Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [94]
Dunne & Crescenzi (Map; 677 3815; 14-16 South Frederick St; mains €9-12; 9am-7pm Mon & Tue, to 10pm Wed-Sat) This exceptional Italian eatery delights its regulars with a basic menu of rustic pleasures: panini, a single pasta dish and a superb plate of mixed antipasti drizzled in olive oil. The shelves are stacked with wine, the coffee is perfect and the desserts are sinfully good.
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FARMERS AND ORGANIC MARKETS
Dublin Food Co-op (Map; 454 4258; www.dublinfoodcoop.com; 12 Newmarket; 2-8pm Thu, 9.30am-4.30pm Sat) A buzzing community market specialising in organic veg, homemade cheeses and organic wines; there’s also a bakery and even baby-changing facilities.
Howth Fishermens & Farmers Market Bar ( 611 5016; www.irishfarmersmarkets.ie; West Pier, Howth Harbour; 10am-5pm Sun & bank holidays) One of the best in Dublin, this is the place to come not only for fresh fish (obviously) but also for organic meat, veg and homemade everything else, including jams, cakes and breads. A great option for Sunday lunch. Take either the DART or bus 32 or 32A to Howth.
People’s Park Market ( 087-957 3647; People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire; 11am-4pm Sun) Organic meat and veg, local seafood, Irish fruit and farm cheeses are the mainstay at this popular market in the south Dublin suburb of Dun Laoghaire. Grab a burger and sit on the lawn. Take the DART to Dun Laoghaire.
Temple Bar Farmers Market (Meeting House Sq; 9am-4.30pm Sat) This great little market is a fabulous place to while away a Saturday morning, sampling and munching on organic gourmet goodies bound by the market’s only rule: local producers only. From cured meats to wildflowers, you could fill an entire pantry with their selection of delights.
For more info on local markets, check out www.irishfarmersmarkets.ie, www.irishvillagemarkets.com or local county council sites such as www.dlrcoco.ie/markets.
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Bottega Toffoli (Map; 633 4022; 34 Castle St; sandwiches & salads €9-12; 8am-4pm Tue-Wed, 8am-9pm Thu-Fri, 11am-8pm Sat, 1-8pm Sun) Tucked away in the city centre (to the point where you would never find it unless you actually looked for it) is this superb Italian cafe, home of one of the best sandwiches you’ll eat in town: beautifully cut prosciutto, baby tomatoes and rocket salad drizzled with imported olive oil, all on homemade piadina bread that is just too good to be true.
MIDRANGE
Good World (Map; 677 2580; 18 South Great George’s St; dim sum €4-6, mains €8-22; 12.30pm-2.30am) A hands-down winner of our ‘best Chinese restaurant’ competition, the Good World has two menus, but to really get the most of this terrific spot, steer well clear of the Western menu and its unimaginative fare. With listings in two languages, the Chinese menu is packed with dishes and delicacies that keep us coming back for more.
Juice (Map; 475 7856; 73 South Great George’s St; mains €8-15; noon-10pm Mon-Thu, noon-11pm Fri & Sat, 10am-10pm Sun) A creative vegetarian restaurant, Juice puts an imaginative, California-type spin on all kinds of dishes. The real treat is the selection of fruit smoothies.
Market Bar (Map; 677 4835; Fade St; mains €8.50-14; noon-11pm) This one-time sausage factory, now a fashionable watering hole Click here, also has a super kitchen knocking out Spanish tapas and other Iberian-influenced bites. Dishes come in half and full portions, so you can mix and match your dishes and not pig out. Proof that the carvery lunch isn’t the height of pub dining.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen (www.gbkinfo.com; burgers €9-13) South William St (Map; 679 0537; 14 South William St; noon-10pm Sun-Wed, noon-11pm Thu-Sat); South Anne St (Map; 672 8559; 5 South Anne St; noon-10pm Sun-Wed, noon-11pm Thu-Sat) Temple Bar (Map; 670 8343; Unit 1, Temple Bar Sq; noon-11pm Mon-Sat, noon-10pm Sun) Burgers are back, and they don’t get any better than the ones served at the three city centre branches of this new restaurant. The menu has a big range of choice, from your straight-up beef burger with cheese to something a little