Sitting on the east coast of Ireland, Dublin is the perfect spot to get your fill of all things seafood. With so many choices out there, where does one even begin to find the right place?
In this article, we listed down the best seafood restaurants in Dublin that will surely satisfy your craving for fresh flavors!
How much do seafood dishes cost?
The primary factors that influence the price of different seafood dishes is the quality of their ingredients and process of preparation. Other elements include the labor hours, complexity of the dish as well as the ambience and standard of the restaurant.
Below is a table of prices for different types of seafood dishes.
Top Seafood Restaurants in Dublin
We assessed the restaurant according to the following criteria:
1. SOLE Seafood and Grill
| Seafood | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Price range | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Range of dishes | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Additional items | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Ambience and location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback and Testimonials | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Customer service | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★★(5/5) |
An award winning restaurant that certainly exceeds any expectations on quality, SOLE Seafood and Grill is one seafood place we highly recommend.
Some of the awards they have won include the World Luxury Restaurant Awards and Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice. What we really like about them is their keen consideration of where their seafood is sourced.
SOLE Seafood and Grill makes sure to have a close relationship with their suppliers who are based in various places around Ireland. This is mainly the reason why a lot of their food is notably delicious and fresh.
We also highly recommend checking out their website because they do provide recipes with instructions for dishes like sea bass fillet and fish and chips. It really encourages customer loyalty amongst foodies who visit.
In terms of their menu, we really like the depth and array of seafood they have to offer. From the oyster selection alone, customers will truly appreciate the varieties and complexities in flavor that they have.
They even have a tasting menu which is an excellent way to explore their recommended wine and spirit pairings for each of their dishes.
However, we do caution that their lunch menu is only available on the weekends until 4:00 PM. Also, their seafood towers, while grand and exciting, can cost you a pretty penny.
Regardless, if you’re looking for a high class seafood restaurant experience with amazing food and distinct options, we recommend checking out SOLE Seafood and Grill
Pros
- Wide range of seafood dishes with distinct flavors
- Very classy and posh ambience
- Great suppliers
- Offer an option for a private dining experience
Cons
- Pricey seafood towers
- Lunch menu is only available for a very short period of time
Customer Reviews
Wonderful Selection, Great Staff
Beautiful Seafood Restaurant In The Heart Of Dublin City Centre. Wonderful Selection Of Fresh Seafood And Matured Steaks. Very Popular So Make Sure To Book Ahead. Professional, Warm Friendly And Very Welcoming Staff. Very Highly Recommended – Gerry White
Beautiful Ambience, Delicious Food
Wonderful experience, lovely seafood, beautiful ambience and friendly and welcoming staff. Delicious food. We ordered the lobster platter for appetiser and catch of the day and scallops for main course. Perfectly made with perfect seasoning. Would highly recommend but make sure to book in advance. – Manisha Priya
2. Octopussy’s Seafood Tapas
| Seafood | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Price range | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Range of dishes | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Additional items | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Ambience and location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback and Testimonials | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Customer service | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Offering more Mediterranean options for seafood customers out there, Octopussy’s Seafood Tapas is an excellent place to check out if you’re looking for flavorful dishes.
They are located on the west pier, perfectly situated right by the bay. We really like the setting of the restaurant because it makes for a perfect stop before an outing on the water.
This prime location also sits right beside their own fish shop, “Dorans on the Pier”, where they source the ingredients. Customers can definitely be assured that they are only using the freshest catches of the day.
In terms of their menu, they are a tapas style restaurant so they don’t have starters or mains but they do still carry quite a solid selection.
We highly recommend Octopussy’s Seafood Tapas for those looking for seafood meals on a budget. We find their price range for the different dishes to be very affordable.
Their menu includes foods like gambas picante and chilli chorizo squid. However, it is important to note that some of these dishes are size specific, so the portions are sometimes limiting.
We also really like that they have a substantial range of wines and beverages that go really well with the seafood selection.
If you’re looking for a seafood restaurant that has more affordable options as well as an excellent location by the waters, you may want to check out Octopussy’s Seafood Tapas.
Pros
- Great location and ambiance
- A lot of affordable options
- Offers some non seafood dishes
- Excellent wine and beverage range
Cons
- Does not accept online bookings
- Some dishes are size specific
Customer Reviews
Fantastic Seafood!
This was THE BEST seafood I have ever had! The oysters were fantastic and the mussels were a dream. Their brown bread was superb and just what you need to get every bit of the seafood chowder! The service was just as good! It’s a friendly place to eat tucked away with a view of beauty! – Kristin Pohlman
Great Portioned Sizes
My friend and I were there today for lunch. We both had fish and chips. They were really good. It comes with good proportion of chips and big enough size of fish. They also have several dishes such as calamari, scampi, paella etc., that come in small, medium and large sizes. The wait staff who served us was very friendly. – Lionel P
3. Lobstar
| Seafood | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Price range | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Range of dishes | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Additional items | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Ambience and location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback and Testimonials | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Customer service | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★★(5/5) |
A modern bistro that offers high quality meals right down to the presentation, we think that Lobstar is second to none when it comes to serving up delicious dishes with seasonal flair.
Co-owners Veronika and Zsolt Zakar have solid backgrounds in both hospitality and food, which is most likely why the dine-in experience at Lobstar is exceptional.
We really like the ambience that the restaurant is going for with their ultra modern yet warm atmosphere.
In addition to this, the presentation of the various dishes they offer are definitely some of the best out there. The way they showcase their sauces, greens and other ingredients on the plate is very delicate and artistic as well.
Now, Lobstar does hone in on fresh and seasonal ingredients, which means that certain parts of the year may result in a limited menu. Regardless, we really like the depth of flavors in the selection that they offer.
For example, their tiger prawns and mussels make use of a red curry sauce with chives, coriander and basil, which enhances the taste to be very herby and complex.
If you’re looking for flavorful seafood dishes with interesting taste profiles, we highly recommend checking out Lobstar.
We do however want to also note that their operating hours for service are comparatively shorter. So, if you’re looking to have a bite at the restaurant, we suggest planning ahead.
Pros
- Great dish presentations and ambience
- Excellent background of co-owners
- Offer very flavorful dishes
- Reservations available through online, call, and email
Cons
- Some dishes are seasonal and can be limiting
- Short operating hour
Customer Reviews
Incredible Food
Wow! Impromptu early dinner that was an absolute delight! Very popular restaurant that offered an early diner or a la carte seasonal menu choice. A soft burrata entree with crusty soda bread starter, followed by main of chicken schnitzel for Mr G. For obvious reasons lobster was my first choice, however plumbed for a delicate mixed seafood soup with greens that was incredible. We will return! – Lizzy Godley
Great Service and Delicious Food
Dont think twice. Come here for a dinner. Food is delicious & great service by the owners of Lobstar! The New York Lobster Roll is a must! Will be visiting again to try other dishes! – Joe Baz
4. Matt the Thresher
| Seafood | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Price range | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Range of dishes | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Additional items | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Ambience and location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback and Testimonials | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Customer service | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Matt the Thresher definitely catches our eye as a highly recommended seafood restaurant and bar.
Its location right near the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History and St. Stephen’s Green makes it a prime stop to pass by after enjoying other exciting places that Dublin has to offer.
What makes Matt the Thresher a certain standout is that it comes very endorsed by some notable figures. Anthony Bourdain has described it as having the “Best Oysters in Dublin” while John Mariani says “If I owned a restaurant this is what it would look like.”
These testimonials are more than enough to encourage prospective customers of the excellent dining experience.
We also really like the atmosphere that Matt the Thresher has. With an impressive and sleek bar area and high ceilings with warm accents, it makes the perfect spot to eat at during cold evenings.
In terms of their menu, we really like the variety in dishes they have for their mains category. They even include updated items like their catch of the day as well as a vegetarian dish of the day.
Customers will also be really excited that these dishes pair very well with their extensive drinks menu that includes a wide selection of wines.
However, take note that for online bookings, the maximum party number they accept is six people. So you would need to contact them through phone or email for separate cases.
In the end, Matt the Thresher is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a standout seafood restaurant with delicious meal options.
Pros
- Highly recommended by notable figures
- Good variety of options for their mains
- Have both catch and vegetarian of the day choices
- Extensive drinks menu
Cons
- Online bookings limited to a party of 6
- Oysters are a little bit pricier and limited in variety
Customer Reviews
High Quality Seafood with Impressive Space
My fiance and I went here after talking about going for the past year, and weren’t disappointed. When I entered I was first struck by how large the place is. Options to sit in “the library” or an upstairs area tha looks down on the restaurant’s main level. Excellent date night atmosphere.
I really enjoyed the oysters, and fish of the day. The pot of muscles was delicious as well. We plan to return once per month as the cost was impressively reasonable for the high quality seafood that they serve. – Matt
Good Service, Incredible Prawns
We had a very enjoyable dinner tonight served By Joanna. Service was very good and all were friendly. The Dublin prawns were the very best I’ve ever eaten. The seafood chowder was very fresh and lots of chunks of fresh fish. Nice evening by the fireplace. Recommend the prawns, hands down. – James T Saffell
5. Rosa Madre
| Seafood | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Price range | ★★★☆☆(3/5) |
| • Range of dishes | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Additional items | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Ambience and location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Feedback and Testimonials | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Customer service | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Rosa Madre is a high class Italian style seafood restaurant that will surely elevate your standards when it comes to the perfect dining experience.
What we appreciate about them is that they ensure the freshness and quality of fish for their dishes. They maintain direct relationships with their suppliers, making sure to never use only the most quality of catches.
They are located in the bustling area of Temple Bar, but what we like is that their ambience transports you into a different atmosphere altogether. We would describe it as rustic yet clean and classy – a great place for intimate dinners.
We would like to note that Rosa Madre does accept reservations online. However, for parties larger than eight people customers would need to contact them either through email or phone number.
In terms of their menu, overall the options are pricier compared to other restaurants, but the quality of the dishes is absolutely superb.
The dishes they recommend are their Lobster Tonnarelli as well as their Calamari and Gamberi presented with spicy spinach.If you are looking for seafood pasta dishes, we don’t think you’ll find a better place than Rosa Madre.
All in all they are a wonderful restaurant to visit for their high quality atmosphere, pastas and service.
Pros
- Warm, rustic and clean ambiance
- Delicious dishes, especially their pasta options
- Use fresh and best quality fish
- Helpful and great staff service
Cons
- Pricier options
- Limited seafood main course options for meals other than pasta dishes
Customer Reviews
Exceptional Experience
The uniqueness, quality of preparation, and presentation of this meal has placed this experience in my Top 10 Dining Experiences of all times. The special was a salt crusted, broiled, whole Sea Bass that was finished table side, flambe. The hostess, floor manager, then skillfully filleted the fish directly into our dinner plates, leaving not one ounce of fish behind and without including a single bone. The fish was cooked to pure perfection, moist, tender, and beautiful flavorful. To simply add to this exquisite meal, was the most engaging service you could ask for from this all Portuguese team. – Hank Blum
Top Quality Food and Service
What an amazing experience. Absolutely lovely restaurant. Service was 10/10 food was 10/10. From the second we walked in Luca and his staff were amazing to when we left. An absolute gent. We will defo be back. One of the nicest restaurants in Dublin would recommend to anyone who likes great food with a great atmosphere. – Ben Grossman
FAQs about Seafood and Seafood Restaurants
These Dublin seafood restaurants are truly the best if you’re looking for refreshing and interesting flavors. If you would like to read more we also have an article on the best Thai restaurants in Dublin.