Introduction to Dawson Street
Dawson Street has been a key part of Dublin’s scene since the 18th century, taking its name from Joshua Dawson, a big player in the city’s development. You’ll find it right in the heart of the action, just a short walk from iconic spots like St. Stephen’s Green and Trinity College.
It’s a perfect mix of business buzz and laid-back leisure, whether you’re checking out its historic buildings or grabbing a coffee at one of its trendy cafés. Dawson Street really captures the essence of Dublin, blending its rich history with the lively vibe of a modern city.
Top Restaurants on Dawson Street
Marco Pierre White – Marco Pierre White’s idea of simple is old school: elegant dishes prepared using the finest ingredients by chefs trained in London by Marco himself. The deceptively simple menu demands every dish earn its place: the choicest cuts of meat, freshest fish, classic sauces.
Featherblade – Featherblade restaurant is a unique steak-only eatery using the best techniques to turn the often overlooked yet delicious cuts of meat into something special. The creative techniques applied to the meat allow for regular changes to the menu.
The Ivy – The Ivy on Dawson Street is the first international brasserie of The Ivy collection. One of the world’s most famous restaurants, The Ivy, West Street, London has welcomed guests to enjoy its contemporary cuisine and unparalleled service for over a century.
Nannetti’s – Using the best and finest produce and ingredients, Nanetti’s create their take on classic Italian dishes fresh every day. Join them for lunch or dinner and discover seriously good food, in a relaxed and convivial setting.
Lennan’s Yard – Taking one of the last original mews and former coach houses in the city, we were inspired by its story, and aimed to restore, revive, and revitalise the best of Dublin’s culture and environment, for the people of the city under one roof.
Lennan’s Yard is a multi-faceted venue consisting of a gastro pub, restaurant, courtyard bar, private dining, whiskey bar, cocktail bar and terrace dining.
Milano – Milano opened it’s first restaurant on Dawson St in 1995 and remains a firm favourite for pizza. Milano is known for its relaxed and sociable atmosphere as well as for its fabulous pizzas and salads. This is a great one if you’re with the kids. They cater for children’s appetites with their scrumptious Children’s Piccolo Menu, they also offer a great party option their Kid’s Pizza Making Party.
Fire Steakhouse & Bar – FIRE Steakhouse Dublin offers the ultimate casual dining experience. With an array of dishes to make your mouth water, they are sure you will find something to please your palette. Their signature dishes of Wood Fired Jumbo Tiger Prawns, and their succulent award-winning Irish Hereford Prime Irish Steaks come highly recommended.
Maneki Japanese Cuisine – Japanese Restaurant & Karaoke Studio. It is at Maneki Restaurant that food is prepared with finesse and diligence. Each roll has unique ingredients coming together in harmony. The original names of each item reflect its contents, and they have been carefully created by the experienced Sushi Sama chefs.
Shopping on Dawson Street
Dawson Jewellers – Dawson Jewellers is a family run Jewellers which is in the heart of Dublin City Centre for over 30 years. They specialise in high-end watches and luxurious Jewellery. They pride themselves on offering quality watches and Jewellery items at the best possible prices.
Tower Records – Tower Records is Ireland’s largest Independent Record Stores. They specialise in music, film, hi-fi, merchandise and more. They are the proud stockists of Ireland’s largest vinyl selections, with one in each branch. Their DVD and Blu ray sections stock a huge choice of film & TV and they are stockists of a massive selection of CD’s across many genres.
Hodges Figgis – Famously mentioned in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, Hodges Figgis is Ireland’s largest bookshop. Founded in 1768, the shop is a book enthusiast’s dream. A whimsical building, its three floors are crammed with everything from travel books to cult classics. Check out the bargain basement – one of Dublin’s best kept secrets – for some cheap thrills.
James Herren – At James Herren Menswear they pride themselves on their top tier customer service. They have decades of experience and are always there to help and advise you in any way they can.
Cafés and Coffee Shops
Bestseller Café – The Bestseller Café specialises in serving top-quality coffee, select wines, and seriously tasty food. Their central location, in the historic former National Bible Society on Dawson Street, coupled with the outstanding expertise of their staff, has created a dining experience like no other.
The Beanhive Café – Beanhive is a family-owned business, operated by very motivated people who love both their coffee and their customers, and are like family to each other. This translates into the warm, familiar atmosphere that characterises the café. The connections you make, the chats you have and the fun you experience are equally as important to the feel of Beanhive as the speciality coffee itself.
Tang – At Tang they take great pleasure in making people happy with their food.
Good food is more than something they serve. Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner you can rest assured that everything on your plate has been carefully chosen for its taste, quality and sustainable credentials. They serve food the way it should be, nutritious, healthy and most importantly, delicious!
Il Fornaio Café – Il Fornaio’s Bakery offers a variety of Italian breads, Pizza and desserts which are baked in our bakery daily with first grade Italian flour and ingredients. The pizza is handmade and shaped the Italian style way and the Deli has a wide range of Italian olives, cooked and cured Italian meats i.e. Parma ham and cheeses i.e. Parmigiano Reggiano.
Carluccio’s – When they opened the first Carluccio’s caffè, their aim was to provide great quality, authentic Italian food at sensible prices. They also wanted to allow informal but excellent service to our customers. The aim remains the same today. They serve delicious Italian food freshly prepared on the premises, a larder of Italian specialties and careful, friendly service. At lunch time they have a pasta bar where you can get pasta to go, and coffees to die for!
Sprout & Co – Sourcing locally has never been simply a slogan for Sprout, it’s fundamental to how they think about food. For them, it makes so much more sense to eat something grown just down the road. For a start, it’s fresher, and fresher means better tasting. The beauty of Sprout is you’re invited to hand pick each ingredient from their vast selection of items, making your bespoke salad from scratch to serving.
Cultural Attractions and Entertainment
The Mansion House – The Mansion House has been the Lord Mayor of Dublin’s residence since 1715, located right in the heart of Dublin City. This historic building not only served as the Lord Mayor’s home but also hosted the Dáil Éireann from 1919 to 1922. It has played a central role in many significant events, including the formation of the Irish State and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Over the years, the Mansion House has welcomed international leaders, celebrated athletes, and famous stars from the arts. For 300 years, it has been a family home and a focal point of Dublin life, cherished by Dubliners who have danced, celebrated victories, completed exams, and enjoyed Christmas festivities there.
The Mansion House opens its doors to the public each year during Culture Night and the Open House events, as well as on occasional open days. If you’re interested in arranging a group tour, you can reach out directly to the Office of the Lord Mayor.
Glass Mask Theatre – Glass Mask Theatre brings new Irish plays and international premiers to life in our immersive Dawson Street venue.
The company is composed of a bunch of likeminded pirate souls of Irish Theatre who have been gifted with a spectacular venue in Dublin City Centre to stage all NEW plays with a full ritual of food and drink pre show as part of the experience.
St.Anns Church – St Anns Church on Dawson Street maintains a very busy city centre ministry dating back to 1707. St Anns Church, a much-loved place of worship, is also the venue for civic events, lunchtime recitals and evening concerts. It is a popular destination for tourists with upwards of 40,000 visitors annually. Sunday Service is at 11.00 with full choir.
Nightlife and Bars
37 Dawson Street – 37 Dawson Street is an enchanting food and drink emporium heart of Dawson Street, one of Dublin’s busiest nightlife neighbourhoods.
Stepping inside, you will find an assembly of the wonderfully weird, from vintage paintings and posters to giant gargoyles and moose busts. This visual feast continues throughout the entire venue, with each corner revealing something new. They go late 6 nights a week from Tuesday to Sunday. With four bars throughout the building, you won’t ever have to wait long to quench that thirst. Each bar boasts an extensive range of cocktails with twists on traditional recipes and a range of new concoctions, catering for the avid connoisseur.
Café en Seine – One of Dublin’s most iconic and stunning venues, nestled in the heart of Dublin’s city centre on Dawson Street. Their extensive dining experiences including a restaurant, a host of unique bars and a stunning indoor Parisian Street garden with extensive brunch, lunch and dinner menus, which then turns into a late bar on the weekends. Experience the stunning, iconic venue that is Café en Seine.
Peruke & Periwig – Peruke & Periwig is a unique and memorable drinking and dining experience on Dublin’s thriving Dawson Street.
The ground floor bar offers guests a draught pint, bottle of craft beer or delicious coffee as well as an extensive selection of the finest cocktails, whiskeys, spirits, liqueurs and wines. They also offer tasty bar snacks and sandwiches. The second and third floor lounge areas are for dining options where guests can peruse the expertly mixed ‘Around the World in 80 Cocktails’ menu. Guests are welcomed to dine from a comprehensive, modern Irish menu for brunch, lunch or dinner with choices to meet everyone’s appetite.
Accommodation Options Nearby
The Dawson Hostel – The Dawson Hostel pride themselves on being able to cater for all travellers, whether you are travelling solo for work, with a few friends for a concert, or even with a large group discovering Dublin for the first time, look no further than the Dawson Hostel – your key to Dublin.
This newly refurbished property offers rooms that range from private triple ensuites up to spacious dormitories for 20 guests; whatever your travel needs, they cater for it.
Their outstanding location means you’re only steps away from the elegance of Dawson Street via our front door, and to Dublin’s best late-night party scene of St Anne’s Lane at the back of the building. Whether you’re here for a quiet weekend away or are aiming to dance the nights away in Dublin they have you covered.
The Westbury – The Westbury Hotel is a 5-star hotel is perfectly nestled into the heart of Dublin mirror imaging the city’s personality and charm. Located beside Grafton Street and only a 5-minute walk away from Dawson Street.
Local Tips and Recommendations
Navigating Dawson Street like a local is all about knowing the best times to visit, where to park, and discovering those hidden gems that make the area special. Here are some insider tips to make the most of your visit:
- Best Times to Visit: Dawson Street is lively throughout the day, but if you prefer a quieter experience, try visiting in the early morning or late afternoon. Weekday mornings are ideal for a peaceful stroll or a relaxed coffee, while the late afternoon is perfect for some low-key shopping or grabbing an early dinner.
- Parking Tips: Parking in the city centre can be tricky, but locals know a few spots. On-street parking is available along Dawson Street, though spaces can be limited. Consider parking in nearby car parks like the Q-Park on Setanta Place or the St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre car park. Both are just a short walk away and provide secure options.
- Public Transport: If you want to avoid parking altogether, take advantage of Dublin’s excellent public transport. The Luas Green Line has a stop at Dawson, making it easy to hop off and start exploring. Several bus routes also run through the area, connecting you to other parts of the city.
Conclusion: Why Visit Dawson Street
Dawson Street is a must-visit spot in Dublin, offering a perfect mix of dining, shopping, and cultural experiences that really showcase the city’s charm. With its historic buildings, cozy cafés, trendy shops, and hidden gems, it’s a place where Dublin’s rich history meets its lively, modern vibe.
