Not only is Dublin a prime spot for tourist attractions and cultural venues, it is also a major city for foodies. The centre alone punches well above its weight for its culinary offerings, and luckily here at EPIC, there is a wealth of options, particularly when it comes to our favourite amalgamated meal – brunch.
All within a 15-minute walk of EPIC, you won’t struggle to find fresh food locations with innovative dishes and seasonal ingredients, and pretty much doing eggs any way you like.
1. As One
Location: City Quay
A “hidden-gem” in Dublin is As One, based on the water’s edge with a view of the Liffey. A huge airy space, As One is a café based on mutual respect for the environment, for seasonality, and for how we treat our bodies. Its menu is limited but full of flavour with the idea that you can taste each ingredient in every bite, and only real produce at that – nothing processed.
Serving brunch every day, with slightly different menus depending on whether it’s a weekend or not, find dishes such as steak and eggs, hash ups, French toast, and a classic Irish breakfast of course.
As One is a 6-minute walk from EPIC.
2. Tang
Location: Windmill Lane
If there’s one café you’re bound to find on every brunch spot list, it’s Tang, and for very good reason. The Middle Eastern inspired restaurant is often seen teeming with people, having squeezed as many as it will dare into their tables and chairs to accommodate the demand on a daily basis. Serving brunch dishes with a quirky twist, from hummus eggs, to Lebanese pesto mushrooms on toast, to the classics such as a shakshuka baked eggs and gluten-free pancakes.
There are currently four Dublin locations – Windmill Lane is the newest addition to the Tang family. If you find it’s too busy, you can find another branch on Abbey Street.
Tang is a 7-minute walk from EPIC.
3. Póg
Location: Tara Street
If you’re looking for a pancake fix, it’s got to be Póg. Choose exactly the toppings you want, how many pancakes you want in your stack, and even the type of pancake you want – find vegan, protein, gluten-free. If you’re not into pancakes, not to worry, they have loads of egg dishes as well as smoothie bowls – whatever fills the brunch-shaped hole in your tummy.
Think of it like a slightly less gluttonous Denny’s or IHOP – in the best way. Plus, we love its Irish name.
Póg is a 11-minute walk from EPIC
4. One Society
Location: Gardiner Street Lower
A café which focuses on connection and the sharing of mutual happiness, One Society follows this particular ethos by serving delicious but simple food. Like many other locations on this list, they are all about seasonality, sourcing ingredients from local farms.
Find American style vanilla pancakes, breakfast buns and roasties, and the famous Hangover stack – a mix of pancakes, eggs and bacon – for those mornings where you’re trying to cure the night before.
Bookings are available across the week, but weekend brunch is on a walk-in basis only. It’s served until 3pm between Wednesday and Sunday.
One Society is a 14-minute walk from EPIC
5. Herbstreet
Location: Hanover Quay
Choose sweet or savoury with this extensive brunch menu at Herbstreet, including chicken wings, veggie burgers, moules frites, as well as your classic dishes – short or tall stack pancakes, breakfast of champions featuring spiced cassava rostis and smoked salmon, and a crowd-favourite
Based beside the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Herbstreet is a family-owned neighbourhood restaurant at the waterfront and has been open for almost 20 years.
Brunch takes place from 12pm on Fridays and 10am on weekends.
Herbstreet is a 15-minute walk from EPIC.
6. Lemon Jelly Café
Location: Millenium Walkway
An oldie but a goodie, Lemon Jelly Café is an all-day breakfast spot, given that their lunch menu features favourites such as crepes, both sweet and savoury, as well as omelettes and acai bowls.
They don’t take bookings, so factor in the potential for a bit of a queue for your food during peak times; that said, the café boasts ample seating, with space for up to 72 guests indoors, and an additional 60 when the sun is shining and dining al fresco is more appealing.
Lemon Jelly café is a 15-minute walk from EPIC.
