The temperamental Irish weather means that the opportunities for dining outdoors will always be limited. However, partly encouraged by the ban on smoking indoors, an increasing number of restaurants, bars and cafes offer tables outside. Bear in mind that many of the places listed are quite informal and do not in general accept bookings, so don't pin your all your hopes on dinner al fresco!
Grafton Street to Georges Street
The blocks immediately south of Temple Bar between Grafton Street and South Great Georges Street contain a large number of bars, restaurants and cafes with tables outside. South William Street offers a large number of al fresco eating and drinking options - highlights include
Dakota bar with a good food menu,
Lemon which does great pancakes and coffee and
Peter's Pub which is a nice quiet old-style pub with friendly staff. On Chatham Street, try
Steps of Rome for cheap pizza slices,
Pasta Fresca for more formal Italian dining or the
Clarendon bar for a drink and interesting pub grub.
Grafton Street to Dawson Street
To the east of Graton Street there are several choices, especially for a drink in the fresh air. Dawson Street contains the bars
Cafe en Seine and
Ron Blacks and branches of
Milano pizzeria,
Fitzer's restaurant and
Lemon pancakes.
Temple Bar
Outdoor options in Temple Bar are largely limited to the 2 squares. In Meeting House Square, the restaurant
Eden has a large outdoor seating area, with views of the open-air cinema screen used at summer weekends. In the same square,
Il Bacarro offers good value rustic Italian food. For both of these restaurants booking is advised. In tourist-ladenTemple Bar Square,
Trastevere and
Fitzers have outdoor tables.
North of the river
Just over the pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge from Temple Bar is Quartiere Bloom, a small lane lined with Italian wine bars which serve simple meals and antipasto. The outdoor seats are particularly popular on weekend summer evenings. On the corner of Mary Street and Jervis Street
John Keatings pub has a large open seating area.
