Much more than a great excuse to have a glass of bubbly before noon, brunch has become a foodie institution in recent years, having tickled the fancy of diners since the late 19th century.

A treat-filled weekend remix of breakfast and lunch, it’s thought to be the creation of British writer Guy Beringer who opined in 1895, “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday-night carousers.” No arguments here, then.
It’s taken a while for the Irish to hop on board the brunch bandwagon, but we’ve truly perfected the art in the last few years, as evidenced by the delicious spread put on by this selection of restaurants, bars and cafés.
Chilli sandwiches, black pudding salads, Divorced Eggs; it’s all on the menu at these trend-setting eateries. Now all you have to do is take your pick!

Dillinger’s
47, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Tel. (01) 497 8010
Dillingers.ie

Boasting ingenious twists on several brunch classics, Ranelagh eatery Dillinger’s is the perfect place to catch up with friends or simply recap on the devilment from the night before. “Dillinger’s has had a loyal brunch following from the first weekend it opened its doors,” says former bar manager Leo Molloy. “In fact, the first brunch services we had to close early because it was so busy we ran out of food!” These days, culinary favourites include Divorced Eggs (fried eggs, crispy tortillas, refried beans, and red and green sauce), Sloppy Jane (house chilli, warm baps, jalapeno, cheese) and the Cubanita Sandwich (crispy pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, avocado and chipotle), all of which you can wash down with a Bloody Mary, Bellini or special Gin Brunch cocktail. “I think most people wake up and think ‘What’s gonna fix what I did last night?’” Molloy observes. “They decide what they want to eat before they leave the house without a menu. And they know where to go to get it!”
Serving brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 12pm – 4pm

Woodstock Café/Moloughney’s
156 Phibsborough Road,
Dublin 7/
No. 9 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Tel. (01) 830 0265/(01) 833 0002
Woodstockcafe.ie

Breakfast is nothing less than a rite of passage in this Phibsborough café, where the build-your-own fry (a steal at €4.75 – €10!) has attracted a host of devoted regulars in its 20 years in business. Sister restaurant Moloughney’s in Clontarf has become equally renowned, thanks to its dynamite Breakfast Blaa (streaky bacon, fried egg, black pudding and tomato in a soft, floury bap), killer pancakes (served with berries, chocolate and cream or bacon and maple syrup) and a timeless version of Eggs Benedict. At Woodstock and Moloughney’s, breakfast rolls straight into lunch, meaning that you can get all those brunch favourites any day of the week. “Lunch starts at 12 on the button,” says co-owner Angela Ruttledge, “but if we get people coming in looking for breakfast we’re always willing to rustle up a sausage sandwich, or the bacon and brie with homemade red onion marmalade.” Psst! On selected Thursday evenings, Woodstock hosts live music sessions, featuring the likes of SJ McCardle, Deetrich and Stewart Agnew!
Serving: (Woodstock) breakfast, 7.30am to noon and lunch, noon – 5pm (4.30pm) every day and (Moloughney’s) breakfast, 8.30am – noon, Monday to Saturday, 9.30am – 1.30pm on Sunday and lunch, noon – 4.30pm every day.

Pacino’s
18 Suffolk Street., Dublin 2. Tel. (01) 6775651
pacinos.ie

A fond throwback to many a Dubliner’s childhood, Pacino’s is as beloved today as it has been throughout its near-20-year history. A forward- thinking Italian with an old world vibe, the Suffolk Street restaurant has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years, as the revamped Cellar Bar and Venue attracts a whole new generation of fans. Designed by Chef Patron Luca Mazza, the Italian-inspired cuisine is just as celebrated as ever. For brunch, choose from age-old classics (pancakes, Eggs Benedict, and savoury omelette) and their Italian cousins, namely Bruschetta al Pomodoro (bruschetta with tomato and basil) and Salsiccia alla Griglia con Pane all’Aglio (grilled Italian sausages served with rustic bread). Can’t decide? Have a Mimosa or Bloody Mary while you mull it over... whilst listening to the hugely talented singer-songwriter Galia Arad on guitar, who, when not touring with Jools Holland, can be found here every weekend..
Serving brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm

Lennox Café Bistro
31 Lennox Street, Dublin 8.
Tel. (01) 478 9966
lennoxcafe.ie

Operating under the ethos that food “should taste good and be good for you!”, Lennox specialises in modern international cuisine, ethically-sourced, and it’s no surprise that its much talked-about brunch menu has become its USP. Ranging from the waistline-friendly (Bircher muesli with nuts, grated apple, honey, yogurt with red berry compote, organic scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms or smoked salmon) to the decadent (French toast with summer berries and vanilla ice-cream, crispy Parma ham, honey roast pears, baby leaves and caramelised walnuts), its show-stopping dishes are reason enough for a celebration, making Lennox the perfect spot for a weekend treat.
Serving brunch: Saturday and Sunday

Mayfield Deli and Eatery
@ Union Square
7 Terenure Road North, Dublin 6W. Tel. (01) 492 6830
facebook.com/mayfieldeatery

A retro-styled suburban gem, serving up brunch classics like Eggs Benedict and French toast alongside eye-popping originals including a near-legendary Breakfast Pie! Mayfield is the epitome of Granny chic in Dublin dining. The Terenure Road North hotspot also boasts a gorgeous terrace, for those seeking an alfresco brunch.
Serving brunch: Saturday and Sunday from noon.

Beckett & Bull
53 Rathgar Avenue, Dublin 6.
Tel. (01) 498 0011
beckettandbull.ie

A friendly neighbourhood diner, this self-proclaimed “made-from-good-stuff-eatery” promises an all-American brunch; short stack pancakes (with maple syrup, and your choice of char-grilled banana and fresh strawberries or crispy bacon) and steak and eggs (8oz Irish sirloin with home fries and eggs) stay right on theme, but a selection of Irish breakfast staples allow patrons to get the best of both worlds.
Serving brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 4pm

The Pepper Pot
The Powerscourt Centre, 59 South William Street, Dublin 2.
Tel. 087 790 3204 or 087 913 8861

If it’s a good, old-fashioned brekkie you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the Powerscourt Centre’s Pepper Pot Café, which counts creamy scrambled eggs, scones and French toast among its brunch delights. There’s also room for experimentation in this adorable and pocket-friendly hangout, where a sausage sambo comes with homemade apple and tomato chutney and a breakfast tart features black pudding and blue cheese in a starring role.
Serving brunch: Saturday from 10am.

Port House Ibericos
5/6 Pembroke Cottage, Dundrum. Tel (01) 216 6133
porthouse.ie

The newest addition to the Port House family, Dundrum’s Port House doesn’t offer brunch as we know it, but the Spanish equivalent, desayuno. Gastronomic highlights include churros (Spanish doughnuts served hot, tossed in cinnamon sugar), torrijas (a close cousin of French toast), heuvos Morunos (Moroccan spiced fried eggs) and tortilla Espanola (a potato and onion omelette), all served tapas-style.
Serving desayuno: Saturday and Sunday from 10am.

Ely Gastro Bar
Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2.
Tel (01) 633 9986
elywinebar.ie

Overlooking the Grand Canal Basin, Ely Gastro Bar is the most informal of the Ely trinity of eateries, making it an ideal place to share a laidback bite with friends. Billed as ‘The Weekender’, the brunch menu is divided into starters (warm leek, Gruyere and smoked almond tart), mains (the restaurant’s own organic pork bangers), deserts, sides and cocktails, with a huge selection of craft beers also on offer.
Serving brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 12pm – 4pm.

No Name Bar
3 Fade Street, Dublin 2.
Tel. (01) 7645681
lgueuleton.com

Upstairs from critically-acclaimed bistro l’Gueuleton, Fade Street’s bar with no name (look for the wooden snail at the entrance!) transforms from late-night drinking hole to low-key chow house on weekend afternoons, bringing the elegance of the downstairs restaurant with it. Dishes like black pudding salad demonstrate a playful twist on breakfast classics, while favourites like Eggs Florentine and Eggs Benedict are also done sinfully well.
Serving brunch: Saturdays and Sundays 1pm – 4pm.