Best Irish Restaurants - The Heart of Dublin City

1. THE WINDING STAIR

WHERE: 40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1 | 7 minute walk from the apartment | WHAT: Modern Irish cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Monday & Tuesday, from 5pm; Wednesday-Sunday, from 12pm | RESERVATIONS: Book online here, email restaurant@winding-stair.com or call 01 8727320 | WEBSITE: winding-stair.com

Taking its name from the WB Yeats poetry collection The Winding Stair, this bookshop-turned-restaurant is a much-loved favourite among Dubliners. It looks out over the River Liffey and the Ha'Penny Bridge. The food is traditional, old-fashioned home cooking with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients from small and artisan producers. Everything from the food to the service is to an excellent standard, all in the most quintessentially Dublin location. There is also an excellent range of wines and beers (do try the Scraggy Bay IPA by small Donegal brewer Kinnegar).

2. DELAHUNT

WHERE: 39 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2 | 21 minutes walk from the apartment | WHAT: Modern Irish cuisine | €€ | TIMES: Lunch: Friday & Saturday only, 12.30pm to 2.30pm; Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 9pm; CLOSED on Sundays & Mondays | RESERVATIONS: Book online via website, call on 01 5984880 or email at info@delahunt.ie | WEBSITE: delahunt.ie

Located in a beautiful - and almost untouched - old Victorian building that dates back to 1906, Delahunt is an intimate yet elegant space full of charm and character. It's also modern Irish cuisine done to an exceptional standard. Mains like Wild Venison or Monkfish, with a 2-course menu for €55 or a 3-course option for €65. There is no fuss, things are relaxed and friendly. Be sure to pop upstairs afterwards to to its own cocktail bar.

3. THE VINTAGE KITCHEN

RESERVATIONS: Call +353 1 6798705 or email thevintagekitchendublin@gmail.com | WEBSITE: thevintagekitchen.ie

Stripped-back and casual, this is all about the food - which, with no exaggeration, is absolutely superb. It's modern Irish dishes with a nod to traditionalism - lunch options like fish pie with parmesan mash and onion crumbs or dinner options like glazed fillet of beef. The interior is, as you might guess, vintage and eclectic. It's not glamorous or swish - and doesn't try to be. But that's the charm!

Good to know: On Mondays and Tuesdays (only), you can bring your own bottle of wine and pay only a €6 corkage. If you fancy doing so, pop into Fallon & Byrne's Wine Cellar on the way and bring something nice!