Abstain from the raucous pubs of Temple Bar and traditional bars of Baggot Road for the afternoon as you explore the lunchtime delights of Dublin’s leading restaurants. The casual sandwich is elevated to an artform in a city that takes its midday snack seriously.
While a ham and cheese toastie and a pint of Guinness in the Stag’s Head remains of of Dublin’s simple pleasures, look for the places that locals count as the hidden gems that are rarely discovered by tourists.
Getting There: Ryanair and Aer Lingus operate regular direct flights from Glasgow Airport to Dublin, the flight time is around one hour.
Brother Hubbard
153 Capel St
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 441 1112
brotherhubbard.ie
Best Dish: Slow-roasted pulled pork with warm spices and fennel seed, served with a mustardy celeriac remoulade, beetroot and fresh baby spinach on griddled sourdough bread (€10.90)
At the vanguard of Dublin’s burgeoning cafe culture and one of the star attractions on this increasingly cool strip on the Northside of the city. Their menu is small but perfectly formed, the staff are quirky and the clientele is hip. More importantly, their sandwiches are outstanding. Save space for cake.
Pablo Picante
4 Clarendon Market
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 633 4245
pablopicante.ie
Best Dish: Sonny San Diego, roasted, marinated chicken, refried beans, fresh long grain rice, grated cheese, and freshly-made salsa in a flour tortilla (€6.50)
The original Pablo Picante is on a corner of Baggot Street but we usually join the queue at their Clarendon Market branch just off South William Street. Choose to dress your favourite fresh burrito with a salsa sauce ranging from the popular mild cremosa to the super picante for seasoned pros. Sit on benches and admire the playful Mexican luchador iconography as you enjoy the best burrito in town. Pablo’s Tortas sell traditional Mexican gourmet sandwiches next door.
KC Peaches
28-29 Nassau St
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 633 6872
kcpeaches.com
Best Dish: An artisan baguette filled with Cashel blue cheese spread, grilled flank steak, roasted red onions, herbed slow roasted tomatoes and mature cheddar and toasted to perfection (€6.85)
With branches now at Pearse Street, Dame Street, St Stephen’s Green and Nassau Street, KC Peaches are ideally placed to feed Dublin’s workers, students, families and shoppers. Help yourself to one of their dazzling array of salads and bespoke sandwiches. A mind boggling range of ingredients to pick from and helpful staff to help you construct your ideal afternoon snack.
Hatch & Sons
15 St Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 661 0075
Best Dish: Spiced beef, coolea, onion relish, rapeseed mayo in a Waterford blaa roll (€5.90)
An old fashioned Irish kitchen and bustling cafe nestling below The Little Museum of Dublin on St Stephen’s Green. Deserving of high praise for helping to introduce Dubliners to the soft white blaa roll from Waterford. You’ll find one of the best soup and sandwich offerings in the city here.
The Fumbally
Fumbally Lane,
Dublin 8
Tel: (01) 529 8732
thefumbally.ie
Best Dish: Pulled porchetta ciabatta with slow roasted pork, caper mayo and spiced apple sauce (€6)
A relaxing space popular with creative, healthy looking types. The best falafel wrap in Dublin, a medley of soups, salads and sandwiches with innovative specials scrawled on the chalkboard.
Pig and Heifer
City Quay,
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 633 6972
pigandheifer.ie
Best Dish: Pastrami melt with deli pastrami, melted cheese, spinach, pickle and mustard (€6.25)
I New York style delicatessen with Dublin sensibilities, Pig and Heifer have four locations in the city centre. Choose from speciality sandwiches, salads, bagels and wraps. They also serve a great hot chocolate (€2.75).
Green Bench Cafe
18 Montague St
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 549 8229
greenbenchcafe.com
Best Dish: Free range chicken, cous cous, grilled veg, greek feta, hummus, mint yoghurt, rocket toasted sandwich
Sensational sandwiches doled out by hard working and smiling staff alongside hot pots coffees and soups. People travel from far and wide to get their fix at the Green Bench Cafe. Consistently impressive.
Slice Cafe
56 Manor Place,
Stoneybatter
Dublin 7
Tel: (01) 445 6100
asliceofcake.ie
Best Dish: devils on horseback (€4.50)
An offshoot of the Cake Cafe – another excellent place for lunch – Slice Cafe has beguiled the hipsters of Stoneybatter and become a firm favourite. Lunches can be eat in or taken away. There’s an all day brunch menu at weekends.
147 Deli
147 Parnell St
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 872 8481
Best Dish: Chicken, tarragon and linguine broth
An independent deli winning all the plaudits for serving interesting soups and hugely satisfying sandwiches. Look out for weekly specials with combinations like rare roast beef, onion jam, brie, rocket with a balsamic reduction on crispy ciabatta.
Oxmanstown
16 Mary’s Road
Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 804 7030
Best Dish: Ham hock, grilled gruyere, bechamel, roast tomatoes, pickled onion on sourdough (€5.50)
The cafe took their name for this old name for the area around Smithfield and the Liffey. A busy lunchtime spot for sandwich munching or coffee quaffing. They have excellent pies, salads and hot pots too. Their sandwiches are big eats layered up with flavour.