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Bang Café

Stylishly minimalist, with natural tones of dark wood and pale beige leather complementing simple white linen and glassware, this smart restaurant is well-located just yards from the Shelbourne Hotel, and continues to attract a young, well-heeled set.

The handsome restaurant is on three levels with a bar in the basement, a semi-private dining room on the upper level, and in between, the main dining floor, where unstressed chefs can be seen at work in the open service kitchen: an air of calm, relaxed and friendly professionalism prevails. Head chef Lorcan Cribben recently served as Commissioner-General for the Irish branch of Euro-Toques, the chefs' organisation that is committed to defending quality local and artisan ingredients (Paul Bocuse's 'building blocks of good food').

Here, as would be expected, carefully sourced ingredients are the foundation for menus that offer innovative, modern food. The offering is broad, with uncomplicated crowd-pleasers such as bangers & mash (made with Hicks sausages) or seared scallops complemented by more complex dishes which demonstrate the considerable skill of the kitchen, whose strongest point is its unswerving consistency.

This, together with a charming, professional front of house team, and a fun cocktail list, make Bang a popular party venue.

A new raised terrace area cranks up this sense of fun, overlooking as it does two of the buzziest outdoor strips in town - the ever-lively terrace at The Unicorn, and the garden of the new Residence (a private member club also run by the Stokes twins).

There is good value to be had too, especially at lunchtime.

Seats 99 (private room, 36; outdoors, 25 from 2009); reservations required; air conditioning; L&D Mon-Sat 12.30-3pm, 6-10.30pm; á la carte L&D. House wine €24. 12.5% sc on parties of 6+. Closed Sun, bank hols, 25 Dec-3 Jan. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Just past Shelbourne Hotel, off St Stephen's Green.