Russell Street Bakery

You'll smell the bread before you see the queue snaking around Behan Square. This is what happens when proper bakers who actually know their craft set up shop in the city centre - Dublin's office workers have cottoned on fast, and weekend brunchers aren't far behind. The sourdough here is the real deal, with that perfect chewy crust and tangy bite you'd expect from bread that's been given time to develop. Their pastries are equally serious business - buttery, flaky things that disappear as quickly as they come out of the oven. The space itself is compact but perfectly formed, all white tiles and warm wood, with that lovely bakery chaos of flour-dusted surfaces and the constant ballet of bakers at work. Get there early or risk disappointment.