10 Spots You Can Have Your Dinner Outside In Dublin This Weekend
Words: Maggie Fagan
We’re basically smack bang in the middle of summer right now, and the whole ‘making the most of it’ should still be at the top of your list. So instead of having your dinner indoors, grab a few mates and have it outdoors, on a cutesy outdoor terrace. Because life is absolutely worth living.
Matt the Thresher
Hot weather and seafood go together like two clams in a pot and the front terrace of Matt the Thresher is the perfect spot to enjoy some picky bits that won’t send you into a hot flush. Think Baily & Kish Howth Smoked Salmon, Prawn Cocktail, or a Dublin Bay Prawn Salad. Like a sophisticated Irish Salad, and not a jarred pickled onion in sight. Zeevine.
Vada
Yes there is limited space and yes you have to stand, but this corner of Smithfield/Stoneybatter/Grangegorman is an absolute suntrap. A dream spot in the city to lock in with a few of their killer small plates and a glass (or three) from their newly updated wine list.
Piglet
Cow’s Lane is on the quieter side of Temple Bar, meaning you can enjoy a blissful French dinner in the sun. Their Beef Tartare and Cacio e Pepe are legendary, as is their wine list. A couple of glasses and plates outside at Piglet is basically the summer of dreams.
Las Tapas De Lola
Sun, sangria, Spanish food, sorry but what more could you want from this little old life? Las Tapas De Lola have a good bit of seating on their terrace, and their menu is massive so your night can go in any direction depending on heat / hunger levels.
The Seafood Cafe
As we mentioned previously, seafood + sun = a good time, so you’d want to be considering one of Dublin’s seafood stalwarts. Don’t overlook their cocktail list either. Picture this: a briny dirty martini paired with their legendary Crab Roll? Oh my word we’ll have a look…
Hang Dai
Hang Dai has actually got quite a good bit of seating outside, for all your dining wants and needs. The full menu is available on the terrace, and designed to be shared, so perfect for dipping in and out. They have summer-centric dishes like Warm Noodle Salads and Crudos. Oh and their cocktails slap too.
Bonobo
Bonobo is a place you could easily spend all night in. Their pizzas are class, they have one of the most well-rounded drinks list in the city, and the beer garden is a bop. If you can grab a table outside of this joint, you are, quite literally, sucking diesel.
Big Fan
Date nights in the summer are elite, and the terrace at Big Fan is a great little spot to celebrate love when the grian is ag taitneamh. Good summer dishes here are the whole sea bass, the enoki fan, and the Tings chicken salad. Big Fan is a Big Win from us.
Notions
At the bottom of Francis Street, near that cool guitar shop, is Two Pups by day / Notions by night. They have a handful of tables outside where you can sip natural wine and take in the beauty of The Liberties. Their seasonal plates are always changing, and if you’re down to try all they have on offer, go with their FOMO menu, for €58 a head. God bless you Two Pups for getting Notions.
Row Wines
Coppinger Row is one of the buzziest lanes in the city, and Row Wines will be the place to be this weekend. Their food is perfect for the hot hot heat, and if you manage to get a spot on their terrace, you’ll be buckling in for the night.
