A few weeks ago, Chris and I decided that it was time to visit the merry old city of Dublin, to check out how much their vegan options (sham)rocked (sorry, ha).
Dublin is a wonderful city and we really did feel right at home as soon as we arrived. Everyone was so friendly and there was an energy in the air which was contagious. It’s definitely not the cheapest city but we found that we mainly spent the weekend walking around and using public transport which suited us fine. We were impressed by the amount of vegan options on offer and there were lots of places we couldn’t squeeze into our trip (see the very end of this article).
This was another two day trip where we tried to squeeze as many restaurants into our itinerary and food into our stomach as possible!
I received some recommendations from the Instagram community on where to eat and decided to visit the ones which received the most votes! There are more which we didn’t get the chance to visit on this occasion but I’m sure we’ll be back to visit them one day!
If you’d like to see a little more from our trip, you can watch our YouTube video here.
Here’s the list of places we visited in the order we visited them:
🌱 Merrion Hotel
🌱 Cornucopia
🌱 The Rolling Donut
🌱 Happy Food
🌱 Veginity
🌱 Vish Shop
🌱 Sova Vegan Butcher
🌱 Take A Veg
So, down to the nitty gritty. Here’s what we ate and what we thought:
1. Merrion Hotel
** Disclaimer – My meal and stay here were complimentary but all views are honest and my own
Where is it?
Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, Ireland
What’s it like?
The Merrion is a luxurious five star hotel which also hosts a Michelin star restaurant and a garden-side restaurant. It’s within walking distance from all of the main attractions and is a popular place for celebrities to stay (we saw Alicia Vikander while we were there!). The room we stayed in had high ceilings, a lavish marble bathroom and enough space to cartwheel around in until your heart is content. This is a beautiful and glamorous hotel which oozes class.
What did you eat?
We were invited to eat in the Garden Room twice. Once to try Holly White’s new vegan menu and once to try their vegan breakfast.
Holly White’s Menu
- Chickpea Pancake with Guacamole and Cherry Tomatoes – 12 Euros (£10.30)
- Spiralised Courgetti with Roasted Tomatoes, Pine Nuts & Black Olives – 10 Euros (£8.60)
- Vegan Burger with Crispy Aubergine Bacon & Vegan Mozzarella – 20 Euros (£17.30)
- Roasted Vegetable Buddha Bowl with Vegan Pesto and Garlic Bread – 20 Euros (£17.30)
- Crisp Roasted Cauliflower with Coriander – 5.50 Euros (£4.75)
- Raspberry & Vanilla Cheesecake with White Chocolate Sauce – 14 Euros (£12)
- Lemon Meringue Tart with a Red Berry Reduction – 14 Euros (£12)
What did you think of the food?
- Chickpea Pancake – My favourite dish of the night. I liked the texture of the pancake and thought that the contrast of sweet and savoury worked well
- Spiralised Courgetti – This was a light, fresh dish with a strong olive flavour, but the dish needed something to tie it all together. I’m into my carbs so probably would’ve liked this to be a pasta dish instead!
- Vegan Burger – I’m personally more of a simple burger kinda gal so this was perhaps a bit too overloaded for me. The quinoa patty didn’t hold together very well and perhaps needed more flavour. I liked the addition of pickles and the aubergine bacon gave it a little crunch. The mozzarella tasted a bit too strongly of coconut for my liking (but I know some people enjoy that). The best part of the burger was right in the very middle. The chips and vegan mayo were tasty!
- Buddha Bowl – I loved the pesto and that added a nice flavour to the dish but I would’ve liked to see more creative ingredients to really make it come to life. Not sure the garlic bread went with the dish.
- Cauliflower – I thought that this needed a little more seasoning, I’m not sure we received any coriander with our dish! It was also a little too greasy for me.
- Cheesecake – The base was beautiful and had a nice chocolate flavour but the white chocolate was a bit too sticky and would’ve worked better if it were a bit creamier / thinner. It tasted quite a lot of almonds.
- Lemon Meringue Tart – Loved the zesty flavour and the meringue held together really well (which is tough to do with a vegan meringue!). The biscuit was nice and crumbly. Fab presentation!
Breakfast Menu
- Tofu Scrambled “Eggs” with grilled tomato, mushroom, avocado & sautéed garlic spinach (price included in stay)
- Vegan Sweet Pancake with berries and coconut cream (price included in stay)
What did you think of the food?
- Tofu Scrambled “Eggs” – One of the best tofu scrambles I’ve had – moist with great textures and sweet flavours throughout. The onions were a great addition! I was a little disappointed in the rest of the breakfast though as it just felt a little basic. I wanted more flavour from the mushroom, avocado & tomato, though I did enjoy the spinach. Also think the portion needed to be a bit bigger!
- Vegan Sweet Pancake – These were quite thick and chewy and a little dry. They needed an injection of flavour as the only flavour came from the coconut cream. It needed some kind of syrup. The blueberries worked best, I would’ve used more blueberries and left off the raspberries and blackberries as they didn’t do it for me.
More information:
Check out their website
2. Cornucopia
** Disclaimer – My meal was complimentary but all views are honest and my own
Where is it?
19-20 Wicklow St, Dublin, D02 FK27, Ireland
What’s it like?
This is a super relaxed, homely vegetarian restaurant with vegan options. The service is friendly and there’s a real community vibe. You are served at the counter and can choose from a number of daily specials. This is a family run business which has been thriving for thirty years now!
What did you eat?
- Irish Stew with seitan, barley and a side of two salads – 14.95 Euros (£13)
- Keralan Curry with sweet, potato, mushroom & a side of two salads – 14.95 Euros (£13)
What did you think of the food?
- Irish Stew – Salty, rich, deep flavours. The seitan is soft and melts in your mouth, just like a beef stew. Loved the contrast of the pearl barley texture. Pure comfort!
- Keralan Curry – This really reminded me of Korma. Creamy, coconut flavours and the sweet potato soaked up the flavours so well
More information:
Check out their Instagram
3.The Rolling Donut
Where is it?
Several locations across Dublin, we visited 34 Bachelors Walk, North City, Dublin 1
What’s it like?
Does what it says on the tin! This is a doughnut shop which isn’t 100% vegan but has an amazing range of vegan options. There’s a small space to sit down but mainly this is a ‘grab and go’ kind of place.
What did you eat?
- Vegan ferrero rocher doughnut – 3 Euros (£2.50)
What did you think of the food?
- Incredible selection of vegan doughnuts but I was hoping that mine would taste more like Ferrero Rocher than it did. However, it was super creamy and gooey which was amazing. The hazelnuts on top were beaut. Think I got unlucky with my flavour choice!
More information:
Check out their Instagram
4. Happy Food
Where is it?
YogaHub 5-8 Camden Court, Dublin 2, D02 X284, Ireland
What’s it like?
A cosy little spot tucked off of a main Street. It’s got an adorable outdoor space, which would be great in summer. It’s light, spacious, airy and was quite busy by the time we left our early breakfast!
What did you eat?
- Happy Vibe Breakfast with a chickpea scramble, bean sausages, tofu bacon, beans in tomato, garlic & chilli sauce, roasted nutty mushrooms, tomatoes served with organic sourdough bread – 13.90 Euros (£12)
- Truffle Smashed Avocado – Smashed avocado, radish & super green garnish with truffle vinaigrette dressing on organic walnut sourdough bread – 11.90 Euros (£10)
What did you think of the food?
- Happy Vibe Breakfast – The mushrooms were cold but seasoned well. I would’ve preferred them warm. The beans were lukewarm but had a nice flavour and were super chunky. The chickpea had an absolutely beaut flavour, kind of like hummus. It was creamy with a mild spice and a nice level of salt. The tomatoes weren’t cooked which was a bit strange. The sausage was crispy on the outside but soft and doughy inside. It was a little dry so only worked when it was paired with the beans. The bacon wasn’t anything like bacon but it was quite nice in its own right. It was battered tofu which reminded me of fried chicken – bit flavourless on its own but worked well with the scramble. The bread was too tough and scratched the roof of my mouth when I ate it so softer bread would work better!
- Truffle Smashed Avocado – This does what it says on the tin but it was quite nice! The truffle works well but I’m not sure I loved the bread it was on although the walnuts did add a crunch. It had a very creamy texture, almost like cream cheese. I personally prefer my avocado chunky rather than smooth but Chris enjoyed that. It’s quite a salty dish but overall it works and the truffle isn’t overpowering.
More information:
Check out their Instagram
5. Veginity
** Disclaimer – My meal was complimentary but all views are honest and my own
Where is it?
101 Dorset Street Upper, Inns Quay, Dublin, D01 A2F4, Ireland
What’s it like?
This little spot has a lot of potential. The decor is a little mismatched and perhaps a little outdated but the food is tasty, the staff are lovely and it’s got a nice, relaxed feel to it. It’s 100% vegan and serves brunch as well as dinner.
What did you eat?
- Queen of the North – Warm, scotched avocado, piper potato boxty, vegan parmesan, black kale, red eye coffee gravy – 11 Euros (£9.50)
- All Day Breakfast Cheeseburger – Smoky soy patty, melted cheese, pickled beets, vine tomatoes, fresh salad, homemade brioche bun and crisp roast potato, tofu bacon – 11.50 euros (£9.90)
What did you think of the food?
- Queen of the North – The centrepiece was an avocado stuffed with a bolognese type filling and it was delicious. It had a little hint of spice which contrasts well with the avocado. I really liked it altogether. The spring onion, parmesan and potato all worked really well. The juicy tomato flavours added sweetness and the kale added a salty flavour.
- All Day Breakfast Cheeseburger – This was like a home cooked burger. I really liked it. The soy patty wasn’t too thick, the bun was soft, the mustard mayo was divine, the cheese melted well, there was a good amount of sauce and some pickled beets & tomato for moisture. The burger had an earthy flavour and I really enjoyed. it. Also, the chips were INSANE
More information:
Check out their Instagram
6. Vish Shop
** Disclaimer – My meal was complimentary but all views are honest and my own
Where is it?
1 Blessington St, Inns Quay, Dublin, D07 XD37, Ireland
What’s it like?
Simple little fish shop style cafe with a few seats. 100% vegan!
What did you eat?
- Original Vish with dill pickle aioli and pickled samphire – 6 Euros (£5.20)
What did you think of the food?
- Vish – The batter was superb – light, crisp and non greasy, but the ‘fish’ was a little too dense for my liking. It was a bit sticky and almost cakey / doughy so I would’ve preferred something flakier / lighter. I really liked the pickled samphire! I still believe that tofu is the best fish substitute.
More information:
Check out their instagram
6. Sova Vegan Butcher
Where is it?
51 Pleasants St, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin, Ireland
What’s it like?
The trendiest of all the restaurants we visited and the best too. Great vibe, great food, friendly but slow service. The decor was beautiful and it felt like the kind of place you could spend hours sipping red wine and chatting. 100% vegan!
What did you eat?
- King “Scallops” with beurre blanc sauce, roasted potatoes, pea puree, pickled radish, black pudding crisps – 7.50 Euros (£6.50)
- “Chicken” Roulade with mushroom gravy, grilled broccolini, confit potato chips – 17.90 Euros (£15.45)
- Soya Schnitzels with duchess potato, wild mushroom ragu, pan fried broad beans & tartare sauce – 17.90 Euros (£15.45)
What did you think of the food?
- King “Scallops” – The pea puree was absolutely beautiful. The texture of the scallops was perfect. I didn’t know if the potato would work but it really did. The black pudding gave it some bite. I really enjoyed this dish!
- “Chicken” Roulade – This was a fantastic dish. I thought that it needed a tiny bit more of the onion gravy but it was excellent. It reminded me of a chicken pie – sweet flavours, juicy mushrooms and the texture was spot on. Highly recommend!
- Soya Schnitzels – The Seiten was a little tough and a bit too dense / cakey in this dish but I really liked the ragu underneath. The tartare sauce actually had quite an eggy flavour. I enjoyed most of the dish apart from the seitan.
More information:
Check out their instagram
6. Take A Veg
** Disclaimer – My meal was complimentary but all views are honest and my own
Where is it?
58 Parnell street, Moore Street Shopping Mall Unit 1, Dublin 1, Ireland
What’s it like?
Just a little stall in a shopping centre, but don’t judge a book by its cover. This is some top quality vegan comfort food!
What did you eat?
- Buffalo Sandwich with a deep fried Southern style seitan fillet tossed in a homemade buffalo sauce with tomato, lettuce, homemade garlic mayo & a brioche bun – 7.50 Euros (£6.50)
- Filet-NO-Fish with a marinated tempeh fillet wrapped in nori seaweed served in a brioche bun, with a special tangy tartare, fresh cucumber & teriyaki sauce – 9 Euros (£7.80)
- Pizza Fries – Hand cut chips loaded with pizza sauce, mushrooms, black olives, vegan mozzarella and fresh basil – 8.50 Euros (£7.30)
- Deep-fried Donut – 2.50 Euros (£2.15)
- Peanut & dark chocolate mousse tart – 4 Euros (£3.45)
What did you think of the food?
- Buffalo Sandwich – I really enjoyed this. The sauce was sweet and sour with a hit of spice, the lettuce and tomato gave it crunch but also cooled it down. The bun also worked really well.
- Filet-NO-Fish – The tempeh was a little too dense for me but it did hold together well and the sweet sauce was divine. Great flavours!
- Pizza Fries – We chose the chunky chips options and I’m so glad we did. They were cooked so well, the cheese melted really well and this really was like eating a pizza in ‘chips’ form. The olives and mushrooms were so dreamy. Could eat this all day!
- Deep-fried Donut – I’ll be honest, I was so stuffed at this point that I could barely fit this into my stomach but I remember thinking that it was a tiny bit dense. The flavour were brilliant though.
- Peanut & dark chocolate mousse tart – I don’t know how to explain to you just how insane this mousse was. IT WAS PHENOMENAL. It was so light, creamy and fluffy and he flavours were incredible – just like milk chocoolate. I like that the biscuit layer was thin so that it didn’t detract from the mousse itself. YOU HAVE TO ORDER THIS. Possibly my favourite dish from the whole trip!
More information:
Check out their instagram
I hope that this blog post has helped you understand the vegan scene in Dublin a little better. As I said before, we had very limited time there but here are some of the places we were going to check out if we had time:
- Beast, Umi Falafael, Govinda’s, The Carrot Stall, Token Dublin, McDuinness’ Traditional Takeaway, Aperitivo, DiFontaine, Chameleon, Kimchi Hophouse, Hungry Mexican, PI, Token, Pog, Co. Wicklow, Industry & Co, St George’s Arcade, Brother Hubbard, Eatyard, Fallon & Byrne, Saba
Side note: I would also recommend a visit to Kilmainhamgaol which was fascinating. We learned so much about Irish history.
Side side note: Before anyone asks, YES GUINNESS IS NOW VEGAN!
If you want any tips or just want to have a chat about any of the places we visited, head over to my Instagram page: @thelittlelondonvegan. Alternatively, check out my YouTube video from the trip.
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