Brother Hubbard (North)
Brother Hubbard has some of the tastiest vegetarian food in Dublin and the restaurant’s expansion is a testament to its popularity in the city. Brother Hubbard opened in 2012 as a simple cake and coffee shop, but quickly added a full service kitchen and a second location south of the River Liffey. The original location has taken over the two adjoining spaces in an effort to add more tables for its long line of customers, although it still remains difficult to get a table during the lunch rush.
The menu isn’t 100% vegetarian, but there are plenty of options for non-meat eaters, most with a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern influence. Every meal I tried there- and I ate there a lot- was well seasoned and filling without feeling heavy. The staff are nice as can be to boot!
Sova Vegan Butcher
The Portobello district of Dublin is full of trendy restaurants and bars, but the most unique has to be Sova Vegan Butcher. The hours might be limited and if you risk not making a reservation the wait might be long, but this one is worth it. Flavorful and playful food, prepared in an elevated way is the goal at this all-vegan eatery. Menu items include: a chia burger with jalapeño mayo, fermented cucumber and celeriac slaw; pulled porc bap with sauerkraut, apple salad and oyster mushrooms; taco lettuce wraps. Being a massive fan of seitan, I opted for the Seitan Doner Kebab and it was wildly delicious. The prices aren’t for the most budget-minded of travelers, but you’ve got to splurge now and then, right?
Beanhive Coffee
If you’re looking for the best vegetarian Irish breakfast, as well as some of the best coffee in town, head to Beanhive Coffee near St. Stephen’s Green and The Little Museum of Dublin. Beanhive opens at 7:15 on weekdays, which is a real lifesaver if you’re an earlier riser and most breakfast places don’t open until 8/9:00. Super, super friendly baristas always greeted me with a smile- cheesy, I know, but it’s a great way to start your day when traveling! They know how to transpose the normally meaty Irish breakfast into a vegetarian delight; don’t forget to grab one of their fluffy scones on the way out for a mid-morning snack.
The Rolling Donut
The Rolling Donut might be the most dangerous place in Dublin. You intend on only sampling one donut, but then they hit you with a deal to purchase three, so at this point you’d be stupid not to indulge yourself in some extra treats. Then like any good dealer, they make it far too easy for their addicted customers to get their next fix. You can order online and skip the line when picking up or they will simply deliver right to your door in the city center.
As you can see, these aren’t your typical donuts. The inventive creations are topped with chocolate ganache or a vanilla glaze and filled custards, creams, jellies and various nut butters. The Molly Malone is stuffed with apples and cinnamon and topped with crushed cookies; Baoffee Pie is a sourdough donut, covered with chocolate and caramel and filled with banana custard; Bailey’s Bliss is full of a creamy Bailey’s-infused filling and topped with vanilla glaze and chocolate crumble.
You will be the most popular person in your hostel common room if you return with a box (or two) for a taste tasting extravaganza, and really it would be impossible to eat so many by yourself anyway.
Dublin’s food scene appears to have really exploded over the past decade, not only with vegetarian/vegan offerings, but with a larger, hipster-driven restaurant market. Taste of Dublin, which takes place every June, has become one of the biggest events on the annual city calendar and coffee culture continues to expand across the capital. Traveling the world on a vegetarian diet might be a challenge in some planes, but Dublin is not one of them.
