As of 2026, this Dublin food guide covers 14 restaurants by category — including The Hairy Lemon, Gallagher's Boxty House, The Brazen Head. See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Dublin is Dublin is pub food and Guinness — Irish stew, fish & chips, coddle, and the perfect pint in historic pubs (The Brazen Head since 1198, Mulligan's, Kehoe's) — plus a sharp modern-Irish scene. We've organized 14 restaurants across 5 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
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The Hairy Lemon
Stephen Street Lower (near St Stephen's Green) · Traditional Irish
Irish stew, Dublin coddle, boxty, and bacon and cabbage — the hearty home cooking of Ireland
The Hairy Lemon
The Hairy Lemon · Stephen Street Lower (near St Stephen's Green)
1
#1
MUST TRY
Famous Dublin Coddle €17, Irish stew €18, bacon and cabbage €19
A quirky 19th-century tavern near St Stephen's Green, well known for traditional Irish fare — its 'Famous Dublin Coddle' and Irish stew are regularly named among the city's best. A characterful, atmospheric old room.
$15-30
(€14-27)
12:00-23:00 (kitchen closes earlier; later at weekends)
Local tip: The Famous Dublin Coddle (€17) is the dish to order here — sausage, rashers, potato, and onion, a genuinely Dublin-only stew you'll rarely see elsewhere. Pair it with a Guinness. Lunch is quieter than the evening pub crowd. A few minutes' walk from Grafton Street and the Green.
A long-running Temple Bar institution and the home of boxty — Ireland's traditional potato pancake — served with fillings, alongside stews, coddle, and fresh seafood, in a cozy room of stained glass and antique furniture.
$18-33
(€16-30)
12:00-22:00 (open daily)
Local tip: Boxty is the signature: a soft potato pancake wrapped around fillings like beef and Guinness or smoked salmon. A rare chance to try a dish you won't find on most menus. It's a tourist favorite in Temple Bar, so book ahead or go off-peak. Hearty portions.
The Brazen Head · Bridge Street Lower (Usher's Quay)
3
#3
MUST TRY
Irish stew €19, beef and Guinness stew €21, a pint of Guinness €7
Reputed to be Ireland's oldest pub, dating to 1198, on the south bank of the Liffey. A warren of low-beamed rooms serving traditional Irish food, with live trad-music sessions every night and a famous 'Storytelling and Food' evening.
$18-35
(€16-32)
Pub from ~10:30; food 12:00-22:00 (open daily)
Local tip: The Irish stew and beef-and-Guinness stew here are properly hearty, and the nightly live music makes it a full evening, not just a meal. Genuinely historic (est. 1198) but very popular — expect crowds and book the food/storytelling nights ahead. A short walk west of Temple Bar along the quays.
Historic Dublin pubs for a perfect pint of Guinness, trad music, and pub grub
Mulligan's
Mulligan's of Poolbeg Street · Poolbeg Street (near Trinity College)
4
#1
MUST TRY
A pint of Guinness €6.50-7.50, whiskey selection
Pouring Guinness since 1854, Mulligan's is one of Dublin's most respected traditional pubs — a dim, time-worn, conversation-first bar just off Pearse Street, with a colorful history (James Joyce, JFK, and Judy Garland all drank here).
$7-12
(€6.50-11)
From ~12:00 to late (open daily)
Local tip: Widely cited as one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin — a proper, unhurried pour in an unspoilt Victorian room. This is a pub for drinking and talking, not eating, so come for the pint and atmosphere. Walking distance from Trinity College and Westland Row station.
Open since 1803 just off Grafton Street, Kehoe's is one of Dublin's most atmospheric Victorian pubs — original snugs, dark wood, and a much-loved pint, an oasis a step from the busy shopping street.
$7-12
(€6.50-11)
From ~12:00 to late (open daily)
Local tip: Famous for the quality of its Guinness and its tiny old 'snug' booths — grab one early if you can. A classic stop on a Dublin pub crawl, very central just off Grafton Street, so it fills up after work and on weekends. Pub atmosphere over food.
Dublin's most-visited attraction — a seven-floor brewery experience at St James's Gate ending in the rooftop Gravity Bar with a 360° city view and your included pint. Polished and commercial, but a Dublin rite of passage.
$29-44
(€26-40)
09:30-19:00 (last entry varies; later in summer)
Local tip: Buy tickets online in advance — it uses dynamic pricing (€26-36) and the cheapest, least-crowded slots are early morning. The Gravity Bar pint with the panoramic view is the payoff. There are several restaurants and cafés inside if you want lunch. Allow 1.5-2 hours. A short Luas Red Line ride or 25-min walk from the center.
Classic chippers and fresh Atlantic seafood — cod, oysters, crab, and smoked salmon
Leo Burdock
Leo Burdock · Werburgh Street (near Christ Church)
7
#1
MUST TRY
Cod and chips €12-14, the famous 'crispy bits', smoked cod
Dublin's classic chipper, founded in 1913 near Christ Church Cathedral — old-school fish and chips wrapped to take away, famous for the 'crispy bits' of fried potato flakes scattered on top. A long line of celebrity customers on the wall.
$11-18
(€10-16)
12:00-23:00 (open daily)
Local tip: Get cod and chips and ask about the crispy bits — it's takeaway-only here, so eat it walking by the cathedral or on a bench. A genuine Dublin institution at over a century old, and good value versus a sit-down meal. Cash and card accepted; expect a queue at peak times.
Fresh oysters (happy-hour deals), Irish crab claws, lobster roll
A buzzy, no-frills oyster and crab shack in Temple Bar from seafood chef Niall Sabongi — Irish oysters, crab, and shellfish served fresh and casual, with popular oyster happy hours.
Local tip: Come for the oyster happy hour for the best value, or split crab claws and a lobster roll. It's small, loud, and walk-in-friendly — a fun, fresh alternative to the heavy pub food nearby. Some of the best-value Atlantic seafood right in the tourist core.
Fresh cod and chips €13-16, scampi, harbor seafood
A Howth Village fish-and-chip favorite by the harbor, with the Beshoff family's chipper heritage going back to the 1930s in Dublin — very fresh fish in a seaside-village setting, an easy DART ride from the city.
Local tip: Pair this with a Howth day trip: take the DART out (~30 min), do the cliff walk, then eat fish and chips by the harbor watching the boats and seals. Fresher and more scenic than most city-center chippers. Casual and family-friendly.
Contemporary Irish cooking and Michelin tables built on local, seasonal produce
The Winding Stair
The Winding Stair · Ormond Quay (by the Ha'penny Bridge)
10
#1
MUST TRY
Smoked salmon and brown bread, Irish stew, daily fish
A beloved restaurant above the bookshop of the same name, overlooking the River Liffey and the Ha'penny Bridge — modern Irish home cooking built on seasonal, artisan island produce, named after the Yeats poem. Revived in 2006.
Local tip: Some of the best Liffey views in the city, paired with proper Irish ingredients done simply and well — smoked salmon, brown bread, seasonal fish. A lovely lunch or dinner away from the Temple Bar throng. Book ahead, especially for a window table at dinner.
Seasonal small plates, fresh pasta, Irish charcuterie
A small, much-acclaimed wine-bar restaurant on Merrion Row pairing Italian technique with Irish produce — compact in space and menu but big on flavor, with smart, simple seasonal plates and a thoughtful wine list.
Local tip: Where Dubliners go for a great meal that isn't a tourist trap — small plates and pasta meant to be shared, with excellent value at lunch. It's tiny and books out fast, so reserve well ahead or try an early/late weekday slot. Near St Stephen's Green.
Dublin's celebrated fine-dining restaurant beneath the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Square — Michelin-starred modern Irish cuisine elevating seasonal island ingredients in a refined, understated setting. A special-occasion table.
Local tip: This is the splurge — tasting menus from around €120 per person, more with wine pairing, among the best meals in Ireland. Book weeks in advance; the lunch menu is the (relatively) more affordable way in. Dress neatly. A taxi from the south-side center is easiest.
The full Irish breakfast, brunch, soda bread, and Dublin's strong specialty-coffee scene
Cornucopia
Cornucopia · Wicklow Street (near Grafton Street)
13
#1
MUST TRY
Vegetarian/vegan breakfast, hot plates, fresh salads and bakes
A long-running vegetarian and vegan restaurant just off Grafton Street, a Dublin institution for plant-based cooking — generous hot plates, salads, soups, and home baking, including a hearty vegetarian breakfast.
$13-22
(€12-20)
08:30-21:00 (Sun from 12:00)
Local tip: The go-to for vegetarians and vegans, and good even if you're not — the breakfast and the build-your-own hot plates are great value and filling. Counter-service style, so it's quick. Very central, a minute from Grafton Street. Gets busy at lunch.
Queen of Tarts · Cow's Lane / Dame Street (near Dublin Castle)
14
#2
MUST TRY
Full Irish breakfast, scones, cakes and tarts, brunch
A cozy, much-loved café-bakery near Dublin Castle and Temple Bar — a proper full Irish breakfast and brunch plus excellent homemade scones, tarts, and cakes. A classic Dublin morning stop.
$10-18
(€9-16)
08:00-18:00 (weekends from 09:00)
Local tip: Great for the full Irish breakfast or a weekend brunch before sightseeing — soda bread, scones, and the cakes are the draw. Small and popular, so there's often a short queue at weekends; weekday mornings are calmer. Steps from Dublin Castle and Temple Bar.
Fish & chips (Leo Burdock) + a pub carvery + a Guinness or two.
Mid-Range
$40-80/day
A gastropub dinner + Guinness Storehouse Gravity Bar + a seafood lunch in Howth.
Luxury
$120+/day
Modern-Irish tasting at Chapter One/Etto + premium whiskey flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Dublin.
What traditional Irish dishes should I try in Dublin?
Irish stew (lamb or mutton with potato, onion, and carrot), Dublin coddle (a Dublin-only stew of sausage, rashers, potato, and onion), boxty (a traditional potato pancake), bacon and cabbage, a full Irish breakfast, and fresh Atlantic fish and chips. The Hairy Lemon and Gallagher's Boxty House are reliable spots for stew, coddle, and boxty (€16-22 / $18-24). Wash it down with a pint of Guinness.
Where do I get the best pint of Guinness?
For a historic-pub pint, Mulligan's (pouring since 1854), Kehoe's (since 1803, off Grafton Street), and The Brazen Head (Ireland's oldest pub, est. 1198) are classics — a proper, unhurried pour runs about €6.50-8.50 ($7-9). For the experience plus a rooftop view, the Guinness Storehouse (€26-36 / $29-40) ends at the Gravity Bar with an included pint. Locals often prefer the pubs to the Storehouse.
Is the Guinness Storehouse worth the money?
It's Dublin's #1 attraction and well produced — seven floors of the Guinness story ending with a pint and a 360° view at the Gravity Bar — but it's commercial and pricey (€26-36 with dynamic pricing). If you love a polished brand experience and the view, yes; if you'd rather spend the money on pints in atmospheric old pubs, skip it. Either way, buy online in advance for the lowest price and to skip queues.
Where's the best fish and chips and seafood?
Leo Burdock (since 1913, by Christ Church) is the classic takeaway chipper, famous for its 'crispy bits.' Klaw in Temple Bar is a fun oyster-and-crab shack with happy-hour deals. For the freshest catch in a scenic setting, take the DART out to Howth and eat at Beshoff Bros or a harbor restaurant. Fish and chips run €10-16 ($11-18); a dozen oysters €16-26.
Where do locals eat, away from the tourist traps?
Be honest — much of Temple Bar is overpriced. For food Dubliners actually rate, try Etto (small, excellent modern Italian-Irish plates near St Stephen's Green), The Winding Stair (modern Irish over the Liffey), and Chapter One (Michelin-starred, for a splurge). The streets around Capel Street, George's Street Arcade, and Camden Street have great value and variety.
Is Dublin good for vegetarians, vegans, and special diets?
Yes — Cornucopia near Grafton Street is a long-running vegetarian/vegan favorite, and most restaurants and gastropubs now offer clear veggie and vegan options, with gluten-free widely catered for. Traditional pub fare is meat-and-potato heavy, but you'll eat well on any diet across the city.
Should I tip in Dublin restaurants?
Tipping is modest and not as expected as in the US. Leave around 10-12.5% in restaurants for good service if there's no service charge already on the bill (check, as some add it for larger groups). At a pub bar you don't tip; for pub table service it's optional. Cards and Apple Pay are accepted nearly everywhere.
How much does eating out cost in Dublin?
A pub lunch (toastie, soup, or fish and chips) is €12-18 ($13-20); a dinner main €20-32 ($22-35); a three-course dinner with wine €60-90 ($66-100) per person. A pint of Guinness is €6.50-8.50 in the center. Fine dining like Chapter One runs €120+ ($130+) for a tasting menu. Self-catering from Tesco, Dunnes, or Lidl cuts costs a lot. Dublin is genuinely pricey, so budget accordingly.
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
8+ years analyzing travel data
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