Borrowing the Italian word for “cooked,” modern, minimalist Cotto is the sister restaurant to ever-popular Oxmantown sandwich shop. It has the same chilled atmosphere and lovely staff, but a decidedly different culinary offering: Neapolitan-style pizza. With expertly charred bases and clever combinations like fennel sausage and ricotta, mushroom and truffle oil, and nduja and jalepenos, their pies stand out from mediocre pizza elsewhere in the city. It’s big enough that there’s rarely a queue to eat in, and also a popular delivery choice. In addition to the main event, there are salads, sauces like Jerusalem artichoke hummus and harissa aioli, sides, and tasty desserts like affogato and poppyseed polenta cake. With a bottle of wine, it makes a great date night spot, but there’s also a banging brunch with standouts like the black pudding sandwich and shakshuka to go with your choice of bellini, mimosa, Cipriano frizzante, or Aperol spritz.
Time Out tip: Despite the standard six-plus automatic gratuity elsewhere, Cotto adds a service charge for parties over four.
Nearby:
St Michan’s Church: To see the mummified remains of local nobles
Phoenix Park: For strolls past stately homes and friendly fallow deer
Light House Cinema: For arthouse flicks in an intimate, colourful venue
The Glimmer Man: For pub drinks among an impressive collection of Irish artefacts