Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in South County Dublin

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in South County Dublin? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Riggers South

4.8

4.8 (26)

€30 and under

Café

Sandycove

About the restaurant

At Riggers South, we are dedicated to providing a cozy and inviting atmosphere for our guests. Our café is a place where friends gather to savor delicious dishes and delightful drinks. Come experience the heartwarming ambiance of our café. Owned and run by chef Shane Rigney and front of house matriarch Nicola Smyth, we have gathered a young, energetic, friendly and welcoming team around us, curating an internationally influenced Brunch menu with flavours from our travels from London, Melbourne, LA & beyond.

Weekends are busy, make sure you book. We will accomodate dogs downstairs in our restaurant so please make sure to let us know.

Top review

Mary

Dined 6 days ago

Lunch at Ruggers Glasthule is always a treat, everyone’s tastes are satisfied with excellent background music to create the perfect ambiance!

Zero zero pizza

4.8

4.8 (460)

€30 and under

Pizzeria

Dún Laoghaire

About the restaurant

Zero Zero was founded in 2014 with the simple intention of bringing real Pizza Napoletana to our fair city's streets. Almost 3 years have passed since our very first lunchtime market. While that wind swept day in Dublin's Docklands almost saw our gazebo fly into the Irish Sea, we persevered...

Top review

Frank

Dined 7 days ago

Great pizza nice beer fab service, good music but a bit loud for us oldies , great experience i highly recommend

Lobstar

4.7

4.7 (1143)

€31 to €50

Seafood

Monkstown

About the restaurant

Lobstar is a unique lobster and steak bistro with a sense of casual cool, located in heart of Monkstown. Our aim is to provide great gastronomic experiences through remarkable food and excellent service in a very relaxing and funky environment. We are passionately committed to offering the freshest, greatest ingredients and to presenting a seasonal menu that is locally focused and globally artistic.

Top review

Frances

Dined on 16 Oct 2026

Delicious tuna poke bowl and spicy chicken wings followed by perfectly cooked sea bass and seafood tagliatelle. The chef has a super capacity to get good flavours through the food without over powering the fresh seafood. You can’t leave with trying the apple tarte tatin. It’s big enough for 2.

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Popular dish

lobster roll

Popular dish

New York Style Lobster Roll

Popular dish

apple tart tatin

TÁBLA

4.6

4.6 (75)

€31 to €50

French

Blackrock

About the restaurant

Coffee Shop During the Day
French Bistro at Night
Thursday to Saturday 5 to 11PM
Sunday 12 to 10PM
Roast served from 12 to 4PM, when it's gone... it's gone!
€85 Angus Beef Rib-Eye on the Bone with sides from 5 to 8PM

Top review

Margaret

Dined 6 days ago

The best fillet steak I’ve eaten! All the food was scrumptious. Service was impeccable and a lovely ambience. Highly recommend.

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Aperitivo at the Cafe

4.6

4.6 (38)

€31 to €50

Italian

Glasthule

About the restaurant

Aperitivo at the Cafe – Glasthule’s Taste of Italy

Nestled in the heart of Glasthule Village, Aperitivo at the Cafe brings a slice of Italy to the South Dublin coast. Inspired by the Italian tradition of sharing good food with great company, our café-style restaurant offers authentic Italian flavours with a relaxed, local charm.

Our menu is crafted to bring you the comfort and richness of true Italian cuisine. From hand-stretched pizzas to classic pasta dishes, everything is made with love, quality ingredients, and a passion for simple, delicious food.

We're proud to be part of the Glasthule community, serving locals and visitors alike with friendly service and food that speaks for itself. Whether it's a light bite or a full meal, Aperitivo at the Cafe is your neighbourhood spot for a little taste of Italy—any day of the week.

Top review

Caroline

Dined on 24 Oct 2026

This is a lovely spot for food .Relaxed vibes with very attentive service from lovely friendly Italian waiters and mixologist. The chef can be seen working away in the kitchen perfecting the Italian dishes The pasta dishes have a lot of love put into them.. . We had the crab ravioli and savoured every piece.

Bresson

4.6

4.6 (1243)

€51 and over

European

Monkstown

About the restaurant

Bresson brings a relaxed fine dining option to Monkstown with an elegant, comfortable and friendly ambience.

Top review

Deirdre

Dined on 28 Oct 2026

Bresson is a fab experience… food is superb and the overall dining experience epic. That said its not your average restaurant so diners need to understand there are a la carte options available. However Bresson does offer a 5/6 course menu for €85. We would return ! Shout out to Philipe who is extremely welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable.

Attico

4.6

4.6 (77)

€30 and under

Italian

Dún Laoghaire

About the restaurant

Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Monkstown, Dublin. Specialising in Authentic Italian Cuisine.

Top review

Catherine

Dined on 9 Oct 2026

Great food, lovely atmosphere and attentive staff. Overall a superb experience.

September

4.6

4.6 (26)

€31 to €50

Modern European

Blackrock

About the restaurant

September Café & Natural Wine Bar is Dublin’s cosy destination for great coffee, seasonal food, and natural wines. By day, enjoy speciality coffee, pastries, and fresh, locally inspired dishes in a bright, welcoming space. By night, unwind with a curated selection of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines from small European producers. Whether you’re stopping by for brunch, an afternoon catch-up, or an evening glass of wine, September offers the perfect blend of relaxed café vibes and intimate wine bar charm — all in the heart of Dublin.

Top review

MaryQ

Dined on 21 Oct 2026

Delicious food in a fabulous setting for any occasion. A must try

Gleesons of Booterstown

4.5

4.5 (601)

€30 and under

International

Booterstown

About the restaurant

Gleesons of Booterstown is a bright, spacious and beautifully designed dining space and bar in the heart of Booterstown. It is a local gathering place for family, friends and neighbours to catch up over good food and drinks. Enjoy an exceptional five star dining experience consisting of only the finest locally sourced Irish produce for each of our dishes. With a menu filled with choice, our dishes are prepared to suit every palette. Favorites include Chicken Piri Piri, Pan Fried Plaice, Beef and Guinness Pie, Prime Irish Fillet Steak with Daily Specials too. We’re open seven days a week serving breakfast from 8am, lunch from 12 Noon and dinner from 5pm with friendly service and a smile.

If you are a group of more than 8 people, please contact us directly on 01 288 0236.

Dont forget our 16 bedroom Townhouse upstairs, which is getting great reviews!!

Top review

Paul

Dined 5 days ago

Lovely wuiet table, friendly attentive staff, lovely food,

Gourmet Food Parlour - Dun Laoghaire

4.4

4.4 (768)

€30 and under

Irish

Dún Laoghaire

About the restaurant

Located just minutes from both the pier and the station, our Dun Laoghaire restaurant is modern, relaxed and comfortable. Making it the perfect spot for a family lunch or dinner and drinks with friends.

Join us today and enjoy our delicious menus and daily chef specials.

Top review

Catherine

Dined 5 days ago

Beautiful restaurant. The food was fabulous and very good value for money. The service was very good as well. We will definitely be back.

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