Vegetarian
1. Cornucopia, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2
Cornucopia is the Mecca of vegetarian Dublin. Their breakfast including scrambled tofu and veggie sausages could convert the most stubborn carnivore, with fixed or pick’n’mix options averaging at €9.
2. Blazing Salads, Drury Street, Dublin 2
A vegetarian deli featuring a vegan salad bar, hot food and cakes. Since Beyonce and Jay-Z’s 22 day vegan challenge, their tofu pizza (€3.95) sells out fast.
3. Umi Falafel, Dame Street, Dublin 2
Falafel, hummus and halloumi cheese pittas available to go, plus a scrumptious meal deal for €7.50 before 5pm.
4. Govinda’s, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1
Run by Hare Krishna, Govinda’s offers comfort food with an eastern twist at €8.50 for a medium plate with rice and veg.
Sweet
5. Murphy’s Ice Cream, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2
From humble roots in Dingle, the Murphy brothers’ ice cream parlour offers the retro classic, caramelised brown bread, as well as more unusual flavours including gin, sea salt and marmalade.
6. Cake Cafe, Pleasants Place, Dublin 8
Just at the back of Daintree on Camden Street, the Cake Cafe team are famous for their glorious cakes — such as the classic Victoria sponge — and their cosy surroundings.
7. Queen of Tarts, Cow’s Lane (off Dame Street), Dublin 2
Behind the borderline cheeky name, QoT offers tarts, both sweet and savory. Their decadent walnut brownies are worth a mention, as is the New York raspberry baked cheesecake — the owners trained as pastry chefs in NYC so it’s the real deal at €4.95.
Eateries
8. Chipper @ Super Miss Sue
Open until 12pm weekdays and 3am weekends, library or party goers are sure to be well fed on exceedingly fresh fish and chips. A top pick is the fish finger butty, served on springy sourdough and slathered in mushy peas (€9).
9. Fumbally
Wholesome, delicious, inventive food is on offer — a mixture of organically sourced Irish, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences with a daily changing specials board of soups (€5), sandwiches (the knock-out pulled porchetta is €6) and snacks.
10. Brother Hubbard
Enjoy the succulent spiced pulled pork sandwich (€10.90) — rightfully named The Best Sandwich in Dublin — with a vibrant salad in the uncluttered, Scandinavian-inspired café, or get it to go from next door’s Little Brother for €7. Also not-to-miss: the homemade granola (served with berry and rose compote), 3FE coffee and delicious hot chocolate.
11. Oxmantown
For those who appreciate a well-constructed sandwich, this place is hard to beat. The sourdough bread is excellent, as are the perfectly combined selection of fillings — the ham and cheese will have you swiftly making another visit.
12. Little Ass
A stone’s throw from College, the burritos on offer here come with a wide range of delicious fillings, including a mashed sweet potato option that stands toe to toe with the most succulent of meats. €5.50 for a student burrito, with a lot of extras available for no additional cost.
13. Crackbird
The menu is especially suited for groups sharing, particularly the divine buttermilk fried chicken (€9.95) and potato salad (€3.95). It’s 2-for-1 on half chickens with a student card, and there are similar deals at their equally lo-fi sister restaurants: BEAR steakhouse and grill, Jo’burger, and Skinflint pizzeria.
Bars
14. Drury Buildings
Serving a great selection of wines and a few nice craft beers, its their rejuvenating versions of classic cocktails which are not to be missed. Though not cheap (cocktails range from €10-12), it’s ideal for a post-essay treat.
15. Garage Bar
Garage Bar greets its guest with empty oil barrels for furniture, a sawdust strewn floor, and the promise of atmospheric reggae until the early hours. This no-nonsense bar offers good drink deals (a Havana Club and ginger beer is only €5), and a guaranteed chilled out time.
16. Bernard Shaw
A staple of student watering, the Bernard Shaw offers a superb venue for a lazy session, with an excellent selection of craft beers and abundant drinks promos. The Big Blue Bus, purveyors of some of Dublin’s best pizzas, is parked out the back so you don’t even have to leave the building when those munchies hit.
