Paid an unplanned visit to the Beacon tonight and was very impressed. Having lived nearby for years…read moreand never darkening its doors was nice to finally see the place. For those of you not familiar with The Beacon complex, it forms a huge chunk of part of the Sandyford industrial estate. With a private hospital being the main feature and the hotel next door. Having not stayed in the hotel I can't comment on the rooms but if the bar is anything to go by the place is certainly worth a visit. The Crystal bar is chic and modern and were it in central Dublin probably horribly exclusive.Its not however, and the place feels laid back and welcoming. It didn't seem to suffer from 'hotel bar' syndrome and the busy restaurant at the back had as many locals as guests. We parked in the cosy and heated beer garden or 'Courtyard' and ordered off the mainly Thai menu. Duck spring rolls and vegetable soup were served within minutes and were delicious. Although we didn't have any mains I'm pretty sure they'd be up to scratch too. The Crystal Bar despite its plush surroundings is comfortable and relaxing. So come for a pint and then head in next door for a nose job maybe? Heads up to the staff as well who were speedy and all smiles. With the LUAS nearby its well served transport wise.

Yes, it's a hotel bar. But a nice one with good atmosphere. I like the design, especially with the…read moredifferent separations and areas where you can sit - or stand. So it's a nice place to go for a drink after work for example. It's not exactly cheap. A glass of wine is around €9. But you also get some nice nibbles. I was there on a Friday evening and it was very lively. In addition they had a live DJ. Not sure if that's every Friday, every night or just the odd night. It made the place even more lively but also a bit too loud. So if you go there to have a conversation without having to shout that won't work.

On the Grapevine is a fantastic little wine shop that lets you choose your bottle and drink it…read moreright on the premises for only a 7 euro corkage fee. There are ample sitting spaces in the main shop as well as upstairs. They also serve food like tapas, sandwiches, and other snacks. There's even an expresso bar. The best part is that because they are a wine bar you may request a complimentary sample of a wine and then purchase the bottle and drink it right there. Many wines are even 20% off or right around €10 for a bottle. We stopped in because it was raining but ended up finishing the whole bottle and even contemplated getting a second bottle but the weather had cleared so we were off to continue our sight seeing. Dangerously fun but strongly recommended.

A great off license with a good selection of French wine. The prices are reasonable and the owners…read moreare quite knowledgable about their wines. Bought some last time I was here and it was good wine at reasonable prices. Will come back here again for a small but decent French wine selection.

A wonderful family run restaurant in an amazing setting. The food that comes out of this tiny…read morekitchen is extraordinary. Unique recipes.

If you need a place to go in Blackrock, definitely give this place a shot. I visited recently with…read morefive friends where we sampled a good few things on the menu - the gambas (lovely and in a great sauce), pa amb tomáquet (an odd but good serving a bread smeared with tomatoes and garlic), escalivada (delicious aubergine and tomato presented beautifully), pimientos de piquillo (a table favourite), albóndigas (my favourite), tabla de queso (everyone's favourite) and some churro (which I did not share). The service isn't brilliant but the whole staff is really nice you forgive them their forgetfulness (one order of gambas and the bill). And, because of its location, it feels kind of exclusive and intimate.

5 out of 5 due to several reasons…read more #1: Amazing employees. Maybe it's because its the countryside Irish but as soon you go in you are warmly greeted. You will notice they are all italian which gave me an even more confident my coffee would be amazing. #2: Vegan option: I'm not vegan but they have great vegan option for vegans. But the non-vegan options were delicious as well. The croissant I ordered was buttery, and flaky. The strawberry jam tastes like home made without any added sugar. #3: Affordability: Compared to Dublin, this place is a steal. Finally: A++ go get your coffee and food so you can go walk around Bray or even hike up that mountain.

Cats! Books! Wine! Fresh, authentic Italian food! Owned and staffed by Italians!…read more This little gem, only a couple dozen metres from the Bray DART station, is quaint and cozy. It only holds about 15 people. But the food, coffee, and service is about as good as it gets. These people are passionate about what they do. I come specifically for the awesome vegan Caravaggio sandwich (on ciabatta). Everything is freshly made by them and unlike anything you will get anywhere else. Except maybe Italy! There are usually lots of Italian customers there, speaking Italian. This is a very good sign. The place is full of interesting old books people are free to browse. A quirk is an underlying 'cat' theme. Quotes and pictures about cats all over. Hand drawn images of cats by customers also adorn the walks, as to Italian record albums. I come way out of my way to come here regularly and will continue to as long as possible. Note: their fabulous bread selection comes fresh daily from the Firehouse bakery in Delgany.

Loose Cannon is a small but quaint natural wine shop right in the middle of the action in Dublin…read more It's located next to George's Street Arcade which is like a big hall with a bunch of vendors, making this the perfect place to stop before or after doing some shopping/sightseeing. As others have commented, this place is small and has limited seating inside. There's also a few tables located outside on the street and in the open air market of George's Street Arcade. I got lucky and snagged a seat as another party was leaving. It's first come first serve seating so I imagine, with a bigger party, it may be hard to grab a seat. One of the staff members helped me pick out a glass of wine that was PERFECT for me. He asked me what flavor profile I liked and picked out a beautiful effervescent, juicy, red. I also ordered a ham and cheese toastie which was the perfect snack to hold me over before dinner and the two paired well together. This place is definitely trendy and hip so the prices reflect that but I think it's worth the visit.

Aesthetically speaking, this place is small but incredibly cute and great for people watching…read more There's a good wine selection but I did find the prices by glass a bit expensive for the amount of wine you get. Really enjoyed the ham and cheese toastie but didn't find the service very friendly.

A delicate little wine bar and restaurant located near the Dalkey train station with dim lighting,…read morevery comfortable chairs, and good background music. The wines are available for both dining and off-license sales. The place has an early bird menu till 7 for Wednesday, 34 euros for two courses. The regular menu also has several exotic and gamey items. Entrée: we ordered featherblade steaks medium with chips, house green sauces and salad, and seafood linguine. I was very glad that they had the featherblade steak as I very much preferred non-main-stream steak cuts. The temperature was good, and it was packed with beefy flavor. As in featherblade steaks, it packed a bite, and it might be chewy for some, but it was a pleasant bite for me. The chips were crispy outside and creamy inside. The green sauce was well seasoned, rich in spiciness while also having a hint of grassy flavor. The salad had generous portion of good-quality cheese providing a refreshing touch to the dish. The linguine was perfect al dente with good portion of assorted seafood. In particular, the salmon was well cooked, still slightly pink and creamy center rather than dry in some other cheaper restaurants. The sea sapphire added briny refreshing crunchiness to the dish. Dessert: we had crème brulee and toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream Toffee pudding had rich flavor of toffee but the texture was slightly on the coarse side, could use a bit of refinement. Crème brulee was nice, crispy layer of sugar on top, the egg had lingering milky flavor and buttery texure. Very nice. Overall: 4.5-5 stars. If you can catch their early bird menu, you get great value for money. One bonus point is that their toilet is very clean and it wraps up a very pleasant experience.

Quite literally the most perfectly prepared piece of sea bass I've ever had. We went to Grapevine…read moreless than a week ago and I had the sea bass...... so I had to try it again tonight..... awesome. Very impressed with the food at Grapevine. And the service it offers the hook!!!! Already there twice.....more to follow

Stumbled into this place after seeing mussels on their menu and limited Monday night availability…read moreelsewhere. GO. We had the most delicious meal of our 6 nights around Ireland. Server was kind and made some great recommendations.

My wife and I are back for another exceptional lunch. I can't shower enough praise for this…read moreexceptional restaurant. I recommend arriving early on Saturdays to experience the best in service. The quality of everything on the menu is exceptional. The wine pairs very well with the menu and the selection is perfect. Lots of attention to detail in each dish and drink. I recommend the Eggs Benedict, the filet steak,the Yorkshire pudding and the orange creme brulee.

The service was impeccable. Warmly greeted at the door. The food was delicious. I had the seafood…read morechowder and the goat cheese salad. I loved the atmosphere too. A great experience overall.

I've been going to 8A for the past four years I hold all my family birthdays and family reunions…read morehere. I highly recommend 8a great selection of food and very friendly staff. Highly recommended.

Not sure it gets better than this! I would live here, if I could. The perfect ambiance, such a cozy…read moreplace. There's a fireplace and big comfy chairs for you to enjoy while you sip some amazing wine. The outdoor seating area is nice too, even in winter, they have lots of heaters and blankets. I think one of the best parts is being able to choose your wine upstairs, and bring it with your downstairs to the Cavern. Sometimes a wine list with nothing but the vineyard name and country isn't enough to help you choose, so having the entire shop upstairs at your disposal is the absolute best. Take your time browsing, then head downstairs for a cozy seat and some tasty food. If you know what's good for you, you'll have the bacon jam and goats cheese bread board! It's our go-to when we're having a bottle of red wine, and it's just incredible. Staff are very nice and attentive, service is quick even when the place is busy. Always very happy with everything we have here, and are always anxious to come back. Perfect for a chill night out with friends, or a date night. Any weekend that includes the Cavern is sure it be a great one!

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, Awesome... Oh god, it's just great!…read more As another reviewer put it, I want so dearly to keep this place a secret and keep it all to myself but I just can't. This spot is a true gem to have popped up on Baggot Street and boy am I glad I just moved into the area, in fact 1 min walk (whoop). Firmly my favourite place to go for a drink on Baggot Street, this place has a great vibe to it making it a super cool and comfy place to hang out with the hubby and/or even round up the mates for an evening of wine and chit-chat! They sell wines, teas and coffees only but they offer a great BYO from Baggot Street Wines above, just hold onto your receipt and pop on down, grab a seat and with corkage for €5 per bottle of wine or beers at €1, you get fresh glasses, wine coolers as needed and nibbles on your table. Great value... Plus if past 10pm and the off license is closed, you are welcome to order from their menu with a great selection of wines by the glass and the bottles being great value too! The food menu offers very casual dining with cheese and meat plates being most popular , there are other options, e.g. oysters plus they run daily specials so they are also worth a look :-) Had the mixed cheese and meat board last night and it was fantastic, served with breads to the side which was unexpected! Everything on the plate was really top notch and super filling, at €20 it was a steal! I had their sweet treat which was called Delish Melish Trio, they had me at the name... And I firmly fell in love on tasting it! Great work guys, really love this place and it will feature with me regularly. They have live music on Fri/Sat evenings but even without, their playlists are really fitting for this place, nice chilled out relaxing, mellow music... Shazam'd a few to get onto my playlists at home ;-) There is indoor seating, mixture of tables or sofa's to pick from and outdoors, the same... A selection of tables plus some cosy sofa's plus with cushions and throws on offer, you can really get as cosy as in this little beaut.

I wanted to add to my previous review after another visit -- and this time I've included a few…read morephotos to properly show the space and selection. Whelehans Wines continues to stand out as one of the most impressive wine shops in Dublin. The level of care in how everything is presented -- from the layout of the store to the range itself -- is immediately noticeable. What really sets it apart is the knowledge. On this visit, I was again guided towards wines I wouldn't have chosen myself, with clear, thoughtful explanations around the regions, producers, and what would pair well with what I had planned. It's not just a place to buy wine, it's somewhere you actually learn. The tasting element adds another layer entirely. Being able to experience wines before purchasing changes the whole process and makes it far more considered and enjoyable. It's rare to find a wine shop that balances depth, approachability, and genuine expertise this well. Easily one of the best wine shops in Dublin if you're looking for something beyond the ordinary.

What a pleasant surprise discovering this place when a friend suggested to go here for a late…read moreSunday lunch. I don't often drive past it so hadn't realised it's not a pub anymore. And what a transformation! I first thought from the design that it's a rather posh place but no, they are very down to earth. It's not often that you can get a good glass of wine for €3.50 (ok, it goes slowly upwards from here). The prices for food are on the average Dublin price side - but with very good quality. We arrived around 3pm and the cafe was busy but still had a table for us. It took a bit to get the order in but after that no further hickups and actually lovely staff. And the food! I had a Caprese Salad with buffalo mozarella and thick tomato slices. My friend went for their signature salad and we both where more than happy. I had a glas of South African Chenin Blanc and ended up buying a bottle of it later in the attached shop. We both felt for another treat afterwards so I went for a scone - not often you get one with clotted cream! - and my friend had a passion fruit muffin. Again we were both very happy. I love the concept of having a leisurely lunch in a cafe that is attached to a very well stocked shop that has wines from around the world but also a very decent selection of craft beer. So you can even taste some of their wines or beers with your food. But they also offer to taste their wines before you buy them. Not sure if that goes for all of them. I was a bit in heaven in the shop. Not often that I have seen such a very good selection and variety from around the world in Ireland before I think. I'll definitely will be back. The price for the wines ranged from 9.95 to at least 50.00 - I didn't check all the prices.