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The Unicorn, Dublin, Co. Dublin

The Unicorn

3.7 (159)
€31 to €50
Italian
12b Merrion court, Merrion Row, Dublin, Co. Dublin D02 V962

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A photo of The Unicorn restaurant

The Unicorn

3.7
€31 to €50
Italian
St Stephen's Green

Make a booking

2 people
21:00
Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Good for groups
The Unicorn is a much-loved Italian restaurant and a long-standing institution in Dublin’s dining scene. After closing its doors a few years ago, it proudly reopened in 2024 under new management. Located on Merrion Row, just a 3-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Green, The Unicorn has been a cornerstone of the city’s culinary life for decades. Now, under the leadership of Kristan Burness, it is set to shine once again.

The beloved terrace, famous for long, leisurely lunches, returns with vibrant al fresco dining; it offers guests an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of the city, with dishes ranging from traditional Italian staples, such as our delicious carbonara and mushroom risotto, to crowd favorites, like our perfectly cooked fillet.

If your preferred time is not available, please feel free to give us a call, or join our online waitlist for the next available table. Our team is always happy to help make your dining experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    €31 to €50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Comfort Food, European
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 12:30–14:30 Dinner Mon–Sat 17:00–21:30
  • Phone number
    (01) 963 6002
  • Website
    https://www.unicornrestaurant.ie/
  • Payment Options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Kristan Burness

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

This menu from The Unicorn.

Set menu priced at 75euro pp, with supplements for add ons, fillet and sides

Starters

  • Burrata di Bufala

    Artisanal burrata, zucchini, heritage tomato, basil cream

    • Gamberoni Piccanti

      Sautéed king prawns, 'nduja butter & herbs, grilled focaccia

      • Culatella di Parma

        Prosecco and vanilla infused melon, culatella di parma, aged balsamic

        • Risotto con Funghi e Tartufo€5.00

          Carnaroli risotto, seasonal mushrooms, add fresh black truffle

          Main Course

          • Garganelli Arrabbiata

            Hand rolled pasta, san marzano tomato sauce, whipped goat cheese

            • Pollo alla Cacciatora

              Free range bread & leg of chicken cacciatore style

              • Merluzzo al Vapore

                Fresh cod fillet, samphire & lobster sauce

                • Filetto di Manzo€10.00

                  Fillet of Irish dry aged beef, wild mushroom, shallot & pancetta jus

                  Sides

                  • Fine Beans & Pancetta

                    • Mash

                      • Fries€6.00

                        Dessert

                        • Unicorn Tiramisu

                          Hazelnut, disaronno & chocolate

                          • Chocolate Delice

                            Pistachio and pistachio ice cream

                            • Chianti Poached Pears

                              Madagascar vanilla mascarpone

                              Last updated: 12 February 2026

                              Powered by OpenTable

                              Reviews

                              OpenTable reviews from verified diners

                              Reviews from people who have dined at The Unicorn.

                              3.7

                              3.7
                              (159)
                              • 3.8Food
                              • 4.0Service
                              • 3.6Ambience
                              • 3.5Value

                              Noise • Moderate

                              Review summary

                              AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                              The Unicorn offers a charming dining experience with a "beautiful dining area" and "helpful" staff. Diners rave about the "delicious and beautifully presented" dishes, especially the "lovely Tiramisu." Despite occasional closure issues, patrons appreciate the flexible vegan options and "excellent" truffle and Parmesan chips. Ideal for a memorable meal.
                              159 Reviews

                              1. Marian

                                Dublin1 review

                                2.0

                                Dined on 2 October 2026

                                1. Overall 2
                                2. Food 3
                                3. Service 4
                                4. Ambience 1
                                Pre theatre menu not available despite being advertised on their website. Also seemed to be out of many items

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                              2. Muireann Gold

                                Dublin1 review

                                5.0

                                Dined on 22 September 2026

                                1. Overall 5
                                2. Food 5
                                3. Service 5
                                4. Ambience 5
                                An earlier booking was cancelled. They were forced to close for two weeks to replace pipes or something. Guys you can’t give one star if the restaurant is closed. You are surely only in a position to rate it when you eat the food. Anyway I tried again when they reopened. I was a bit nervous because my daughter is vegan but I was told they would accommodate her. Wow. She got this fluffy aubergine spread that I couldn’t stop eating with lovely homemade bread which I got too with lovely plump prawns. Then she had a sort of a stroganoff which was also delicious. I had the Pollo Alla Cacciatore. Delicious. The truffle and Parmesan chips are a must. The wine menu was decent. All in all I was very glad I gave it a go and will certainly return

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                              3. Anna

                                Dublin1 review

                                2.0

                                Dined on 19 September 2026

                                1. Overall 2
                                2. Food 2
                                3. Service 1
                                4. Ambience 1
                                They had none of the ingredients to make the cocktails on the menu, apparently they had just run out the night before. When we ordered a brandy after dinner they had none of these either

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                              4. John

                                Dublin10 reviews

                                5.0

                                Dined on 13 September 2026

                                1. Overall 5
                                2. Food 5
                                3. Service 5
                                4. Ambience 5
                                A wonderful dining experience at The Unicorn yesterday. Each of the three courses were delicious and beautifully presented. A very varied choice for starters and mains topped off by a lovely Tiramisu for dessert. Staff were so nice also, cannot express how wonderful it was to eat there yesterday, we will definitely return in the near future.

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                              5. MELISSA Gold

                                Toronto / Ontario1 review

                                1.0

                                Dined on 12 September 2026

                                1. Overall 1
                                2. Food 1
                                3. Service 3
                                4. Ambience 5
                                The team seemed to have one person who knew what they were doing. The rest of the staff were young teens who were trying but had no real clue what was going on. The restaurant had to go to another restaurant to provide cocktails ( literally running across the way and coming back ) the steaks were fine but we had to send one of the steaks back two times as it was undercooked. The Unicorn has some work to do. It was so bad it was actually comical.

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                              6. AilishM

                                Dublin2 reviews

                                4.0

                                Dined on 9 September 2026

                                1. Overall 4
                                2. Food 5
                                3. Service 5
                                4. Ambience 4
                                Beautiful dining area. Staff were welcoming and helpful. The burrata starter, which we shared, was gorgeous. We all enjoyed the food.

                                Is this helpful?

                              7. ciara Gold

                                Dublin9 reviews

                                1.0

                                Dined on 18 August 2026

                                1. Overall 1
                                2. Food 1
                                3. Service 1
                                4. Ambience 1
                                RESTAURANT CLOSED - very disappointing and had to find somewhere else for the group on a bust rainy evening

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                              8. Allen

                                Dublin1 review

                                1.0

                                Dined on 18 August 2026

                                1. Overall 1
                                2. Food 1
                                3. Service 1
                                4. Ambience 1
                                We a Booked a table for 6 people for a birthday and when we arrived they were closed

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                              9. sandra Gold

                                Dublin5 reviews

                                1.0

                                Dined on 11 August 2026

                                1. Overall 1
                                2. Food 1
                                3. Service 1
                                4. Ambience 1
                                Doors were closed when we got there and no one answered the phone. Someone from a restaurant next door said it has been closed for a week or so. But we got no notification despite having a booking. Other people trying to get in as well. Very disappointed.

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                              10. Marie

                                Dublin1 review

                                1.0

                                Dined on 1 August 2026

                                1. Overall 1
                                2. Food 1
                                3. Service 1
                                4. Ambience 1
                                It was disgraceful that our booking was confirmed on Friday before our Sat 1st Aug booking for 4 people, but when we arrived at the restaurant it was closed up! It had been closed up also on the Friday 31st July. Hugo’s restaurant very kindly fitted in a table for 4 in their busy restaurant. The food , ambiance and service was excellent!

                                1 person found this helpful

                              Additional information

                              • Dining style
                                Casual Elegant
                              • Price
                                €31 to €50
                              • Cuisines
                                Italian, Comfort Food, European
                              • Hours of Operation
                                Lunch Tue–Sat 12:30–14:30 Dinner Mon–Sat 17:00–21:30
                              • Phone number
                                (01) 963 6002
                              • Website
                                https://www.unicornrestaurant.ie/
                              • Payment Options
                                Mastercard, Visa
                              • Dress Code
                                Smart Casual
                              • Executive Chef
                                Kristan Burness

                              FAQs

                              Yes, The Unicorn is a lovely pick for a date night, with an intimate yet relaxed dining room, attentive service, a strong wine list and signature dishes like carbonara and mushroom risotto that guests celebrate.

                              Yes, The Unicorn asks guests to call or join the online waitlist if your preferred time isn’t available, and says the team is happy to help arrange requests when booking.

                              The Unicorn feels warm and intimate, reviewers call it "absolutely beautiful" and praise its welcoming service, with a tucked-away dining room, a piano bar and a sunny terrace.

                              Yes, The Unicorn runs seasonal special menus and set experiences, for example the listed Valentine's menu, alongside other occasional festive/set-menu offerings mentioned by guests.

                              Yes, The Unicorn brings back its beloved terrace for al fresco dining, and guests describe eating outdoors and enjoying the patio doors on sunny days.

                              Tuesdays, especially lunchtime or early afternoon on the terrace, tend to be especially relaxed, a quieter time reviewers recommend to enjoy The Unicorn’s carbonara, risotto and wine.

                              Tuesday lunch on the terrace is a lovely choice, the Unicorn’s terrace is known for long, leisurely lunches and guests report sunny Tuesday lunches with the patio doors open.

                              Smart casual, polished but relaxed, so aim for neat, comfortable clothing rather than formal wear.

                              How FAQ content is generated

                              1. Home
                              2. Ireland
                              3. Dublin
                              4. Dublin 2
                              5. St Stephen's Green

                              Make a booking

                              A photo of The Unicorn restaurant

                              The Unicorn

                              3.7
                              €31 to €50
                              Italian
                              St Stephen's Green

                              Make a booking

                              2 people
                              21:00
                              Booked 5 times today
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