The Port House is a wine and tapas bar located off South William Street. Sandwiched between two cafes, blink and you could miss this lively authentic Spanish cellar. The restaurant is small with red brick walls and tightly packed black and clear perspex furnishings. The free use of candles makes for atmospheric lighting and gives the whole place a romantic, cosy yet lively vibe. The dishes are tasty, good value and well varied. Choose from Pepito solomillo - bite sized grilled sirloin steak, marinated with garlic on top of a piece of toasted crusty bread (€3.00), boquerones - marinated anchovies (€3.50), huevons cordoniz - a half dozen little hard boiled quail eggs sprinked with cumin and sea salt (€5.00), patatas bravas - deep-fried potato cubes served with a fiery tomato sauce (€2.50) and lots more. They do not take reservations here, so you just have to call in and hope to see an empty table.

Arthur Guinness was married here, Wolfe Tone and Sean O'Casey were baptised here. John M Keating Bar, Cafe and Restaurant is located in the converted early-18th-century church of St Mary’s in the city centre. The interior of this converted church is spectacular and the contemporary design fits with the original church organ and the carved wooden balcony. Enjoy Irish cuisine with dishes such as Beef in Guinness, Irish Oak Smoked Salmon, Smoked Duck Salad, Clonakilty Black Pudding, Vine salad, Seafood Chowder.

www.jmk.ie

This summer, Patrick Guilbaud's son, Charles opened his long awaited brassserie off South Anne Street . Located in the basement of a new office building, the restaurant is occupies a spacious, brightly lit area.

Venu Brasserie is affordable. Appetisers start at €5.50, mains just under €15. The same menu and prices are available from opening to close which makes for an extravagant lunch, but a bargain dinner. Try dishes such as grilled salmon steak, served with lime juice and fresh coriander, or the more usual beef fillets in red wine sauce.

With something for everyone – salads, pasta, seafood and steaks – efficient service and reasonable prices, Venu Brasserie is worth a visit.

Cactus Jacks ia a Mexican restaurant with a twist. Spread over two floors, it offers an elegant, relaxed and warm atmosphere in a great location. The menu is both fresh and imaginative covering all tastes; Mexican, steak, fish and vegetarian. This coupled with friendly and relaxed service makes Cactus Jacks well worth a visit. You will definitely be back for more. Booking advisable at weekends and for groups.

At Ruby Blooz, you will be welcomed into a unique atmosphere that combines contemporary and diverse bistro cuisine with excellent service in a bustling and relaxed setting. Our brasserie & cocktail bar is featured in “On the Menu” currently running on the City Channel. Our food philosophy is to take high quality, local produce and blend them together with imagination and flair to create dishes which range from the traditional to modern fusion. Your experience at Ruby Blooz is complemented by an extensive and exclusively selected wine list. For the cocktail enthusiast, you can select from a broad menu of cocktails ranging from the familiar to our own unique in-house concoctions.

La Peniche is a barge cafe/restaurant moored under the magnificent trees on Dublin's Grand Canal along Mespil Road. With both indoor and upper-deck outdoor dining areas, there is seating for about 40 people. At night a few floodlights light the area around La Peniche very prettily.

Inside the barge, it's heavily varnished dark wood and brass. You enter into a small reception and bar area and then a few steps down take you into the dining room. The menu is the kind of menu you'd find in a wine bar: platters of cured meats and cheeses, salads, and a few hot dishes.

Other than the oysters everything else is under €16, which ensures that La Peniche is very affordable