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.
Forêt on Sussex Terrace in Dublin 4, John and Sandy Wyer's classical French bistro upstairs from M. O'Brien's, a 2026 Bib Gourmand sister to Forest Avenue.
Signature: Pâté de campagne, Coq au vin, Tarte aux pommes
Order: Pâté de campagne to start, coq au vin to share, tarte aux pommes for dessert.
Tip: Walk up from the Sussex Terrace door; the bistro is on the first floor. Wednesday to Saturday only.
Host on Ranelagh Village in Dublin 6 is a small open-kitchen room of Mediterranean small plates, hand-rolled pasta and charcoal-grilled cuts.
Signature: Fresh pasta, Mediterranean small plates, Charcoal-grilled meats
Order: A round of small plates, a hand-rolled pasta off the daily menu and a charcoal-grilled steak to share.
Tip: Communal seating; dinner Wednesday to Sunday with weekend lunch added. Bookings open sixty days out.
John and Sandy Wyer's glass-front room on Sussex Terrace in Dublin 4, finally Michelin-starred in 2026 after twelve years, named for Sandy's Queens street.
Order: The seasonal tasting menu, €75 at lunch and approaching subversive value for the kitchen behind it.
Tip: Three-course lunch from €55 Thursday to Saturday is the same kitchen at half the dinner ticket. Book the lunch slot.
The Old Spot on Bath Avenue in Dublin 4, Brian O'Malley and Stephen Cooney's Loyola Group gastropub serving the southside the city's most consistent Sunday.
Signature: Sunday roast, Atlantic hake, Sticky toffee pudding
Order: Sunday roast: roast Wicklow lamb with all the trimmings and the sticky toffee pudding to finish.
Tip: Sunday lunch books two weeks ahead; the bar runs walk-ins on the lighter menu Monday to Saturday from 17:00.
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.
Signature drink: Espresso
Order: Double espresso with a cardamom bun, on the move.
Tip: Counter only; arrive 09:00-10:00 weekdays. The bun pastry case empties by 11:00 on Saturdays.
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.
Order: Pain au chocolat warm out of the oven and a country sourdough loaf to take home.
Tip: Pastries sell out before 12:00 weekends.
Worth the queue: Pain au chocolat
Dublin Coffee Festival at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, an annual April weekend of specialty coffee with brewing competitions, latte art.
Tip: Weekend pass is the value; Friday evening adds an Industry session. The brewing competition runs Saturday.
Whiskey Live Dublin at the RDS in Ballsbridge, Ireland's premier whiskey festival, two days of distillery stands, masterclasses and rare-bottle pours in June.
Tip: General admission and masterclass packages available; book masterclasses early as they sell out first.
Alix Gardner's Cookery School on Waterloo Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, the long-running practical recreational cookery school with traditional Irish food.
Tip: Hands-on practical classes are the standout; the traditional Irish food class is the visitor-friendly option.
Host on Ranelagh Village in Dublin 6, a small open-kitchen room serving a Mediterranean weekend brunch off the daily counter, the southside's modern sharing.
Order: A small plate from the daily counter and a charcoal-grilled brunch main with a glass of orange wine.
Tip: Communal seating; book a 10:30 slot online a week ahead. Lunch added on weekends.