You don’t have to be a sommelier to appreciate wine. After all, you can’t beat a nice glass of wine and good company, especially after a week in the office. Wine bars are not the exclusive domain of those who know their merlots from their malbecs.
On the contrary, if you know nothing about wine but love it then a good wine bar is the place for you. The best wine bars will be able to direct you to the perfect drop of red, white or rose and you can learn a lot.
There are plenty of wine bars in Dublin but some are better than others and these ten wine spots represent the very best of the best in the city, so give them a try and see what you think.
1. Piglet Wine Bar
📍Piglet Wine Bar, 5 Cow’s Ln, Temple Bar, Dublin, D08 DP11
If you’re out and about around Temple Bar you can stop by Piglet Wine Bar for a delicious glass of wine and some tasty French food. They specialise in natural, biodynamic and organic wines and there are some real vintages tucked away in the restaurant. So, if you’re a proper wine aficionado this place will feel like heaven. The heated terrace really makes a visit to Piglet magical in the summer.
2. La Cave
📍28 Anne St S, Dublin 2, D02 DX39
La Cave is Dublin’s oldest boutique wine bar and restaurant, having been established in 1987 and you’ll find it just off Grafton Street. It’s truly a hidden gem – you could easily walk past this place but to do so would be a mistake. They have a wine cellar on-site and serve 40 wines by the glass so you can try multiple wines whilst you’re there. You’ll find impeccable, traditional French food at this lovely bar and the wine tastings are unmissable.
3. Ely Wine Bar, Ely Place
📍22 Ely Pl, Dublin 2, D02 AH73
There are two Ely Wine Bars in Dublin but the Ely Place location in Dublin 2 is arguably the best of the two. It’s very close to St. Stephen’s Green and it’s the perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine after a walk or a day in the city. They have over 500 labels on offer and you can order around 80 of them by the glass. Pair this with their ‘pasture to plate’ food and you will never want to leave.
4. Loose Canon Cheese & Wine
📍29 Drury St, Dublin, D02 RX95
When Brian O’Keeffe left Paris he found it difficult to find natural wines in Dublin and so he and Kevin Powell created Loose Canon to fill that gap. There you can enjoy delicious charcuterie boards alongside a huge selection of wines. On Wednesdays, they run wine tasting sessions and each session costs €36 per person. Don’t worry, you’re not expected to spit it out.
5. Alta
📍Trinity St, Dublin
At Alta, you’ll find wines by the glass for around $12 and an extensive selection of wines from the bottle, from across the world. For each main dish on the menu, you’ll find a suggested wine to accompany it and you can, of course, ask the waiters for guidance too. The menu is very Mediterranean, including plenty of shellfish and seafood to enjoy with a nice white wine.
6. La Ruelle Wine Bar
📍Joshua House, Dawson St
The stunning Dublin wine bar, La Ruelle, serves a huge selection of delicious wines by the glass and by the bottle. You can also enjoy tasty French food and even mini desserts about which people rave. Here you’ll find bottles of champagne and more lightly sparkling wines like prosecco and brut alongside reds, whites and roses.
There are vegan-friendly, organic wines and you can even order a carafe of wine, which is hands down the most spectacular way to have wine served. La Ruelle can seat 40 guests but if you’re not ordering food then we’d recommend booking your table for after 9.30 pm. After all, it’s open until midnight!
7. Port House Pintxo
📍12 Eustace St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 VY27
Port House Pintxo is a welcoming Temple Bar wine bar, with a facade decorated in beautiful little flowers. it’s a busy spot but worth a visit for the plates of tasty tapas and, of course, the wine! In the summer you can enjoy a glass on the sunny terrace, overlooking Meeting House Square, where there are often concerts in the summer months.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and there’s a large selection of wines to choose from on the menu, including plenty of port and sherry. Plus, they brew their own beer. What more could you want?
8. Chez Sara
📍3 Old St, Malahide, Co. Dublin, K36 PW67
In beautiful Malahide, by the marina, you’ll find Chez Sara. It’s a true gem, with a chef-owner who is more than happy to chat with the customers. It’s run by a husband and wife team who will let you know how to pair the wines with the mouthwatering Mediterranean food including a seafood platter, perfect for enjoying with a nice glass of white wine.
9. The French Paradox
📍53 Shelbourne Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 XC66
The French Paradox in Ballsbridge prides itself on its knowledge of wine and the wide selection of wines available. Here you’ll find truly authentic, flavourful dishes like foie gras and confit duck in the tasting room, and we’d recommend booking to avoid disappointment.
There’s a pretty little terrace where you can sit and enjoy a glass or two and a wine shop that would rival any other. A huge selection of delicious wines greets you as you walk through the door, so you can take away the bottle you enjoyed the most or even try something new.
10. Maximilians Bistro
📍15 Main Street Supervalu shopping center, Blanchardstown
Maximilians Bistro serves top-notch Italian food (we can hear the tiramisu calling), alongside phenomenal Italian wines. You’ll even get a free limoncello at the end of your meal, which is always a plus. I
t’s an understatement to say that the staff members here are friendly and they will always be happy to recommend wines, of which there are many on the menu. You’ll find wines from as far afield as New Zealand and Chile and almost all of them are served by the glass as well as by the bottle.
It’s difficult to say which of these wine bars is the best wine bar in Dublin but whether you’re looking for wine and cheese, wine tastings, or even takeaway wine you can find it in one of these amazing wine spots. Who knows, you might even convert a beer drinker with a trip to these first-class wine bars!