You should be able to access the most important meal of the day no matter the time.
If you’re like me, then you 1) consider breakfast the most elite meal of the day and 2) don’t subscribe to the idea that it’s only for morning time. Nothing grinds my gears like going somewhere for food, at what we know as “lunch time”, only to discover that the restaurant or café have stopped serving breakfast for the day.
It is never too late in the day for scrambled eggs, or pancakes, or French toast in my eyes, and thankfully there are a few Dublin locations that agree with me on this point.
Whether you’re hoping to wrap your gob around a breakfast burrito, get cutting into a fat stack of pancakes as if they’re your wedding cake, or you’re one of those odd people who always opts for the porridge (look, to each their own), then these are the top Dublin spots that serve the ever lovely All Day Breakfast.
9. Póg
Multiple locations, more info here
Naturally anyone heading to Póg probably only has one thing on the brain – pancakes. It’s what they’re known for, they’re good at it, and it’s nice to be able to waltz in at any given point in the day and know you can get a stack to your table within 20 minutes of ordering.
However, Póg is anything but a one trick pancake flipping pony – we were recently raving about their inclusive afternoon tea offerings- and another thing they’re great at is their all-day brekkie menu.
You can get your acai bowls, your avo toast, even strawberry cheesecake French toast (oui oui). But they also do a full Irish board – yes, your fry comes on a board in a much classier way than that episode of Come Dine With Me (although possibly not as iconic). Bacon, black pudding, spicy beans, gourmet sausages, fried eggs, grilled halloumi, sourdough – it’s got a €17 price tag, which is up there in cost, but that’s what you’ve gotta pay for a board.
8. Urban Health
Ranelagh, Dublin 6, more info here
Urban Health feels more like you’ve stepped into a café in LA rather than under the bridge in Ranelagh, proving to be a nice escape from reality, one smoothie at a time.
If you love breakfast, but a full fry ain’t for you, then Urban Health has loads of wonderful veggie and vegan options, from acai bowls to tofu scramble to breakfast burritos. Every plate is packed full of colour from all the fruit and veg, and it’s the kind of place you’ll leave satisfied, but not absolutely bursting out of your jeans.
One for the yoga and pilates guys and girlies, what these dishes lack in grease, they more than make up for in flavour.
7. Howard’s Way
Churchtown, Dublin 14, more info here
Howard’s Way is the kind of unassuming café you’d easily walk by, but they do some of the home-iest and comforting food on the southside.
There’s nothing pretentious or over the top about Howard’s Way, just big plates of good food and reasonable prices. I’ve spent many a hungover morning here with my pals, never knowing for certain if that fried egg or hash brown will kill me or cure me, but all I can say is I’m still standing, and HW has a lot to do with it.
Not only does Howard’s Way do all day breakfast, their menu is huge. You have the pick of your poison, be that a full Irish, a fruity smoothie, or a stack of pancakes.
Plus they have a covered outdoor area, which is gorgeous on a hot day, but also cosy when the rain falls, complete with blankets and a full gazebo so you can take in the stormy weather without getting soaked.
6. Metro Café
South William Street, Dublin 2
Metro Café does an absolutely banging all day breakfast on the ever trendy South William Street.
They have all the usual suspects when it comes to the morning meal, but if you’re in dire need of an all-in f*** off breakfast, the only suitable option has to be the Metro Special. This hefty plate consists of scrambled egg, streaky bacon, cherry tomatoes, relish, alongside buttermilk pancakes absolutely dripping in golden syrup – it’s giving Denny’s vibes and we’re super into it.
Metro is a walk-in location only, ideal for impromptu wanders about town that naturally get your stomach grumbling.
5. Brams Café
St Aidan’s Park Road, Marino, Dublin 3
The actual definition of a hidden gem.
If you’re in the market for some simple Irish all-day breakfast on the northside, this is the place to head. Expect Jumbo Irish breakfasts, vegetarian fry-ups and delicious sambos.
4. Vanilla Pod
Multiple locations
A café / restaurant that does brekkie any which way is The Vanilla Pod Eatery. Whether you’re a granola girl (can’t relate, but fair play to you all), a pancake enthusiast (now we’re talking) or go eggstatic for eggs (you’re talking my language) you can find all of it on this wide and varied menu, served all-day long.
With four locations, those on the southside are absolutely spoiled, whether they’re based in Dún Laoghaire, Leopardstown, Carrickmines, or Blackrock. Some of the prices are a little steep, but the staff are never anything short of sunny in disposition, the food is fresh and stacked high, not to mention they have some of the cutest mugs in Dublin – which isn’t a reflection on the food, but does have the tendency to put a smile on your face.
That said, the full Irish sits at €14.90, and includes sausies, bacon, a fried egg, black and white pudding, roast tomato, potato hash, mushrooms, and toast, which ain’t half bad.
Prepare to be waiting in a queue because VP famously doesn’t take bookings, and despite their years of service, they remain ever popular as a spot for some grub.
3. Lemon Jelly Café
Location: Millennium Walkway, Dublin 1
Lemon Jelly Café’s lunch/evening menu has some proper tasty breakfast-ish options, such as their Brekkie Crepe served with egg, crispy bacon, melted cheddar cheese and tomato.
There’s also the Jervis Way savoury crepe served with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, mushrooms and tomato.
They also have a class range of sweet crepes, omelettes and smoothies.
2. Beanhive
Dawson Street & Baggot Street, Dublin 2, more info here
Beanhive will always first and foremost be known as the café that does the insane latte art – a quick scroll on their Instagram is enough to have all the Insta and TikTok girlies heading to Dawson Street (or to Baggot Street at their brand new premises) to sip a coffee with Winnie the Pooh embossed in the froth, or a capybara, or a little frog beneath a toadstool.
Yet, they have another trick up their sleeve, and it’s just as worthy of being shouted about – they do a full Irish breakfast, morning, noon, and early evening, where you’ll get two sausies, two pieces of bacon, a fried egg, beans, your toast, and the option of a hot drink, soft drink, or juice, all for €16.
It comes in vegan and vegetarian variations too if you’ve gone off meat or dairy, but still want to feel the comfort of all this grease on a plate.
ALMA
Portobello, Dublin 8, more info here
ALMA is one of my favourite places to get breakfast or brunch in the city, and it happens to be served all day long. My recommendation is always the poached eggs, which are unlike any poached eggs you’ve ever experienced.
I am an egg fiend, and I do not subscribe to the idea that they can only be enjoyed before 11am. It matters not what time you’re digging into those yolks, they’ll make you happy morning, noon, or night. What Argentinian restaurant ALMA does to poached eggs is nothing short of visionary, and as someone often disappointed in poached eggs (vinegary, uncooked, phlegmy, you know the kind I mean) this dish is one I dream of more often than I care to admit.
Simply called Alma’s Poached Eggs, the dish comes with two free-range poached eggs, smashed avocado, garlic portobello mushrooms, feta cheese, and salsa criolla on organic Tartine sourdough – piled high, like a little volcano, whereby the feta replaces the lava (and they do not cheap out on the feta, I’m happy to report).
Of course, ALMA is also known for their pancakes, vegan hummus toast, and the Choripan Argento, an Argentinian-style sausage on sourdough, so if I somehow haven’t sold you on the eggs, there will undoubtedly be lots of things for you to enjoy.
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