What to eat Dublin? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Restaurants generally open every day around 12 noon and close around 10 or 11 pm. The cafes and snack bars that offer the famous Irish Breakfast open their kitchens at 8am.

In a restaurant, you can expect to pay from 30 € for a meal. In a pub, you should expect to pay around €15 for a dish. Your credit card will be accepted everywhere and, for small amounts, contactless payments are the norm.

The Early Bird. In Dublin, you will see an Early Bird menu on many restaurant fronts. Usually served in the late afternoon between 5pm and 7pm, it is a two or three course menu at (very) reasonable prices, often between €20 and €40 (depending on the restaurant's range). The Early Bird, also called pre-theatre dinner, is for those who want to eat early and then enjoy the nightlife and especially attend shows (plays, concerts, etc.). A real good plan!

There is no strict rule on tipping in Ireland, but of course a good tip is always welcome in the pub (if you are seated at a table) or in a restaurant. You should leave about 10% of the bill.

As a true European capital of parties and hard times, Dublin has a whole range of restaurants that offer the famous (and copious) Irish Breakfast during the whole morning (or even more) or brunches of all kinds all day long. Especially on Saturday and Sunday.

Except in rare cases, children are welcome in the restaurant and often have a menu that has been concocted for them.

Please note that in pubs, families with children are not allowed after 9pm. And, if you have arrived earlier and are accompanied by charming little heads, you will have to leave the place at that time.

Smoking is not allowed inside bars and restaurants. But many pubs have set up outdoor patios (often heated in winter) for smokers.

The pubs are generally open from 10:30 to 23:30 from Monday to Thursday, from 10:30 to 00:30 or 1:00 on Friday and Saturday and 12:00 to 23:00 on Sunday.

A pint in a pub costs from €6, which you usually pay directly at the counter. There is no strict rule on tipping in Ireland, but of course a good tip is always welcome in the pub, especially if you have a sit-down meal. It is appropriate to leave about 10% of the total bill. Of course, all establishments take credit cards.

To enter the pubs, the minimum age is 18, and young adults are often asked to show their ID.

As soon as 5 pm and the office hours start, we rush to the pub with colleagues, family or friends to drink a few pints and eat an Irish stew. On weekends, we hang out for a long time at the table at lunchtime, offering ourselves a long Irish breakfast. And we end up with an aperitif..

Families with children are not allowed in the pubs after 9pm. And, if you have arrived before, accompanied by your charming little heads, you will have to leave the place at that time.

Smoking is not allowed inside bars and restaurants. But most pubs have a terrace or patio, often heated in winter, for smokers.

In Dublin, in Temple Bar, there are many touts offering you entry to the various pubs and nightclubs. It is not certain that you will meet many locals in these establishments.