Diners' Choice: Best Ambience restaurants in Dublin 2

OpenTable

Updated 05 March 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambience in Dublin 2? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Lord Mayor's Lounge at The Shelbourne Hotel

4.8

4.8 (1761)

€51 and over

Afternoon Tea

South City Centre

About the restaurant

Ireland's most iconic drawing room looks out on the only garden grand enough to match: the glorious St. Stephen's Green. The Lord Mayor's Lounge is the perfect back drop for a special day in Dublin. A room sparkling with light; it is a welcoming setting for our celebratory theatre of that most civilised ritual: the art of Afternoon Tea.
The elements have remained unchanged over the centuries: a fragrant pot of tea, a succession of sweets and delicate sandwiches, fine china, fresh flowers and delighted laughter. This time is all about enjoying the lovely things in life, an experience designed to be shared and savoured. Time slows down and the art of conversation is revived.

From December 1st, our wonderful Lounge will convert to a casual dining venue from 7.30pm daily, allowing our guests to experience an exquisite food offering in our iconic setting.

Top review

JenniferMVIP

Dined 4 days ago

So glad we saw the menu out front and made a reservation. The Lounge is gorgeous. The service was very special yet laid back in a good way. Lots of delicious savories and sweets. Very memorable experience.

Trocadero

4.8

4.8 (48)

€31 to €50

Contemporary European

South City Centre

About the restaurant

At Trocadero we pride ourselves on being Dublin’s theatre restaurant. We have attracted stars of the stage and screen for nearly sixty years and diners from Dublin and beyond are brought back to St Andrew’s Street time and again by excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere.
Our cooking style is simple and meticulous, and visitors are treated to wonderful fish dishes, excellent steak and lamb, and enticing desserts. Irish suppliers are encouraged and locally sourced food is favoured.
Our warm welcome and relaxed atmosphere — coupled with excellent service and attention to detail — make the Trocadero the perfect choice for all occasions. We are perfect for entertaining corporate guests, gathering with family, or celebrating special occasions with large groups.
We look forward to welcoming you to The Troc.

Top review

Eoghan

Dined 6 days ago

From the moment we stepped into Trocadero, we were welcomed with warmth and charm. The ambiance was classic yet intimate, setting the perfect tone for a relaxed evening. The highlight, of course, was the food—my chateaubriand was melt-in-the-mouth perfection, cooked to absolute precision, while my girlfriend’s monkfish was nothing short of sensational, bursting with delicate flavors. The service was attentive without being intrusive, making the entire experience seamless. For a special night out with incredible food and atmosphere, Trocadero delivers every time. Highly recommended!

The Atrium Lounge at The College Green Hotel (Formerly The Westin Dublin)

4.5

4.5 (411)

€31 to €50

Afternoon Tea

South City Centre

About the restaurant

A unique and elegant experience awaits at the Atrium Lounge, a magnificent five-storey high glass atrium, flooded with natural daylight. Afternoon Tea at the Atrium blends tradition with exceptional service, creating moments of luxury and delight, setting the tone for serenity and relaxation in Dublin city centre.

- Please note that if you have any dietary requirements, they will need to be pre-ordered 24 hours in advance.
- Please note that a deposit is required for parties of six guests or more.
- We ask all guests to note when making the booking to select if the reservation will be for The Afternoon Tea Menu or The Lunch Menu.
- Please note the afternoon tea is available daily from 12:00-17:30 pm.
- Please note that each afternoon tea reservation allows for a 90-minute seating.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 7 days ago

Highly recommend this place if you enjoy great tea and food

Glas

4.8

4.8 (2093)

€51 and over

Vegetarian / Vegan

South City Centre

About the restaurant

Ireland inspires us at Glas. We source the best local produce to produce an innovative and delicious menu with vegetables as the star. Glas is about exciting, eclectic flavours, complemented by a carefully curated menu of wines and cocktails.
Children are welcome for lunch, but children under 10 are not catered for after 5.00 pm.

Winner of Best Vegetarian Restaurant at RAI Awards 2023.

Opening times:
Dinner
From 5pm: 7 nights a week

Lunch
Friday 12.00–2.45pm

Brunch
Saturday - Sunday 12.00-2.30pm

Early Bird
Sunday-Thursday: 5-5.45pm

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 3 days ago

We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the experience at Glas! Highly recommend a visit

Jay Kay’s cafe

4.8

4.8 (138)

€30 and under

Breakfast

Dame Street

About the restaurant

We are a family run contemporary style cafe, juicery and kitchen boasting speciality coffee, cold pressed juices, superfood smoothies serving breakfast, brunch and late lunch.

Opened in 2022, we wanted to offer our customers, both new and existing, the fresh, delcious Jay Kays offering both on the go and in person. .

Top review

Jazmin659

Dined on 10 Mar 2025

Really enjoyed brunch here, lovely place amazing food and service was great once inside but had a table booked and still had to wait 10 minutes outside meanwhile people who hadn’t booked and in a queue all got seated before our table which wasn’t a massive issue for us but probably not much value in booking. Would absolutely recommend and had a brilliant time.

The Storyteller

4.8

4.8 (29)

€30 and under

Irish

Dawson Street

About the restaurant

Modern Irish pub, serving the best in classic pub dishes with live music, fantastic drinks and superb service.

Top review

Stephanie

Dined on 15 Feb 2025

The cocktails were so refreshing , they had a nice variety of gin, vodka and whiskey cocktails. The food was made with fresh ingredients & so yummy . My husband and I had the kale beet salad and the fish & chips, which were just perfect.

Pearl Brasserie

4.8

4.8 (1281)

€31 to €50

European

South City Centre

About the restaurant

Located right in Georgian Dublin City Centre. Next door to the famous 5 star Merrion Hotel. Pearl has catered for lovers of fine dining for the past 20 years. French and Asian fusion is the norm. The Pigeon Rossini or Bluefin Tuna Ponzu is still a staple on the menu but it is the €99 -Six course tasting menu that will demonstrate Pearl’s culinary legacy.

We work closely with our dedicated suppliers enabling our team to source the best of ingredients. Culinary ingenuity and skill from the kitchen combined with warm, professional service makes Pearl one of Dublin’s premier fine dining experiences.

Featured in Michelin Guide since first year of opening.
Travelers Choice Award 2021 - Top 10% of restaurants worldwide Tripadvisor
Awarded Chef of the Year 2017 in the Georgina Campbell Awards
Travelers Choice Awards 2020, 2019,2017 - Delighted to be included at No 5

For the past 22 years Pearl Brasserie continues to perform at the top of the game in Dublin.

Bon Appetit!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent as ever. Top service and food. Waiters knowledge of wines exceptional.

Red Torch Ginger Dublin 2

4.7

4.7 (143)

€30 and under

Thai

South City Centre

About the restaurant

Red Torch Ginger Dublin is located at the heart of Dublin 2. This is the main shopping and entertainment hub for Dublin City centre. We are a restaurant serving Modern Thai food along with some South East Asian - inspired dishes. We offer a wide selection of beers and wines as well as a curated menu of delicious cocktails. We are open for Lunch at 12.30 from Tuesday to Saturday and we serve Dinner each day from 15.00. We offer a great value Lunch menu for €24.95 which includes two courses plus a drink. We also have a very popular Early Bird Menu offer each day which costs €32.95. This EB menu includes two courses plus tea or coffee and is served from 3.00 until 5.45 pm
We can easily accomodate groups up to 32 people. We have a lower dining room which is perfect for all sorts of events from Birthday dinners to Business Lunch meetings.
We cater for many food allergies. We are always available to speak to you about an bespoke menu offer or any special requests you may have

Top review

Brid

Dined 6 days ago

The food and service were both excellent and really delicious vegan options. We will definitely be back!

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Experience

Daily 2 Course Value Lunch

Rosa Madre

4.7

4.7 (1510)

€31 to €50

Italian

Temple Bar

About the restaurant

Rosa Madre is the most authentic Italian restaurant in Dublin. We are located in the heart of Dublin, one of the most exciting and vibrant areas of Dublin with great shops, bars and many five stars hotels.

We specialize in fresh fish, delivered daily by local suppliers and we guarantee to always have the finest quality available. Our seafood cuisine is characterized by the simple quality of the catch. We place our orders during the night, directly from the port where the fish is delivered to ensure we always get the freshest product available.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 14 Mar 2025

Excellent food and service. The atmosphere was relaxed.

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Krewe South - Charlemont

4.7

4.7 (360)

€30 and under

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Camden Street

About the restaurant

The Jewel of the South-Side. A NOLA inspired Bar & Eatery, fusing the vibrancy, craic and soul of Southern & Irish Hospitality. Perfect for any KREWE gathering. As they would say in New Orleans, 'Pass a Good Time' in our venue and soak up the atmosphere. Our Menu, created after a fun filled trip to New Orleans, takes inspiration from the flavour of Cajun Creole Cuisine while locally sourcing ingredients. So Round up your Krewe and 'Laissez les bon temps rouler'. Let the good times roll!

Top review

Aisling

Dined 1 day ago

A lovely restaurant with helpful, friendly staff. Great choices on the menu, everything we ordered was delicious and the cocktails are amazing!

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