The Hairy Lemon

You'll walk past this place a hundred times before realising it's exactly what you've been looking for. Tucked just off the madness of Grafton Street, you're dealing with a proper Dublin boozer that somehow manages to feed punters properly whilst pouring a decent pint. The food here is miles better than your average pub grub – think hearty Irish fare done with a bit of cop on, nothing fancy but executed well. What sets it apart is the crowd: you'll find office workers from nearby having their lunch pint alongside tourists who've stumbled off the main drag, and somehow it all works. The atmosphere hits that sweet spot where you can have a quiet jar and a chat or settle in for a proper session. Opens at ten sharp every morning, which tells you everything about the clientele – this is a working pub for people who know their way around Dublin 2.