Dan and I were recently in Dublin over President’s Day weekend (mid-February), and we spent our first full day on a food tour with Ketty of Delicious Dublin Food Tours! This was our first food tour in Dublin, although not Ireland, and it was a really fun way to spend a morning. We even found the very best Irish Coffee that we have ever had.
MEETING POINT – DUBLIN’S SPIRE.
Our tour started on a rainy Saturday morning, meeting a group of six others under the Spire (AKA Dublin’s tall pointy modern monument). The Spire is on the opposite side of the River Liffey from most of Dublin’s main tourist sites, so this was an interesting place to start. Ketty, our guide, explained a bit about the tour and food history of Ireland, before the group walked a few minutes to our first stop for that fantastic Irish Coffee that I mentioned!
The Spire, on a sunnier day than that of our tour!
STOP 1 – VICE FOR IRISH COFFEE.
Our first stop was Vice Coffee Inc. Vice is located in a very interesting concept space, sharing room with a ping pong club, a rum bar, and what looks like an adult Chucky Cheese. Despite the shared space, Vice holds its own. In fact, Vice has won multiple awards for “Best Irish Coffee.” And, Vice makes three delicious Irish Coffees: the Plain Jane, the Fancy Frankie, and the Luxurious Linda. Once in the bar, one of the bartenders meticulously prepared each of us a full Fancy Frankie, complete with an orange rimming the glass. Both Dan and I are BIG fans of this Irish Coffee, so much that we visited 2 more times on our long weekend in Dublin! I think the secret is the real Irish cream topper (it was amazing), but what do I know.
Fancy Frankies midway through preparation.
The beautiful Fancy Frankie. Look at that Irish Cream topper.
STOP 2 – CAMERINO FOR THE BEST SCONE & JAM.
Our second stop on the tour was still on the non-tourist heavy side of the River Liffey, which we liked, at a small and colorful bakery called Camerino. With the tag line “Lovin’ from the Oven,” Camerino is quite famous, having won Best in Ireland awards from McKenna’s Guides 8 times, as well as being finalists in the Dublin Street Food Awards and included in the Irish Independent’s bucket list of 30 things to do in Dublin before you die. Quite the resume!
We visited Camerino’s actual bakery shop, rather than its cafe, which is to-go only with a few seats outside. Ketty ordered everyone a scone topped with butter and raspberry jam. And truly, these scones were absolutely amazing, as was the butter and jam. I think the raspberry jam is the best that I ever have had. I found out after the fact that Camerino’s jars and sells its raspberry jam. I regret not knowing this while in Dublin! In any case, if you are in Dublin on this side of the Liffey, please stop at Camerino’s. Camerinos also has a cafè on the opposite side of the river.
A half Camerino’s scone with Irish butter and raspberry jam.
Following Camerino’s, we crossed the River Liffey into Temple Bar. Temple Bar is a very touristy part of Dublin filled with lots of tourists, tourist shops, and bars that locals wouldn’t be caught dead in, LOL. That being said, I do enjoy Temple Bar. I mean, I am a tourist! And, there is one great restaurant that Dan and I love in Temple Bar. It was the subject of my last post (and the location of our dinner the night before).
Crossing the River Liffey.
STOP 3 – A DUBLIN FAVORITE: GALLAGHER’S BOXTY HOUSE.
Yes, our next stop was Gallagher’s Boxty House, where Dan and I had dinner the night before. We even had the same waiter again. This gave everyone a laugh. In any case, if you read my last post, you know that Gallagher’s Boxty House is an Irish restaurant specializing in food made with the Irish potato and traditional Irish foods. Each tour guest was served the below, which included Irish beef stew, Irish lamb stew, and Dublin Coddle, which is similar to a stew and contains pork, and two types of Irish bread with Irish butter. Yes, this was a ton of food! I was also happy to try these foods on the tour, as I always order something corned beef based if ordering off the menu. Of the platter, my favorite was the Irish beef stew (DELICIOUS) followed by the Irish Coddle. The bread was also really fantastic (but I already knew that!).
Our platter of Irish soups and bread.
The Irish beef stew and Irish Coddle.
Gallagher’s also brews its own craft beer, which is all the rage in Ireland. Dan tried the homemade stout. I had a sip and while it was no Guinness, it was tasty. I opted for an Irish cider (not made by Gallagher’s).
Gallagher’s own stout.
An Irish cider.
Leaving Gallagher’s, we walked through more of touristy Dublin, eventually finding our way to Grafton Street. Despite the weather being iffy, Grafton Street was hopping with people, locals and tourists, and buskers! I love Grafton Street. Our next stop was just off Grafton Street.
STOP 4 – IRISH ICREAM AT MURPHY’S.
Though it was winter, our next stop was for Irish ice cream at Murphy’s! Murphy’s is an Irish ice cream chain that began in Dingle with two brothers in 2002. Murphy’s now has locations in five cities in Ireland and swears its secret is using milk from the indigenous breed of Kerry cow.
Murphy’s Dublin.
Murphy’s offers a variety of flavors, both classic and Irish, and even some with liquor! For our tour, everyone tried a scoop of Irish Brown Bread and a cream one (I cannot recall the name). Both were excellent. The Irish Brown Bread reminded me a bit of the Icelandic Rye ice cream that we had in Reykjavik in 2019. On the way out, I also tried a sample of the Dingle Gin & Pink Peppercorn ice cream. It was surprisingly fresh and quite peppercorn-y. According to our guide, the Irish eat ice cream year round, so definitely add this to your list of Dublin must visits!
Murphy’s menu.
Irish Brown Bread ice cream.
STOP 5 – REAL IRISH CHEESE FROM A REAL IRISH CHEESE MONGER (NOT MONSTER, IYKYK).
The final stop on our tour was not too far from Grafton Street at a real Irish cheese monger, Sheridans! Like Murphy’s, Sheridans was started by Irish brothers over 20 years ago, in 1995. Originally from Galway, Sheridans is well established in Dublin. At Sheridans, we tried two Irish cheese, a soft and hard cheese. Both were excellent and a fantastic way to end the tour. If you are just visiting, Sheridans would make a great place to stop for some cheese to eat in your hotel room or other goodies to take home (cheese going back to the US must be vacuum-sealed).
Sheridans Cheesemongers.
Cheese selections!
We left our Delicious Dublin Food Tour full and with lots of new information on the Irish food scene. I would definitely recommend this tour to first time visitors to Ireland. Be sure to wear walking shoes, bring an umbrella if there is any change of rain, and bring some water. Be sure to book your tour in advance, as the tours do fill up, even during the winter.
STEAL OUR FOOD TOUR
Delicious Dublin Food Tours: Our food tour. Book in advance, as the tour fills. Our guide, Ketty, was great! The cost is $73.25/person, everything mentioned included.
Vice Coffee Inc.: 54 Middle Abbey St, North City, Dublin, D01. Open daily 11:00 – 18:00.
Camerino: 158 Capel St., Dublin 1. Monday – Friday 8:00 – 14:30, Saturday 9:00 – 16:00. Closed Sunday.
Gallagher’s Boxty House: 20-21, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 ET66, Ireland. Open 10:00 – 22:00 Saturday – Wednesday, 16:00 – 22:00 Thursday & Friday. Casual attire. Reservations recommended; this place is super popular. Read my review of Gallagher’s Boxty House here!
Murphy’s Ice Cream: From Dingle, Ireland, locations in several cities in Ireland. 27 Wicklow Street in Dublin. Open 12:00 – 22:00.
Sheridan’s Cheese Mongers: 11 Anne St S, Dublin, D02. Open from 10:00 – 17:00. Closed Sunday.