The Winding Stair

4.7

2407 Reviews

€31 to €50

Irish

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 11, 2024

10:30 PM

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 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

Location
40 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin, Co. Dublin D01 R9Y5
Neighborhood
North City Centre
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Beer, View, Wine

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

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 Ambiance
Dublin 1
Healthy
Dublin 1
Neighborhood 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

m
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
Is this helpful?
F
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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M
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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B
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
Is this helpful?
S
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.
Is this helpful?
D
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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M
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.
Is this helpful?
F
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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J
Jessica
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 3, 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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S
Stefano
Milan
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 2, 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 reservation

2 people

Dec 11, 2024

10:30 PM

Booked 41 times today

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

Additional information

Neighborhood
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

Website
http://winding-stair.com/
Phone number
(01) 872 7320

The Winding Stair

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

Lunch Menu

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

Veggie Scotch egg with confit garlic mayo€9.00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Snacks & Sides

Homemade chips with garlic aioli

Legal Eagle homemade crisps with salt & vinegar

Steamed greens or Mixed green leaves

Irish spud buttery mash

What 2,407 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Winding Stair restaurant rated?

Is The Winding Stair currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information