Eating out at a restaurant should be an experience, especially if it’s for a special occasion. A good restaurant serves tasty food, but it’s even better if your surroundings are as exciting as the dishes. There are plenty of beautiful restaurants in Dublin where you can eat well and take stunning photos.
1. Sophie’s Restaurant
📍The Dean Dublin, 33 Harcourt St
The beauty of Sophie’s restaurant is the view. Don’t get me wrong, the interior is gorgeous but it’s really all about what you can see out of the window from this rooftop restaurant – a 360-degree view of Dublin. It has to be one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in Dublin.
2. The Bank On College Green
📍20-22 College Green
The Bank On College Green is another super-fancy Dublin restaurant. Breathtaking stained-glass ceilings and a tiled mosaic floor give this place so much class. Add in those elegant statues of women holding lamps and you’ve got yourself a truly aesthetic restaurant.
3. Cafe en Seine
📍40 Dawson St
Cafe en Seine opened in 1993, which will seem like a long time ago to Gen Z but not to me. It looks as though it’s been there much longer, with stunning high ceilings and an art deco feel throughout the place, making it one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city.
4. NoLIta
📍64 South Great George’s Street
The eye-catching NoLItacombines speakeasy-style deco in rich red tones with lovely floral vibes. Sleek leather booths and dark wood panelling make this place feel extra luxurious, but these darker tones are balanced out by the natural light that floods in through the front doors.
5. The Ivy
📍13-17 Dawson St
There aren’t many restaurants like The Ivy in Dublin. This gorgeous, airy restaurant gives off irresistible tropical vibes, with vibrant artwork and wallpaper drawing the eye to every part of the restaurant. Comfortable booths and chairs bring a certain cosiness that means we could stay at The Ivy for hours and hours.
6. Farrier & Draper
📍Powerscourt Townhouse, 59 South William Street
At Farrier & Draper high, Georgian ceilings and lashings of decadence reminiscent of the Georgian era combine with a kind of prohibition-style. You can eat tapas and pizza here or head to the Italian restaurant in the basement – La Cucina.
7. Little Pyg
📍59 William Street S
Bursting with foliage, Little Pyg is like a mini-rainforest in a Dublin restaurant. Here you can enjoy delicious pizza in the most incredible, super-leafy courtyard, in one of Dublin’s most beautiful restaurants.
Little Pyg was recently named one of Europe’s top pizza restaurants. It is, after all, the only Michelin-star pizza restaurant in Ireland!
8. Ryleigh’s Rooftop Grill
📍The Mayson, 81/82 North Wall Quay
When spring finally appears Ryleigh’s will be flooded with people wanting to take advantage of the incredible views and lovely, airy atmosphere. From the restaurant, you can see Poolbeg Pier, Dublin Bay, Dun Laoghaire and even the mountains.
9. Opium
📍26 Wexford Street
Opium is a popular spot in Dublin and it just so happens to be one of the most beautiful bars/restaurants. The decor reflects the cuisine, which is mostly southeast Asian. The decor is inspired by the Botanical Gardens and a tree grows through the floor in the dining room.
10. Bartley’s Restaurant
📍The Grafton Hotel, 31/32 Stephen Street Lower
This visually arresting restaurant pays homage to Bartley Dunne’s, a Dublin pub once known for its eclectic clientele, including actors, socialites and literati. Sadly, Bartley Dunne’s is long gone but its spirit lives on at Bartley’s Restaurant, decorated like a cave of treatures.