5 of the Best Spots on Camden Street Now That it’s One of Time Out’s Coolest Street
Words: Shamim de Brún
Images: Instagram & George Voronov
Camden Street is one of the city’s best selection of independent bars and restaurants. Recently hailed by Time Out as one of the city’s coolest streets last week, Camden Street and its surroundings boast an eclectic mix of food, frivolity, and creative spaces, all while retaining a gritty, post-modern allure.
According to Time Out, Camden Street is many things. “Mentioned in Ulysses, and around the corner from the ancestral home of George Bernard Shaw, Camden Street is characterised by unpretentious pubs, political street art and a buzzy dining scene. It’s full of surprises”
Let’s take a closer look at five of the best spots that make Camden Street an essential destination on Time Out’s Dublin map.
Cake Cafe
In the haze of a sun-kissed weekend morning, there is a simple pleasure that resonates deep within the soul—a joy that transcends the ordinary and embraces the extraordinary. It is the pleasure of savouring a slice of cake with a steaming cup of coffee. Cake Cafe in behind The Last Bookstore on Camden Street is the place to do just that. As The Grand Stretch creeps in in the evenings and the mornings get brighter and brighter, there is more room in our weekend mornings for the simple pleasure of a coffee and a cake in the sun on Dublin’s Coolest Street.
61 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2
Frank’s
At Frank’s, the essence of Camden Street comes to life through a curated selection of natural wines and seasonal small plates, with no reservation taken or required. It’s one of Dublin’s few first come, first serve places. Named by us in our Dublin 100 Guide as the ultimate place to go on a third date, Frank’s has to be one of the sexiest places to grab a few small plates and have a flirt. Led by Chef David Bradshaw, formerly of Clanbrassil House and Potager, this intimate wine bar offers a communal dining experience that every Dubliner should try at least once. Even if they think they don’t drink wine.
22 Camden Street, Dublin 2
Hang Dai
Step into Hang Dai and embark on a culinary adventure like no other. This wood-fired duck haven offers family-style feasts amidst the backdrop of a makeshift subway carriage. It’s one of the OGs that ushered in this new Camden Street renaissance, plonking down with the kind of revered bang that inspired insipid copies as well as a generation of experience-driven food enthusiasts. With great music setting the ambience, Hang Dai promises an unforgettable experience on Camden Street.
20 Camden St Lower, Dublin 2
Mister S
Mister S is helmed by the masterminds behind Featherblade. This culinary gem celebrates the best of Irish produce cooked over open flames. From Andarl Farm pork to Ridgeway Wagyu beef and North Dublin hispi cabbage, cooked over open-fire, this spot hits all the notes you need. Their spring rolls have also become a cult-must-try signature dish in the city. Great prices, wines and cocktails, and one of the best additions to the Dublin dining scene in years. It’s easy to see how this spot got a name check from Time Out.
32 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2
Pickle
Dive into a world of vibrant Indian cuisine at Pickle. Hailed by many who know more than I do as the most authentic Indian food in the city, it has the kind of reputation that chefs covet. Helmed by acclaimed chef Sunil Ghai, this culinary hotspot redefines traditional Indian dishes, tantalizing palates with tandoori guinea fowl, goat keema, and wild boar vindaloo. With its fresh and flavourful offerings, Pickle has quickly become a beloved destination on Camden Street.
43 Camden Street, Dublin 2
Elsewhere on Char: The Dublin 100
