Diners' Choice: Great for live music restaurants in Dublin

OpenTable

Updated 05 April 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Dublin? 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 reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Black Forge

4.8

4.8 (4163)

€30 and under

Gastro Pub

Drimnagh

About the restaurant

The Black Forge Inn is Dublin's newest premium bar & venue. Located in the heart of Dublin 12, the Black Forge has been completely renovated, and is under new management.

Featuring a mouth watering food offering, created by our Head Chef Ed Raethorne, there is an offering for every taste, including our signature dish "Steak on a stone" and award winning Cheesecake.

Our Drinks offering is the most diverse and unique that Dublin has to offer.
With an extensive selection of cocktails, our very own forge stout and lager,
The Black Forge has the most impressive drinks collection in Dublin.

***Casual Dress Essential****

Top review

Kristine

Dined 3 days ago

We had an amazing dinner everything was fantastic! Food, service and atmosphere was wonderful! Thank you so much!!!!

Discover more

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.

1900 Bar & Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (253)

€30 and under

Irish

South City Centre

About the restaurant

1900 serves modern Irish cuisine and which offers a selection of traditional dishes with a modern twist. The restaurant is located on Harcourt street in Dublin's south city centre. All steaks served have been aged for a minimum of 28 days, this could very well be a deciding factor for steaks lovers.

Top review

Thomas

Dined 6 days ago

The food was exquisite, so delicious, and served without delay and the waiters were very pleasant. Fresh, warm bread served while we waited, with fresh butter and divine pepper pesto. A pianist started playing around 7pm as we were finishing dessert and she was very talented, perfect volume balance and beautiful choice of songs. The atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect, we will be back!

The Wiley Fox

4.7

4.7 (153)

€30 and under

Burgers

North City Centre

About the restaurant

A city centre gem, The Wiley Fox is one of Dublin’s best-loved bars. Located in the heart of Dublin City Centre, the bar’s retro charm combined with its modern atmosphere makes it the ideal spot for any occasion.

Right by the famous River Liffey, we've got a cozy indoor space and a lovely rooftop terrace upstairs where you can taste our amazing Bosh Burgers and gorgeous cocktails.

Whether it's a fun get-together, a special date, a big celebration, or a work party, we're here to make it awesome and memorable.

Booking is super easy! You can reserve your spot on our website, shoot us a message on Instagram @thewileyfoxdublin, or give us a ring at 015 440 900. We're really looking forward to having you!

If you're interested in booking our our music venue or would like to see our gig listings, hit thesoundhouse.ie and @thesoundhousedublin

Top review

Molly

Dined on 28 Mar 2025

It's a favorite and always remains the favorite, staff are always lovely, drinks are perfect, food is perfect and ambience perfect ☺️

Johnnie Fox's

4.7

4.7 (2526)

€30 and under

Irish

Glencullen

About the restaurant

Johnnie Fox’s prides itself on an excellent selection of veritable, heart-warming dishes and welcomes all our customers with open arms and delighted hearts. Johnnie Fox’s has gained, over the years, significant international recognition for its unique and unrivaled, super-quirky interior, vibrant atmosphere, and traditional Irish music and Irish dancing.

Hearth Menu - 12:00hrs to 21.15hrs Daily

Last Bar orders 11:30 (Sunday to Thursday) & 00:30 (Friday & Saturday)

Children must vacate the bar & restaurant by 9pm during school term and 10pm on term holidays. Please make allowances for this when making your reservation.

LIVE Music Everyday
Friday: 7.30 pm - 10.30 pm
Saturday: 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm
6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
9.30 pm to 12.30 am
Sunday: 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
5.00 pm to 7.00 pm
8.30 pm to 11.30 pm

We are located less than 10 mins from Junction 15 on the M50 (D18X635)

Top review

Veronica

Dined 5 days ago

Authentic Irish pub experience, both music and food - the decor takes you back in time Great Irish pub memorabilia

Discover more

Fox's Seafood Chowder

The Lock Keeper (Ashtown)

4.6

4.6 (653)

€30 and under

Gastro Pub

Ashtown

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Ashtown Village, Dublin 15, overlooking the Royal Canal, The Lock Keeper can be found at Lock #10.

Steeped in heritage, this double lock was constructed c.1792. With quality stonework and attractive sloping edges Lock 10 is one of 46 along the Royal Canal and continues to be a testament to the skill of the craftsmen involved.

Our bar is adjacent to the Lock Keepers House, a post that became obsolete in 1961 when the canal was closed to traffic the previous year. The Royal Canal, which runs from the River Liffey to the River Shannon and stretches a distance of 145km, was originally built for freight and passenger transportation with the last working barges ceasing to operate in 1951.

Now beautifully maintained by Irish Waterways, you are welcome to visit The Lock Keeper by canoeing, walking or cycling from Dublin City Centre. Equally idyllic, why not catch a train from Connolly with a short 6 minute journey bringing you to our

Top review

Carole

Dined 7 days ago

Service was good and food was very tasty. The music wasn't too loud last night. This can be a problem here when there is live music and you are trying to have a conversation. The ambiance was good.

Arthur's Pub

4.6

4.6 (80)

€30 and under

Irish

Killester

About the restaurant

Arthur's is the nearest pub on the route to The Guinness Storehouse, one of the city's foremost tourist attractions. It is popular both with locals and tourists. Naturally it has the freshest pint of Guinness in all of Ireland.

Arthurs is a classic Dublin pub, old style but well appointed. It has been a pub for over 200 years, and has many historical connections, being beside St. Catherines Church, outside of which the patriot, Robert Emmet, was hung, drawn and quartered in 1803.

We light a real turf fire everyday, play an eclectic mix of Irish music and have live music sessions in the evenings.

Upstairs at Arthur’s, we have a room that operates as a restaurant in the day, but at night becomes Arthur’s Blues and Jazz Club, where we host top national and international blues and jazz acts 5 nights a week. On stage we have a concert grand piano, and we also have an excellent lighting rig, and a top professional PA and sound system.

Top review

Gianfranco

Dined on 31 Mar 2025

Frendly mood and good food. I went there for live music, but there wasn't that evening. Dispite this, was a pleasure evening.

Murray's Bar

4.5

4.5 (595)

€30 and under

Gastro Pub

O'Connell Street

About the restaurant

Murray’s Bar is a traditional Irish pub in the heart of Dublin with live music and Irish dancing every week. Enjoy a creamy pint of Guinness and a hearty meal in our comfortable lounge, or watch the match in our large, heated beer garden.

Top review

Morag

Dined on 10 Apr 2025

Great service. Large portions definitely value for money. Live music and Irish dancing would definitely recommend

Walters Pub

4.0

4 (54)

€31 to €50

European

Dun Laoghaire

About the restaurant

Whether you’re looking to catch up with friends in a conversational style lounge, relax with a glass of wine, spend time with family over dinner, or for a place to let the hair down and listen to some good live music, Walters awaits you with no doubts that you will enjoy the experience just as much as we like providing it. Great pints, delicious food, live music & more.

With one of the best cocktail menus in Dún Laoghaire, and regular seasonal drink specials there is something for everyone at Walters.

Live music every Thursday - Sunday
Thursdays- Jazz with The Tenters 8pm - 10pm
Fridays- 10pm - 12.30am
Saturdays- 4pm - 6.30pm & 10pm - 12.30am
Sundays- Jazz with The Lounge Quintet 4pm - 6.30pm

Walters since 1904, and Lloyd’s Pub prior to that, 68 Upper George’s Street has been part of the social fabric of Dún Laoghaire for many generations. Now under new management, we are embarking on the next chapter and look forward to meeting you at our venue.

Top review

Jochem

Dined on 28 Mar 2025

Great experience and all thanks to the lovely staff who served us during our visit. Cosy and great food for value!

The Green Room Bar

3.5

3.5 (170)

€30 and under

European

North Wall

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Dublin’s Docklands, The Green Room Bar is the perfect spot for some of Dublin’s tastiest food and delicious drinks with friendly staff and great service.

It’s known for it’s beautiful outdoor dining area, which is perfect for al fresco dining. The outdoor area is adorned with lush greenery and twinkling lights, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. But, the real star of the show at The Green Room Bar is the food. The menu features a delicious selection of seansonal dishes, all made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.

The Green Room Bar operates by their QR-ordering system for food on 3Arena concert nights. This is to make getting to your show on time even easier by not waiting to pay a bill. Simply, scan order and let the deliciousness come to you! (All drink orders are placed through the bar directly)

They also have a certain amount of tables reserved for walk-ins, so if you can't get a booking head down early and grab a table!

Top review

Julie

Dined on 30 Mar 2025

Easy relaxed place. Great Irish stew . Nice service.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Dublin

Explore more Diners' Choice lists