The 10 best places for brunch in Dublin

Why go? If avocado’s your thing, Angelina’s is king.

Blame generation rent and their insatiable appetite for the creamy green fruit (that’s why they can’t afford houses, dontchaknow), but avocado on toast remains the undisputed king of brunch. Bow down, then, to Dublin 4 staple Angelina’s, who serves not one, not two, but four separate versions of the dish on their weekend brunch menu. You can have the good stuff with bacon, salmon, Asian tuna; or if that doesn’t float your boat, they’ll happily serve you something else from their extensive menu.

Why go? Dog-friendly dining for you and your pooch.

If you’re the kind of person who wants to share everything with man and woman’s best friend, you’ll be straining at the leash to get to Two Pups Coffee. As its name suggests, it is a pro-hound spot that welcomes all your four-legged pals. And while TP’s not got the fanciest food selection on the block (their brunch menu favours your classic avo and poached egg-type dishes), what they lack in boundary-pushing, they more than make up for in puppy-stroking.

Why go? This two-branch favourite serves up a lip-smacking Middle Eastern-inspired menu.

With a North restaurant in Dublin 1 and a South in Dublin 8, you should never be far away from Brother Hubbard’s delectable, Middle Eastern-inspired menu. From the black pudding and feta-infused Full Hubbard or halloumi sabiche (a traditional sandwich) to their lip-smacking Moroccan pancakes, their all-week brunch offerings will leave you in a perfectly spiced spin. And, despite what Skepta might say, you can never have too much of their menemen. Ahem.

Why go? Guilt-free eating, with wholesome pleasures at its core.

Pronounced the same as ‘ethos’, this Dublin 4 restaurant places a certain kind of attitude front and centre. Intending to provide ‘thoughtful food’, its emphasis is on fresh, nutritional dishes that don’t do away with any of the flavours. Eathos' brunch menu is no different. Helpfully coded to assist with any food intolerances, you’ll find a virtuous yet unpreachy selection, including acai smoothie bowls, buckwheat pancakes and Eathos’s own ‘Hasbrown’ – which, bizarrely, is nothing like a hash brown. Not open on the weekend, unfortunately. 

Why go? More than just a coffee shop, Two Boys’ brunch rivals the best of them.

Popular coffee joint Two Boys Brew (for ’tis that kind of brew they’re touting) might be caffeine connoisseurs, but they’ve also got a mean way with brunch. Here, the best dishes are a little off-piste – be it the Summer Fruit Ricotta Hotcakes or their more hefty Creole Chicken Burger. Expect bubbles at the weekend, too.

Why go? Vintage arcade games and boozy brunch combine in this quirky favourite.

A dive bar at the rear of a trendy bowling alley may not have traditionally earmarked itself as a brunch spot, but these days, you know it’s going to mean those two golden words: Bottomless. Booze. Yep, Thundercat Alley – with its retro Street Fighter games machine and rubber duck-covered bathroom ceiling – might fall on the more modern end of the brunching spectrum, but oh, is it good. Flavour-packed flatbreads and sandwiches are essentially built for soaking up the drinks. They know us so well.

Why go? Swanky brunch with an out-of-the-box menu.

Cleaver East – the in-house restaurant of The Clarence, run by chef Oliver Dunne – is a place worthy of a weekend treat. Within the restaurant’s tastefully swish décor, you’ll find a refreshingly different brunch menu. Think monkfish tacos and crab cake sliders, alongside more traditional dishes like chicken and waffles and various eggs. Come for the ambience, but stay for the garlic and bacon potatoes. We don’t need telling twice.

Why go? For 360-degree views of the city (and some rather good grub, too).

Perched at the top of the swish hotel The Dean, Sophie’s is a treat-yourself gem for two reasons. Firstly, its panoramic views of the city would leave even the most hardened local impressed. And secondly, its brunch menu ain’t half bad either. Served on weekends, it ranges from healthy granola to pancake stacks to all manner of eggs. Bored of the classics? There’s a whole pizza menu to choose from, too.

Why go? High-end steak and shellfish (and lighter stuff for brunch).

Go on, we’ll give you three guesses as to the star dishes at Beef and Lobster... But if all manner of juicy patties and succulent shellfish might be the order of the day and evening, at brunch they’ve also added some lighter morsels to get you going. Crab cakes, lobster fritters and spiced duck wings all nestle alongside the classics; go for the bottomless brunch option and experience foodie paradise. 

Why go? Missed brunch? Now you can try drunch. Oh yes.

OK, so you’ve done brunch. You’ve had your eggs and avo, and now you want a new thrill. Welcome, Le Drunch – the half dinner/half lunch meal from The Marker Hotel. Cherrypicking from the best bits of their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, you can browse their extensive list of yummy delights, including comfort food classics, healthy ‘equilibrium’ options and finger food sides. And you can still get eggs if you really want.