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The Winding Stair, Dublin, Co. Dublin

The Winding Stair

4.7
4.7
2407 Reviews
€31 to €50
Irish

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2 people
22:30
Booked 41 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for fine wines
The Winding Stair Bookshop & Café became a famous Dublin landmark in the 1970s and 1980s. Named after the Yeats poem and in honour of its winding staircase, it is overlooking the river Liffey, with an iconic view of the Ha'penny bridge. As a popular meeting place for writers, musicians and artists, it was a well known hub for debate and creativity with many poems written, novels penned and movies shot within its walls. In 2006, Elaine Murphy brought this much-loved spot back to life as a restaurant, championing seasonal, Irish produce. The bookshop, located on the ground floor, was retained, as were many of the old bookshelves, photos and memories. The room retains its timeless charm with stripped wood tables and floors, and Bentwood café chairs.The view remains as quintessentially Dublin as ever.
The food is good, old-fashioned home cooking, with produce sourced from artisans within the island. Drink sare local and international craft beers & wines from stellar producers.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    €31 to €50
  • Cuisines
    Irish, Seafood, Vegetarian
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 12:00–15:00 Dinner Mon, Tue, Sun 17:30–21:00 Wed–Sat 17:30–22:00
  • Phone number
    (01) 872 7320
  • Website
    http://winding-stair.com/
  • Payment Options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress

Menu

Add a drop of something delicious from our board of wines by the glass and complimentary still or sparkling water

Lunch Menu

  • Pigs on the Green piggy Scotch egg with bacon dust mayo€9.00

    • Veggie Scotch egg with confit garlic mayo€9.00

      Recommended with a drop of Artuke 'Pies Negros', Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, €14.25

      • Roasted butternut squash soup, Dublin hills goat cheese crouton, pickled red onion€9.00

        Recommended with a drop of Badajo, Verdejo, Rueda, Spain €10

        • The Wooded Pig Irish charcuterie board with house-cured vegetables & breads€20.00

          Recommended with a drop of Kaiken Malbec, Argentina, €11

          • The Winding Stair Fish Plate: Belvelly, Goatsbridge Farm & home-made smoked fish pâté, chive crème fraîche, treacle bread, cornichons & caper berries, good for sharing€25.00

            Recommended with a drop of Azevedo, Vinho Verde, Portugal, €11

            • Potted Dingle Bay crab with pickled cucumber, toasted soda bread & organic leaves€18.00

              Recommended with a drop of Macon Villages, White Burgundy, France, €13.75

              • Macroom Dairies' burrata, roasted Kinsealy onion squash, cranberry, spiced hazelnuts & roasted red onion€18.00

                Recommended with a drop of Tokaji Dry, Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary, €13.50

                • Doyle's hand-smoked haddock, poached in milk with onions and white Cheddar mash€32.00

                  Recommended with a drop of Idiart Rosé, France, €10

                  • Goatsbridge Farm trout, baby potato, spinach & goats bridge trout roe beurre blanc€29.00

                    Recommended with a drop of Los Aljibes, Sauvignon Blanc, Spain €9.50

                    • Garryhinch wild mushroom ragu with crispy polenta & parsley pesto€27.00

                      Recommended with a drop of Lyrarakis, Assertiko, Greece €13

                      • Youngs' 9 oz Black Angus Irish striploin, homemade chips, steamed greens & garlic herb butter€42.00

                        Recommended with a drop of Willunga 100, Grenache, Mclaren Vale, Australia €14

                        • Pork Chop, cider-braised savoy cabbage, apple ketchup, mash & root veg€30.00

                          Recommended with a drop of Ca Di Alte, Pinot Nero, Veneto, Italy, €10.25

                          Snacks & Sides

                          All €7

                          • Homemade chips with garlic aioli

                            • Legal Eagle homemade crisps with salt & vinegar

                              • Steamed greens or Mixed green leaves

                                • Irish spud buttery mash

                                  Last updated: 25 November 2024

                                  What 2,407 people are saying

                                  Overall ratings and reviews

                                  Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                  4.7
                                  4.7 based on recent ratings
                                  • 4.7Food
                                  • 4.7Service
                                  • 4.6Ambience
                                  • 4.3Value

                                  Noise • Moderate

                                  Loved For

                                  • Dublin

                                    Great for scenic views

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Best Overall

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Best Food

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Best Service

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Best Ambience

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Healthy

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Neighbourhood gem

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Great for fine wines

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Vegetarian-friendly

                                  • Dublin 1

                                    Most Booked

                                  Review summary

                                  AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                  The Winding Stair in Dublin offers a delightful dining experience with its charming riverside setting and impressive views of the Ha'Penny Bridge. Guests rave about the "unreal food" and "exceptional service," highlighting dishes like the crab starter and smoked haddock. The atmosphere is cozy yet lively, making it a must-visit spot for both locals and travelers.

                                  2,407 Reviews

                                  1. mary

                                    Edinburgh

                                    3 reviews

                                    5.0

                                    3 reviews

                                    Dined 1 day ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    Delicious food in a lovely setting overlooking river Liffey - great attention from our waiter Jonathan. 10/10 in every aspect

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                                  2. Franziska

                                    Dublin

                                    1 review

                                    5.0

                                    1 review

                                    Dined 2 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    Always happy to come back to the Winding Stair. The food and staff is outstanding as well as the atmosphere. The noise level is a bit higher than usual since it’s a fairly small main room with a lot of tables. But this just adds to the cozy atmosphere. Always a pleasure!

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                                  3. Macy

                                    Las Vegas

                                    4 reviews

                                    5.0

                                    4 reviews

                                    Dined 3 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    We recently dined at The Winding Stair, and the experience was exceptional from start to finish. The bookstore below was a delightful prelude, filled with fascinating local books that set the tone for a great evening. Upon arrival, we were joyfully greeted by the host and promptly seated at a lovely table by the window with a stunning view. The ambiance was cozy yet vibrant, and the staff were attentive and genuinely friendly throughout the evening. The food was simply amazing—each dish was thoughtfully prepared and bursting with flavor. It was easily one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. A highlight of the evening was chatting with a neighboring table, who mentioned they typically stay on the southside but make a special trip to the northside just for this restaurant. We couldn’t agree more—The Winding Stair is worth the trip and more! We’ll definitely be returning. Highly recommend!

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                                  4. Bruna

                                    Dublin

                                    1 review

                                    5.0

                                    1 review

                                    Dined 4 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 3
                                    Food was incredible and the staff very friendly. Loved it

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                                  5. Stephanie

                                    Toronto

                                    6 reviews

                                    5.0

                                    6 reviews

                                    Dined 4 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    Ambience is fantastic. It is the place to be in Dublin! Food is unbelievable.

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                                  6. Debbie

                                    Dublin

                                    2 reviews

                                    5.0

                                    2 reviews

                                    Dined 4 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 4
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    A really lovely experience. The food was great. The ambiance was really lovely. The staff were so helpful professional and friendly. Definitely recommend a visit and will be back.

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                                  7. Marco

                                    Dublin

                                    2 reviews

                                    5.0

                                    2 reviews

                                    Dined 5 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    We really loved our meal and the wine was great. Service was good.

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                                  8. Fred

                                    Houston

                                    24 reviews

                                    vip
                                    5.0

                                    24 reviews

                                    Dined 7 days ago

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    We went for lunch and the food was excellent. Service was exceptional. They were there when you needed them. The Irish Striploin and Wild mushroom Ragu were both delicious and flavorful.

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                                  9. Jessica

                                    San Francisco

                                    2 reviews

                                    5.0

                                    2 reviews

                                    Dined on 3 December 2024

                                    1. Overall 5
                                    2. Food 5
                                    3. Service 5
                                    4. Ambience 5
                                    Winding Stair is one of our favorite places to eat. Ingredients are local, dishes are consistently excellent, service is warm and efficient. Window seat views are gorgeous. I’d love to find a place as awesome in the SF Bay Area. Years later, Winding Stair continues to be a highlight of any visit to Ireland.

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                                  10. Stefano

                                    Milan

                                    2 reviews

                                    4.0

                                    2 reviews

                                    Dined on 2 December 2024

                                    1. Overall 4
                                    2. Food 3
                                    3. Service 3
                                    4. Ambience 3
                                    While the location is charming, the excessive density of tables in a confined space creates a noisy environment, diminishing the overall enjoyment. Food quality and price are fair.

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                                  FAQs

                                  The Winding Stair is rated 4.7 stars by 2407 OpenTable diners.

                                  Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                  Make a booking

                                  2 people
                                  22:30
                                  Booked 41 times today
                                  Google Map for The Winding Stair

                                  40 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin, Co. Dublin D01 R9Y5

                                  Additional information

                                  • Area
                                    North City Centre
                                  • Hours of Operation
                                    Lunch Wed–Sun 12:00–15:00 Dinner Mon, Tue, Sun 17:30–21:00 Wed–Sat 17:30–22:00
                                  • Price
                                    €31 to €50
                                  • Cuisines
                                    Irish, Seafood, Vegetarian
                                  • Dining style
                                    Casual Dining
                                  • Dress code
                                    Casual Dress
                                  • Parking details
                                    Public Lot
                                  • Payment Options
                                    Mastercard, Visa
                                  • Additional
                                    Beer, View, Wine
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