Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Dublin 2

OpenTable

Updated 05 March 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants 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!

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.

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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4.7

4.7 (92)

€31 to €50

Contemporary European

South City Centre

About the restaurant

WILDE celebrates the best of Irish produce served in beautiful surrounds echoing 1930s vintage glamour. Its covered garden terrace is unique in Dublin and floods the space with natural light. Meanwhile an abundance of greenery gives an al fresco vibe and even a bucolic feel throughout the fine dining restaurant which, also offers views over the lively Grafton Street.

Top review

NoahVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Great food, wonderful service, highly recommend for a nicer dinner in Dublin that’s also surprisingly well priced.

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Experience

Sunday Roast

Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins

4.4

4.4 (132)

€31 to €50

Irish

South City Centre

About the restaurant

Executive Head Chef, Gareth Mullins is known for artistically crafting all menu design and food preparation in the hotel’s restaurants and bars. With over 20 years’ experience cooking in five-star hotels in Ireland and Australia, Gareth leads a talented team. His passion for sourcing local Irish produce is found in each recipe he creates. This passion is reflected in Gareth’s Commissioner General of Eurotoques Ireland which consists of 200 of the country’s best-known chefs, producers and educators with an aim to protect our Irish culinary heritage and inspire future generations.

Top review

Tony

Dined on 31 Jan 2025

Very good food. My tomato starter was rather bland (needed a dressing - maybe a balsamic glaze or just a vinaigrette dressing?) but the rest of the meal was very good. The pork belly was excellent. Crackling was so tasty. Tiramisu lovely and the mango sorbet delightful.

Morelands Grill at The College Green Hotel (Formerly The Westin Dublin)

4.4

4.4 (182)

€31 to €50

Grill

South City Centre

About the restaurant

Renowned for locally sourced, mouth watering steaks, Moreland's Grill is one of the best steakhouses in Dublin.

Chic and sophisticated, Moreland's Grill offers a luxury dining experience that pivots on restrained elegance. Taking many of its design cues from the Art Deco era, diners are welcomed to a polished dining hall in which a four-sided, outward-facing booth forms the centrepiece, creating a dining setup that speaks of opulence thanks to its beautiful grey leather finish. Moreland's Grill heralds classic glamour and pairs it with exquisite modern cooking.

Moreland's Grill goes above and beyond, searing Hereford beef on a 500 degrees Celsius Josper Grill for the ultimate succulent mouthful. The grill also welcomes fresh halibut and juicy beef patties whilst the saffron vegan gnocchi and risotto is a culinary treat for non-meat eaters. For dinner that excels in modern cooking and that sprinkling of pizzazz, Moreland's Grill is where all special occasions st

Top review

CHill

Dined 7 days ago

The reservation was for dinner our first night arriving, so we made it for 5pm so we could start fighting jet lag soon after. We were the only patrons in the restaurant on a Saturday night. We also had a few breakfasts there (much busier) and in all cases, the food was great.

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Experience

Start Your Morning with a Luxurious Breakfast

Old Fashioned Sam’s

4.4

4.4 (35)

€31 to €50

Irish

Camden Street

About the restaurant

Explore Old Fashioned Sam’s – Dublin’s three-story hidden retreat. Cocktails, lunch, brunch and light bites served in our heated courtyard bar with a retractable roof, a hidden whiskey and cocktail speakeasy style haven at @samsparlour.ie, and dinner served in Laura's Restaurant from 3pm daily. A space crafted for unforgettable moments.
For large group bookings, please contact hello@oldfashionedsams.ie

Top review

EmilyK

Dined on 14 Mar 2025

We had a fabulous experience in Laura’s restaurant. Food was delicious and staff went above and beyond to ensure we enjoyed our night. Will definitely be back and will recommend to a friend!

Pink

4.2

4.2 (111)

€31 to €50

Modern European

South William Street

About the restaurant

Pink isn’t just a colour, it’s an experience you’ll tell your family and friends about
From lunch and brunch specialities to our signature pink afternoon tea and night-time dining in the most beautiful restaurant, pink has so much to offer in Dublin 2, whatever the occasion.

Our menus are unique, just like everything we do at pink!

***Please note Afternoon Tea Bookings are not available on Opentable, bookings must be made directly with Pink Restaurant.

Top review

Renata

Dined on 23 Feb 2025

Awesome food and super friendly staff! Totally recommend it!

The Unicorn

4.0

4 (50)

€31 to €50

Italian

St Stephen's Green

About the restaurant

The Unicorn is an old popular Italian restaurant in Dublin. After closing a few years ago it has recently re-opened in 2024 under new management. It is located on Merrion Square, just a 10 minute walk from St. Stephen's Green. The Unicorn has been a cornerstone of Dublin's dining scene for decades, and under Kristan Burness's leadership, It will once again shine. The much loved Terrace, famous for long leisurely lunches will bring Merrion Court back to life with vibrant al fresco dining offering guests an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of the city.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 12 Mar 2025

It was a quiet night but the staff were amazing and the food was stunning. Entertaining evening and will definitely be back. Highly recommend

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