The Best Restaurants Near Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College is a world-renowned university with almost 1700 students, so there are many cheap and tasty places to eat in this local area of Dublin. Here are 10 of the best.

Avoca Café

The perfect place for a catch up with friends, Avoca Café is right in the city centre on the top floor of a mini department store. They focus on fresh Irish ingredients, great baking and bringing out the natural flavours in their food. They are open for breakfast from 9am on Thursdays and Fridays, 9.30 on other weekdays and Saturdays; and also have a lunch or all-day menu. The café is bright and fashionably decorated with a rooftop view across Dublin City.

Pacino’s

Lemon Crepe & Coffee Company

A great place for lunch, Lemon’s vivid, citrus-coloured décor and trendy, lively atmosphere is popular among students and visitors alike. Specialising in crepes and waffles, Lemon is a great place for breakfast or brunch. Their sandwiches and toasties are fresh and delicious. Try the pulled pork and egg toastie, generously made and cooked to a golden crisp. They try to use organic Irish produce whenever possible and there are gluten free choices on the menu too.

The Pig & Heifer

The Pig & Heifer is a New York style deli which opened in 1996 to bring a bit of New York to Ireland. There is also a tapas restaurant here, as the result of a trip to Spain, through which the owners became inspired. In their food you will find influences from all over Spain and also the Basque Country.

Kilkenny Cafe and Restaurant

With a view over the grounds of Trinity College, Kilkenny Cafe and Restaurant serves food which is fresh and proudly additive-free. The healthy options in the restaurant include delicious dishes such as the chicken supreme with fennel and lemon, and everything has a ‘homemade’ taste. On Sundays there is a live jazz band which plays in the restaurant from 11am to 2pm. The full Irish breakfast is especially recommended.

The Pig’s Ear

The most popular restaurant for fine-dining in the Trinity College area of Dublin, The Pig’s Ear provides palate-pleasing dishes at surprisingly affordable prices. The staff are pleasant and professional, and the food is always beautifully presented and delectable. The restaurant’s décor is simple and dignified, with light cream walls contrasting against the dark furniture, and their three rooms overlook Trinity College’s training fields. The Pig’s Ear restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2009 and have retained it since.

Cornucopia Restaurant

This vegetarian restaurant is the perfect casual dining spot for vegetarians and omnivores alike. There is a large variety of options and the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. There are several vegan options on the menu too, and the restaurant also caters for celiac and sugar-free diets. Portion sizes are generous, and the interior décor is inspired by the art nouveau movement with flowers and floral patterns.
Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.