Almost everything I ate traveling to Dublin Gluten Free
If I had to make a top 10 list of spots for Celiacs, Dublin (and really, all of Ireland) would absolutely make an appearance if not the top 5. Not that there’s a million fully dedicated spots around but because of how good they are at understanding food intolerances and having an option basically anywhere you go.
Wandering the city center? You’ve got everything from fish and chips to tacos to pancakes (maybe not all for the same meal though), great options at upscale and touristy restaurants, and cheaper ones down too. Wandering further out of town or to a touristy sight? Odds are they’ll have a sandwich or two, maybe a wrapped treat and almost certainly will be familiar not just with GF but Celiac (here called Coeliac) concerns to steer you in the right direction. Throw in the EU labeling laws to confidently trust naturally GF items at the grocery store plus a large “without wheat” labeled GF selection in nearly any decent grocery store and it’s just a delightful spot to spend a weekend, so much so that I came back for a second at the end of my travels.
Dublin gluten free overview: 9/10
Dedicated GF spots
None! I didn’t eat at any dedicated spots in Dublin and didn’t feel like I had to though there are a few.
Shared GF spots
The Church
Stepping into this old church turned multi-level restaurant that came complete with live music and dancing was impressive enough to sell me on the place but being handed a Coeliac specific menu absolutely made them into a GF winner. Good as a steak or salmon sounded, having the option of one of their specials and knowing the only modification was to sub in some GF bread, was obviously not something I could pass up and so I had the lamb stew, served in a small cast iron pot. Delicious and did not feel like a sub out at all.
Wishbone – easy eats
For my first visit, we booked a place a bit outside the main tourist zone and so I was a bit nervous about finding a reliable spot. But as I said, Dublin is great and so no surprise, there was Wishbone, a well rated option within a block and a half of the place that I made it there twice, not bad for 4 days! Their GF options range from burgers to pancakes, but I could not get enough of their chicken strips.
Yes, I realize the 7 year old boy in me is showing through, the flavor on those was so much more than a basic chicken tender. Throw in some well seasoned fries and it was perfect! And don’t worry, the crouton filled salad in the background was not mine.
The Bank
The Bank on College Green is another stunning spot with an absolutely amazing central bar that some local friends sent me off to. The place certainly delivered with a great ambiance after hours of city walking and a good lunch. Here I had their classic burger, modified to a GF bun and served with fries (“chips” here). While an upscale vibe, the 23-euro price tag felt rather reasonable too.
Gallaghers Boxty House
I had fish and chips twice in Dublin. First just after arriving at a small pub we found that was quiet enough not to mind our suitcases but which I failed to grab the name of (or leave a review for, my miss!). It may have been the 20+ hours of travel but it was fantastic, a rather huge portion, and even came with a bit of veggies.
The second time was at Gallaghers Boxty House which offers a classic take on the dish at a much steeper price, but with a fantastic FMGF and general rating. Definitely enjoyed their fries/chips and the light battering on the fish was pretty wonderful. Two very different options and vibes in a sea of GF safe spots.
Nutbutter at Smithfield
Finally, and completely leaving the Irish fare, I really enjoyed Nutbutter at Smithfield which is a health focused spot serving up a mix of bowls, plates and, yes, tacos. We found this spot while taking a meandering route back from the Guinness Factory (no, I did not get to participate) and my non-GF friends also enjoyed the spot as a nice mix up from our otherwise fried & heavy meals.
Leaving the city: While Ireland was solid basically anywhere I went, the cities and really touristy spots were certainly easier and as I’ve explored further out, more of my meals certainly shifted to bars, fruit cups, or the one sandwich at a spot like this one from the Blarney Castle (home to the Blarney Stone of course). Not bad but not as easy.
Grocery store options
As I mentioned previously, a healthy availability of GF sections plus EU labeling laws make grocery options easy and almost every moderate or large store I walked into had something.
But more exciting for me, Ireland has M&S locations. If you’re not familiar M&S (Marks & Spencer) is a department store that also does groceries and their “made without wheat” is something I look forward to whenever I visit the UK, so I was beyond stoked to find them in Ireland too. Beyond cereals and breads, scones (get the scones, yum!), and cakes, the without wheat line has some microwave options as well that really hit the spot and help with saving on your budget too. I’m a fan of the spaghetti but this trip, I also gave the lasagna a try. Obviously it’s not like fresh but it’s not bad, and paired up with a salad, it makes for a nice meal.
Airport options
I think it’s fair to say that airports at good GF cities are just as hit or miss as “hard” ones and sadly, Dublin Airport is squarely on the miss side even if not totally without options. Roaming around, premade sandwiches were the best bet for an actual meal and you can find plenty of snacks including fresh fruit and yogurt/dairy drinks but when it comes to hot food, there was little labeled, in the apps, or that looked at all safe.
If you’re flying back to the USA, this is doubly true as Dublin offers pre-clearance security, which is great for zipping through once you land, but means being isolated to a very small terminal with just a few spots before you take off. None had anything I felt would be safe and snack options are greatly cut down too so be sure to grab whatever you do find before queuing up for customs. Especially if you’re about to fly Aer Lingus, but that’s a story for another post to come.
Absolutely amazing spot with so many good eats, even if a few more GF bakeries would be nice.
