Dublin doesn’t have the culinary reputation of Paris or Italy, but there is good food to be had at every price point. Here’s what I liked from our past three trips to this friendly city.

Leo Burdock: Dublin’s Best Fish & Chips

No trip to Dublin is complete without fish and chips, and we love Leo Burdock. One order is enough to share, and don’t hesitate to try several dipping sauces (they’re around 2 euro each). We’ve been to the locations at Temple Bar (similar setup to a fast-food restaurant in America) and Christchurch (takeaway only, so we ate in our hotel room). Both were good, but I like the Christchurch location slightly more. Leo Burdock, 2 Werbugh Street (Christchurch) and 4 Crown Alley (Temple Bar).

Temple Bar: Get Your Drink On

The Temple Bar isn’t a bar, it’s an area of pubs near the River Liffey. (But there is a pub called the Temple Bar Pub, lol)

You’ll know it when you’ve found it: Temple Bar is filled with pubs and many feature live music for you to dance an Irish jig or two. Of course it’s touristy, but it’s also oh-so-fun, and you can always just ignore the little trinket shops.

So take your pick of pubs, find a friendly bartender, and enjoy a pint!

O’Neill’s Pub and Kitchen: Hearty Pub Food and Beer on Tap

Look for a menu or just point to what you want at the carvery — they have all kinds of casseroles, corned beef, and meat pies and stews, both cooked to order and waiting behind a counter, cafeteria-style. It’s not fancy, but it’s satisfying! We tried the Irish Beef and Guinness pie with a side of vegetables (you choose) and potatoes. 12.95 euro and up. O’Neill’s Pub and Kitchen, 2 Suffolk Street.

Patrick Guilbaud: Michelin-starred cuisine near St. Stephen’s Green

We had a beautiful Michelin-starred lunch pre-baby J (it’s not really the kind of place to take a toddler). So, so good, and with service worthy of its two Michelin stars (if you drop a crumb someone will discretely brush it away without you even noticing). Worth noting that it’s not particularly Irish — we could have been dining anywhere in the world, if that tells you anything. Patrick Guilbaud, 21 Upper Merrion Street (near St. Stephen’s Green).

If you’re in the mood for fancy French food while in Dublin, one of my best friends suggested Dax. We haven’t tried it yet because we usually opt for more casual/pub food in Dublin, but it’s on our list!

Guinness Storehouse, Hartigan’s Pub, and the Hairy Lemon: Delicious Guinness

I think all Guinness in Dublin is good Guinness, but the pints at Hartigan’s (near St. Stephen’s Green) were extra delicious. Hartigan’s Pub, 100 Lower Leeson St. I also have a special place in my heart for the Hairy Lemon, where I had my first pint in the Fair City. The Hairy Lemon, 41-42 Stephen Street Lower.

And of course go to the Guinness Storehouse. It’s not as cheesy as Amsterdam’s Heineken Experience, plus you’ll learn how to pour the perfect pint and get the world’s best Guinness in the Gravity Bar (which also provides a stunning view of the city). Loved the Guinness gift shop, too. St. James Gate.

Crackbird: Fried Chicken and Dipping Sauces. Yum.

Fried chicken and dipping sauces. What’s not to like? Crackbird, 34/35 South William St.

It’s hard to take an award-winning photo of a piece of fried chicken, but what matters is that it tastes good, right? ;)

emer’s kitchen: Healthy-ish Grab and Go Lunch

For a quick and satisfying fresh and healthy-ish lunch, hop on the queue at emer's kitchen, a grab-and-go spot for sandwiches, soups, and all sorts of salads. We paid 8.50 euro for a soup + sandwich combo, which we ate in semi-darkness while Jules napped, lol! The things parents do for their kids when they don’t have a suite! Ha! emer’s kitchen, 102 Leeson Street Lower (a few blocks away from the newly renovated Conrad Dublin (my review here).

Did I miss anywhere unmissable? Let me know in the comments and I’ll check it out the next time we’re in Dublin!

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