Dublin

This 16th century tavern is renowned for its traditional music ballad sessions. The building, complete with blazing fires, original stone walls and gas lights, features a wonderful restaurant upstairs. The menu changes on a seasonal basis but features such culinary delights as crepes fruits de mer(seafood crepes), roast duckling with ginger and pineapple, or spinach and ricotta tortellini. After the meal, guests can enjoy the live entertainment downstairs in the form of some traditional Irish music. Bookings are recommended and credit cards accepted.

Food Type :International

Address :Abbey St., Howth, Northern Suburbs

Website :www.abbeytavern.ie

Mao has been a firm favourite with Dubliners for over 20 years. The chef's prepare fresh, healthy food with a sophisicated Asian flair. The exposed kitchen lines an entire wall and the rest of the space is wide open, which makes this an excellent people-watching spot.

The menu comprises everyone's favourite Asian dishes, such as Thai fish cakes, nasi goreng,chicken hoisin and salmon ramen, to name a few. Everything on the menu is delicious and it is hard to go wrong when dining here. It's open daily for lunch and dinner, and reservations recommended.

Food Type :Asian

Address :2 - 3 Chatham Row

Website :www.mymao.ie

L'Ecrivain is one of Dublin's finest restaurants, offering diners a relaxed and unpretentious experience. Chef Derry Clarke's food is absolutely mouth-watering, from his seared wild Irish venison loin with caramelized pear, or Bere Island scallops with lobster strudel.

Menu prices are changed regularly and it's not very affordable, but L'Ecrivain gives guests the opportunity to sample some of its dishes in the form of a two-course lunch menu at a more reasonable price.

The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday for dinner. They're open for lunch Wednesday to Friday, and they're closed Sunday. Reservations are essential.

Food Type :French

Address :109a Baggot Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock

Website :www.lecrivain.com

This loud and busy restaurant has been a much-loved eatery with Dublin's locals for over 20 years. The menu serves old favourites such as burgers, pasta, steaks and salads, appealing to just about everyone.

Orders are clipped to a wire before being whizzed off to the kitchen, and there's an outdoor terrace looking over the lively Temple Bar scenes. It's also known as the place where Sinead O'Connor used to wait tables. It's open daily.

Food Type :American

Address :9-11 Crown Alley

Yamamori Noodles has a casual but lively atmosphere with an exciting menu. It's popular at lunchtime, and prices range from bargain to complete over-indulgence. Guest who don't want to break the bank should go for meals like chile chicken ramen or the yamamori yaki sobawith its mound of wok-fried noodles piled high with prawns, squid, chicken, and roast pork.

It's open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations only for parties of four or more.

Food Type :Japanese

Address :71 - 72 S. Great Georges St

Website :www.yamamori.ie/yamamori-noodles/

With its long, wooden bench tables, stone pillars, clean lines and light, airy atmosphere, this spacious eatery lends itself perfectly to the ritualistic art of eating sushi. Yamamori Sushi is one of Dublin's favourite Asian restaurants, and for very good reason.

Feast on Karubi beef, salmon teriyaki and Yamamori Ramen, which is made up of char-grilled chicken, king prawns and char shu with crispy tofu, egg, wakame, menma and spring onion in a chicken and pork stock.

It's open daily for lunch and dinner, and reservations are recommended.

Food Type :Japanese

Address :38 - 39 Lower Ormand Quay

Website :www.yamamori.ie/yamamori-sushi/

One Pico has become something of an institution when it comes to dining out in Dublin. This award-winning restaurant serves delicious local fare, including organic smoked salmon with pickled cucumber, remoulade and herb crème freche. A firm favourite on the menu is the filet of Irish Hereford Beef served with a white onion puree, parmesan fondue and crispy tempura onion.

One Pico is open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are essential.

Food Type :Irish

Address :5 - 6 Molesworth Place

Website :www.onepico.com

Gallagher's Boxty House specialises in traditional Irish food like fish and chips, soda bread, and especially the boxty, a quintessentially Irish potato pancake. It's one of the most popular restaurants in the Temple Bar District. Their slogan is "The Humble Spud, Made Beautiful", and they live up to that. Gallagher's goes through a tonne of potatoes every week, serving them up to buzzing crowds who come for the filling food and lively music.

They're open for lunch and dinner daily.

Food Type :Local

Address :20-21 Temple Bar

Website :www.boxtyhouse.ie