40 editor picks in Dublin.
40 cheap eats places in Dublin, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Dublin: the places editors actually return to. All Dublin food.
Vada on Brunswick Street North in Stoneybatter, the zero-waste neighbourhood cafe that took over the V-Face site, plant-forward small plates and house-made.
OrderPlant-forward small plate
TipCounter and small tables; book ahead for dinner Thursday to Saturday. House water kefir brewed in-house from kitchen byproducts.
Bread 41 on Pearse Street in Dublin 2, Eoin Cluskey's organic sourdough bakery and cafe since 2018, the city's most polished cardamom bun and laminated.
OrderA cardamom bun and a slice of country sourdough loaf to take home.
TipCardamom buns sell out by 12:00 on Saturdays; arrive 09:00 to be first. The cafe sits twenty in the back room.
Scéal Cafe on South Circular Road in Dublin 8, Shane Palmer and Charlotte Leonard-Kane's Dublin counter near Leonard's Corner, the bakery's return.
OrderBrown butter kouign-amann and a sourdough loaf to take home.
TipPastries sell out by midday on weekends. Counter sits eighteen plus a small outdoor terrace.
3fe Grand Canal in Dublin 2, the flagship of Colin Harmon's roastery, the city's most polished filter coffee on the south side of Pearse Street's tech.
OrderA V60 filter with the rotating Ethiopian single-origin and a sourdough cardamom bun.
TipEight 3fe cafes across Dublin; the Grand Canal flagship has the most seating and serves food until 15:00.
Cornucopia on Wicklow Street in Dublin 2, the family-run vegan and vegetarian wholefood restaurant since 1986, three floors of self-service counters.
OrderVegan hot plate with three salads
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 12:30 for the upstairs room. The hot plate with three salads runs around €13. Closes 17:00 Sunday, 19:00 Monday to Wednesday.
Soup Dragon on Capel Street in Dublin 1, ten daily soups, the city's most balanced sub-€10 lunch counter, the Northside's working budget lunch since 1996.
OrderTwo-soup combo with bread
TipCounter-only seating; the two-soup combo with bread and a smoothie runs €12. Best after 14:00.
The Fumbally on Fumbally Lane in Dublin 8, Aisling Rogerson and Luca D'Alfonso's open-plan day cafe and fermentation lab, the Liberties' working kitchen.
OrderThe daily soup with house sourdough at lunch; Friday Dinner if you can grab the booking window.
TipCommunal seating; arrive before 12:30 to get the long table to your group. No reservations except Friday Dinner.
Dash Burger on Kevin Street Lower in Dublin 8, Barry Wallace's 2020 smash-burger room that landed at the top of every Dublin best-burger list.
OrderDouble smash with American cheese and onion; skin-on fries on the side.
TipWalk-ins only at both rooms, kitchen from 12:00-21:00 daily. The Kevin Street room is small and turns fast at lunch.
Una on Ranelagh in Dublin 6, John and Sandy Wyer's bakery sister to Forest Avenue with Tom and Finn Gleeson of Bunsen, the southside's polished pastry.
OrderPain au chocolat warm out of the oven and a country sourdough loaf to take home.
TipPastries sell out before 12:00 weekends.
3fe on Sussex Terrace in Dublin 4, the small Forest Avenue neighbour, four-seat counter, the morning 3fe espresso for the southside before work commute.
OrderDouble espresso with a cardamom bun, on the move.
TipCounter only; arrive 09:00-10:00 weekdays. The bun pastry case empties by 11:00 on Saturdays.
Brother Hubbard North on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Garrett FitzGerald and James Boland's original Middle Eastern brunch room, the Capel Street weekend anchor.
OrderShakshuka with house bread; a cardamom French toast and a flat white to follow.
TipWalk-in only Saturday and Sunday from 09:30; the queue starts before doors. Wednesday breakfast is the calm window.
Two Pups Coffee on Francis Street in Dublin 8, a Liberties counter and brunch room, the southside's strongest cortado and one of the city's brunch references.
OrderCortado on the house roast; the eggs Florentine with house hollandaise at brunch.
TipWalk-in only; arrive 09:30 Saturday before the queue. Two long tables share with strangers; the window stools turn fast.
The Fumbally cafe on Fumbally Lane in Dublin 8, Aisling Rogerson's open-plan day cafe inside a fermentation hub, the kitchen the Liberties learned.
OrderThe Fumbally toast with cultured butter and house ferment; a filter coffee from the roastery board.
TipCommunal tables; walk-in only and bag check at the door. Open 08:00 Tuesday to Saturday; Sunday 10:00-15:00.
The Seafood Cafe by Niall Sabongi in Sprangers Yard off Fownes Street, Temple Bar, the open-kitchen seafood bar with the city's largest selection of Irish.
OrderLobster roll and oysters
TipOyster happy hour daily 16:00-17:00 with around €1 off each shuck. Walk-in counter; the bar dining lets you watch the kitchen work.
Dash Burger on Kevin Street Lower in Dublin 8, the Barry Wallace counter that opened in 2020 as Ireland's first dedicated smash burger room.
OrderDouble smash burger
TipOrder the double smash with skin-on fries; walk-ins only, no reservations. Small room, faster turn at lunch.
Umi Falafel inside George's Street Arcade in Dublin 2, the vegetarian Lebanese counter doing the city's most credible falafel, freshly fried chickpeas.
OrderFalafel wrap with toum
TipThree Dublin Umi locations; the Arcade branch is the south-city pick for a sub-€12 lunch. Counter and tables; takeaway runs fastest.
The Bretzel on Lennox Street in Portobello, Dublin's only Jewish-tradition bagel and rye bakery since 1870, kosher-style classics and a working sourdough.
OrderA poppy-seed bagel toasted with cream cheese and smoked Irish salmon.
TipSix bagel varieties baked twice daily; the second bake at 14:00 is the quietest collection window.
Vice Coffee Inc on Middle Abbey Street in Dublin 1, inside the Wigwam bar and venue, the small-batch specialty roaster pouring espresso and filter.
OrderEspresso tonic in summer, the seasonal filter in winter.
TipCounter inside Wigwam; the bar's coffee bar runs daytime hours. Closes 17:00 weekdays.
Twist Bakery on Bedford Row in Temple Bar is a Dublin 2 artisan bakery and cafe with slow-fermented sourdough, croissants and morning specialty coffee.
OrderAlmond croissant or a slice of sourdough with a flat white; afternoon a hand-decorated seasonal cake.
TipCounter is busy from 07:00 weekdays; weekends open at 08:00. Walk-in only and limited seating, so plan for takeaway.
Tang on Dawson Street in Dublin, an all-day Middle Eastern counter, the city's most reliable lunch-grab and weekend brunch in one room. Priced at €.
OrderHalloumi wrap with house slaw and a turmeric latte to go.
TipTwo-floor venue; the basement is the table service room. Walk-in only at lunch; book the basement for weekend brunch.
Sano Pizza on Exchange Street Upper in Dublin 8, the wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria with a Caputo flour spec, the city's most credible margherita pizza.
OrderA margherita with fior di latte, then a diavola with extra basil; share over a glass of Aglianico.
TipNo bookings; arrive at 17:30 to walk into a table. Counter and tables sit twenty inside.
Musashi on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Northside's regular Japanese noodle and sushi counter, the city's most reliable sub-€15 ramen and tuna nigiri lunch.
OrderTonkotsu ramen with extra chashu, a side of pan-fried gyoza.
TipThree Capel Street locations within a block. The original 15 Capel sits busiest at lunch; the IFSC branch is quieter for dinner.
Soup Dragon on Capel Street in Dublin 1, a fifteen-seat Northside cafe running ten daily soups, the city's most balanced sub-€10 lunch you can find.
OrderTwo-soup combo with house bread and a smoothie; Thai chicken soup if it's on the board.
TipWalk-in only and counter seating only; arrive before 12:30 or after 14:00 to find a stool. Takeaway runs all day.
Umi Falafel inside George's Street Arcade in Dublin 2, the vegetarian Lebanese counter doing the city's most credible falafel on freshly fried chickpeas.
OrderFalafel wrap with toum and pickles; a mezze plate and a glass of mint tea to share.
TipCounter and a handful of tables inside the Arcade; takeaway runs fastest at lunch. Other Umi branches sit on Mary Street and Rathmines.
The Green Door Bakery on Manor Street in Stoneybatter, the village's go-to morning bakery for freshly baked croissants, cinnamon buns and bread.
OrderCinnamon bun warm with a flat white; a croissant or daily loaf to take home.
TipSells out by midday on Saturdays; arrive before 10:30 if you want the morning bun warm.
The Bald Barista on Aungier Street in Dublin 2, a two-floor specialty espresso bar with sweet treats and upstairs seating, the south-city centre's reliable.
OrderFlat white on the house espresso blend; a slice from the bakery counter.
TipCounter on the ground floor; the seating and toilet are upstairs. Outdoor tables at the front. Closed on Saturday and Sunday in most weeks.
Kaph on Drury Street in Dublin 2, an upstairs flat-white room over a Drury Street boutique, the southside's regular specialty espresso bar with quiet booths.
OrderFlat white on the seasonal espresso blend; a Bewley's-style toasted-cheese sandwich.
TipTwo floors of stools; the upstairs window seat has the best Drury Street people-watching. Closes 17:30 weekdays.
Eatyard by Cross Guns Bridge in Drumcondra, the Bernard Shaw's open-air street food yard that moved north from Portobello, five rotating vendors.
OrderRotating street food vendors
TipArrive 17:00 Friday for a picnic table before the post-work crowd. Vendor line-up rotates weekly; check the Eatyard site mid-week.
Musashi on Capel Street in Dublin 1, Northside's reliable Japanese noodle counter, the city's most reliable sub-€15 tonkotsu ramen and donburi lunch order.
OrderTonkotsu ramen
TipThree Capel Street locations within a block. The original 15 Capel sits busiest at lunch; the IFSC branch is quieter for dinner.
Bunsen on Wexford Street in Dublin, the chef-built burger that built a five-shop Dublin chain on one menu of beef, cheese and fries, the city's reference.
OrderQuarter-pound cheeseburger with onion, fries and a chocolate milkshake.
TipOne menu, no specials; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at the Wexford Street flagship.
The Cake Cafe at Pleasants Place in Dublin 8, Michelle Darmody's south-side bakery tucked into the Daintree Building, the city's go-to brunch tart and scone.
OrderButtermilk scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream; a slice of Victoria sponge.
TipWalk through Daintree shop to reach the courtyard cafe. Twenty seats only; book Saturday brunch a week ahead.
La Cocina Cuevas at the new Eatyard by Cross Guns Bridge in Drumcondra, the Mexican stand that followed Eatyard north, a trompo of pork al pastor.
OrderTaco al pastor
TipEatyard runs Thursday to Sunday from 12:00-22:00; order three tacos to share, the al pastor with pineapple is the menu reference.
Hanleys Cornish Pasties at Merchants Arch in Temple Bar, the city's only dedicated Cornish pasty counter since 2009, hand-crimped pasties baked fresh.
OrderTraditional Cornish pasty
TipTraditional steak, gourmet specials and vegetarian or vegan options; open until 03:00 Friday and 04:00 Saturday for the post-pub Temple Bar crowd.
Bunsen on Wexford Street in Dublin 2, the chef-built five-shop Dublin burger chain doing one menu only: beef, cheese, fries, milkshakes, the city's burger.
OrderCheeseburger
TipOne menu, no specials; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at Wexford Street.
Bunsen on Wexford Street in Dublin 2, the chef-built five-shop Dublin burger chain with one menu only of beef, cheese and fries, the city's burger value.
OrderQuarter-pound cheeseburger
TipOne menu only; the smallest tables turn fastest. Late till midnight at the Wexford Street flagship.
Hanleys Cornish Pasties at Merchants Arch in Temple Bar, the city's only dedicated Cornish pasty counter since 2009, hand-crimped pasties baked.
OrderTraditional Cornish pasty
TipTraditional steak pasty, gourmet specials, vegetarian or vegan options. Open late Thursday to Saturday; cash and card.
Leo Burdock on Werburgh Street in Dublin 8, the city's longest-running chipper since 1913, beer-battered cod and chips on greaseproof paper.
OrderLarge fresh cod with chips, salt, vinegar and a lemon wedge; add the famous spice burger as a side.
TipCloses 21:00 most nights; the queue is fastest at the Werburgh Street original. No seating; walk to Christ Church and eat on the steps.
The Bakehouse on Bachelors Walk in Dublin 1, a quayside bakery and cafe serving classic Irish brown bread, soda farls and an all-day fry-up on the river.
OrderA slab of brown soda bread with butter and an all-day full Irish.
TipWindow stools face the Liffey; the back room sits forty. Open seven days, breakfast served all day.
Bewley's Cafe on Grafton Street in Dublin, the Ernest Bewley grand cafe since 1927, restored across three floors, the city's heritage tea-room and lunch room.
OrderThe Bewley's house blend coffee and a sticky bun; an afternoon cream tea upstairs.
TipThree floors; the first floor is the historic Harry Clarke window room. The basement Theatre cafe runs lunchtime plays.
Leo Burdock on Werburgh Street in Dublin 8, the city's longest-running chipper since 1913, beer-battered cod and chips wrapped in greaseproof paper to take.
OrderCod and chips
TipNo seating; eat on the Christ Church steps. Closes 21:00 weekdays, 22:00 Friday.
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