F.X. Buckley Steakhouse Pembroke Street

You'd walk past this Pembroke Street spot easily enough, but step inside and you'll find what might be Dublin's most serious approach to beef. The steaks here are aged in-house for weeks, and you can taste the difference in every bite. The 10oz sirloin arrives perfectly charred outside, pink within, alongside proper hand-cut chips that actually taste like potato. Service is sharp but not stuffy – they know their cuts and aren't shy about recommending the rib-eye if you're wavering. The wine list leans French and expensive, but the house red does the job nicely. While other places flash about wagyu and fancy names, F.X. Buckley just gets on with serving excellent Irish beef in a no-nonsense dining room that feels more grown-up than gimmicky.