8 Dublin spots serving traditional Irish food to try over St Patrick’s weekend

Fiona Frawley

Looking to feel extra Irish this weekend?

St. Patrick’s weekend is almost upon us and if you’re visiting Dublin to celebrate, you might be on the hunt for some traditional Irish fare to try while you’re here. Amidst the leprechaun hats and free-flowing pints there are some great restaurants putting their own spin on traditional Irish cuisine, all of which are well worth trying while you’re in town. From hearty coddle to elevated fish supper, these spots have you covered if you’re looking to see what all the fuss is about when it comes to Irish seafood, beef and produce.

8. Mae

Mae is located in Ballsbridge – keep up with them via Instagram.

Tucked away above Shelbourne Road’s French Paradox wine shop, Mae’s inspiration comes from closer to home with a menu of buttery John Dory, grass-fed lamb shoulder and vibrant veg that moves with the seasons. Attentive staff weave through the cosy upstairs space and the pairing of great Irish food with rare French wines is one that rarely misses. This Michelin-awarded suburban spot is great for a special occasion – the Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend, perhaps?

Cod with caramelised leek, chicken skin and fried York cabbage, image via Instagram/mae_restaurant

7. Daddy’s

Daddy’s is located in Rialto – keep up with them via Instagram.

You’ll hear Rialto locals saying the area has gone ‘very trendy’ since Daddy’s opened, and it’s true – the village is now a go-to destination for foodies and speciality coffee lovers, tote bags and refurbished racer bikes in tow, while still retaining its original, old-school Dublin charm. The brunch menu showcases vibrant and flavoursome local produce, with veg from McNally’s Farm being a favourite and featuring in most dishes. Standouts include their benny and cabbage (an Irish slant on the brunch classic) and their weekly tarts and soups . Ideal for a hungover brunch when all you really need is good food, good vibes and to feel okay again.

Rhubarb tart, image via Instagram/daddysdublin

6. The Legal Eagle

The Legal Eagle is located on Chancery Place, Inn’s Quay – keep up with them via Instagram.

When you think traditional Irish cuisine, you think stove-top vats of coddle and other stews made on a budget and meant to last the week, the broth of which runs through the veins of any salt-of-the-earth Dub to this day. At the recently revamped Legal Eagle, classics like this are given a gastro makeover and served up alongside creamy pints and craft cocktails. The menu at this quay-side pub offers next level comfort in the form of daily hot pot specials (coddle, beef and porter stew and creamy Irish chowder all feature) served up with a side of crusty bread for a very reasonable €12, or €17 if you fancy adding on a glass of house white or red.

If stew’s not your bag, grab a classic ham-and-cheese toastie or one of the Eagle’s highly revered Sunday roasts, showcasing great Irish meat and veg in its most comforting form.

Daily hot pot from the Legal Eagle, image via Instagram/thelegaleagledublin

5. The Gravediggers

The Gravediggers is located in Glasnevin – keep up with them via Instagram.

It may have verged into meme territory last year with parody vids referencing the “most consistent coddle in Dublin” flooding many a For You page, but still, one doesn’t simply compile a list of traditional food in Dublin without mentioning the Gravediggers. Their coddle is known throughout the land, with unapologetically un-browned breakfast meat and generously buttered sliced white pan on the side. This pub is – dare we say it – a Dublin institution, serving a pint of Guinness that’s been described by some patrons as “life changing”.

Coddle from The Gravediggers, image via Instagram/gravediggers2

4. Fish Shop

Fish Shop is located on Benburb Street in Smithfield – keep up with them via Instagram.

Stating the obvious here, but Irish seafood simply can’t be bet. The allure of a Kelly’s Gigas oyster or Killary Fjord Mussel is hard to resist and if you want to sample these shelled beauties at their best, Fish Shop really is your only man. Anyone who’s been to Fish Shop usually recounts their experience in an almost teary-eyed state, speaking with Joycean flair about how they didn’t know how good fish and chips could actually be. A Broadway Market food stall has gained viral attention recently for serving what London food-fluencers have dubbed “Irish street food” – chicken fillet rolls and spice bags – but if you want to get technical, oysters are the OG Irish street food, having been sold cheap on busy Dublin streets over a century ago. So in the name of authenticity, a visit to Fish Shop is definitely in order.

Elevated fish and chips from Fish Shop, image via Instagram/fishshopbenburb

3. The Pig’s Ear

The Pig’s Ear is located on Nassau Street – keep up with them via Instagram.

The Pig’s Ear has been in proud possession of a Michelin Big Gourmand since 2009 and also features on the 2023 edition of the Michelin Guide. A sister restaurant to Spitalfields, The Pig’s Ear serves up classics like Shepherd’s Pie and old-school custard trifle (with actual Bird’s Custard, just like your Ma used to make) alongside pressed game, quince and walnut terrine and pig’s head with celeriac slaw and cornichons. The menu’s exciting, the dining room is warm and welcoming, and the Pig’s Ear is also right across the road from Trinity so visit the Book of Kells like a good, dutiful Dublin tourist and reward yourself here afterwards.

Old school sherry trifle from The Pig’s Ear, image via Instagram/thepigsear

2. Delahunt

Delahunt is located on Camden Street – keep up with them via Instagram.

If you’ve been tasked with choosing a venue for date night and want to impress, the unceasingly swish décor and carefully compiled tasting menu at Delahunt can’t be bet. With nods to old Ireland across its menus and interiors, an evening at Delahunt is a bit like a visit to your granny’s but with a Michelin makeover. Modern and traditional in equal measures, Delahunt offers a truly unique dining experience in a Victorian setting.

Image via Instagram/delahuntcamden

1. Spitalfields

Spitalifields is located in The Coombe – keep up with them via Instagram.

Fusing classic pub interiors with Michelin-mentioned food, Spitalfields stands alone as a place where fine diners sit alongside those just stopping in for a pint – it’s unpretentious, welcoming and authentic, with gourmet cuisine that far surpasses the run-of-the-mill pub grub expectations you might have for a spot like this.

Nostalgic dishes like devilled eggs and cock-a-leekie pie are given the epicurean once over, and you’re guaranteed to leave Spitalfields feeling full, happy and special, as the staff somehow manage to make every diner feel like the most important person there.