Restaurants in Dublin: five places you should not miss

Dublin has a fantastic selection of great restaurants. Here are five excellent tips If you're looking for something really special in the Irish capital.

Dublin is without a doubt one of Europe’s funnest and friendliest capitals to visit. With a large selection of cosy areas, good shopping, lively pubs, and fresh Guinness on tap, it’s hard not to enjoy your visit. Throw in some Irish temper and humour, and you’ve got everything you need for a fantastic trip.

In recent years, a number of interesting and tasty eateries have also opened in the Irish capital. At the time of writing, the city boasts five restaurants with stars in the Michelin Guide. But the selection of good eateries is wide - and a visit to them need not need cost an arm and a leg.

Here are five good options we found.

In short: restaurants in Dublin

We recommend five restaurants in Dublin. They are Delahunt and Hang Dai on Camden Street, Lena by the canal in Portobello, the steakhouse FX Buckley in Temple Bar and the Johnnie Fox’s pub in the mountains south of the city. All were open when we checked in October 2026. Stay near Grafton Street and you can walk to three of them.

Our first choice for a stay: The Westbury by Grafton Street. See rooms at The Westbury

Johnnie Fox´s

Dinner with traditional music and dance may sound like nothing more than an Irish twist on hotel entertainment on any charter trip, but believe us when we say that this is truly worth the visit. Johnnie Fox's is one of Ireland's oldest pubs and is located about 30 minutes outside Dublin city centre. Ever since 1798, the pub has been offering hungry guests a refreshing pint, good food, as well as a crackling fireplace and live music.

However, these days the highlight is the Hooley show - a four-course dinner followed by a show featuring traditional Irish folk music and dance (yes, that does include Riverdance). Everything from "Whiskey in the Jar" to "Rocky Road to Dublin" is played here. Bookings are made through the pub’s website. The food is included in the price of the ticket (purchased in advance), while you pay for your drinks during your visit. The menu is massive and offers high-quality Irish home cooking.

Johnnie Fox’s
At Johnnie Fox’s in the mountains south of Dublin you get Irish pub food, folk music and dancing on the same night.

If you're now thinking that this is something reserved for people in crocs and Capri pants, we can happily report that the likes of Barack Obama, Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts have all stopped by for a pint. Singer Robbie Williams is also said to have jumped up on stage to sing along with the band, so this is a place where anything can happen.

The easiest way to get out to Johnnie Fox's is on the pub's own shuttle bus. Alternatively, a taxi is the best option.

See available rooms at The Westbury by Grafton Street.

FX Buckley´s - Crow Street

Few things (if any) are better than a perfectly roasted steak and a good red wine in delicious harmony. Luckily, you are guaranteed to get both at FX Buckley’s steakhouse. The restaurant is owned by a family of butchers who can trace their Dublin roots back to the18th century. Since then, their empire has expanded from a single butcher shop to several restaurants and bars throughout the city.

Although there are several FX Buckley's locations in town, after trying them all, our favourite is still the one in Crow Street. The atmosphere is impeccable and the venue small, so booking in advance is an absolute must. One advantage is that after dinner you are in the middle of Temple Bar, so it is just a short walk for an Irish coffee for dessert.

Delahunt

There is no shortage of historical and high-quality restaurants in Dublin. One of them that can be highly recommended is Delahunt in the trendy neighbourhood of Portobello.

Located in a Victorian-era building, Delahunt has taken over the premises of a former vegetable shop (mentioned in James Joyce's Ulysses), creating an intimate restaurant with fantastic food, service and drinks. It has no à la carte menu, just a set menu based on the season's best ingredients. The kitchen is Irish with a modern twist and has been awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide and has also been named one of Ireland's 100 best restaurants.

This is the perfect restaurant for a romantic dinner for two, or for an exclusive dining experience for a whole group of friends travelling together.

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Lena by the canal in Portobello

For many years, Locks sat by the Grand Canal in Portobello. It closed at Christmas 2024, and in February 2025 the same team opened Italian restaurant Lena in its place, together with the people behind Uno Mas and Etto.

Lena came sixth in The Sunday Times list of Ireland’s 100 best restaurants in 2025. Try the fried sage and anchovy and the osso buco, and arrive early enough for a walk along the canal first.

Hang Dai

Although Chinese/Asian cuisine may not be the first thing you associate with Dublin, the restaurant Hang Dai is well worth a visit!

From the outside it looks like it only has takeaway, but behind the counter you will find a number of booths, tables and an elegant bar. According to the owners, they have taken inspiration from Blade Runner and director John Carpenter's films, as one can easily see.

Golden Bar at Hang Dai
Hang Dai has its own cocktail bar, Golden Bar, on the floor above the restaurant.

While Peking duck and dumplings are its specialities, the bar also mixes some wonderful cocktails. Not only that, once the kitchen closes, Hang Dai transforms itself into a cocktail bar with a DJ.

In other words, there is no need to rush home, as this place only closes once the last guest has rolled out the door.

Hotels

Book your stay in Dublin

Stay around Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green and you can walk to the restaurants of Temple Bar and Camden Street.

See The Westbury

The Westbury

An elegant hotel by Grafton Street.

The Shelbourne

The grand hotel on St Stephen's Green.

Which restaurant suits you?

For a long dinner built on Irish produce, choose Delahunt, and for a steak, go to FX Buckley. Hang Dai suits a night of food, cocktails and music.

Lena is the place for a relaxed Italian dinner by the canal, and Johnnie Fox’s is for anyone who wants Irish music and dancing with their meal.

Where to stay in Dublin: three hotels near the restaurants

Central Dublin is compact, and most of the restaurants in this article are within walking distance of Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green.

Picolo earns a small commission if you book through our links. It costs you nothing extra.

The Westbury: by Grafton Street

An elegant hotel just off Grafton Street, with the restaurant Wilde and a popular bar. Temple Bar and FX Buckley on Crow Street are a short walk away.

Book the hotel: See available rooms at The Westbury

The Shelbourne: Dublin's grand hotel

The historic hotel on St Stephen's Green has four restaurants and two bars. Camden Street, home to Delahunt and Hang Dai, is a short walk away.

Book the hotel: See available rooms at The Shelbourne

Drawing room at The Merrion in Dublin — The Merrion

The Merrion: Georgian elegance

A luxury hotel in four Georgian townhouses by Merrion Square, with a garden, a spa and one of Ireland's largest private art collections.

Book the hotel: See available rooms at The Merrion

Car hire: Want to get out of the city, to the Wicklow Mountains or the west coast? See car hire in Dublin

Frequently asked questions about restaurants in Dublin

What is Johnnie Fox's?

Johnnie Fox's is one of Ireland's oldest pubs, about 30 minutes outside central Dublin. Since 1798 it has served pints, food and live music by the fire, and today the highlight is the Hooley show with a four-course dinner, Irish folk music and dancing.

How do you book the Hooley show at Johnnie Fox's?

You book through the pub's website. Food is paid for in advance as part of the show ticket, while drinks are paid for during your visit. The menu offers high-quality traditional Irish cooking.

Is Dublin a good food city?

Yes. Many good restaurants have opened in Dublin in recent years, and the city has several restaurants with stars in the Michelin Guide. The choice is wide, and a good meal does not have to cost a fortune.

Where should I stay in Dublin to be near the restaurants?

Stay around Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green. The Westbury is close to Temple Bar, The Shelbourne is a short walk from Camden Street, and The Merrion is by Merrion Square.

Keep reading

Staying in Dublin? Find the areas and hotels in our guide to where to stay in Dublin.

Enjoy your trip to Dublin

Adrian Møller Haugan