The culinary scene in Dublin is diverse and well worth exploring. Forget everything that you know about Ireland. Drop the Guinness and leave the potatoes behind. It’s a whole new culinary world in Dublin. Sure, you can still have Irish stew washed down with some milky tea but why would you?
The culinary scene in Dublin is diverse and well worth exploring. If you are visiting Dublin for the first time, go for an artery-clogging Irish breakfast after a long night of whiskey tasting but leave it at that for the old traditional fare. When you are ready to really enjoy the best restaurants of Dublin, it is time to get adventurous.
Ready to go? Here are the top five Dublin eats that you won’t want to miss!
Stroll through Temple Bar Market:
Rain or shine, the Temple Bar Market takes over a little corner in the heart of Temple Bar every Saturday. Like any quintessential European market, Temple Bar Market is filled with local, seasonal and organic foods of all kind. Chat with the local farmers and steal their recipes. Don’t leave without trying some of the world renowned Irish cheeses and charcuterie.
Sample Authentic Arabic Home Cooking at Umi:
Umi is easily the best vegetarian restaurant that I have ever been to anywhere on this planet. Consistently packed and regularly voted as one of Dublin’s top restaurants, I am clearly not alone on this one. Umi is all about fresh food cooked with love and you can taste the difference. It’s not often that you will get carnivores eating vegan food and loving it but Umi manages it. Go for the Palestinian falafel with a side of Batata Hara.
Indulge in the World’s Greatest Hamburger at Bunsen:
Consistently voted the best burger in Dublin, Bunsen knows its niche. There are no giant plastic menus or absurd themes here. Bunsen is all about classic perfection and they have changed the burger game in Dublin. Their buns are freshly homemade. Every burger is cooked exactly the way you like it. And the fries… While most people seem to come for the burgers, I think Bunsen’s fries are the real highlight. Thinly cut and perfectly crispy, they are consistently flawless.
Soak in the History at the Brazen Head:
Dating back to 1198, the Brazen Head is officially Ireland’s oldest pub. If you are looking for a brass-filled, lantern-lit pub with traditional live Irish music, look no further. If those walls could talk, you’d hear the tales of million drunken nights. Rumour has it, the food is pretty impressive too. Grab an award-winning stew or Irish breakfast then roam around the historical grounds.
Grab a Sweet Treat at Murphy’s Ice Cream
It is rarely ice cream weather in Ireland but that doesn’t stop anybody. In fact, the Irish take their ice cream very seriously and no one so much as the people at Murphy’s Ice Cream. These guys make their speciality ice cream from the milk of a rare, indigenous breed cow from Kerry, Ireland. They toast and simmer their own ingredients. They shave every vanilla bean by hand. Their sea salt is made from local Dingle sea water while the sorbets are handcrafted from rainwater. Are you impressed yet?
