Dublin restaurants have long been overshadowed by the city’s thriving nightlife scene. Millions of tourists descend on the Republic of Ireland’s capital each year—and the trend is set to continue, thanks to a sweep of fabulous new hotels in Dublin catering to every type of traveler alongside lots of exciting things to do. Many arrive in search of the perfectly-pulled pint of Guinness, and visits to Temple Bar are, more often than not, obligatory. However, those in search of a tastebud-tickling weekend break are being increasingly rewarded by the new flavors on offer here—contemporary Indian restaurants, fragrant tapas places, and Neapolitan havens now sit alongside the ever-popular Dublin pubs. To help you plan your trip, we pulled our favorite Dublin restaurants across the city right now to grab an indulgent bite to eat.
Uno Mas
Spain informs the overriding theme of the food at this perennial favorite set in a long narrow building on Aungier Street. The menu at Uno Mas kicks off with small tapas-inspired plates like jamón croquetas, padrón peppers, and squid à la plancha before moving on to more substantial starters with a wider influence like scallop aguachile or beef tartare. Mains follow the same cue—the salt-aged Delmonico steak for two accompanied by bearnaise, beef dripping potatoes, and Bordelaise sauce is a favorite. To top everything off, there’s an extensive list of lesser-known Spanish and Portuguese wines and sherries.
The Park CaféDavid McClelland Photography
The Park Café
Well-known to London diners with Corrigan’s Mayfair, Bentley’s, and Daffodil Mulligan, Irish-born Richard Corrigan recently opened The Park Café in the city’s chi-chi Ballsbridge neighborhood. Seafood is a menu highlight, including several varieties of oyster and the signature Bentley’s fish pie, as well as inventions like the La Jammet kebab—a homage to one of Dublin’s legendary and much-lamented, long-gone restaurants. Many of the raw materials come from the gardens of Corrigan’s rambling Virginia Park Estate in County Cavan. There is also The Park Bar on the first floor for a pre-dinner Negroni, which also stays open late if you are not quite ready to call it a night.
