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The Winding Stair

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A beloved Irish restaurant above a bookstore, offering delicious cuisine with river views and a unique, cozy atmosphere.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
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The Winding Stair

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A beloved Irish restaurant above a bookstore, offering delicious cuisine with river views and a unique, cozy atmosphere.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Our best dining experience in Dublin, where food, wine, service, and atmosphere all work together perfectly."

TIP

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended due to its popularity and cozy, intimate setting.

Consider Seating

Request lower floor seating for potentially better ventilation, or aim for a window table for river views.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 12PM

Cuisine

Irish

Price

$$$

Phone

+353 1 872 7320

Address

40 Ormond Quay Lower, North City, Dublin 1, D01 R9Y5, Ireland

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Riverside Views & Cozy Ambiance

Riverside Views & Cozy Ambiance

Enjoy a cozy vibe with a beautiful view of the River Liffey, especially from window tables. Perfect for a relaxed dining experience.

Authentic Irish Cuisine

Authentic Irish Cuisine

Savor tasty, wholesome Irish dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, emphasizing local producers and traditional methods.

The Best Traditional Irish Restaurants In DublinBest restaurants Dublin, IrelandBest of Dublin's City Centre+2
Bookstore Charm

Bookstore Charm

A unique dining experience above an independent bookstore, offering a literary atmosphere alongside delicious food.

TikTok16 Best Things to Do in Dublin13 Best Places to Visit in Dublin & the Surrounding Area+6
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

The Winding Stair Bookshop & Restaurant, Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪 Independent bookshop on the groundfloor with a restaurant upstairs 🫶🏻 #dublintiktok #dublintravel #dublinbookshop #booktok #thewindingstair
@whatlauraisreading
38 likes • 2.8K views

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended due to its popularity and cozy, intimate setting.

Consider Seating

Request lower floor seating for potentially better ventilation, or aim for a window table for river views.

📍The Winding Stair, Dublin 1. I've had dinner here with friends, and it’s always been lovely 🥹 #dublin #dublintiktok #dublinfood #dublincity #restaurant #cozyvibes #aestheticvideos
@edwinafaa
7.2K likes • 111.1K views
if you're ever in dublin, you should visit!! #bookshopping #bookstore #bookshop #libraryofdais #bookshoppingwithme
@thelibraryofdais
347 likes • 3.4K views

Ask for Pairings

Servers are knowledgeable and can offer excellent recommendations for food and wine pairings.

Mobility Concerns

Be aware of several steep flights of stairs to reach the restaurant; it may not be suitable for those with mobility issues.

absolutely loved this book shop {Winding Stairs Book Shop} 📍Dublin, Ireland #windingstairbookshop #fyp #dublin #dublintiktok #booktok #books #bookaesthetic #bookshop #beautiful #bookshopireland #reading #readersoftiktok #reader
@inkinstinct3
19 likes • 517 views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended due to its popularity and cozy, intimate setting.

Consider Seating

Request lower floor seating for potentially better ventilation, or aim for a window table for river views.

Ask for Pairings

Servers are knowledgeable and can offer excellent recommendations for food and wine pairings.

Mobility Concerns

Be aware of several steep flights of stairs to reach the restaurant; it may not be suitable for those with mobility issues.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

The Winding Stair is celebrated for its delicious and authentic Irish cuisine, extensive wine list, and cozy atmosphere with river views. Diners praise the attentive service and unique bookstore setting. However, some patrons have noted issues with cramped seating and inconsistent service attentiveness, especially during peak times.

"Best meal in Dublin. Located above a local bookstore of the same name, it’s a small restaurant that packs a punch. Dining room was cosy but equally bright and airy. All the food was excellent, evidenced by the cleaned plates. Staff were friendly and efficient - thank you for being so accommodating of us bringing a birthday cake that needed some construction and lingering over coffee for an afternoon chat."

Kate

"Excellent restaurant. Food, ambiance and service was incredible. My friend and I were able to get a walk in which we were so appreciative for. The service was attentive and food was delicious! We started with Winding Stair Fish Plate, and I had the Doyle’s seam bream which was cooked to perfection. Please be mindful there several steep flight of stairs to reach the restaurant. We had a wonderful experience at this charming restaurant and reservations are highly recommended."

Danielle W

"The Winding Stair offers beautifully prepared cuisine in an environment both rustic and elevated.

The extensive wine menu pairs perfectly with the fresh, seasonal offerings.
Plates are great for sharing.

It’s always so special when food, wine, service and atmosphere all work together to provide a fantastic experience.

Our best dining experience in Dublin."

Michael Kelley

What People Like

Delicious Irish food
Cozy ambiance with river views
Unique bookstore setting

What People Dislike

Cramped seating
Inconsistent service attentiveness

Frequently Asked Questions

The restaurant is located up several steep flights of stairs and may not be suitable for individuals with mobility concerns.

Google Review+1

Reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant is popular and can get very busy.

TikTokGoogle Review

It's known for its authentic Irish food, extensive wine selection, cozy atmosphere, and its unique location above a bookstore.

TikTokThe Best Traditional Irish Restaurants In DublinBest restaurants Dublin, Ireland+1

Yes, tables by the window offer a lovely view of the River Liffey, but are in high demand.

TikTokBest of Dublin's City CentreGoogle Review

Yes, the restaurant offers options for vegetarians and vegans.

The Best Traditional Irish Restaurants In DublinGoogle Review

The atmosphere is cozy, literary, and elevated, with a nice view of the river.

TikTokGoogle Review

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Restaurant, Irish, Seafood, European, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free. Named after a Yeats poem, this one-time bookshop-café was bought by Elaine Murphy, who converted it into a top restaurant (while retaining the bookshop) committed to showcasing the best of Irish cuisine. “We can stand tall and look back to our own traditions and methodology in food production – from our incredible cheese making to our fish smokers, our charcuterie industry, our vegetable growing and pickling and our sustainable seafood,” says Murphy.

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The Winding Stair is Dublin's beloved bookstore with a restaurant upstairs. UK and European editions of contemporary literature, as well as classics like Joyce and Yeats, are easy to find on the shelves. If you're stumped finding your next read, ask the clerk behind the desk to help curate a list of titles for you, preferably something that may help you remember your trip or enrich your time in Ireland.

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In a beautiful Georgian building that once housed the city’s most beloved bookshop – the ground floor still is one – the Winding Stair’s conversion to elegant restaurant has been faultless. The wonderful Irish menu (potted crab, haddock poached in milk, steamed mussels and gorgeous fat chips) coupled with an excellent wine list makes for a memorable meal.

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The outdoor terrace at The Winding Stair on Lower Ormond Quay. The Winding Stair is making a welcome comeback, with outdoor dining available on a terrace overlooking the Liffey. Access is through a secret door on the first floor of the restaurant and the menu is a collaborative effort made up of the greatest hits from The Winding Stair and sister restaurant The Legal Eagle – think roasted bone barrow with braised oxtail and Gaelic escargots; pork scratchings with smoked oyster mayo, and steamed east coast cockles; Connemara rope mussels and Clogherhead crab with chips and seaweed aioli; as well as chocolate and stout mousse with peanut praline and raspberries.

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This quaint bookseller is a great place to browse for literary treasures before heading upstairs to the lovely restaurant on the top floor. So named because of its twisting staircase that brings you up to stunning views of the Liffey, The Winding Stair's menu concentrates on Irish produce with an emphasis on fish and seafood - expect menu items like Wicklow crab claws, potted Dingle crab and Roaring Bay mussels with steamed cockles and brown shrimp mayo. If you can get a table by the window and take in the sunset over the Liffey while sampling these delights you'll be doing well.

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Pull up a bentwood chair to a lunchtime table overlooking the River Liffey’s iconic Ha’Penny Bridge at the Winding Stair, a pioneering supporter of local producers. At lunch, tuck into their heartiest of seafood chowders topped with Irish-made Gubbeen chorizo and served with dillisk seaweed treacle bread. At dinner, don’t miss their roasted bone marrow, braised oxtail, Irish-raised Gaelic escargot and garlic butter, which elevates underrated ingredients to a humdinger of a dish that has the food critics swooning.

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Elaine Murphy is proprietor of four outstanding yet accessible restaurants that includes The Winding Stair, overlooking the river Liffey and iconic Ha'penny bridge. Originally a bookshop and café beloved of writers and artists, The Winding Stair is named after the Yeats poem and indeed, its very own winding stair. Murphy, an academic, selected the venue for the special connection she formed there during her student days, and has retained the bookshop on the first floor.

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This little bookshop is located on the lower Ormond Quay in Dublin, among cafés and other shops. It seems like something you might usually find around somewhere else, but if you go inside you will be propelled into a bookish little world. There are tables near the window where you can eat food or sit and sip some tea surrounded by countless books, and there is also another small room in which you can find some really old secondhand books to look at and buy.

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The Winding Stair is back with 'pop up' terrace dining from Friday 11th, adjacent to where their pizza place The Yarn was pre-lockdown. The menu is a mix of the best dishes from The Legal Eagle and The Winding Stair, like roasted bone marrow with braised oxtail and gaelic escargots with garlic butter, and Pat Mac’s smoked lamb breast with potato pavé, pea & wild garlic ketchup, Jerusalem artichoke purée and pickled tongue. Book on their website.

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It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon at this famous Dublin landmark. Overlooking the River Liffey, the first floor is a dedicated book shop overflowing with contemporary literature and classics. Head upstairs, and you’ll find a cozy eating space serving up hearty comfort food from Irish artisan producers, like braised oxtail, hand-smoked haddock and an extensive wine list showcasing emerging boutique winemakers from the new and old worlds.

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Located on the banks of the River Liffey, with an iconic view of Dublin's Ha'penny bridge, the winding stair is one of Dublin's best kept secrets and has only just recently came on my radar. Established in the 1970's as a cafe and bookshop, this became an infamous Dublin landmark for its winding staircase. It was rejuvenated in 2006, now a chic restaurant championing seasonal Irish Produce and traditional cuisine.

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Sorry, you need to accept cookies from Instagram to view this content. Overlooking the River Liffey, The Winding Stair is a Dublin restaurant with an adorable downstairs bookshop that’s been charming locals and tourists alike since it opened in 2006. Previous to that, it was just a bookshop and café but even within the last 18 years of its existence, the restaurant has undergone a few different changes.

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The Winding Stair Bookshop and Cafe is a literary landmark in Dublin, situated on Ormond Quay. It’s an institution that has been around for over 40 years and has seen the likes of Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney grace its doors. The cafe boasts a cosy and charming atmosphere, complete with vintage furniture, book-lined walls, and large windows overlooking the River Liffey.

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