Best of Dublin - Gráinne O’Keefe - Dublin's Best Bits

Best Dublin Day Out
I love getting the train out to Howth with my boyfriend, or going for a walk around Sandymount Strand, and I love getting Bujo on a Sunday.

Howth

Best Restaurant
Bahay in Blackpitts. Richie was my sous chef in Clanbrassil House, so he and Alex started Bahay around the same time we opened Mae. Richie’s food is incredible. It’s really interesting because no one else is doing flavours like it and that’s why I love going. Richie is half Filipino, but grew up in Ireland, so he’s bringing flavours that aren’t known in a format that is. He makes a longanisa Filipin-style sausage, but it’s a battered sausage, so it’s Filipino fusion. I love cooking like that, there’s no ego, it’s just simple and tasty.

Bahay

Best Chipper 
We used to go to Amber Grill in Rialto. For me, they do the best battered sausage in Dublin!

Amber Grill

Best Pub
I love Crowes Pub on Merrion Road. It’s real old school Irish. You walk in, John will be there and he has your order ready. There’s a really nice vibe and really good pints of Guinness. I love the Royal Oak in Kilmainham too, it’s so cute.

Crowes Pub

Best Coffee
Sasha’s Coffee Bar is just three doors up from here and it’s genuinely the best coffee that I’ve had. He picks two different coffees at a time and gets pastries from Tartine. I love that business attitude of, if you can’t do better than what you can buy, then buy it from someone who can do better. I get coffee from them at least once a day for me and the girls.

• Mae Restaurant, 53 Shelbourne Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Tel: (01) 231 3903 maerestaurant.ie 
• Featured in Hot Press "Best of Dublin" available down below