After a full day exploring the historic grounds of Trinity College, we crossed the street for…read moredinner at The Pig's Ear, a Michelin-recommended restaurant that reimagines traditional Irish cooking with creativity, refinement, and genuine respect for the country's culinary heritage. We began with one of the evening's standout dishes: A layer of finely seasoned beef tartare topped with a plump oyster. It was essentially surf and turf in an oyster shell. It may sound like an unlikely pairing, but the briny sweetness of the oysters and the rich, velvety tartare complemented each other perfectly. Warm Guinness bread served with creamy Irish butter followed--a simple offering elevated by exceptional ingredients and flawless execution. For our mains, we chose two classics that perfectly captured the restaurant's philosophy. The Dublin coddle transformed a humble working-class staple into an elegant, deeply satisfying dish without sacrificing its comforting soul, while the Barnsley lamb chop showcased outstanding Irish produce through expert preparation and an impeccable sauce. Chef Stephen McAllister has built a menu inspired by centuries of Irish cookbooks, folklore, and family recipes, elevating familiar dishes through modern technique rather than reinventing them beyond recognition. It's a thoughtful approach that honors tradition while delivering a dining experience worthy of its Michelin recommendation. The setting is equally charming. Housed in a historic Georgian townhouse overlooking Trinity College, The Pig's Ear feels intimate, welcoming, and effortlessly elegant. Warm wood finishes, leather banquettes, soft lighting, and whimsical pig-themed accents create an atmosphere that invites you to linger. We arrived just after 5:15 p.m. and were fortunate to be seated by the front windows, where we enjoyed views of the college grounds as the evening light settled over Dublin. As with many historic buildings, there are practical limitations. The restaurant is spread across multiple floors connected by steep staircases, making it inaccessible for wheelchair users. During my visit, the sink in the men's restroom was out of order, making handwashing difficult. It was a noticeable oversight in an otherwise polished dining experience. No restaurant is perfect, and the restroom issue should certainly be addressed. Still, the quality of the cooking, the warm hospitality, the beautiful setting, and the restaurant's heartfelt celebration of Irish culinary tradition far outweighed that minor inconvenience. I would happily return the next time I'm in Dublin--and perhaps tuck a small bottle of hand sanitizer into my pocket, just in case.

If you need a break from pub food and want a real meal in Dublin, I can't recommend The Pig's Ear…read moreenough. Easily the best meal I had in the city. The chicken pie was incredible. It is perfectly cooked with great texture, and the subtle curry spice added something really special without overpowering it. The cheesecake was also a highlight, not just for the flavor but for the presentation. For some reason, it comes in a glass jar tucked inside a paper bag. The wait staff were attentive, friendly, and made excellent recommendations. The whole place has a warm, classy atmosphere. This makes it ideal if you're looking for something more elevated while still feeling comfortable. Highly recommend.

Tucked away from the bustle, but still close enough to where you are, is this cozy kitchen with…read moreplenty of pizzazz but no pretense. Feature 1: you avoid all the tourists while still getting a high-quality dining experience. Start with cod croquettes or Irish scallops, for instance, to kick off the experience nicely, or anything with truffle. The duck confit was nice, as is buffalo ricotta gnocchi, and any fish like roasted cod. These might not be on the menu your visit since things change daily/seasonally, but you'll still have good similar options. Feature 2: The staff are friendly and the environs cozy, especially on a blustery evening. Drink selection is just right, with something for most from cocktails to beer and wine bottle/glass choices. My colleague and I had a lovely time, and I'll return as oft as possible.

Celebrating an engagement with amazing people, amazing Michelin rated food in beautiful Dublin. The…read morebraised Ox cheek was the hit. Get the special! Service was impeccable.

When we decided on traveling to Dublin, we thought the winding stair looked particularly nice and…read morebooked a dinner here. We were very happy we did! The spot is located up a literal winding staircase that takes you into an inviting room that boasts a lovely view of the river below. We didn't go to the third floor, but I can imagine it was equally lovely. They've got an impressive wine list and a moderate beer list that's predominantly bottle. Interestingly they don't have spirits so the mixed drinks are wine cocktails - boss! I tried a white port and tonic drink - seriously next level! I don't often find wine cocktails and even more rarely are they really good! The menu is impressive and seasonal, save the potted crab and haddock, which are on all the time. It should be know for any who dine with our crew, that we share a lot, so everything we had was enjoyed by all 5 of us. The crab was unbelievable! Creamy, flavorful, magical. The beef cheek and fish plate were also perfect for sharing. We also had two scotch eggs - these could have a Klondike bar (look it up youngins!) like marketing campaign! We shared the Haddock and the Pigs on Green Port Tenderloin. Both were awesome, with the Haddock more memorable. We haven't had such delicious mashed fish since Iceland and the cheddar mash and onions were the perfect accoutrement! The chocolate fondant was delicious and the bread and butter bread pudding was life changing. The whiskey sauce is something I'd swim in if given the chance! It was lick the plate good. The service was spot on and we got out of there for about €50 a person, full and happy! The whole evening was excellent and this place definitely deserves the accolades. If you're in the area, you should check it out!

Located along the river, The Winding Stair offers a modern twist on Irish cuisine with locally…read moresourced ingredients incorporated into every dish on the menu. This is evident by the name drop of some producers in each dish. My family was able to try a scotch egg for the first time, some beef cheek, crab and a charcuterie board with meats from Cork. Even the beers we ordered were local as well, mine from the Waterford area. Our server walked us through this experience with ease and we all couldn't be happier with our time here, especially for a Sunday afternoon when it could have been a lot louder and chaotic.

This is a very special restaurant. The prefix dinner-menu has lots of choices. The combination and…read morelayers of flavours in thoughtfully prepared dishes are visually appealing and mouth watering flavours. It is a small cozy restaurant with glasses or bottles of wine to accompany your meal. I highly recommend coming here if you appreciate really great food, especially for a special occasion with friends or family. Service was attentive and the menu is accommodating with vegan options. I felt very lucky to be able to get a table at the window when I popped by early in the evening and so I would recommend making a reservation.

The stars are mostly for the starters and desserts. Service was warm and friendly, the ambiance is…read morejust amazing, such a cute little space but decorated with lots of fun musician inspired aesthetics. It is a bit of a tight space but makes it such a unique and cozy space. For a set price, they have a menu (I assume it rotates based on what is sourced for the week or season?). We started with some olives, and some bread with duck butter "Navettes of bread/Achill Island Sea salt/duck butter". The duck butter was so good, I wanted to lick the serving container. I resorted to scraping as much out as I could. My starter was absolutely amazing. It was the "Foie gras crème/Brioche/apple/sauternes/grape". So delicious, I am still thinking about it. The main I had was the Skeaghanore duck breast. The sauce was amazing, however the duck was just ok. I think if it were sliced into smaller medallions, it would have been easier to eat. I struggled to cut it into bite sized pieces even though I was provided with a good knife. The 2 pieces were a hearty serving as well. It would be more palatable (I found it a bit tough) if it were presented with smaller cut medallion pieces (with crispy skin would be amazing!) I had tasted my friend's filet of prime Irish beef, and while it is a nice presentation, they both left their sides untouched. Overall, I feel like The Vintage Kitchen had a few hits and misses. Still fun spot to try out though! Desserts were amazing, we just were so full by then! The price at the time was €72 and although there were hits and misses, the portions served imho was worth the price.

On our last day in Dublin, we had an early dinner at Platform 61, which we discovered through Yelp…read more-- so not quite a best-kept secret, but certainly a terrific hangout on South William Street. Usually, the dining room comprises an underground hideaway that is quite sleek and intimate. However, due to the lockdown measures, we had to do outdoor seating directly on William Street while we were there. The experience was still beautiful, thanks to the surrounding scenery. The cocktails were grand between the P61 Signature Cocktail and the Hugo -- both prosecco-based cocktails. The former was delicious between the peach puree and prosecco, while the latter was a little more tart with the elderflower cordial. For dinner, we kicked things off with gluten-free bread with a trio of dips that were quite tasty. The Tortellini I ordered was exquisite and scrumptious with how it was prepared between the goat cheese, asparagus, red onion, wilted spinach, cream sauce, and bacon. I applauded this lovely dish with the last bite. I devoured the warm almond flour brownie for dessert, served with chocolate sauce and gelato, which my wife could also enjoy since the dish was gluten-free. Overall, Platform 61 was a great way to conclude our second Irish journey. We will return, especially to enjoy the underground dining area.

If you are visiting Dublin or new to the area, Platform 61 is a MUST! Our entire group absolutely…read moreloved everything we ordered (gnocchi, pesto pasta, risotto, cheese board, pork belly) and everyone agreed it was some of the best food we had on the entire trip! The ambiance is very nice as well, romantic but also good for a fun night out with friends. 10/10 recommend adding this to your itinerary for dinner!

What a beautiful event!…read more i've noticed events like this creep up in popularity around Dublin and isn't it a richer place for it. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's nights like this that instill in you a pride in being Irish, and a pride in our past, present and future. Honestly there were some parts that gave me goosebumps, the type I get every now and again when I'm wandering around the city and realise that after eight years away, I can honestly say there is no place in the world I would rather live right now. It's hard to decide what the highlight is. I won't go into massive detail as those before have, but allow me to point out the bones of what makes this into such a gorgeous way to spend a Saturday; - The setting. Old Georgian wooden stairs that are worn down in the middle by hundreds of years of stepping on them, the old crumbling cornicing, the candle lit old antique tables. - The food. Each course was a perfect size, and the perfect representation of modern x traditional Irish cuisine. Quality ingredients, beautifully presented - The talks in between courses by food historian Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire. Funny, informative, nostalgic, and funny again. If you didn't pick up on it already, I would highly recommend this as a night out. For any age, those who live here and are visiting, those who grew up here and those that are now making Ireland their home.

This night was the ultimate night of magic and delicious food - I just had the best time ever here,…read moreand am still thinking about it now. It's a wonderful way of enjoying some Irish history, poetry and music with delicious food. I knew we were in for an amazing night from Emily C's review but I was still totally blown away. Sure, the building itself is a little old and run down, but once we were seated and enjoying the food and wine, that didn't matter. Our host for the evening was awesome, lots of banter and amazing stories. It was really captivating and enjoyable hearing him speak, since and recite poems between courses. Everything was linked back to the food which was just as amazing - traditional Irish scran but served up a bit fancier than normal. Kind of like if your Mum went to a class to learn how to plate her Sunday meals in a nice way? I really enjoyed the food and only the main needed more sauce but they happily delivered us some. Yum. What a fabulous evening, this was a beautiful way to experience Dublin in all its glory.

Incredible chef's tasting menu paired well with delicious wines that accented the courses…read moreperfectly!! Service was impeccable and the passion displayed by the chef, sommelier and staff made for an unforgettable experience. Most importantly the food was outstanding!!! This place is a gem and we will return !!

There are only few tasting menus where I have enjoyed every course. At Bastible, each course was…read moredelicious. However, I felt like the portions for each course were too small. They were literally bite-sized, including the main course, which was supposed to be a pork chop. The "pork chop" was two thin slivers of pork chop meat, a piece of fennel, and a piece of kale. Although I enjoyed the flavors of each course, I finished the meal not feeling quite full. Home girl was still hungry!

Love it! Best fondue in Ireland Friendly staff and authentic…read moreSwiss food in an upscale cozy environment. Great selection of wines to be paired with their fondue.

I am SO delighted that I was too exhausted to walk any further through Ranelagh village in search…read moreof some food last night because it meant I just marched straight into this place, hoping for the best, and oh holly balls was it the best!!! I got the vegetable gratin, which was so moorish and satisfying, and then followed it with the "Swiss Dream" dessert which used Murphys icecream, so safe to say it was the dream. My friends all equally gushed over their meals. The guy serving us was so nice too and let us taste a few of the different wines because we automatically opted for the cheapest one and he felt the others were well worth a try! Really sound but also a great business strategy because we all ended up with one of the more expensive wines which really were delicious! Already looking forward to bringing another group of friends back -more people need to try this place!

We had just arrived in Dublin and wanted to grab some lunch close to the hotel before check in…read moretime. After wandering around a bit and seeing McDonalds and Burger King and thinking NO. I don't eat there in the states and I'm not eating there here. We pulled up Yelp and found this place and I'm so glad we did. Our server was friendly and really sold me on the lunch special. The lunch special was a pulled pork sandwich on a brioche bun with a cup of soup of the day. It wasn't like the pulled pork we have in the states. It was more chunks of pork than strands. It was delicious and the soup was very good. The restaurant is upstairs and overlooking the street. They have wi-fi so I was able to get caught up on travel plans and such.

101 Talbot was wonderful! We were there the first night they reopened, and they weren't busy - I'm…read moreseriously wondering why local fans weren't counting down the minutes. My husband and I each had a starter, main, and shared a dessert. He had the soup (of the day? I can't remember), and I had the hummus. Soup was sweet potato and red pepper, he said it was great. Came with brown bread. The hummus was really yummy, came with pita and raw veggies to dip. For the mains, I had the chicken supreme and he had the fillet. Both of us ended up stuffed, but very happy. Neither of us had tried sticky toffee pudding before, so we ordered that for dessert. I'm glad we shared - it's VERY sweet. But we enjoyed it anyway. Highly recommend everyone flock this place now it's reopened. Quick note: the restaurant is upstairs, so the sign is pretty small and discreet, but they also had an A-frame out front when we were there.