31 Oct 2024
Sustainable restaurants in Dublin
The issue of sustainability has become increasingly important, not least in the world of gastronomy. More conscious of their carbon footprint, diners are on the lookout for restaurants that are doing their part for the planet. Happily, Dublin, with its bountiful supply of fresh produce, is home to several green-eating spots: from burger joints run solely on renewable energy, to sustainably sourced seafood bars, this city is ahead of the game.
Craft is an award-winning neighbourhood restaurant in Harold’s Croft, specialising in locally and sustainably sourced, seasonal food. The atmosphere is friendly and cosy – filled with locals – and the staff strike the perfect balance between chatty and professional. The menu showcases modern Irish cookery superbly: real highlights include Clare Island Salmon served with smoked yoghurt, cucumber, and dill, Feighcullen chicken with cep butter and celeriac, and polenta with artichoke and spinach. We strongly recommend leaving room for dessert, the caramelised white chocolate mousse with rhubarb and elderflower granita is not only delicious, but sustainably sourced too! Guilt-free indulgence? Sign us up.
Canal Bank Café has earned itself a bit of a reputation in Dublin – everyone loves it! And rightly so, serving lunch and dinner seven days a week and brunch at weekends, it has the answer to any dining requirement. All the meat, poultry, and fish served is sourced from Irish suppliers, of Irish origin, and is fully traceable from farm to fork. The lunch menu boasts tasty sandwiches, omelettes, and salads, as well as specials like the spicy shrimp tostadas with smoked chipotle chilli crema, and ricotta salata. The dinner menu offers heavier fare: chargrilled steaks; fish and chips; piquillo pepper linguine. The interiors are beautifully serene – sweeping windows lend the café a light and airy atmosphere – and the large floor space makes it perfect for kids.
Mamó is a modern European restaurant with an emphasis on sustainable ingredients, sourced from some of Ireland’s most respected food producers. The seasonal menus include gorgeous dishes like suckling pig belly with Roscoff onion, crumble and grilled leeks, Jerusalem artichoke risotto, and rhubarb and almond tart. There’s an outdoor seating area, brilliant for sunny days, and the indoor dining area is light and airy with large sweeping windows. Located a mere stone’s throw away from the pretty harbour, we highly recommend taking a stroll by the water after dining here.
Peploe’s is a relaxed fine dining bistro, serving classic European dishes using the freshest of home grown produce. There are two menus here: the a la carte and the all day option. The latter offers delicacies from the land and sea, with one of our favourite dishes being the Seared Organic Salmon with wild garlic risotto, Drummond House asparagus and a crab vinaigrette. The a la carte menu, meanwhile, has unmissable fillets and rib eyes which are classified as the ‘butcher’s choice’, while among Peploe’s classics is the Spaghettini with monkfish, Dublin Bay prawns, grilled chilli and roast tomato jus.
The only thing better than a gorgeous meal is a gorgeous meal enjoyed in a beautiful elegant setting. At Castleknock’s resident restaurant, Earth and Vine, you’ll get to indulge in farm-to-fork dining from some of Ireland’s best artisan producers. Castleknock Hotel places a huge emphasis on all things sustainability, with the goal to minimise food waste, source local where possible, compost all food waste, operate their own herb garden, and only operate with recyclable or reusable bottles, straws, and coffee cups. Between their green efforts and their beautifully curated seasonal menus, dining at Castleknock Hotel is a cut above the rest.
Brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Gráinee O’Keefe, BuJo is a neighbourhood burger joint located in pretty Dublin village, Sandymount. BuJo is the only burger restaurant with membership to the Sustainable Restaurant Association in Ireland. Its focus is on chargrilled, grass-fed beef sourced from Bora Bia (the Irish food board), and Irish family farms. All the packaging at BuJo is compostable and the restaurant is powered with renewable energy. The food is great value for money, too. From free-range chicken burgers (served with pink pickled sweet onions and house made ‘secret sauce’), chargrilled beef burgers served on brioche buns, to Beyond Meat veggie burgers served with garlic veganise and vegan cheese – there’s something for everyone. Polish off your meal with a hand-spun ice cream shake and thank us later!