A Chocolate Lover’s Guide to Dublin

Based in the underrated Blackrock Market, just 20 minutes from Dublin City, is Arctic Stone. The permanent takeaway stand in the market is open seven days a week and was the first ice cream parlour in Dublin to popularise “rolled ice cream.” The ice cream mixture is not pre-condensed and is poured on to ice pans set at -30 degrees Celsius. The result is a dense and flavoursome ice cream, which Arctic Stone has perfected. Their menu is chocolate heavy, with Kinder Bueno, Oreo, or classic plain chocolate ice cream to choose from. You can further this chocolate ice cream heaven with white chocolate sauce and a range of toppings consisting of chopped up chocolate bars. Expert ice cream roller Chris Kennedy has been with Arctic Stone for four years and says, “each ice cream is handmade with care and passion, the dichotomy of flavours makes our ice cream so special, and we put on a show for you as well!” Arctic Stone is a great dessert spot after a dinner date, with views of Dublin’s iconic bay just across the road.

In 1988, a man named Michael Quinlan set up a doughnut kiosk on Dublin’s O’Connell street, after driving a doughnut van around to concerts and sporting events for a decade. Since then, the original kiosk stands in the very same spot, with ‘The Rolling Donut’ having introduced six further branches to one of the most iconic Dublin dough franchises.

In 2016, the current owner Lisa Quinlan began expanding the menu of ‘The Rolling Donut’, which now includes an array of chocolatey options. From their ‘classic chocolate ring’ doughnut to contemporary selections such as a ‘Terry’s chocolate orange’ and ‘The Milky Bar kid’, The Rolling Donut has it all. We’d recommend their “Dub Donut”, a decadent chocolate ganache coating a delicious vanilla custard cream filling. The Rolling Donut also cater for events, bringing a classy touch to what could be an unforgettable party.

Eddie Rocket’s is famous across Ireland for its consistency, top quality burgers, loaded fries, and feeling like you’ve stepped into a scene from “Grease” when you pass their doors. It’s the ultimate American diner experience and what would a diner be without an extensive menu of chocolate shakes and desserts? Eddie Rocket’s features some of the most delicate desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth after a burger, such as their ‘Perfect Brownie’ served with whipped cream or ice cream. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not branch into their ‘Brownie Sundae’? Warm brownie chunks with vanilla ice-cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce – what’s not to love? Eddie Rocket’s also features some of the best milkshakes around, with premium shake flavours such as Kinder Bueno and Oreo. However, their Dundrum branch holds a secret gem: The Eddie Rocket’s Shake Shop. Shake Shop has all of Eddie Rocket’s standard and premium flavour shakes on the go, but you can add any, yes ANY, chocolate bar or confectionary topping imaginable! We’d highly recommend this place for the ultimate diner experience with friends.

Just outside Dublin, last stop on the Dart line, is the quaint seaside town of Greystones. While it may look like a run-of-the mill Irish village, Greystones is jam-packed with foodie stands and restaurants, from vegan stall-warts “The Happy Pear” to the cheese kings of “Tall boy toasties” – Greystones packs a lot in to one small town. Sonny’s is a family- owned restaurant with a range of American diner-style options. However, the chocolate options in Sonny’s are ample. For a first-time visit, we’d recommend building your own waffle cone, with smarties and chocolate sauce bringing you some colourful chocolate joy! In the winter months, Sonny’s adapt their menu and introduce a range of hot chocolates, such as the Kinder Bueno hot choc, with whipped cream, kinder sauce and topped with chocolate flakes! Yum.

One of the most iconic chocolate shops in Ireland, Butlers Chocolatiers was founded in 1932. Boasting almost 100 years of chocolate-making, there’s no denying these guys know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to epic chocolate treats. They have various cafes around the city, with their flagship store opening on Wicklow Street in 1998. During a busy day in the city, you’ll see hordes of locals and tourists flocking to this cute little chocolate on the corner of Grafton Street to get a coffee and a tasty treat.

On a quest to create a haven away from the busyness of everyday life, where customers could enjoy the highest quality coffee, tea, and chocolate beverages in stylish, welcoming surroundings, this spot has gone from strength to strength over the past quarter century. Today, they not only have branches all across Ireland, but they’ve even opened cafes in the likes of New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. All cafes offer a delectable range of hot and cold beverages, morning goods, sweet treats, and of course, their award-winning Butler’s Hot Chocolate. 

Located in the Great Canal Docks area of the city, herbstreet is a hipster and organic haven serving up delicious breakfast, brunch, lunch, and evening plates that showcase the very best of locally-sourced ingredients. With plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, this is the perfect spot for anyone adhering to a specific diet or lifestyle choice. Friendly and laidback, this spot is busy all day long as locals working in the city flock to pick up a bite to eat and a coffee before heading to the office, stop by for their lunch, or grab a delicious evening meal before heading home.

Brunch here is truly spectacular, but if you’re visiting on the weekend, be prepared to wait for a table. Chocoholics can start their day with the delicious buttermilk pancakes topped with chocolate chips and whipped cream. Desserts here are just as creative with everything from their tasty warm chocolate brownie served with local Glenilen Farm clotted cream to their delicious Iceberger Bar.

Nestled away in a quiet corner of Dún Laoghaire, Board and Brewed is a unique and laidback cafe offering the perfect place to chill out, enjoy delicious snacks and drinks, and catch up with friends. Not your average cafe, Board and Brewed invited diners to find a comfy seat and choose one from their selection of over 300 board games to enjoy a day of being a kid again. Encouraging diners to embrace their inner child, their mantra states, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

Encouraging connection and simplicity, this quirky cafe is truly one of a kind, making it one of our favourite spots just outside of the city. Their menu is minimal, with a delightful selection of breakfasts, sandwiches, drinks, and snacks to keep you going through your game play. One of the menu favourites, however, is their indulgent hot chocolate. Perfect for a winter’s evening, you can sip away on a toasty hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate sauce, and finished off with a little chocolate snack.

A casual and contemporary eatery serving up a delicious range of dishes, including pizza, burgers, seafood, beef, and more, The Gotham Café is the perfect spot for a tasty lunch or dinner at the heart of the city centre. Established in 1993, this family-run neighborhood restaurant has been a favourite among locals for over 30 years, keeping hungry diners returning time and time again to try something new. Based on the concept of delivering top quality food at reasonable prices in an unpretentious and casual setting, this is the perfect place to relax and catch-up with friends.

The sweet-toothed among us will be delighted to see their extensive dessert menu, which features a delicious array of treats including their classic Gotham Cheesecake, an authentic New York style lemon and vanilla cheesecake made with Philly style cream cheese and topped with a red berry coulis. If chocolate is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Choose from options such as their gooey and luscious Raspberry Chocolate Brownie, their Brooklyn S’Mores, featuring fire roasted marshmallow and milk chocolate pieces on a digestive biscuit base with vanilla ice-cream and pour over chocolate sauce, or their tasty Black and White Caramel Dream, a mix of Swiss chocolate, vanilla, and caramel ice-creams served with a thick chocolate sauce.

A social media sensation, The Paddocks in Clonee gained popularity online for their indulgent dishes, desserts, and creative cocktails. They certainly don’t hold back when it comes to flavours or portion control. They offer indulgent dishes to suit all tastes with everything from classics like salt and chilli chicken to more creative offerings like their homemade vegan carvery roast. Their cocktails also captivated the attention of people on social media with daring drinks playing with flavours making use of childhood favourite sweets and ice lollies. Take a quick look through their Instagram and you’ll quickly see cocktails filled with Black Jacks, Twisters, Fruit Pastilles, and more.

When it comes to dessert, chocoholics will think they’ve died and gone to heaven. From indulgent chocolate sundaes topped with all manner of sweet treats and sauces to chocolate filled milkshakes flavoured with everything from Nutella to Kinder Buenos to Galaxy bars, it won’t be long until you enter food coma territory. Aside from their milkshakes and sundaes, they also offer a range of classic desserts such as Belgian Waffles topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce, cheesecake, and more. For vegans, they offer a tasty chocolate and coconut tart.

A modern café and tearoom with an open mezzanine floor specialising in freshly made brunches, lunches, and sweet treats, Queen of Tarts is one of the most popular spots for cakes, tarts, and coffees in the city centre. Located at the heart of Temple Bar, this fantastic spot is known for its striking red facade and epic selection of freshly-baked goods. Chocoholics will be spoilt for choice with everything from their indulgent Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cheesecake to their fluffy and delicious Queen of Chocolate Fudge Cake.

They also serve up some epic fudge chocolate brownies, which come with different fillings everyday, as well as some tasty chocolate chip cookies. Those with specific dietary requirements need not worry about missing out, too, as they offer a tasty vegan cake of the day and a flourless cake of the day. Just ask at the counter for their specials and the friendly team will be more than happy to help.

One of the most iconic chocolate shops in Ireland, Butlers Chocolatiers was founded in 1932. Boasting almost 100 years of chocolate-making, there’s no denying these guys know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to epic chocolate treats. They have various cafes around the city, with their flagship store opening on Wicklow Street in 1998. During a busy day in the city, you’ll see hordes of locals and tourists flocking to this cute little chocolate on the corner of Grafton Street to get a coffee and a tasty treat.

On a quest to create a haven away from the busyness of everyday life, where customers could enjoy the highest quality coffee, tea, and chocolate beverages in stylish, welcoming surroundings, this spot has gone from strength to strength over the past quarter century. Today, they not only have branches all across Ireland, but they’ve even opened cafes in the likes of New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. All cafes offer a delectable range of hot and cold beverages, morning goods, sweet treats, and of course, their award-winning Butler’s Hot Chocolate.