5 Dublin pubs you have to go to for lunch

The Dropping Well Bar & Restaurant, a landmark pub in Milltown, South Dublin, offers panoramic views of the Dodder River and is located near The Nine Arches. This traditional bar has been extensively renovated to create a superior atmosphere for a daytime pub lunch. Established in 1847, The Dropping Well retains its authentic charm while providing comfort and ambiance in its conservatory restaurant and traditional bar and lounge areas.

On the lunch menu, you’ll find the likes of king prawn cocktails, seafood chowder, a grilled caprese salad sandwich, homemade lasagna al forno, chicken supreme risotto, cod and chips, and a southern friend buffalo chicken burger.

Bar Rua offers a modern twist on the traditional Irish pub, located right in the heart of Dublin on Clarendon Street. It’s the ideal spot to unwind after a morning of shopping or sightseeing, with landmarks like the Gaiety Theatre, St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre and park, Grafton Street, and Trinity College just a short walk away.

They feature a fantastic selection of Irish craft beers, along with an extensive cocktail menu, spirits, and wines. Whether you’re in the mood for a drink or some live music, they’ve got you covered. Feeling hungry? The bar menu is packed with a variety of delicious dishes including buffalo chicken burgers, steak sandwiches, classic caesar salads, bangers and mash, and fish and chips. Enjoy your time in the comfy indoor area or relax on the spacious, heated terrace.

The Paddocks is a versatile establishment, serving as a superb family pub and restaurant by day and transforming into a cool cocktail and live music venue by night, featuring some of Ireland’s best live bands. It offers a sumptuous array of cocktails, desserts, and craft beers, with their famous frozen daiquiris standing out as a highlight.

The extensive menu features a vast array of delicious dishes, complemented by a daily specials selection that constantly changes. Traditional roasts are served every day, and The Paddocks was a finalist in the Carvery of the Year awards, so you know they serve up a banging roast!

The Exchequer is an award-winning gastropub in the centre of Dublin City, renowned for their wholesome food and extensive drinks menu. This southside eatery is pub grub reimagined, serving Irish meat and sustainable native seafood in a lively and contemporary environment. The Exchequer offers a small menu, so that well-known local chef Lee Doyle can craft and cook each dish to perfection. For a perfect pub lunch with friends, try one of The Exchequer’s delicious share plates. We recommend the slow cooked pork belly and crispy calamari, served with coriander and mint salad, chilli, black sesame, and a fish sauce caramel. Yes – it’s as good as it sounds!

If it’s good enough to be included in the Michelin “Eating Out In Pubs” guide every year since 2016, it’s good enough to be included in ours! This is the case for The Old Spot, which is not only one of the best gastropubs in Dublin but in the whole of Ireland. The award-winning pub is located in the inner suburbs of South Dublin, and operated by a young and passionate team who know a thing or two about good service and good food. On their lunch menu, which changes with the seasons based on what is fresh, you’re likely to find a delicious selection of inventive dishes that make it difficult to choose just one. Try The Old Spot Prawn Pil Pil for starters, followed by the Roast Corn Fed Chicken Breast with Bacon Pomme Puree. They also offer An Express Lunch Menu, with soups, sandwiches and salads that are packed with the same fine ingredients you’ll see on the main menu.