Home » Travel » Travel in Ireland » Ten Tip Top Dublin Restaurants

Ten Tip Top Dublin Restaurants

© Irene Togher

Irish cuisine has suffered in the past from a reputation of being bland and too reliant on the potato. Not so today. With the recent wave of New Irish Cuisine sweeping through Irish restaurants, Ireland is seeing a reversal of this reputation.

While traditional favorites like cabbage and bacon, Irish stew, and boxty are still popular, Ireland has embraced a wide range of cuisine like Italian, Chinese, French, and Russian. Restaurants have begun to blend influences to add uniqueness found only in Ireland. Add to this the superior quality of the ingredients and Ireland comes out tops in the food industry.

Dublin provides the diner with a wealth of restaurants to match any taste and any pocket. Restaurants in Ireland tend to have a very relaxed atmosphere that belies a strict attention to professionalism and quality in the background. Choosing just ten is a difficult task but with superior food quality and enjoyable atmosphere firmly in mind here are ten of the best.

Patrick Guilbaud
Hotel Merrion, 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2
353 (0) 1-676-4192

This restaurant has been reviewed as one of the top fine restaurants in Ireland and just one visit will tell you why. The setting is spacious and elegant with a bright, airy room, and patio leading to the hotel gardens. The summary on the inside of the menu sums up the food perfectly: " Modern classic cuisine using Irish produce in season." Using the best fish, game and meat Ireland has to offer Patrick Guilbaud aims to present quality, succulent dishes. And he gets the results. The Foie Gras and Roe Deer are to die for and the Irish dishes like Connemara Lobster are equally tasty.

Kilkenny Restaurant & Café
6 Nassau Street, Dublin 2
353 (0) 1-677-7066

For me Kilkenny Kitchen's lunch represents everything an Irish lunch should be. The house quiche is superb and there's wonderful stew, smoked salmon, and casseroles. But for a truly Irish experience try the freshly baked scones, bread, and cakes.

Located in the Kilkenny Shop, this restaurant is always busy and you're naturally expected to share your table. This just adds to the experience though as you sit in this friendly and relaxed atmosphere, overlooking Trinity College in the heart of Dublin.

The Tea Room
6-8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
353 (0) 1-670-7766

If I tell you that U2 are the owners of this restaurant you'll probably want to go along just out of curiosity. But you'll stay for much more. What this place does with salmon and veal is mouthwatering and the service is friendly and efficient.

Although it's certainly a high-end restaurant, it is not "stuffy" and is always popular. You can even find yourself dining beside some celebrities. The fact that it is located in the Temple Bar area - the heart