Stay in the very heart of Dublin City

Best Places for Lunch & Dinner

Best Restaurants for a Special Occasion

1. CHAPTER ONE

WHERE: 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, D01E1O2 | 21 min walk from the apartment | WHAT: Irish cuisine with a French twist | €€€€ | TIMES: Lunch (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays only) 12pm-2pm (last orders 1.30pm); Dinner (Tuesday-Saturday) 6.30pm-9.30pm. CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Email info@chapteronerestaurant.com or call 01 873 2266 | WEBSITE: chapteronerestaurant.com

Perhaps the most exciting and creative dining experience in Ireland, this is the pinnacle of fine dining. Elegant, exclusive and sophisticated, but the real reason to visit Chapter One is the food. It's a culinary institution, known worldwide, with two Michelin stars to show for it. The most sophisticated French techniques applied to the very highest quality Irish ingredients produce a brilliantly creative and unique menu. It's not cheap - although the three-course lunch menu is good value - but you're guaranteed a special, memorable experience and the highest standards and quality. Be sure to try the Irish coffee.

2. RESTAURANT PATRICK GUILBAUD

WHERE: 21 Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2, D02KF79 | 23 min walk from the apartment | WHAT: Modern Irish cuisine, French-style | €€€€ | TIMES: Lunch (Tuesday-Saturday only), 12.30pm-2.15pm; Dinner (Tuesday-Saturday only), 7pm-9.30pm. CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Email info@restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie or call 01 6764192 | WEBSITE: restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie

Another veritable institution with the Irish restaurant scene - and another that boasts two Michelin stars - Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is the epitome of elegance, guaranteeing exceptional, memorable fine dining. If you're looking to push the boat out, the Eight-Course Tasting Menu (€260 per person) has legendary status, while the Lunch Menu (€95 per person) is good value. There is also an A La Carte Menu. Not only is the food sublime but the setting is too - housed within a Georgian townhouse that is impressively elegant.

3. GLOVERS ALLEY

_WHERE:_{128 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, D02HE18 |}_{16 min walk from the apartment | WHAT}_{: Contemporary European | €€€€ | TIMES: Lunch (Wednesday-Saturday only), 12.30pm-2pm; Dinner (Tuesday-Saturday only), 6pm-9pm. CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Email on info@gloversalley.com | WEBSITE:}_{gloversalley.com}

WHERE: 128 St Stephen's Green St, Dublin 2, D02HE18 | 16 min walk from the apartment | WHAT: Contemporary European | €€€€ | TIMES: Lunch (Wednesday-Saturday only), 12.30pm-2pm; Dinner (Tuesday-Saturday only), 6pm-9pm. CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Email info@gloversalley.com | WEBSITE: gloversalley.com

Glovers Alley is a more modern, maybe trendier version of the more classic Chapter One and Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud options. You'll find it on the 2nd floor of the 5-star Fitzwilliam Hotel. overlooking St Stephen's Green. It has a stylish, contemporary, Art Deco salon feel to it, but. of course, the real appeal is the food. It uses the very best Irish ingredients to create contemporary, unique dishes with big flavours. There is good value in the Tasting Menus (€75 per person for three-course lunch tasting menu and €155 for the dinner tasting menu or €255-€305 with wine pairing). Glovers Alley also has both vegetarian and vegan tasting menu options.

Best Seafood Restaurants

1. SOLE Seafood & Grill

This is the best seafood restaurant in Dublin - and perhaps in Ireland. It takes provenance seriously, using only the best locally-caught seafood. Aside from the quality of the food, the service is fantastic and the interior setting adds to the experience, making this a really special restaurant. For starters, go for the Seafood Chowder., Also limited steak and vegetarian options. Like all the best restaurants in Dublin, it's best to make a reservation as early in advance as possible - but you might get lucky even last-minute, particularly if you're flexible on the time.

2. ROSA MADRE

WHERE: 7 Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02YT38 | 6 minutes walk from apartment | WHAT: Italian + Seafood | €€€ | TIMES: Tuesday and Wednesday, 5pm to 11pm; Thursday to Saturday, 12.30pm to 11pm; Sunday and Monday, CLOSED | WEBSITE: rosamadre.ie | RESERVATIONS: Email rosamadredublin@gmail.com, call on +353 1 551 1206 or online via website.

Specialising in seafood Italian-style, this is universally regarded as one of the best restaurants in Dublin. The emphasis is on simplicity - and excellence. Rosa Madre's fresh Calamari and Gamberi, Lobster tonnarelli, and Ravioli al Tartufo have near legendary status in Dublin by now. So as well as seafood, there's a range of pasta, meat and vegetarian dishes. Intensely popular with locals who often book weeks and months in advance, it can be difficult to get a spot. Worth the effort though!

Best Irish Restaurants

1. THE WINDING STAIR

WHERE: 40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1 | 7 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Modern Irish cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Monday & Tuesday, from 5pm; Wednesday-Sunday, from 12pm | RESERVATIONS: Book online here, email restaurant@winding-stair.com or call 01 8727320 | WEBSITE: winding-stair.com

Taking its name from the WB Yeats poetry collection The Winding Stair, this bookshop-turned-restaurant is a much-loved favourite among Dubliners. It looks out over the River Liffey and the Ha'Penny Bridge. The food is traditional, old-fashioned home cooking with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients from small and artisan producers. Everything from the food to the service is to an excellent standard, all in the most quintessentially Dublin location. There is also an excellent range of wines and beers (do try the Scraggy Bay IPA by small Donegal brewer Kinnegar).

2. DELAHUNT

WHERE: 39 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2 | 21 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Modern Irish cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Lunch: Friday & Saturday only, 12.30pm to 2.30pm; Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 9pm; CLOSED on Sundays & Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Book online via website, call on 01 5984880 or email at info@delahunt.ie | WEBSITE: delahunt.ie

Located in a beautiful - and almost untouched - old Victorian building that dates back to 1906, Delahunt is an intimate yet elegant space full of charm and character. It's also modern Irish cuisine done to an exceptional standard. Mains like Wild Venison or Monkfish, with a 2-course menu for €55 or a 3-course option for €65. There is no fuss, things are relaxed and friendly. Be sure to pop upstairs afterwards to to its own cocktail bar.

3. THE VINTAGE KITCHEN

WHERE: 7 Poolbeg Street, Dublin 2, D02NX03 | 14 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Modern Irish cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Lunch: Thursday-Saturday, 12pm to 4pm; Dinner: Monday-Saturday, 5.30pm-10pm | RESERVATIONS: Call +353 1 6798705 or email thevintagekitchendublin@gmail.com | WEBSITE: thevintagekitchen.ie

Stripped-back and casual, this is all about the food - which, with no exaggeration, is absolutely superb. It's modern Irish dishes with a nod to traditionalism - lunch options like fish pie with parmesan mash and onion crumbs or dinner options like glazed fillet of beef. The interior is, as you might guess, vintage and eclectic. It's not glamorous or swish - and doesn't try to be. But that's the charm!

Best Spanish Restaurants

1. UNO MAS

WHERE: 6 Aungier Street, Dublin 2, D02 WN47 | 10 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Spanish cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Lunch: Wednesday to Saturday, 12.15pm to 2.30pm; Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 5.30pm to 9.15pm. CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays | WEBSITE: unomas.ie | RESERVATIONS: Call +353 1 4758538 or online via website.

Hands down, this is the best Spanish restaurant in Dublin - indeed, it's one of the best restaurants in the city full stop. Does tapas and larger main course dishes - both as food as the other. Expect mains like 'Coolea agnolotti, hen of the woods, onion squash and burnt walnut' and 'Salt aged Delmonico, béarnaise, beef dripping potatoes and Bordelaise sauce'. The is stripped-back, basic but stylish. Keep an eye out for an exposed feature within one of the old brick walls that supposedly originates from the 1600s, making this one of Dublin's oldest standing dwellings.

2. LAS TAPAS DE LOLA

WHERE: 12 Wexford Street, Dublin 2, | 17 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Spanish | €€ | TIMES: Opens at 5pm until late, Monday to Friday; opens at 12pm until late, Saturday & Sunday |RESERVATIONS: Call on +35314244100 if looking for a table within next 24 hours; otherwise book online here | WEBSITE: lastapasdelola.com

Las Tapas de Lola is a lively tapas bar on Wexford Street, an equally lively and buzzy part of Dublin. A big favourite with locals and visitors to Dublin, so getting a table can be tricky at times. If you do, you'll see why: food, service and atmosphere are all fantastic.

Best Places for Burgers

1. BUNSEN

WHERE: 22 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 | 4 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Burgers, fries, nothing else | € | TIMES: 12pm to 9.30pm, Sunday to Wednesday; 12pm to 10.30pm, Thursday, Friday & Saturday | WEBSITE: bunsen.ie | RESERVATIONS: It's mostly walk-in but during busy periods, you can book a table through the website. Can also put in your order for delivery or collection via the website.

Bunsen's offering is short and simple - four types of burgers (with a selection of toppings), three types of fries and either sodas, milkshakes, beer or wine. For vegetarian, there is a grilled cheese sandwich. That's it. But it has a big reputation for awesome burgers. They get the meat from Dublin butcher FX Buckley, using Black Aberdeen Angus from farms in the midlands of Ireland. If this is what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed. Bunsen also has its own signature pale ale - Bunsen Pale Ale - produced by a Dublin brewery called Whiplash. Well worth sampling!

2. DASH BURGER

WHERE: 159 Capel Street, Dublin 1, D01FK50 | 4 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Burgers, chicken tenders + fries | € | TIMES: 12pm to 9pm, Monday to Sunday | RESERVATIONS: Walk-in but may have to wait during busier periods. Can also order delivery or collection from here or call on +353 1 5672348

Similar to Bunsen but with a wider range of choice - but no beer or wine option. Opt for either double or triple smash burgers or chicken tenders. And of course there is fries with a selection of sauces. That's it. Along with Bunsen, it claims to offer the best burger in Dublin. There is little to separate them.

3. FEATHERBLADE

WHERE: 51B Dawson Street, Dublin 2, D02DH63 | 14 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Steakhouse | €€ | RESERVATIONS: Email book@featherblade.ie, call +353 1 6798814 or book online here. Featherblade is massively popular so a booking is a good idea | TIMES: 12pm to 3pm & 5pm to Late, Monday to Friday; 12pm to Late on Saturdays; 1pm to 8pm on Sundays | WEBSITE: featherblade.ie

Featherblade is a higher-quality option than either Bunsen or Dash - and more expensive too, but not too much (the excellent House Burger is €11.50, which is superb value when you consider the quality of the ingredients). The burger itself is a premium burger made from glass-fed beef and a combination of cuts. Featherblade do their own bacon from free range pork belly, use high quality cheese, and is famous for its black garlic mayo. Also, as it's a mainstream restaurant/steakhouse, Featherblade has a much bigger menu than Bunsen or Dash - salads, steaks, sides, deserts and an extensive drinks menu too. It's also extremely popular, so a reservation is a good idea.

Best Vegetarian Restaurants

1. CORNUCOPIA

Dating back to 1986, this is the original vegetarian restaurant in Dublin - and still going strong! It's a casual dining, wholefood, vegetarian restaurant set in 18th Century Georgian dining rooms. The menu changes regularly but always has a range of options catering to different tastes and diets: vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, coeliac and raw living. Everything is made fresh daily using plant based and vegan ingredients.

2. GLAS

WHERE: 15/16 Chatham Street, Dublin 2 | 12 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Vegetarian | €€ | TIMES: 12pm-2.45pm, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays; 5pm to late, 7 days a week | RESERVATIONS: Book online here or email info@glasrestaurant.ie or call +353 1 6724534 | WEBSITE: glasrestaurant.ie

Recognised by the Michelin Guide in 2022, Glas has raised vegetarian and vegan dining options to a new level in Dublin. It's sophisticated and elegant, which vegetarian restaurants often aren't! The idea is to showcase the range and depth of textures and flavours that can be achieved - and it's certainly succeeded in that. This is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant but it isn't just for vegetarians or vegans. Try the miso roast parsnips with carrot risotto, fermented beech mushroom and Jerusalem artichoke granola. It can be a little more expensive than Cornucopia but it's still decent value - two-course lunch menu for €25 or two-course dinner menu for €45.

Best Indian / Nepalese Restaurants

1. PICKLE

WHERE: 43 Camden St Lower, Dublin 8 | 22 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Northern Indian cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Tuesday-Thursday, 5pm-10pm; Friday & Saturday, 3pm-10pm; Sundays, 3pm-9.30pm; CLOSED on Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Book online here or for same day reservations, you can call 01 5557755 or email info@picklerestaurant.com | WEBSITE: picklerestaurant.com

Hands down the best Indian restaurant in Dublin right now. Great service, big portions, superb presentation and the food is always excellent. It's Northern Indian cuisine but using the very best of locally-sourced Irish ingredients but with spices brought from India. Some choices, such as the slow-braised leg of lamb, need to be ordered in advance. And you'll almost certainly need to book in advance. As well as dinner, there is a nice lunch menu. Be aware there are set dining times so you'll need to plan in advance.

2. MONTYS OF KATHMANDU

Monty's has something of cult following among Dubliners, as well as a big reputation for top-notch, authentic Nepalese cuisine. They use traditional charcoal tandoor on their barbecued dishes, which adds to the authenticity. The food is great and so is the service. For wine buffs, Monty's has one of the largest and most eclectic wine lists you'll find in any restaurant in Dublin.

Best Steakhouses

1. HAWKSMOOR

WHERE: 34 College Green, Dublin 2, D02C850 | 9 min walk from the apartment | WHAT: Steakhouse | €€€ | TIMES: Monday-Thursday, 12pm-3.30pm and 5pm-9.30pm; Friday and Saturday, 12pm-10pm; and Sunday, 12pm-8pm. These are kitchen opening times, but the bar remains open outside of these times | RESERVATIONS: Book online here | WEBSITE: hawksmoor.ie

Housed in a magnificent 19th century building with a soaring 40-foot domed roof (the former National Bank of Ireland) Hawksmoor in Dublin is regarded as one of the best steakhouses in the world - in fact, it ranked 12th in the 100 Best Steakhouses in the World in 2024. It specialises in best-quality, locally-reared meat but there are other options such as oysters, lobster and hake. As well as the steaks, the sides are great, too. There is also a terrific cocktail menu. If you book ahead - and it's advisable to do so - ask to be seated in the dining room rather than the bar. The Sunday lunch offering is an especially good deal - one of the best Sunday roasts in Dublin for €31 (2 courses) or €35 (3 courses).

2. FX Buckley Steakhouse

WHERE: 2 Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 | 6 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Steakhouse | €€€ | TIMES: Monday-Thursday, 5pm-10pm; Friday & Saturday, 1pm-10pm; and Sundays, 1pm-9pm | RESERVATIONS: Email at crowstreet@fxbuckley.ie, call on 01 6711248 or book online through the website | WEBSITE: thebuckleycollection.ie/crow-street

A more intimate and less lavish option than Hawksmoor, FX Buckley is nonetheless synonymous with excellence when it comes to steak. All of FX Buckley's steaks are sourced grass-fed heifer breeds raised in Ireland. The cuts are then dry-aged for at least 28 days before being prepared in 350-degrees charcoal ovens. In short, they know what they're doing - and they do it well. There is a also a great range of wines, cocktails, whiskeys and beers. FXB's also made it onto the 100 Best Steakhouses in the World for 2024, ranking 50th.

3. Tomahawk Steakhouse

Tomahawk is located on the lower ground floor of the Dollard Printworks, next to the Clarence Hotel. It's a relaxed, intimate but stylish dining room where you can opt either to sit at the bar around the wood-burning grill or at a table. Either way, you'll get the best cuts of top level Irish beef done to perfection. The 300-ounce Tomahawk is the signature dish, which needs (at least) two to tackle it, is served with onion strings and blue cheese dip. As well as steak, there are seafood and vegetarian options, and a great range of wines, cocktails and beers.

Best French Restaurants

1. PEPLOE'S

WHERE: 16 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, D02KF34 | 17 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: French | €€€ | TIMES: Lunch: 12pm-3.30pm, Monday to Sunday; Dinner: 6pm-10pm, Sunday to Wednesday; 6pm-11pm Thursday to Saturday | WEBSITE: peploes.com | RESERVATIONS: Email to reception@peploes.com or call on +353 1 6763144

Quite formal, veering towards 'fine dining' - with prices to match - so not the best option if you want something casual. But if you're looking for a vibrant, stylish French bistro with a sophisticated ambience, this is a great choice. A 2-course lunch menu is €42 per person (or 3-courses for €48), while for dinner you can expect choices such as pan fried halibut or a pacheri of milk fed veal ragu. Dinner mains are priced €35-€45. There is an exceptional wine list here, too. Overall, you're guaranteed quality food and service in a ambient, stylish setting.

2. TROCADERO

WHERE: 4 St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2, D02ET32 | 8 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: French | €€ | TIMES: Tuesday to Friday, 5pm to 10.30pm; Saturday, 4pm to 10.30pm; Sunday, 3pm to 8pm. CLOSED on Mondays | WEBSITE: trocadero.ie | RESERVATIONS: Email trocaderoireland@gmail.com or call +353 1 6775545

A true Dublin institution that Dubliners have real affection for, Trocadero has been a feature of the Dublin restaurant scene for almost 70 years. The menu is simple, unpretentious but always high quality and high standards. It's formal but relaxed and fun at the same time, and especially good for groups (but you most likely will need a reservation). You can expect a wide choice of dishes from fish, lamb, pastas, steaks but also excellent vegetarian options, all using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. And, as you would expect, the wine list is superb.

3. LA MAISON

WHERE: 15 Castle Market, Dublin 2, D02C656 | 9 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: French | €€ | TIMES: Lunch: 12.30pm-3.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday; Dinner: 5pm-10pm, Monday to Saturday; 3.30pm-8pm, Sundays | WEBSITE: lamaisondublin.com | RESERVATIONS: Email info@lamaisondublin.com, call +353 1 6727258 or online here

Located in the heart of Dublin's Creative Quarter, there is always a buzz around Castle Market - definitely one of the best people-watching streets in the city. And La Maison is at the centre of it, being an established part of this neighborhood. Excellent food, really good service and a relaxed, casual atmosphere make this a sure-fire bet for a good experience. The menu ranges from classic French staples to more inventive choices.

4. CHEZ MAX

An intimate and cosy little restaurant just around the corner from the apartment, Chez Max is a great option for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The breakfast and early bird menus, especially, are really good value. It's also a nice place to just pop in and share a bottle of wine. There are tables out front but also a private outdoor dining area at the back - be sure to book a table out here during summer evenings. The menu has a host of French classics but with a low-key, relaxed take. It's right next to the pedestrian entrance to Dublin Castle.

5. PICHET

An elegant French bistro in the very centre of Dublin, Pichet has a big reputation for the quality of its food - earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024. It's an undeniably French restaurant but with a definite nod to its Irish character - so some classic Irish dishes with a French twist (such as Irish mussels in butter broth). Opt for either the main dining room, which is elegant and buzzy, or the cosier lounge. Pichet is better for couples than larger groups.

Best Italian Restaurants

1. ROSA MADRE

WHERE: 7 Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02YT38 | 6 minutes walk from apartment | WHAT: Italian | €€€ | TIMES: Tuesday and Wednesday, 5pm to 11pm; Thursday to Saturday, 12.30pm to 11pm; Sunday and Monday, CLOSED | WEBSITE: rosamadre.ie | RESERVATIONS: Email rosamadredublin@gmail.com, call on +353 1 551 1206 or online via website.

2. TERRA MADRE CAFE

WHERE: 13A Bachelors Walk, Dublin 1, D01VN82 | 8 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Authentic Italian | €€ | TIMES: Open 7 days a week from 12.30pm to 3pm for lunch, and again from 5pm to 10pm for dinner | RESERVATIONS: Call +353 89 244 0277 or call in during opening hours

This used to be the best-kept secret in Dublin but the secret is out now...unfortunately making it a little harder to get a table but it's still definitely worth a try. The food here is amazing - as good as any Italian food you'll find anywhere. It's not overly expensive but it's not cheap either. The setting is very casual - if you want glamour, this perhaps isn't the best option. But if you're looking for to-notch Italian food, this is the place to go. It's a family-run restaurant that serves the sort of earthy, traditional dishes you'd get in a village in Tuscany. Couldn't recommend this place more!

3. ETTO

WHERE: 18 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, D02A316 | 22 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Italian | €€€ | TIMES: Monday to Wednesday: Dinner from 5pm (last booking at 9.15pm); Thursday: Lunch from 12.30pm (last booking at 2.15pm) and dinner from 5.30pm (last booking at 9.15pm); Friday and Saturday: Lunch from 12pm (last booking at 2.45pm) and dinner from 5.30pm (last booking at 9.15pm); Sunday and bank holidays, CLOSED | WEBSITE: etto.ie | RESERVATIONS: Call +353 1 678 8872 or online here.

The more chic, more fashionable option in Best Italian Restaurants in Dublin, Etto is up there with the very best restaurants in Dublin. It's small - around 50 people max - and some feel it's a little cramped, but there are few complaints about the food. Whatever the main dish, be sure to order a side of hashed potatoes and lyonnaise onions! Indeed, it's so popular that it can be difficult to get a table last minute so try to book in advance - or ask for a space at the bar counter. Prices aren't cheap but there is a very good value weekday lunch menu

Best Japanese Restaurants

1. YAMAMORI NOODLES

WHERE: 71/72 South Great Georges St, Dublin 2 | 7 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Japanese | €€ | TIMES: 12pm-9.30pm, Sunday & Monday; 12pm-10pm, Tuesday-Thursday; 12pm-10.30pm, Friday & Saturday | RESERVATIONS: Call +353 1 4755001, email southcity@yamamori.ie or online here | WEBSITE: yamamori.ie/southcity

Yamamori has three different restaurants in Dublin - each with a different menu and different atmosphere. This one - Yamamori Noodles - at 71 South Great Georges St - is the original Yamamori venue in Dublin. It's not just noodles, of course. Check out the full menu here. Excellent quality and really good value.

2. YAMAMORI SUSHI

This is the second of the three Yamamori venues in Dublin. This one specialises in sushi, but, as with the other two, it offers everything else as well. Tempura, sushi, Japanese grill and ramen all prepared fresh daily. And, again, you're guaranteed great food and superb value. You'll also find the Whisky Bar here, which is up there with the best whiskey bars in the city: a huge selection of whiskeys from all over the world

3. YAMAMORI IZAKAYA

WHERE: 12-13 South Great Georges St, Dublin 2 | 6 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Japanese | €€ | TIMES: 5pm-10pm, Monday to Thursday; 1pm-10.30pm, Saturdays; 1pm-9pm, Sundays | RESERVATIONS: Call +35316458001, email izakayasakebar@yamamori.ie or online here | WEBSITE: yamamori.ie

Offers a huge range of unique japas and sushi dishes, with an emphasis on sharing and discovering new flavours and new foods together. Perhaps the most lively of the three Yamamori venues: always busy, lots of chatter and buzz, particularly later in the evenings. Good selection, too, of cocktails and sakes. This is also the venue for Izakaya Basement which happens every night except Mondays and Tuesdays. Some well-known DJs until 2.30am or so.

4. MUSASHI NOODLES & SUSHI BAR

WHERE: 15 Capel Street, Dublin 1 | 4 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Japanese | € | TIMES: 12pm-10pm, Sunday to Thursday; 12pm-11pm, Friday & Saturday | RESERVATIONS: Book online here or phone +353 1 5328057 or email info@musashidublin.com | WEBSITE: musashidublin.com

Not quite a budget option but less expensive than Yamamori - but still good quality and a really nice atmosphere in the restaurant. Starters at around €5 and mains for less than €20. Even though it's right bang in the centre of the city, Capel Street isn't really on the traditional tourist trail so you'll find more locals than tourists here. Their specialty is sushi, while other great choices include seafood cha han, seafood yaki soba and yasai yaki soba. Portions are big.

5. DARUMA

Friendly and laid-back, this is more of a bar with food than a restaurant in itself, which means you can have a drink and order as much or as little as you like. There is a great selection of Japanese food. There is a good value lunch deal available from 12pm to 3pm (ranging from €15 to €20) while small plates in the evening are €10 to €15 and large plates €20 to €25.

Quick, Cheap Places to Eat | Less than €10

1. LEMON CREPE & COFFEE

Tucked away next to Butlers Cafe, you'll find Lemon - and everything from breakfast to omelets, crepes, waffles, pancakes, sandwiches and great coffee too. Crepes come either savory or sweet. And pretty much everything is under €10. Highly recommended.

2. UMI FALAFEL

Great spot just around the corner from the apartment, Cheap and cheerful but also fresh and authentic - and superb value for money. You can eat in or take away.

3. STONED

This isn't the BEST pizzeria in Dublin but it's pretty good - and it's probably the best value pizzeria in Dublin. Good choice in pizzas, chicken wings, toasted sandwiches and a range of sides. Lunch or dinner, you won't get better for less than €10. There is limited seating (a couple of tables inside and a couple outside), so you'll probably have to take it away - but it's only a very short walk (around a minute) from the apartment. Get a bottle of wine or a couple of beers in the Spar store a couple of doors down and all sorted!

4. Di Fontaine's

WHERE: 22 Parliament Street, Dublin 2 | 1 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Pizzeria | € | TIMES: 12pm-12am, Monday & Tuesday; 12pm-1am, Wednesday & Thursday; 12pm-3.30am, Friday & Saturday; 12pm-1.30am, Sunday | WEBSITE: difontainespizzeria.ie | ONLINE ORDER: Order online here for collections or deliveries. Or call +353851216708

Proper New York-style pizzeria just around the corner from the apartment. You can get a single slice or a full pizza. And can sit in or take away. The slices are huge and cost around €5.

5. YUM THAI

One of the best kept secrets in the city and a big favourite among students from nearby Trinity College, Grafton Street shoppers and office workers. It's food from a carton which mightn't be to everyone's liking but it's genuinely great Thai street food. A curry for €5, pad thai for €6... you can't go wrong!

6. PABLO PICANTE

Basically burritos and beer with quesadillas on the side, that's it. It's a small menu but big burritos! And at around €10 for a packed burrito, it's good value too.

7. LEO BURDOCKS

Without doubt, the best "chipper" in Dublin, Leo Burdock's is a cherished Dublin institution - up there with Guinness and U2! And, according to The Guardian, it's the 4th best fish & chip shop in the UK & Ireland. This Temple Bar location has tables and seating inside, so it's maybe more convenient (and weather-proof) but if that doesn't matter to you, try the original location next to Christchurch Cathedral (2 Werburgh St, Dublin 8 - actually even closer to the apartment at just a 6 minute walk). If you do, be sure to pop into the Lord Edward Pub next door - upstairs lounge - for a pint!).

Best Places for Pizza

1. PI PIZZA

WHERE: Two locations - 23 Essex Street East, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 | 4 minute walk from the apartment & 73-83 South Great George's Street, Dublin 2 | 6 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Pizzeria | €€ | TIMES: 12pm-9.30pm, Sunday to Wednesday; 12pm-10pm, Thursday to Saturday | RESERVATIONS: Walk-in only | ONLINE ORDERS: Can order delivery or collection | WEBSITE: pipizzas.ie

A fairly simple menu, this isn't one of those pizzerias that also does salads, sides, pastas, burgers and so on - just 10 different pizzas, wine, beer, sodas, and two dessert options, but what they do, they do very, very well. A 12-inch pizza will cost around €15 or €16, which you'll see, when it's in front of you, is really good value. This isn't standard assembly-line=type pizza - there is a craft here and evident pride taken in every pizza they make.

**Can order a takeout or delivery but this is a conventional sit-down restaurant with table service etc. Some of the other best pizzerias in Dublin are more casual - a small seating area but more geared to takeouts**

2. MANI PIZZERIA

Another pizzeria with a fairly limited menu - just pizza slices, a couple of fried sides (don't miss the fried lasagna!) and a couple of panini and cannoli options - but that genuinely does mean the things they do are done to really high standard. Mani's started out as a food truck in Dublin Castle and achieved almost cult status among pizza fans around Dublin. Mani's does pizza "Roman style", meaning the slices are rectangular, the base is almost like a thin focaccia (crisp and crunchy) and the toppings are a little more novel/unique (expect things like potato and carbonara. The slices aren't cheap at around €7-8 each but they're high quality and filling.

**There is limited seating but this is more of a takeout place**

3. BAMBINO

A little different to most pizzerias in Dublin, Bambino is a New York-style pizza slice shop that uses a massive 3-deck electric oven rather than a wood-fired one, giving thinner, crisper bases. One of the defining characteristics of Bambino is the quality of everything that goes into its pizzas - from the dough that is fermented for 48 hours to the local, organic ingredients. Slices range from €4.50 to €6.50, and 20-inch pizzas range from €29 to €34. Look out for the meal deal, which is 2 slices and a drink for €13.

**Limited seating along the wall counter, this is more of a takeout place**

4. FORNO 500

An institution in Dublin, you won't find pizza more authentically Italian anywhere outside Italy! Forno500 prides itself on the foundations of the pizza base - made with sourdough, it's a dense, slightly chewy crust rather than the crispier alternatives in some places. Not just a pizzeria, either: the menu is full-on Italian with everything from pizza to meat, fish, pasta and more.

**Forno 500 does takeouts and deliveries but it's a conventional restaurant - plenty of seating and table service etc**

5. DOOM SLICE

WHERE: 14 Dame Lane, Dublin 2, D02XC91 | 5 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Pizzeria (Detroit-style) | € | TIMES: 12pm-9pm, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday; 12pm-10pm, Wednesday; 12pm-midnight, Thursday; 12pm-3am, Friday & Saturday | RESERVATIONS/ORDERS: Walk-in only | WEBSITE: doomslice.pizza

Doom Slice sells Detroit-style slices (so square slices with a deep dish crispy crust) with a wide range of options for toppings - expect things like ricotta flowers, hot honey, carmelised shallots, cab sauv glaze, carnitas, as well as all the usuals and classics. It's €5 per slice, which, when you see them, you'll realise it's great value.

**Technically, Doom Slice is a pizzeria that sells slices out of a hole in the wall in a lane behind Dame Street (so as cool as it gets!) and there is very limited seating outside but you can take your slice into the pub it's connected with (Pawn Shop on Dame St - a 'cool kids' bar)**

Best Restaurants for Families / Dining with Kids

1. ELEPHANT & CASTLE

WHERE: 18-19 Temple Bar, Dublin 2 | 6 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: American Diner | €€ | TIMES: 9.30am-10pm, Monday to Friday; 11am-10pm, Saturday & Sunday | RESERVATIONS: Call +35315337563, email TempleBarMOD@elephantandcastle.ie or online here | WEBSITE: elephantandcastle.ie

Nothing fancy but good quality and good value. American-style comfort (chicken wings, burgers etc on the menu). Also has good breakfast and brunch menus. There is a separate kids menu for under €10.

2. CAPTAIN AMERICAS

An institution in Dublin having first opened more than 50 years ago, Captain Americas is popular among adults and kids. It's a basic cookhouse restaurant serving burgers (its specialty) but lots more too - chicken wings, nachos, steaks, fish, salads, pizza and pasta. It also has a fun interior that kids get a kick out of.

3. MILANOS

WHERE: 19 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02HW84 | 4 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Italian / Pizzeria | €€ | TIMES: 11.30am-10pm, Sunday to Thursday; 11.30am-11pm, Friday & Saturday | RESERVATIONS: Book a table online here or can order online for collection here | WEBSITE: milano.ie

Fairly standard Italian / pizzeria - pizza and pasta, not much else. You'll see a lot of families there early in the evening, in particular. It has a good kids deal - dough balls, small pizza or pasta, small salad and dessert - for under €10, which is the main attraction. The food isn't amazing but it's fine if you just want somewhere quick and cheap where kids can move around and make noise.

4. TOSCANA

WHERE: 3 Cork Hill, Dame St, Dublin 2, D02DR53 | 2 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Italian | €€ | TIMES: 12pm-10pm, Sunday to Wednesday; 12pm-11pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday | RESERVATIONS: Call +35316709785, email reservations@toscanarestaurant.ie or online here. Can also order for collection here | WEBSITE: toscanarestaurant.ie

A traditional Italian restaurant with traditional Italian fare: from pizza to pasta to meat dishes to risotto. It's good quality and value. It's also traditionally Italian in the genuine welcome they give to kids. And there is a decent kids menu - a main (choose between spaghetti bolognese, pizza or chicken nuggets) and ice cream - for €13.

5. GOTHAM CAFE

Simple cafe/restaurant that does lunch (12pm-4pm, Tue-Sat), brunch (12pm-4pm, Sundays) and dinner (4pm onwards, Tue-Sun). Specialises in pizzas and other casual dining options - burgers, steak, fish and salads, It has a small but good value kids menu.

Best Chinese Restaurants

1. HANG DAI

WHERE: 20 Camden Street, Dublin 2, D02T275 | 20 minute walk from apartment | WHAT: Chinese | €€€ | TIMES: 5pm-late, Monday to Friday; 2pm-late, Saturdays; 4pm-late, Sundays | RESERVATIONS: Call +35315458888 or email eat@hangdaichinese.com or book online here | WEBSITE: hangdaichinese.com

The general consensus is that this is easily one of the best Chinese restaurants in Dublin (second perhaps only to Big Fan, see below - and it's decent value too. You'll need to book well in advance or get lucky; that's how popular Hang Dai is among Dubliners. However, Hang Dai isn't for everyone - yes, the food is great (especially renowned for its apple woodfired Skeaghanore duck) but the interior and general buzz might shock! You'll be seated in a subway-style table in a windowless disco room where DJs bring a loud, party atmosphere. If you don't like noise and low lighting, this mightn't be for you. It's a bit more relaxed (and quieter) in the gold bar upstairs - where there is also an outdoor, heated terrace - but, again, you'll need to book in advance.

2. BIG FAN

WHERE: 16 Aungier Street, Dublin | 11 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Chinese | €€ | TIMES: 5pm-10pm, Monday to Wednesday; 4pm-10pm, Thursdays; 2pm-10pm, Friday-Sunday | RESERVATIONS: Book online here or for large groups (7+ people) email at info@bigfan.ie or call on +35315388886 | WEBSITE: bigfan.ie

Alongside Hang Dai (above), Big Fan is one of the two best Chinese restuarants in Dublin. Traditional dishes but with a modern, creative take on them. It's a lot quieter and chilled than Hang Dai but still tends to attract a youngish, hip crowd.