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    Oscars Cafe Bar

    3.6 (81 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Coffee & Tea, Irish
    Closed 8:00 am - 11:30 pm

    Oscars Cafe Bar Photos

    OSCARS CAFE BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Oscars Cafe Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jawbox Rhubarb and Ginger Gin
    Jeremy B.

    I wanted to enjoy Oscar's much more, but the place has serious issues, mainly with service and management. I stopped by for brunch and right from the start, I sensed that the staff was disorganized chaos. The male host, of sorts, didn't even look up as I approached, so I stood there waiting to be acknowledged. With a restaurant that was not even 1/4 full, he wanted to seat me in the middle of the room. He instead reluctantly sat me in a more appropriate corner booth. But he also had to power-trip by adding "If we get busy, I'll need to separate these tables." As if, pal. Then I was totally ignored by the server for quite some time, who seemed totally frazzled handling three tables. I ordered the Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict and the 2-for1 special on select cocktails. In spite of having two drinks, there was minimal if any alcohol in them. Zero buzz. I had also requested a still water, which never arrived, and I had to re-request. One big annoyance is when servers fail to check in with the customer (never happened), and you have to practically set off a flare to get their attention. Whoever manages this place should be replaced, along with the incompetent staff.

    Onion rings
    Anibal C.

    The whole experience was amazing. We had the seafood chowder, fish N chips, onion rings and veggie burger. The falafel patty had surprising ingredients as whole black beans, corn kernels and more, the soup outta the stadium, btw the fennel made it delightful, fish N chips and onion rings had great texture and flavors. Service was fast, very professional and attentive, ambiance 10+

    menus
    Dung N.

    Since we were a little early to check into our Airbnb, we decided to get some food from here since it was just across the street. This restaurant has a lot of good options for dinner, but not as many choices for lunch. We sat towards the window and there was a fake animal with horns on it by the windowsill. The menus were inside record album covers, which was pretty neat. We shared an open faced chicken sandwich, chicken curry, the soup of the day, sweet potato fries, a fruit salad, and Oscar's cheesey chicken lasagne. Everything came out all at once and was nicely represented. Service was also very prompt and professional. The chicken sandwich was really tasty and so were the fries. I also liked the lasagne, but didn't eat too much of it for some reason. The curry and fruit salad was just okay. The cream of green veggies soup and bread was my least favorite item. I would like to try out their dinner menu if I ever come back to Dublin though!

    Books
    Alice H.

    The decor inside is pretty cool! Very "homey". A little confusing whether you order at the bar or table for a meal (it's at the tables) The staff were very friendly and quick. The food was delicious and fairly priced. I recommend the warm goat cheese salad if you are a fan of goat cheese! I wouldn't recommend adding the smoked chicken because it was too dry and hard, almost like a jerky. Cute hoor (red IPA) is also recommended! Would return.

    John D.

    Oscars had a decent drinks selection. With many beers on draught. The music was good, eclectic mix of rnb, indie and rock. The food is just ok. I got chicken wings which had way too much tomatoey sauce on them. You couldn't actually taste the chicken. My partner had bruscheta with chorizo and was a big portion. The bread was soggy though. A good place for tourists and after work parties. Safe for a first date. But if you're a foodie you may find its fare average. 3/5

    Double bacon and cheese burger and twice fried chips
    Brian H.

    Facing on to Smithfield Square, Oscars' very unassuming front belies its very quirky and warm interior. The decor is a real hodgepodge of furniture, you could be sitting in anything from cinema seating to a barber's chair (with plenty of armchairs, window seats and couches in-between). There is also an extensive and equally random assortment of books for anybody looking to while away some time. I really like the atmosphere in Oscars, I was here on a Thursday evening and the mood was really relaxed. There was some background music playing in the background, but just at the right level to help the mood but not interfere with conversation. I guess would describe the food style here as "gastropub" with dishes such as black pudding crostini, tempura cod and trio of bangers and mash. I got the bangers and mash, it was a very generous serving and the three different types of sausages were really good. Most of the mains were around the €13 mark. For dessert I got a double chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice-cream (€5), it was really well presented with a beautiful caramel sauce. The cookie was delicious and had the perfect gooey texture, my only comment would be that the serving was on the small side. Aside from the food there is a full bar menu available too. With the relaxed atmosphere and comfortable surroundings I could easily see myself spending an night here with a few drinks and a group of mates. But, Oscars has also positioned itself as a café and has a breakfast and lunch menu too. I have not been here during the day so I am not sure how well it works as a lunch venue, however, the gourmet sandwiches do sound lovely. Overall I was impressed with this new addition to Smithfield and hope they do well.

    True story!
    Emily C.

    This is a surprising spot. From the outside, it looks like a fairly generic enough cafe / bar, but the over-used adage 'never judge a book by it's cover' is more than valid in this case. Inside, you step into a bygone era. A wood / chrome bar, heavy antique furniture, and quirky decor fill the place. (you can take your pic between sitting in the snug, on a dentist chair, or in a row of old cinema seats) From all accounts they do excellent coffee (the accounts of my accomplice), and not so bad tea. I can't vouch for the food just yet, but plan to return and check it out. They do lots of really nice deals and events too, like Cashtag Mondays - if you retweet one of their tweets, you get 25% off your food and drink bill. My favourite permanent fixture though, is €5 for a Bombay Sapphire G&T - bargain! Definitely a great spot for those living in the D7 area.

    Ciara S.

    Will definitely be returning to Oscars! I'd been there twice for lunch but this was my first time there for an evening meal and I absolutely loved it. It was very busy and we were afraid it would be too loud to chat but the waiter sat us in a little booth so we were nicely tucked away. The chicken burger was amazing, the chicken was so fresh succulent. Big chunky chips were also A1. The staff were super friendly, the service was fast and the chocolate fondant, to top it all off, was delicious!

    Their lovely mojitos are €6
    Ninja L.

    This is my local and I like popping by for some drinks and food. They have amazingly tasty chicken wings and the serving is so big that usually I end up sharing with a friend as a starter. They have gluten free beer and food (although the food is not prepared in a gluten free environment). The decor is mixed and there's always something new to look at or why not borow a book to read while having a drink. Staff is friendly and welcoming - always giving a great service with a genuine smile. Perfect spot for a drink before seeing a movie at the Lighthouse Cinema, or after seeing a movie - or why not both?

    Mark D.

    Probably one of the best bar food places you can find on the north side. Great beer menu and plenty of cider too. The fish and chip's is presented very well.

    Espresso!
    Nick D.

    Cool laid-back atmosphere for a quick afternoon coffee! Very convenient to our hotel-Maldron Hotel Smithfield. Did not get a chance to try any of their food.

    goat's cheese salad with walnuts
    Karen C.

    From the outside, it looks like it has the personality of a chain-hotel bar. Walk inside, however, and it's actually a really funky bar with an eclectic retro feel, including a piano I've never seen anyone play. They also have a heated outdoor patio with blankets which is perfect for those crisp autumn evenings. The beers on tap are mostly your average macrobrews, but there are some decent bottled options. I've been here for dinner and brunch, and am mixed about how I feel about this place. We ordered the goat's cheese salad, which came with an entire wheel of cheese (not complaining, but they definitely could have thrown in a few more leaves to round out the dish); the bacon cheese burger, which has a double patty; and the mussels with chunky rosemary fries. Everything was good! Downfalls: the service could use some polishing. We struggled to flag anyone down to ask for menus, order drinks, order food, etc. We also ordered an extra side of chips but it took so long arriving we were almost finished our meals, so just ended up cancelling it. We never saw the fries, they removed it from the bill, but no apology or explanation was offered. This was on a weekday evening when it was not that busy. The location is really convenient and I like it enough to go again for a quick weeknight bite.

    Cloudberry Kopperberg and some moonshine before a movie at the lighthouse
    Ahmed A.

    Oscars is a lovely bar located in the heart of Smithfield. There is a great atmosphere about the place and a massive selection of world drinks, craft beers and lots of selections of food. To be fair I've yet to try the food however the selection of drinks is amazing. Drinks I didn't even know existed like elderflower kopperberg and cloudberry kopperberg (which I had to google because I had no idea what a cloudberry is) Along with this the atmosphere is excellent and if you're heading to the lighthouse for a flick and you arrive early id advise you to pop in for a drink. Also the staff are very polite and nice! Having spoken to various members of the staff I've yet to have a rude encounter or see anyone have a customer service issue!!

    Pulled beef special and chicken and chorizo salad

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    9 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Dirty place . The vegetarian plates are terrible, directly cooked from the microwave. Even the chips are not incredible . High price .

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    9 years ago

    The staff was hurried and wanted us to leave at 22:30.. nevertheless the gin-tonic was tasty!

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Service is not always perfect, and there are not too many beers, but the place is really nice and the food is great.

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    11 years ago

    We had great service and had several courses. The staff was top notch and the food was fantastic. Will be back.

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    The Stag's Head - Bacon & Cabbage

    The Stag's Head

    4.3(313 reviews)
    1.1 kmSouth Inner City
    €€

    My 1st to go bar upon landing in Dublin. Got to say, it's the best Dublin's preserved Victorian…read morepub. The authentic Victorian setting, the Victorian mahogany fittings, the mosaic marble tiled floors and granite tabletops, the mahogany bar, capped with red Connemara marble, follows the classic Victorian architectural pattern. The staff are helpful, friendly and patient since their accent is hard to understand sometime. My 1st beer and 1st Irish food, all I can say is what a meal, just simple delish. Being here is just a wondrous experience, the place is cosy, warm and the friendly of the people. So glad I picked this place as my first of Dublin.

    If you want to experience a true Victorian pub in Dublin, The Stag's Head is a beautiful place to…read morestart. Tucked down Dame Court just off Dame Street, The Stag's Head is one of those rare pubs that feels genuinely historic rather than designed to look old. The building dates to the late 1800s, and the interior retains the ornate features of a classic Victorian "gin palace"--rich carved wood, stained glass, brass rails, and a warm, glowing bar that feels wonderfully preserved. We stopped in around 4:30 pm, which turned out to be a perfect time to visit. There were other patrons enjoying drinks and food, but the atmosphere was calm and relaxed rather than loud or rowdy. It felt like the kind of place where locals drop in for a quiet pint on their way home from work before the evening crowd arrives. The staff were excellent--friendly, welcoming, and attentive without being intrusive. The food was very good (we failed to take photos because we were too busy enjoying it). As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to see the Impossible burger front and center on their menu; it was deliciously prepared with guacamole on a brioche bun, and not an afterthought on the menu. My companions both chose the Irish Beef Burger, and said it was excellent. One thing to know: this is a traditional Victorian pub, so cocktails aren't really part of the program. Expect beer, wine, or spirits rather than mixed drinks. In a place like this, that actually feels exactly right. Other pubs do serve mixed drinks. Between the history, the ambience, the quality of the food, and the wonderful staff, The Stag's Head is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've experienced a real piece of Dublin.

    Photos
    The Stag's Head - Bar

    Bar

    The Stag's Head - One of our favorite

    One of our favorite

    The Stag's Head - Back door area

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    Back door area

    Sheehans - Corned beef and cabbage

    Sheehans

    4.6(180 reviews)
    1.4 kmSouth Inner City
    €€

    Walked over to Sheehans for dinner and it was already packed inside and outside around the bar…read morearea. It took a little maneuvering to get through the crowd since everyone was loud and having a great time, but once we made it upstairs to the lounge area, it was much quieter and we were seated immediately. Hubby ordered the Irish Lamb Stew and I got the Sheehans Stout House Beef Pie. Our food came out surprisingly quick. I'm usually not a fan of lamb because it can taste too gamey for me, but I had to try his stew and it was actually really tasty -- still had that lamb flavor, but not overpowering at all. My Stout House Beef Pie was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. We also shared a side of onion rings and they were crispy to perfection. By the end we were stuffed, but still decided to split the bread pudding for dessert and wow... chef's kiss. Definitely worth saving room for!

    Stopped in for lunch and we're seated promptly at a table for two. Need to mention that seating is…read moreeither high top or booth and stool seating. Stools are ok but not super comfortable. Menu has a good selection of Irish dishes from seafood chowder up to lamb stew and pies. We ordered the potato soup, seafood chowder, 'banjo' burger with onion rings. The soups arrived first and the seafood chowder was loaded with huge pieces of fish, potatoes (not many) with a creamy rich base. Flavor was incredible and in itself a full meal. Served in a large crock style bowl. The potato soup was minus any whole potatoes. It was a rich creamy base with plenty of flavor and very hearty. The burger was really a double cheeseburger with plenty of cheese, grilled onions, what appeared to be a mayonnaise based sauce on a soft hamburger roll. Really tall enough that it was tough getting your mouth around it. Very well seasoned burgers and the onions were a nice touch. The onion rings were huge and had a very light batter on them. They served in a metal bowl to keep them hot. For dessert the apple crumble was ordered which was served in a large dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This could have been warmer but still was good.. The 5 star rating is for the chowder as it outshone the rest of the meal although the burger was definitely a close second. Definitely will return to try other dishes when we come back to the city.

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    Sheehans - Afternoon at the pub

    Afternoon at the pub

    Sheehans
    Sheehans - Nice seating area inside

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    Nice seating area inside

    Oscars Cafe Bar - bars - Updated May 2026

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