro in Smithfield.

Located inside a smart low-lit dining room, PHX is know for dishing up great fish, steak and arguably one of the best burgers in Dublin!

For starters, our go-tos are the seared beef carpaccio (with truffle mayonnaise, crispy capers and parmesan) and the gambas al pil pil (juicy tiger prawns in garlic and chilli oil).

For mains, the clear winners are the PHX burger (with pancetta bacon and jalapeño mayo) and the slow cooked pork belly (with truffle mash and crackling).

Good value from the set menus: Served every night from 5pm to 9pm, you’ll get 2 courses €32.90 or 3 courses €38.90

8. Liath (Blackrock)

Not all of the best Dublin restaurants are in the city centre! Take the train to Blackrock and prepare your tastebuds to experience one of the more popular Michelin Star restaurants in Dublin, courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Damien Grey. 

It’s cosy and compact inside Liath so tables don’t come easily, but it’s well worth making the effort to book when the food is this good. 

The five elements of taste form Grey’s style and prices for a tasting menu start from around €180 per person with wine pairing available from €110.

They recommend you take your time: There’s a recommended dining time of 3 hours for the tasting menu and 2.5 hours for the lunch

9. FIRE Steakhouse (Dawson St)

It’s not often you get to dine in 300-year-old buildings, but that’s what you’ll discover when you step inside FIRE Steakhouse on Dawson Street!

Located in The Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715, you’ll dine in the Supper Room which dates back to 1864.

For starters, there’s everything from oysters and wood-fired tiger prawns to potted crab & crayfish and more. There’s a great early-bird menu here with two course for €39 p/p.

For starters, there’s everything from bone marrow on sourdough to a sweet potato and miso soup. For mains, the 8oz sirloin (with pont neuf chips) reigns supreme. There’s also a mix of fish, chicken and veggie dishes.

A setting as good as the food: The interior, with its vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows, is what makes this one of the best places to eat in Dublin

10. Rosa Madre (Temple Bar)

This cosy little spot on Crow Street is one of the best restaurants Dublin has to offer when it comes to  Italian food in the capital.

For starters, the à la carte boasts everything from oven baked aubergines (with parmesan sauce) to Castletownbere scallops (with celeriac pure and saffron).

For mains, there’s a wealth of delicious dishes fighting for your attention. I can vouch for the sausage tagliatelle (with white ragu of sausages and Nduja) and the ricotta-filled ravioli being the business!

Popular with locals, tourists and… Will Ferrell: In recent months, Rosa Madre has welcomed the likes of Will Ferrell (actor) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)

11. WILDE (The Westbury)

It’s fair to say that WILDE doesn’t hold back when it comes to opulence! You’ll find it on the second floor of the Westbury – one of the most popular 5-star hotels in Dublin.

With an airy dining room that takes in tonnes of natural light and several varied menus on offer, there’s a reason that this is one of the best places to eat in Dublin City Centre.

For starters, the sweet potato, ginger and coconut soup and the Wrights of Marino dill cured salmon steal the show.

For mains, their chateaubriand of centre cut beef for two and the kerala coconut curry (with black mustard seeds and curry leaves) will tantalise your tastebuds!

Grab a pre-dinner cocktail: The Westbury’s ‘Sidecar’ cocktail bar makes a welcome stop-off pre-or-post-dinner

12. Bastible (Portobello)

Bastible’s low-key decor doesn’t prepare you for the inventiveness of its cuisine. Barry Fitzgerald and Claire-Marie Thomas’s magnificent restaurant is slightly out of town, in Portobello, but it’s worth the journey.

There’s an ever-changing €90 seasonal set-menu that features a range of delicate tastes and textures at Bastible.

On the autumn menu, there’s everything from golden beetroot cracker and wild halibut to cured scallop, seaweed custard and plenty more. There’s also a dedicated vegetarian menu with a wide mix of adventurous options on offer.

A pre-dinner pint: If you’re fond of Guinness and old-school pubs, drop into Harold House (4-minute walk) before your meal

13. Mister S (Camden Street Lower)

This guide to the best places to eat in Dublin has had many changes over the years, with places removed and added regularly. One of several permanent fixtures is Mister S on Camden Street Lower.

They cook over fire on a robata-style grill, here, inserting as much flavour as is humanly possible into every single dish.

For starters, try the burnt end rendang spring rolls or the glazed octopus with corn flatbread. The former, in particular, is exceptional.

For mains, some of the stand-outs are the sticky grilled pork chop, the herb chicken (with harissa jus) and the blackened monkfish.

A post-dinner stroll: Work off the food with a ramble in the Iveagh Gardens, a 5-minute stroll away!

14. Brookwood (Baggot Street Lower)

Brookwood is another of the best restaurants Dublin has to offer when it comes to beef, and you’ll find it along busy Baggot Street.

Its marble floors, grand mirrors and art deco lamps make for an entrancing setting before you even get to the fabulous food!

I’ve been here for the lunch menu 3-4 times over the last few years and it’s great value. There’s a beaut of a steak sandwich for €16 and a very hearty bangers and mash for €24.

Tomahawk Tuesdays: For a limited time, there’s a 32oz Tomahawk deal every Tuesday for €99 (comes with 2 sides, sauce and a bottle of wine)

15. Etto (Merrion Row)

Sitting just off the leafy surroundings of St Stephen’s Green on Merrion Row, Etto is a stylish little spot serving Italian-influenced food alongside a generous selection of wines.

Boasting a mention in Dublin’s Michelin Guide, their fare is also pretty good value considering the quality and location (mains range from €28 to €36).

For starters, the beef carpaccio (with truffle mayo and pickled pearl onion) and the Lambay crab salad (with nashi pear and kimchi brioche) are the stand-outs.

For mains, expect the likes of côte de boeuf, BBQ pork presa, grilled hake, herb gnocchi and plenty more! 

Bookings open 60 days in advance: Etto is popular, so it’s well worth booking a table in advance to avoid disappointment

16. Richmond (Portobello)

Once an all-night haunt serving fried breakfasts and wine from midnight until 6 a.m, Richmond’s reinvention into a quality modern European restaurant has been quite the transformation! 

Featuring sleek decor with twinkling fairy lights and candles aplenty, these guys now serve up Michelin Bib Gourmand quality food.

Their sublime 2-course early evening menu (€38/€44) can hold its own against other fine dining restaurants in Dublin and is also a great excuse to nip out for some great food early in the week. 

The dinner menu is reassuringly small, with dishes like pressed pork belly (with BBQ’d squid), market fish (changes regularly) and a dry-aged striploin.

A beaut of a brunch spot: There’s a great brunch menu here with everything from pancakes and hake scampi to their pork Benedict

17. Hang Dai (Camden Street Lower)

One of the best places to eat in Dublin with friends thanks to its lively atmosphere and night-club-like-interior is Camden Street’s Hang Dai.

Dark, neon and stylish inside, this is the brainchild of school friends Will Dempsey and chef Karl Whelan. While the photo above showing the interior may look a bit gimmicky, don’t be fooled – the Chinese food crafted here is of the highest standard.

There’s an a la carte menu featuring the likes of Sichuan kung po chicken and sesame prawn toast, however it might be worth jumping on one of the tasting menus to get a real feel for the food here. 

Although the various rooftop bars in Dublin tend to attract the pre-heading-out crowds, if you’re wondering where to eat in Dublin that combines great food with a buzzy atmosphere, Hang Dai reigns supreme.

The hidden cocktail bar: If you’re planning a group night out, there’s a ‘hidden’ cocktail bar above the main restaurant that can be booked!

18. Glovers Alley (St Stephen’s Green)

Serving refined contemporary food with friendly service in a luxurious dining space overlooking Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green, it’s pretty hard to pick any holes in Glovers Alley!

It’s also home to Andy McFadden, proud owner of a Michelin star at the tender age of 25 and once the youngest chef in London with a Michelin star. 

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, the €140 tasting menu is worth considering. Expect dishes like BBQ squab pigeon, scallop ceviche and Wicklow Bán with truffle honey.

Another well-priced lunch menu: Coming in at €60 for three courses, you’ll get serious bang-for-your-buck here!

19. Mr Fox (Parnell Square)

The last spot in our guide to the best restaurants in Dublin City is the brilliant Mr. Fox on Parnell Square. Opened in 2016, Mr Fox serves contemporary Irish cuisine with a French influence.

There’s a seasonal set menu at €86 per person served here and it’s laden with adventurous concoctions.

In the past, the menu has featured everything from langoustine tempura and beef short rib to lobster, beef tartare and plenty more.

With 4.7/5 from 890+ reviews at the time of typing on Google, Mr Fox is up there as one of the best places to eat in Dublin, based on review scores.

Why we keep going back: Attentive service, a good range of finely crafted dishes and a lively buzz about the place make this a great spot for an evening out

Best restaurants Dublin: What have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some of the best places to eat in Dublin from the article above.

If you’ve eaten in any good Dublin restaurants recently that you’d recommend, let me know in the comments below.

Fancy more food guides?

• The best Irish food in Dublin
• The best pizza in Dublin
• The finest fish and chips in Dublin
• The best vegetarian restaurants in Dublin
• The best afternoon tea in Dublin
• The best Chinese restaurants in Dublin
• The best spots for Sushi in Dublin
• The top restaurants in Dublin for vegetarian food
• The best brunch in Dublin and the liveliest bottomless brunch in Dublin
• The best breakfast in Dublin

FAQs about where to eat in Dublin

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where does the best food in Dublin price-wise?’ to ‘What are some cool restaurants in Dublin for a date?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.