Best Food & Drinks at Dublin Christmas Markets 2025
Everything you need to eat (and drink) this December

Dublin's Christmas markets are as much about the food as the lights. From proper German Glühwein to gooey raclette and Irish coffee with Baileys, here are the must-try treats you’ll find at TwinkleTown Smithfield, Dublin Loves Christmas RDS, and the city-centre stalls in 2025

(Featured vendor spots at the top of each category are available – contact us if interested)

1. Mulled Wine & Glühwein
Classic red wine warmed with cinnamon, cloves, orange and star anise. €6–€8 a cup, usually with a refundable deposit on the souvenir mug. TwinkleTown and RDS both have multiple bars competing on spice mix.

2. Hot Cider & Winter Pimms
Warmed Irish cider with apple slices and cinnamon or the newer Winter Pimms cups – think Pimms but with warming spices and blackcurrant. Perfect lighter alternative.

3. Raclette Stations
The 2025 star – giant wheels of cheese melted under a grill and scraped over roast potatoes, gherkins and onions. You’ll smell it before you see it. Both big markets have dedicated raclette corners.

4. Bratwurst & Currywurst
Proper foot-long German sausages on a stick or in a roll. Currywurst comes drowned in curry ketchup and curry powder – messy but legendary.

5. Loaded Fries & Gourmet Burgers
Truffle fries, cheese & gravy poutine-style, or Irish beef burgers with smoked bacon and Dubliner cheese. Great late-night fuel.

6. Crepes & Belgian Waffles
Freshly made – go sweet (Nutella, banana, Biscoff) or savoury (ham & cheese). The smell of warm dough is half the Christmas magic.

7. Giant Pretzels & Churros
Soft baked pretzels the size of your head, or cinnamon-sugar churros with chocolate dipping sauce.

8. Hot Chocolate Done Right
Thick drinking chocolate with Baileys, whiskey, Amaretto or just mountains of marshmallows and cream. €5–€9 depending on the spike.

9. Artisan Doughnuts & Festive Sweets
Custard-filled, mince-pie flavour, or Christmas-pudding doughnuts. Also look out for Irish fudge stalls and chocolate-covered everything.

10. Irish Coffee & Craft Gin Bars
Proper Irish coffee (Jameson, brown sugar, cream) or the newer winter gin bars with sloe gin, damson gin and warming botanicals.

Money-saving tips
• Most stalls take card now, but bring €20–€30 cash for the smaller traders
• Deposits on mugs are usually €2–€3 and refundable
• Go on weekday evenings for shorter queues at the popular raclette and crepe stalls
• Kids portions are often available – just ask