Owners Stephen Deasy and Ruth Hussey’s cafe in Blackrock Village is as popular for its gorgeous interiors as it is for the selection of roasted-in-Ireland coffee on offer. The modern, industrial-looking space is a perfect stop for a mid-morning or afternoon break from sightseeing, when you can refuel on a rich cup of espresso or watch one of the baristas work on a beautiful serving of Arabica pour-over. Heartier fare includes all sorts of delicious cakes and pre-prepared salads.

There are a number of casual restaurants and cafés in the Powerscourt Centre, which are perfect for a quick bite when shopping or touring in the city center. Free wifi is an added bonus.

Dylan McGrath, who is one of the country’s best-known chefs, opened this buzzing restaurant, which includes a gastro-pub for tapas, a main dining room and a rooftop cocktail lounge after the success of Rustic Stone. While Rustic Stone uses the freshest ingredients to focus on healthy cuisine, Fade Street emphasizes indulgence. In the lively gastro pub, where diners at the bar can watch the chefs at work, small plates are made to share. Among the most popular options are: mini goats cheese logs wrapped in ham brushed with balsamic and truffle honey; pumpkin macaroni with spring onion and parmesan; and bacon and cabbage burger, fried pork belly in balsamic, smoked pudding, crispy cabbage, peppered bacon, lyonnaise and a milk bun. The dining room focuses on great cuts of meat and fresh seafood, and upstairs on the rooftop, the only food served are flat breads.

Every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., various local vendors set up booths in Merrion Square to serve lunch. The Georgian park, which is surrounded by various office buildings, takes on a mini food festival vibe with cuisine from all corners of the world represented, from German bratwurst to Indian curry.

Getting a table at this Dun Laoghaire hot spot is tricky since it’s become a favored go-to among Dubliners and visitors. They all come for the lively ambience at the outdoor terrace while they savor some of the best pizzas in the country. There’s also a menu of Italian favorites from savory bruschetta to linguine tossed with prawns, oil, tomato, garlic and kicked up with some chili.

Fumbally is an eclectic hippie café, coffee shop, yoga studio and workshop space. There is a permanent menu, as well as daily specials that change seasonally, and all dishes are made with local, organic ingredients. The drinks offerings are a particular highlight, featuring many options that experiment with fermentation, bitters and vinegars. Coffee is also emphasized here, and baristas serve a local Dublin roast, and there are occasional visiting roasters like the Barn, from Berlin. Fumbally stables is an extension of the coffee shop and café where visitors partake in yoga classes that include brunch as well as a host of workshops ranging from latté art to cheese-making.

Chef Stephen McAllister’s restaurant in the city center is a great place to get acquainted with traditional Irish cooking. In this light-bathed dining room, you can sample expertly prepared dishes with a delightfully rustic quality like crispy pig’s head croquettes or pot roast cauliflower. For something extra special, there’s also the third-floor Chef’s Counter where groups of at least eight get treated to a special meal of international cuisine using only the freshest local ingredients.

Named after the Yeats poem, this café above the bookstore of the same name and acclaim has been a long-standing Irish favorite. Winding Stair is always buzzing with locals-in-the-know, but there’s still a homey ambience that makes the restaurant feel like your own neighborhood discovery. Its menu of simple Irish food is packed with satisfying homegrown recipes. The Irish seafood chowder gets a slightly spiced up flourish with chorizo, and the butternut squash pancake with goat’s curd, kale stew and tomato sauce is the perfect vegetarian comfort dish. All of this plus more is wonderfully complemented with a fabulous international wine list and great Irish service.