The Best Restaurants Near Trinity College, Dublin

The perfect place for a catch up with friends, Avoca Café is right in the city centre on the top floor of a mini department store. They focus on fresh Irish ingredients, great baking and bringing out the natural flavours in their food. They are open for breakfast from 9am on Thursdays and Fridays, 9.30 on other weekdays and Saturdays; and also have a lunch or all-day menu. The café is bright and fashionably decorated with a rooftop view across Dublin City.

An Italian restaurant, Pacino’s is a popular place for students to go on dates due to its low prices, elegant décor and fantastic service. Choose from mains such as ravioli anatra (duck ravioli with cream, grape and cherry tomatoes) or the Michelangelo pizza with secret recipe tomato sauce, Toonsbridge Buffalo Mozzarella, Italian pepperoni, caramelized red onions, goat cheese, Parmesan cheese and basil pesto. Rich desserts include Dolce al Panettone (Italian Panettone trifle filled with wild berries and pineapple with vanilla ice cream).

A great place for lunch, Lemon’s vivid, citrus-coloured décor and trendy, lively atmosphere is popular among students and visitors alike. Specialising in crepes and waffles, Lemon is a great place for breakfast or brunch. Their sandwiches and toasties are fresh and delicious. Try the pulled pork and egg toastie, generously made and cooked to a golden crisp. They try to use organic Irish produce whenever possible and there are gluten free choices on the menu too.

The Pig & Heifer is a New York style deli which opened in 1996 to bring a bit of New York to Ireland. There is also a tapas restaurant here, as the result of a trip to Spain, through which the owners became inspired. In their food you will find influences from all over Spain and also the Basque Country.

With a view over the grounds of Trinity College, Kilkenny Cafe and Restaurant serves food which is fresh and proudly additive-free. The healthy options in the restaurant include delicious dishes such as the chicken supreme with fennel and lemon, and everything has a ‘homemade’ taste. On Sundays there is a live jazz band which plays in the restaurant from 11am to 2pm. The full Irish breakfast is especially recommended.

The most popular restaurant for fine-dining in the Trinity College area of Dublin, The Pig’s Ear provides palate-pleasing dishes at surprisingly affordable prices. The staff are pleasant and professional, and the food is always beautifully presented and delectable. The restaurant’s décor is simple and dignified, with light cream walls contrasting against the dark furniture, and their three rooms overlook Trinity College’s training fields. The Pig’s Ear restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2009 and have retained it since.

This vegetarian restaurant is the perfect casual dining spot for vegetarians and omnivores alike. There is a large variety of options and the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. There are several vegan options on the menu too, and the restaurant also caters for celiac and sugar-free diets. Portion sizes are generous, and the interior décor is inspired by the art nouveau movement with flowers and floral patterns.
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