Restaurants in Dublin

An informal way of delving into Ireland's top class local produce, Fallon & Byrne boasts a restaurant, a wine cellar and a food hall, which works well with diners looking for an casual meal with a side of decadent shopping. A true foodie haven, menus change through the seasons.

Tucked inside the Merrion Hotel, this is Dublin's only two Michelin star offering. It's home to a romantic atmosphere as well as sumptuous, ever-changing menus and a particularly outstanding line in high-end desserts. The lunch menu is a bargain, if still pricey compared to the rest of the city, but the evenings see this palatial spot really come into its own.

Featuring views over Trinity College, The Pig's Ear has established itself as a top class, sumptuous purveyor of adapted Irish staples. The menu covers a lot of classics such as potted crab to start and shepherd's pie, but also experiments with a rough terrine spiced up with a pineapple chutney.

It's well worth the DART ride out of the city to sample the excellent fare at Bon Appetit. Head chef Oliver Dunne works miracles in the kitchen with fresh local ingredients, and the restaurant has moved away from its Michelin star guise to plate up wonderful European cuisine like wild boar chop with braised red cabbage, potato fondant, parsnip and vanilla purée. Its tapas bar is fantastic too.

There are not many places that serve Irish food this fresh and well sourced in the centre of Dublin. Opened in 2007, this bright modern restaurant has already attracted a loyal clientele who come to enjoy the certified organic beef and lamb. The cooking is simple and the ingredients are left to speak loudly for themselves. Probably the best children's menu in town for trendy kids too.

Located right opposite Dublin Castle, Dublin's top French restaurant is celebrated for its classic, seasonal cuisine and its superb seafood, with west coast oysters and grilled lobster especially popular choices. The intimate, traditional décor, combined with crisp white linens, an exemplary wine list and impeccable, formal service make it a popular choice for business lunches.

This popular, traditional Irish restaurant in upbeat Temple Bar has a simple, homely décor of pine dressers and bookcases. It specialises in boxties (griddled potato cakes containing savoury fillings, such as beef and Beamish stout, smoked fish or bacon and cabbage) and other tasty Irish fare such as coddle (sausage, onion, bacon and potato hotpot), plus stews, steaks, seafood and vegetarian dishes.

Be prepared to queue a while at the oldest and best fish 'n' chip shop in town, for delicious fresh fish and huge portions of crispy chips made with the finest Irish potatoes. Burdock's has a list of previous clientèle on the wall that reads like a who's who of Irish society - and you'll only need the one trip to understand why.

An unusual take on indoor BBQ, this place allows you to pick your own raw ingredients, blend them with your own selection of spices and hand them over for a quick, piping hot grill. The 'all you can eat' option can prove a huge temptation, but the novelty value and personalisation are the big draw in this lively central buffet.