Restaurant review: Hera is another culinary highlight for Dublin's rising Northside

"Juno was initially a craft beer pub with bar snacks but they have now pivoted to a ‘gastro-pub’ format on one side named Hera (Juno’s Greek counterpart). Gastro-pub is a much abused term in Ireland but one I think Hera can actually use with some legitimacy as behind the stove is chef Joe Smith, formerly of Bastible."

Hera, Dublin.

Many things make Ireland special, from our scenery to our open-hearted nature but I think most of us would also add in the Irish pub. Sadly pubs are not having a good time with more than 2,000 pub closures in the last two decades, but there is hope, on Dublin’s northside, at least.

Just last week Dave Mulligan of the excellent Bar 1661 announced he had taken over the old Sackville Lounge at 16 O’Connell Street with a stated mission to bring more life back to that benighted street (something Dublin City Council have failed at repeatedly). Around the corner on Parnell St is Big Romance, another achingly cool drinking spot; there is the Bernard Shaw in Glasnevin and, most recently, Juno on Dorset Street where a pub has stood since 1807.