Pichet on Trinity Street in Dublin, Stephen Gibson's red-canopied French bistro, Bib Gourmand since 2010 and the city's most reliable pre-theatre.
Signature dishes: Steak frites, Tarte Tatin, Moules
Must order: Steak frites with bearnaise, then the tarte Tatin to share with a glass of Sauternes.
Tip: Lunch at noon is the easy book; pre-theatre at 17:30 to 18:30 sets you up for the Gaiety. Avoid the back room for two.
Address: 14-15 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, D02 T998
Etto on Merrion Row in Dublin, Liz Matthews and Simon Barrett's Italian-leaning Bib Gourmand wine bar, the city's best by-the-glass list at the counter.
Signature: Mackerel crudo, Hand-rolled pasta, Cheese course
Order: The mackerel and whatever fresh pasta is on, with a Sicilian white from the by-the-glass list.
Tip: Three counter seats by the open kitchen are first-come; the rest is reservation. Book through the website not OpenTable.
Uno Mas on Aungier Street in Dublin, an all-Spanish Bib Gourmand wine and small-plates room from the Etto team, the south side's most precise tapas.
Signature: Creamy croquetas, Gilda, Carabineros
Order: A round of creamy croquetas and one carabinero per person, with a glass of dry Manzanilla.
Tip: The counter seats turn fastest; if the website shows no tables, ask if the bar is open. Closed Sunday and Monday.
BIGFAN on Aungier Street in Dublin, a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026 Chinese and Taiwanese small-plates room, paper-and-pencil ordering, bao to xiao chi.
Signature: Wu ya bao, Xiao long bao, Pork jiaozi
Order: Wu ya bao with tender pulled beef, a steamer of xiao long bao, plus the cucumber salad in chilli oil.
Tip: No bookings before 17:00 Monday to Thursday. The Friday and Saturday afternoon window from 14:00 is when walking in still works.
Etto on Merrion Row in Dublin, Liz Matthews and Simon Barrett's Italian-leaning Bib Gourmand wine bar, the city's best by-the-glass list at the counter.
Signature: Mackerel crudo, Hand-rolled pasta, Cheese course
Order: The mackerel and whatever fresh pasta is on, with a Sicilian white from the by-the-glass list.
Tip: Three counter seats by the open kitchen are first-come; the rest is reservation. Book through the website not OpenTable.
Lottie's on Rathgar Road in Rathmines, Dublin, a Michelin Bib Gourmand neighbourhood brasserie holding the south-side family Sunday since 2023.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Pasta of the day, Whole sea bream
Order: A wood-fired pizza to share and whatever fish is over the fire that night.
Tip: Book the back garden room for two. Sunday from 12:30 fills with prams; Tuesday is the room at its quietest.
Spitalfields on The Coombe in Dublin's Liberties, a Michelin Bib Gourmand pub-set kitchen serving the city's most considered classical Irish menu.
Signature: Tom Crean's oyster stew, Slow-cooked beef cheek, Dublin coddle
Order: The seasonal stew with soda bread, and the coddle when it lands on the daily card.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner only, 17:00 to 21:00. Walk through the public bar and ask for the back dining room.
Uno Mas on Aungier Street in Dublin, an all-Spanish Bib Gourmand wine and small-plates room from the Etto team, the south side's most precise tapas.
Signature: Creamy croquetas, Gilda, Carabineros
Order: A round of creamy croquetas and one carabinero per person, with a glass of dry Manzanilla.
Tip: The counter seats turn fastest; if the website shows no tables, ask if the bar is open. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Borgo on Phibsborough Road in Dublin 7, Sean Crescenzi and Jamie McCarthy's neighbourhood osteria, a 2026 Bib Gourmand inside a former bank room.
Signature: Hake aqua pazza, Hand-rolled pasta, Tiramisu
Order: The hake with confit datterini tomatoes and borlotti beans, the dish the Michelin inspectors flagged.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday dinner; the early window at 17:30 is the easier book. The bar counter sits four for walk-ins.
BIGFAN on Aungier Street in Dublin, a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026 Chinese and Taiwanese small-plates room, paper-and-pencil ordering, bao to xiao chi.
Signature: Wu ya bao, Xiao long bao, Pork jiaozi
Order: Wu ya bao with tender pulled beef, a steamer of xiao long bao, plus the cucumber salad in chilli oil.
Tip: No bookings before 17:00 Monday to Thursday. The Friday and Saturday afternoon window from 14:00 is when walking in still works.
