One of the most common questions we get asked every week by ATF Insiders is "where should I book for a group?" There's usually a caveat - we'll have veggies/vegans with us, older family members who can't handle too much noise, fussy eaters who need plainer options - group dining isn't for the faint of heart.
There are our top choices for private dining rooms, set menus to satisfy a wide range of tastes and budgets, and big splurges for serious celebrations.
Dublin 2
Hawksmoor
This is one for the long finger, as Hawksmoor's private dining room isn't operational yet, but they're hoping to get it up and running sooner rather than later, once everything else is ticking along nicely. The space is like nowhere else in Dublin, the food is varied and skillfully done, and the PDRs are your very own clubby hideaway. If you have an end of summer birthday or Autumn work event it's definitely one to keep in mind, especially if someone else is footing the bill, as those blackboard steaks don't come cheap.
Hang Dai
Hang Dai is available for private hire (with up to 60 downstairs in the main restaurant), but for smaller groups the Gold Bar upstairs can seat up to 30. If the weather is temperate it's hard to beat the terrace looking out over Camden Street, but otherwise you can sit inside surrounded by red leather, brass fittings and a gold ceiling. Their set menus are priced at €40 or €60 per person (the latter includes the woodfired duck they're famous for), and the cocktails are always worth diving into.
Library Street
Library Street's downstairs PDR seating 6 - 10 people is group dining goals. There's a minimum spend of €100 a head for food and drinks, and chef Kevin Burke will design a menu just for you (which you can make adjustments to if needed). There's a full sound system and record player and it's completely private. We did it, and we loved it.
La Maison
La Maison on Castle Market have five areas that they can box off for private events and group bookings, for anything from eight people up. They offer a set three-course lunch or dinner for groups, with all the classic French dishes like Coquille Saint-Jacques, moules-frites and duck confit, and you can't get a more central location if people are coming from different parts of the city.
Dax
For fine dining group style, Dax have a couple of cavernous areas in their basement dining room that it's possible to take over. They do a set menu with three courses for €89, featuring all of chef Graham Neville's classic, French/Irish dishes, and it's a good option if there are older members of the group who like a low noise level and no surprises.
Mister S
The semi-private space down the stairs at the back of Mister S takes bookings of up to 18 people across three booths, and it's the perfect setting for plate upon plate of fire-cooked food, like their burnt end rendang spring rolls, smoked short-ribs with chimichurri, and grilled halibut with mojo rojo.
Big Fan
Big Fan can cater for groups of up to 15 in their outside space at the front, and up to 75 indoors. They'll work with you on a menu and service style to suit your group, but don't miss the bao, cheeseburger jiaozi and the best mushrooms in Dublin - the enoki fan. Read our once over here.
The Pig's Ear
The Pig’s Ear have three rooms overlooking Trinity College's playing grounds, seating up to 48 on the first floor, up to 55 in their Mirror Room, or up to 10 guests in their third floor private dining room. The menu is of the "something for everyone" variety, and the nostalgic desserts are one of the main draws.
One Pico
The upstairs Polo Room in One Pico seats 12 - 43, with your own special menu and private entrance around the side. The evening set menu is €85, with supplements for pricier ingredients, so one for the bigger spenders where the budget's out the window,
The Saddle Room At The Shelbourne
For groups of up to 20, The Saddle Room offers privacy and five-star elegance if you and your gang feel like splashing out. We recommend starting in the Champagne Terrace upstairs for an aperitif, before coming down for chef Gary Hughes' €65 three-course Table d’Hote, featuring dishes like Fivemiletown goat's cheese mousse, loin of Wicklow venison, and The Shelbourne pavlova.
The Bank Bar And Restaurant
The Bank Bar and Restaurant on Dame Street has a dedicated space for small groups with The Bank Manager’s room seating 5-8 people, but we reckon that booking out the mezzanine level for a larger group would work really well too. The menu is classic in the extreme, but the ingredients sourcing is a world better than your average bar.
Brookwood
The club room is located on the top floor of Brookwood on Baggot Street if a PDR focused on steak and seafood is your thing. They can cater for groups of up to 14, and there's a personal music system and flatscreen TV in case you want to listen to. or watch something. It also gets our votes for one of the prettiest chandeliers in Dublin.
Dublin 1
Bar Italia
Bar Italia might be all sleek black and gold upstairs, but downstairs harks back to the past, with muted tones and Graham Knuttel art all over the walls. This is where they can host groups of up to 37, working with you on a menu and drinks to fit your group, and offering extras like a prosecco reception or homemade cake. There's pasta, pizza, risotto, fish and meat specials, so it won't be difficult to please a wide range of tastes, and we'd crawl along the quays for their carbonara.
Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen
For the ultimate, no expenses spared group night out, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, has a few choices for private, or just more secluded dining. The Chef’s Table, in the kitchen, seats up to six, the (semi-private) Demi-Salle seats four - six, and The Middleton Room seats up to 10. As far as experiences with family or friends go, this is one you'll never forget.
Krewe
'NOLA-inspired' Krewe on Capel Street is great for groups where no-one wants to spend too much, and diners are of the fried chicken/burgers/brightly coloured cocktails variety. Downstairs can seat a few long tables, while upstairs is made for a full takeover, and it's easy to get in and out for around €50 a head.
Mr Fox
Mr Fox can cater for groups up to 65, the full capacity of the restaurant, or a smaller number. Groups are usually seated in the back room with a set menu planned in advance, and the tasting menu is €78 per person.
The Woollen Mills
The Woollen Mills is tailor-made for private dining, with a whopping four options seating up to 80 people, and access for wheelchairs - surprisingly hard when it comes to private dining rooms that are generally up or down stairs. The Riverrun room overlooks the Liffey, as does the smaller Joyce room, and the fully heated and covered room terrace can take up to 80 people.
M&L Chinese
Our go-to place for Sichuan food, upstairs in M&L Chinese off O'Connell Street there’s a private room that seats 10-12. You can BYO for €5 a bottle so it's a great value option if you like drinking the good stuff (just consider bringing your own glasses), and if you've yet to try the handmade dumplings, Szechuan green beans and deep-fried fish, your next group outing is the perfect excuse.
South Dublin
Locks
Locks in Portobello have two private dining options upstairs - The Gold Room and The Bewick Room, seating groups of 8 - 25. The food features the best Irish produce they can get, treated in careful but exciting ways, like the Castletownbere scallop with cauliflower, Colombo spice and kombu hollandaise, or the crispy veal sweetbreads with beef fat mayo, pickled shimeji and garlic scape.
Clanbrassil House
Clanbrassil House will let you take over their room at the back for groups of 12-18, so you and your pals can feast on fermented potato bread, Thornhill duck leg croquettes with walnut ketchup, and marinated & dried tomatoes with buttermilk ricotta and elderflower. The wines are natural and it's the cool neighbourhood hideaway we all wish we had near us.
The Old Spot
The Old Spot have two spaces upstairs for groups of up to 20 or 50, with their largest single table seating 12-14. They provide a three-course set menu which is €45 for lunch or €60 for dinner, with a choice of starters, mains and desserts.
Bresson
The first floor private dining room in Bresson, Monkstown, can seat 20-46 people, with a bar, sound system and dedicated staff to serve your party. Their four course dinner menu is €75, including Hors d'Oeuvres and Petit Fours.
North Dublin
Loretta's
Loretta's in Phibsborough lets you book a table for up to 12 on their website, but you can call for a bigger party. Three courses of really excellent food costs €55, and the Sunday night sharing menu with snacks, small plates and sharing plates like fire-roasted lamb leg and 28-day aged steak with chimichurri, is perfect if you're with an unfussy group who are happy to get stuck in.
Shouk
Shouk in Drumcondra is tailor-made for groups, with a 'feasting menu' available for tables of 10 or more. For €35 a head you'll be laden down with mezze, salads, dips, arayes, shawarma and schnitzel. There's even hot drinks and baklawa to end.
Old Street
Old Street in Malahide cater for groups of all sizes in their sunlight-flooded first floor, and we recommend a walk by the sea afterwards. A three-course lunch is €39 with dinner €49, and you can see menus on their website.
