The Best Breakfast in Dublin: 12 Spots That Do It Right
Dublin does breakfast well. Better than it has any right to, given the city’s other reputation for being a “drinking town.” The pub breakfast, the brunch scene, the proper Irish breakfast, the fancy modern versions — Dublin has all of them, and the standard is genuinely high.
This guide is the 12 best breakfast spots in Dublin, covering the proper Irish fry, the modern brunch, and the hidden gems. Prices, locations, what to order, and which ones to book.
The proper Irish breakfast — the “full Irish”
A proper Irish breakfast is one of the great breakfasts of the world. The standard version: bacon, sausage, black pudding, white pudding, eggs, beans, grilled tomato, mushrooms, fried bread, toast, tea. Heart attack on a plate, but worth it once.
Most Dublin pubs do a “full Irish” from opening (usually 10am or 11am) until lunchtime. The best ones source the ingredients locally and cook everything fresh.
The Bridge 1859 Bar (Fitzwilliam Square)
The Bridge 1859 is a Victorian pub with a huge breakfast menu. The full Irish is €13, the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs is €14, the buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup is €11. Coffee is decent. Service is fast. Booking not usually needed before 11am.
What to order: The full Irish. Get the black pudding, get the white pudding, ask for fried eggs (not scrambled).
Vibe: Classic Dublin pub breakfast. The kind of place you go when you want the real thing.
The Palace Bar (Temple Bar)
The Palace Bar is one of Dublin’s most beautiful old pubs. Their breakfast is genuinely good — full Irish €14, the salmon option €16, porridge €6. The setting is the draw — Victorian tiled bar, morning light, the city just waking up.
What to order: The full Irish with a side of toast and a pot of Barry’s tea. Sit at the bar, not at a table, that’s where the morning light is best.
Pro tip: No phones at the bar (genuine rule). Take the photo first, then put the phone away.
Keogh’s (Temple Bar / South Great George’s Street)
A small café that’s been doing breakfast since the 90s. Full Irish €11, eggs benedict €12, pancakes €9. Sourdough toast. Good coffee. The kind of place where the regulars are known by name.
What to order: Anything with the sourdough. The eggs benedict is the move.
The Bank on College Green
The Bank is in the old Allied Irish Bank building, a grand space with vaulted ceilings. The breakfast is the kind of thing you’d expect from a place trying to be impressive — and it is. Full Irish €15, eggs florentine €14, the coffee is actually good.
What to order: The full Irish, and a flat white. The setting is half the meal.
L. Mulligan Grocer (Stoneybatter)
L. Mulligan is the place to go for a real Irish meal. The breakfast is the standout — black pudding, white pudding, soda bread, all sourced from the family farm. €13 for the full Irish, €11 for the smoked salmon. Booking essential at weekends.
What to order: The full Irish. Ask for the soda bread. The black pudding is the best in Dublin.
Vibe: The most authentic Irish breakfast you’ll get in the city.
The modern brunch scene
Dublin’s brunch scene is more recent (2010s onward) but very strong. Expect eggs benedict, shakshuka, avocado toast, pancakes, the modern classics, plus plenty of Irish twists.
Bunsen (multiple locations)
Bunsen is the best burger in Dublin (according to most), and their brunch is also very good. Eggs benedict €12, full Irish €12, the pancakes are worth ordering. The atmosphere is casual, the service is fast, the food is consistent.
What to order: Eggs benedict. Or the burger, depending on the time.
Brother Hubbard (Capel Street)
A northside café that’s been one of the best brunch spots in Dublin since opening. The menu changes seasonally but always includes eggs in some form, good bread, fresh ingredients. €10-15 for a main.
What to order: Whatever the daily special is. The Turkish eggs (menemen with yoghurt) when it’s on.
Two Boys Brew (Talbot Street, near the northside)
Tiny café, single-origin coffee, a small but excellent breakfast menu. The eggs are reliably perfect. €10-13 for a main. Get there before 11am, it fills up.
Kaph (Drury Street)
Specialty coffee done properly. The breakfast is good (porridge, eggs, toast) but the coffee is the draw. €8-14 for a main.
Vibe: Southside institution, the place where people who care about coffee go.
Two Pups Coffee (Francis Street, Blackpitts)
Single-origin specialty coffee, a small brunch menu, the kind of place where the barista actually knows what they’re doing. €10-13 for a main. Worth a visit if you like good coffee.
The fancy breakfast
For a special-occasion breakfast — anniversary, honeymoon, blowout meal — these are the picks.
The Ivy (Dawson Street)
The Ivy is the Dublin outpost of the London restaurant. Breakfast is £€ (€25-35 for a main) but the food is excellent. Eggs royale €22, full Irish €18, the truffle scrambled eggs is famous.
Booking: Essential, especially weekends.
The Shelbourne Hotel breakfast (St Stephen’s Green)
A hotel breakfast, but a famous one. The Shelbourne has been the grand hotel of Dublin for 200 years. The breakfast is a full Irish experience — silver service, white tablecloths, traditional music in the background. €35-40.
Booking: Recommended.
Forest Avenue (Rathgar)
A neighbourhood bistro that does a famous weekend brunch. Modern Irish, €18-22 for a main, the duck egg is the signature. Booking essential.
The hidden gems
Less-known, but worth a visit if you’re in the area.
The Cake Cafe (Pembroke Street, near the Grand Canal)
A small cafe with the best baked goods in Dublin. Carrot cake, lemon drizzle, scones. Breakfast is good (porridge, eggs on toast) but the cake is the reason to come. €8-12 for a main + slice of cake.
Lock 6 (Temple Bar / at the locks)
A café in a converted lock-keeper’s cottage at the Grand Canal locks. Small, atmospheric, a serious brunch menu. €10-15.
3fe (Grand Canal Dock)
Specialty coffee, minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic, the kind of place where you can have a £4 single-origin pour-over while working. The breakfast is simple (toast, eggs, pastry) but everything is excellent.
Breakfast by area
| Area | Best for | Top pick | |—|—|—| | Temple Bar | Pub breakfast, central | The Palace Bar | | Dame Street / City Centre | Quick sit-down | Keogh’s | | Stoneybatter / Northside | Authentic Irish | L. Mulligan Grocer | | Grand Canal Dock / Southside | Coffee + brunch | 3fe, Kaph | | Fitzwilliam / Baggot St | Pub breakfast | The Bridge 1859 | | St Stephen’s Green | Fancy | The Ivy, The Shelbourne |
The breakfast FAQ
What time is breakfast served? Pubs: 10-11am start. Cafés: 8-9am start. Most places stop serving breakfast around noon-1pm, then switch to lunch menus.
Do I need to book? Pub breakfasts usually no (before 11am). Modern brunch spots — yes, especially weekends. The Ivy, Forest Avenue, The Shelbourne — yes always.
Can I get a “full Irish” anywhere? Yes — almost every pub does one. The quality varies wildly. The ones on this list are the genuinely good ones.
What’s the typical price?
- Pub full Irish: €11-15
- Café eggs benedict: €11-14
- Fancy hotel breakfast: €25-40
- Coffee: €3.50-4.50
Are there vegetarian / vegan options? Yes, almost everywhere. The full Irish can usually be made veggie (no bacon/sausage, extra eggs, halloumi). Modern brunch spots have full vegan menus.
What about gluten-free? Most places have GF toast at minimum. The Bridge 1859, Brother Hubbard, Forest Avenue all have proper GF options.
Is the Irish breakfast really that big? Yes. Most visitors are surprised. The full Irish is genuinely a lot of food. Consider sharing one between two people if you’re not a big breakfast person.
What’s “black pudding”? A type of blood sausage, made with pork blood, oats, and spices. Sounds intimidating, tastes like a savoury, herby sausage. The best ones are from local butchers and are the standout of any full Irish. Try it, even if you’re squeamish.
And “white pudding”? Same as black pudding but without the blood. More herby. Less famous but equally traditional.
What about “boxty”? A traditional Irish potato pancake. Some breakfast places serve it as a side or as the base for the breakfast. Gallagher’s Boxty House (Temple Bar) is famous for them.
Are breakfast takeaways a thing? Less so in Dublin than in London. Most people sit down. The deli at L. Mulligan does takeaway bacon butties, Bunsen does takeaway coffee, that’s about it.
Where do Dubliners actually go for breakfast? Pubs (full Irish), Brother Hubbard (northside brunch), Bunsen (eggs benedict), Kaph (coffee), 3fe (specialty coffee). The Ivy for special occasions.
Hungry for more? After breakfast, walk it off with our 3-day Dublin itinerary. Stay at Dublin Citi Hotel on Dame Street — Irish breakfast included for guests. For lunch or dinner, Trinity Bar Venue is 2 minutes away with proper Irish food all day.
