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The Winding Stair, Dublin, Co. Dublin

The Winding Stair

4.6
4.6
2386 Reviews
€31 to €50
Irish

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
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 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon, Tue, Sun 5:30 pm–9:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (01) 872 7320
  • Website
    http://winding-stair.com/
  • Payment Options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress

Menu

LUNCH

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

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

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

  • OR

    • Veggie Scotch egg with confit garlic mayo€9.00

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

    • Today's soup€9.00

      • Recommended with a drop of Badajo, Verdejo, Rueda, Spain€10.00

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

      • Recommended with a drop of Kaiken Malbec, Argentina€11.00

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

      • Recommended with a drop of Azevedo, Vinho Verde, Portugal€11.00

    • 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

    • Young’s seared carpaccio & green bean salad, crispy Parmesan€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€10.00

    • Irish Waters salmon, baby potatoes, braised leeks, beetroot & tomato sauce vierge€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€13.00

    • 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€14.00

    • Pigs on the Green pork chop, cider-braised Savoy cabbage, confit parsnip, colcannon€30.00

      • Recommended with a drop of Ca Di Alte, Pinot Nero, Veneto, Italy€10.25
      • Snacks & Sides, All€7.00

    Homemade chips with garlic aioli, Legal Eagle homemade crisps with salt & vinegar Steamed greens or Mixed green leaves, Irish spud buttery mash

      Please ask for our allergen guide

      A 12.5% service charge will be added to parties of five or more and distributed, along with tips, in full to the staff who cooked, cleaned and served you. Thank you!

        Last updated: October 2, 2024

        What 2,386 people are saying

        Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

        Noise • Moderate

        Loved For

        • Dublin 1

          Best Overall

        • Dublin 1

          Best Food

        • Dublin 1

          Best Service

        • Dublin 1

          Best Ambience

        • Dublin 1

          Good for business meals

        • Dublin 1

          Innovative

        • Dublin 1

          Healthy

        • Dublin 1

          Neighbourhood gem

        • Dublin 1

          Great for fine wines

        • Dublin 1

          Good for special occasions

        • Dublin 1

          Vegetarian-friendly

        • Dublin 1

          Most Booked

        Review summary

        AI-generated from verified diner reviews
        The Winding Stair offers a "unique, quaint, and friendly" dining experience with stunning views of the Ha'Penny Bridge. Renowned for its superb Irish cuisine, the restaurant boasts "flawless food," a "wonderful ambiance," and "attentive service." It's perfect for special occasions or a relaxed meal with a touch of nostalgia.

        2,386 Reviews

        1. Klaire

          Dublin

          2 reviews

          4.0

          2 reviews

          Dined 2 days ago

          1. Overall 4
          2. Food 4
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 3
          Lovely lunch, staff and food were great but lighting in bathroom was so low it was dangerous. Both I and my elderly mother tripped over a bin in the cubicle because we could barely see. It's an accident waiting to happen

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        2. Hugh

          London

          1 review

          5.0

          1 review

          Dined 3 days ago

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          Attractive venue,,great food, good wine list for wines by the glass and excellent friendly service.

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        3. Marieles

          New York City

          1 review

          3.0

          1 review

          Dined 4 days ago

          1. Overall 3
          2. Food 3
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 3
          Nourriture très bien mais l’endroit très bruyant . Les autres clients aucun respect pour les autres.

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        4. Peter

          Kent

          2 reviews

          5.0

          2 reviews

          Dined 5 days ago

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 4
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          Lovely place to eat just by the river. Great choice of wines. Food was very good and served quickly. Staff very friendly. Would recommend.

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        5. Charlie

          London

          2 reviews

          5.0

          2 reviews

          Dined 6 days ago

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          We had a wonderful meal here on a very damp cold Dublin night. Dishes were very tasty. Huge wine selection. No draught beers but lots of choice in bottles. A little pricey but not vastly dissimilar from more commercial restaurants, with a significantly higher quality. Staff were professional and attentive. A lovely evening all round!

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        6. Abbey

          Kansas City

          1 review

          5.0

          1 review

          Dined 7 days ago

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          The haddock and butternut squash soup were phenomenal. Loved getting to dine in this little historical spot!

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        7. Roisin

          New York City

          1 review

          5.0

          1 review

          Dined on November 16, 2024

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          Excellent meal and wonderful staff. The starters were the highlight for me. The wine was suggested by the waiter and it was an ideal choice

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        8. Brian

          London

          1 review

          5.0

          1 review

          Dined on November 15, 2024

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          Wonderful atmosphere, great service and lovely food! Great selection of wine by the glass options

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        9. Becky

          Washington DC

          18 reviews

          vip
          5.0

          18 reviews

          Dined on November 11, 2024

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          Winding Stair is wonderful … cozy and lovely in every way. Pricey, hence the 4 stars on value, but it is well worth it! And absolute favorite!

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        10. Gretchen

          Denver

          1 review

          5.0

          1 review

          Dined on November 11, 2024

          1. Overall 5
          2. Food 5
          3. Service 5
          4. Ambience 5
          Wonderful service and delicious food! Would definitely recommend.

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        FAQs

        The Winding Stair is rated 4.6 stars by 2386 OpenTable diners.

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

        Make a reservation

        2 people
        7:00 p.m.
        Booked 43 times today
        Google Map for The Winding Stair

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

        Additional information

        • Neighbourhood
          North City Centre
        • Hours of Operation
          Lunch Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon, Tue, Sun 5:30 pm–9:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
        • 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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