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The Winding Stair, Dublin, Co. Dublin

The Winding Stair

4.7
4.7
2407 Reviews
€31 to €50
Irish
A photo of The Winding Stair restaurant

The Winding Stair

4.7
€31 to €50
Irish
North City Centre

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 43 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
  • Payment Options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress

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

NoiseModerate

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.

A photo of The Winding Stair restaurant

The Winding Stair

4.7
€31 to €50
Irish
North City Centre

Make a booking

2 people
22:30
Booked 43 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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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