Dublin is renowned for its buzzing restaurant scene and nightlife, which makes for great nights out. Drawing visitors and locals alike, the world-renowned Temple Bar neighbourhood overflows with late-night venues serving top-notch pints with a side of live music, date night gems and group-friendly spots that call for special celebrations. With St. Patrick’s Day 2025 just around the corner, the craic is gearing up even further. Many of the best restaurants in Dublin are putting special events, menus and drinks offers together to celebrate the day with a bang. Whether you’re looking for a special weekend with a loved one or a raucous night on the town with the gang, you can start your evening off the right way at one of the best restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar.
As the heart of the city’s social scene, Temple Bar plays host to numerous venues that can cater for get the party started at a pub that’s perfect for group nights out. Go vegan with sharing platters that everyone will love at a restaurant showcasing the best of plant-based dining, or indulge your carnivorous side in one of the city’s best steakhouses.
Whatever your preference, guarantee your spot at one of the best restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar by booking online on OpenTable today.
Get your St. Patrick’s Day party started at one of the best restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar
For celebrating special occasions with a group – head to Roberta’s
Take dining with a view to the next level with dinner at Roberta’s. The 360-degree glasshouse concept with a bespoke glass atrium ceiling over the bar area means you can gaze over the River Liffey or dine under the stars. Filled with natural light during the day and twinkling starlight by night, this stunning 19th-century building was formerly the Dollard Printworks. Now the floor-to-ceiling windows and creative menus make it one of the best restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar. The menu is influenced by the flavours of Italy but with a few new dishes and ideas to inspire you. While you can certainly get a classic pizza with a range of toppings, you can also expect dishes such as roast cod with hispi cabbage and pickled maitake mushrooms, cauliflower steak with roasted garlic in a gremolata dressing, and sea bass with a lemon and leek emulsion to appear.
For date night at one of the most romantic restaurants in Dublin – get hot at Hellfire
Pairing the heat of a passion for great food with the heat of charcoal-fired ovens, Hellfire brings steaks, seafood and more to the Dublin crowd with that inimitable smoky flavour. The warm, intimate setting is ideal for date night or a cosy evening with friends. And with dishes ranging from prime beef to fish and vegan delights, all cooked over encina charcoal, you know you’re in for a good night. Or book private dining under the “Tree of Fire” or for up to 30 people on the mezzanine. All the beef at Hellfire is grass-fed and dry-aged, before being smoked in-house and grilled over charcoal. Choose your favourite cut from fillet, ribeye, porterhouse, striploin, T-bone or a tomahawk for two to share – perfect for a romantic evening. Snack on parmesan and chicken filo rolls or grilled scallops in honey and mustard dressing while you wait for your steak to be grilled.
For top-notch tapas at one of the best Spanish restaurants in Dublin – get a fiesta feast at The Port House Pintxo
The Port House Pintxo brings Mediterranean culinary flair to the heart of Dublin. Indulge in a multitude of small plates for sharing and taste the sunshine. From the romantic underground restaurant to the outdoor terrace overlooking Meeting House Square, this is a venue for all occasions. In the summer, you can watch live concerts while you dine, and in winter, cosy up at a comfortable booth table in the inviting dining room. The menu is classic Spanish tapas designed to be shared by the whole table. Think platters of Manchego, croquettes with a variety of fillings, and Spanish black pudding with quail eggs to start. Add some Iberian pork loin in a red wine jus, seared king scallops with crispy jamon, or seafood paella with cuttlefish ink to finish.
For one of the best steakhouses in Dublin – indulge at Tomahawk
The commitment to the best quality premium steaks at Tomahawk shows – months of research were required to discover the very best prime beef, exploring Ireland and the globe. The result was that Irish beef proved to be the best, so now Tomahawk brings you market-best, sourced locally. The star of the show is the Tomahawk for two – cooked over a wood-burning stove for a lightly smoked flavour and served with blue cheese dip and onion strings. Pan-fried hake with prawn risotto, chicken liver foie gras with Jerusalem artichokes, and cured trout with jalapeno salsa are also must-tries from the menu. The interiors are comfortable and intimate, with leather seats surrounding rustic matte timber tables. The restaurant overlooks the cobblestone streets of Temple Bar from below, with an open kitchen for a touch of the theatrical.
For sharing-style dining at one of the best vegan-friendly restaurants in Dublin – take the family to Lucky Tortoise
For family meals and group dining, Lucky Tortoise is one of the best restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar. The menu has a strong focus on plant-based dining, with a few delicious nods to the more carnivorous members of the party. Designed to be shared family-style, think dishes such as crispy oyster mushroom with hoisin in a warm and fluffy bao bun, pancetta potsticker dumplings, tempura cauliflower with a maple and lime ponzu, and vegan shoyu ramen with tofu and pea shoots. Can’t decide? Try the All In Menu with highlights from the kitchen served to the table. The modern décor and natural look make Lucky Tortoise a joy beyond the food, with verdant plant life surrounding you as you dine. And with top-notch service to boot, the experience is a winner.
For some of the best burgers in Dublin to start a night of partying – book at Thunder Road Café
The ideal starting point for a hen or stag party, birthday or other big group night out, Thunder Road Café is where the party’s at. Designed to accommodate large parties with ease, this vibrant and bustling venue combines great food, excellent drinks and live music that will ensure you create lasting memories, whatever the occasion. The energetic atmosphere will set you up for a night on the town, or make you simply want to stay to soak it up more. Menu highlights include the pulled pork tostadas with chipotle mayo, the surf ‘n’ turf with striploin and chargrilled prawns, and the dirty fries with parmesan and Thunder secret sauce. Add a signature Thunder Zombie cocktail with three types of rum, absinthe and a mixture of peach, banana and passionfruit with pineapple juice, and you know your evening is off to a great start.
For one of the best cocktail bars in Dublin’s Temple Bar – head to Vintage Cocktail Club
Travel through a secret door off cobblestone streets to discover the magic that is Vintage Cocktail Club. One of Temple Bar’s best-kept secrets, this is a haven of plush velvet banquettes, warm candlelight and superb cocktails and small plates. A real hidden gem in the heart of one of the most bustling corners of Dublin, this is one of the best restaurants in Temple Bar. The award-winning cocktail menu ranges from simple mixes such as whiskey with citrus and black tea, to more complex concoctions like the Wobbler, which features Absolut grapefruit, fernet branca, LBV port and citrus juice with sugar syrup, fresh mint and cherry. Soak it all up with some sharing plates, from an Irish cheeseboard with chutneys to a vegan platter, or the VCC board with ham hock croquettes, meatballs, sliders and arancini.
For one of the best Irish restaurants in Temple Bar – go local at Gallagher’s Boxty House
The family-owned Gallagher’s Boxty House is a real home from home in the heart of the Temple Bar district of Dublin. No trip to Dublin would be complete without a traditional Irish boxty pancake, and this is where you can sample some of the best. Whether you’re looking for a filling brunch or something to keep you going for a party weekend, grab yourselves some potato pancakes crafted from centuries-old recipes and brought into the modern world by chef Padraic Óg Gallagher. The beer and boxty special includes any Jack Smyth beer alongside a boxty with your choice of filling, from chicken to blue cheese, corned beef to chilli, or the Gaelic special. Finish with the Gallagher’s Old Fashioned cocktail – Teeling single grain with sugar and chocolate bitters – for a sweet treat that will also give you a kick.
For one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar – take the gang to Elephant & Castle
One of the best casual restaurants in Temple Bar Dublin for family dining, Elephant & Castle has been an institution in the city since 1989. From weekend brunch to weekday dinners, this is a great spot to bring the kids, friends or just a book. Group bookings are accommodated with advanced notice, with larger tables available. The main menu features classic Americana with an Irish twist – spicy chicken wings in a signature spicy house sauce, the elephant burger with curried sour cream, and pan-fried hake with prawns, mussels and chorizo are particular favourites among the regulars. For group bookings, choose from a three-course set menu or canapes. Add a cocktail from the inventive menu, or just some classic Irish beers and wines.
For a comfort food break during a day of celebrations – head to Luigi Malones Dublin
Luigi Malones Dublin delivers delicious comfort foods in opulent surroundings, in a building dating back to the 13th century. Set over two floors plus a mezzanine, there’s plenty of room for larger parties and to meet friends. Fun is the key watchword here, so be prepared to sip cocktails, chatter, and indulge in internationally inspired fare. Chef Adrian Martin has crafted a menu with global influences – start with five-spiced pork belly and white beans or a beetroot carpaccio with baked goat’s cheese. Move on to braised beef feather blade with Bordelaise sauce or catch of the day with samphire and creamed pearl barley, then finish with the famous Toblerone cheesecake.
For a romantic meal at one of the best Italian restaurants in Dublin – book date night at Rosa Madre
No one does romance quite like the Italians. With Rosa Madre as one of the best restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar, you can achieve a touch of that Latin style for your next date night. Friendly, warm and always inviting, with cosy tables for two lit with individual lamps, this is the ideal spot for an intimate evening with a loved one. The quality of ingredients is a top priority, with a focus on fresh, sustainable seafood. Highlights include the seabass croquette with wasabi mayonnaise and the roasted Castletownbere scallops with samphire, celeriac puree and a spicy crumble to start. For the mains, the fresh homemade pasta with blue lobster is a real showstopper and the Irish beef fillet steak with demi-glace never disappoints.
For one of the best steak restaurants in Dublin’s Temple Bar – book your seats at Boeuf and Frites
Boeuf and Frites does exactly what it says on the tin, and it does it well. Steak and chips, done right using only the finest grass-fed Irish beef, with an impressive drinks menu to complement your meal. And if that’s not your thing, perhaps sample the chargrilled chicken with peri-peri sauce or a rosemary, garlic and thyme marinade. Each selection comes with bottomless frites, Caesar salad and a complimentary dessert – anyone for profiteroles? Vegetarian options are also available on request. The atmosphere reflects the bustling nature of Temple Bar, with an energetic vibe that will set you up for the evening ahead. Whether it’s a birthday, work night out or St. Patrick’s Day celebration, fuel up at Boeuf and Frites and get your night started in style.
Dublin has a long-standing reputation as one of the best cities in the world for an exciting night on the town. With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, the party is only just getting started. Be in the centre of everything with these top venues.
