Ah, the business lunch – where handshakes meet gourmet plates, and negotiations unfold over plates of culinary excellence. If you're in charge of entertaining clients, sealing that lucrative deal, or just finding a place to celebrate the latest number crunch, look no further. We've circled back through our rolodex to bring you our guide to Dublin's best restaurants for those all-important business rendezvous...
When you need to keep things formal:
Dax, Dublin 2
Dax is a well oiled machine when it comes to the business lunch. With slick, professional service and quiet corners, it's perfect for those business meetings when you want to impress, or if you need a semi-private dining option. They offer set menus for lunch with two courses for €42, and three for €58, featuring chef Graham Neville's classic, French/Irish dishes, using top tier Irish ingredients from some of the best producers in the country.
One Pico, Dublin 2
Another ideal option for a formal business lunch is One Pico, just off Dawson Street. Their silver service and linen tablecloths, complete with waiters who crumb your table, make it the perfect spot to go for a luxe lunch when the occasion calls. With a couple of set menus to choose from, you can have two courses for €39 or three for €49, or if someone else is paying, go for the premium option, with two courses at €59, and three at €69. If your group is over ten (that's amount of people, not age), the Polo Room upstairs holds up to 40 for private dining.
Glovers Alley, St. Stephen's Green
Just off Stephen's Green, upstairs in The Fitzwilliam Hotel is Michelin starred Glovers Alley. The service here is eminently professional, and Andy McFadden's menus are sure to impress any client from Ireland and beyond. Lunch options range from €65 for three courses to €80 for four, and there are lots of private dining nooks for those all important business meetings.
When you want to show off Dublin's increasingly cool food scene:
Forest Avenue, Leeson Street
Forest Avenue 's tasting menu is the perfect silencer for anyone who thinks all we're good for is pints and potatoes. They open for lunch from Wednesday to Saturday with a three course lunch menu for €49, and a set menu means less faffing, more entertaining.
Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, Dublin 1
If you can manage to get a table, Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen is the go to spot to impress clients from abroad. With two Michelin stars, Irish cooking doesn't get any better than this, and your blow ins will be well and truly blown away. Their three course lunch menu goes for €85 (which is pretty good value considering the dinner menu is just under double) and whatever you do, don't forget to summon the Irish coffee trolley at the end.
Etto, Merrion Row
Etto have been knocking it out of the park since 2013 with their consistently great food, and we've yet to have a bad dish there. Bring your out of towners to show them just how impressive Irish cooking can be, and dispel once and for all the rumours that it's all boiled bacon and cabbage. Open for lunch from Thursday - Saturday, and be sure to book in advance in this 38-seater dining room is where dreams are made.
Uno Mas, Aungier Street
Like super cool sibling Etto, nobody leaves Uno Mas unimpressed. The Spanish leaning menu is full of dishes they'll be talking about for a long time afterwards, and you won't be distracted by any issues with service, wine, or anything else that could possibly go wrong.
Amy Austin, Drury Street
A wine bar is probably not the first place you'd associate with a business lunch, but recent entrants to the Bib Gourmand world, Amy Austin, open for lunch Thursday and Friday from 12:30. If your group is six or more, take the stress out of figuring out what to order by going with their group menu at €40 a head with their canapé style menu. A great way to bond with your visitors, as well as getting to sample lots of the menu.
The Seafood Cafe, Temple Bar
If you're looking to show off Ireland's incredible seafood, take your guests to Niall Sabongi's Seafood Cafe in Temple Bar. From classic fish and chips, to a whole Irish Lobster, with some Kristal caviar thrown in for good measure (sure you're not paying), there's no way your visitors won't be impressed with fish this fresh. Open for lunch everyday from 12:00, you can also show your comrades the classy side of Temple Bar.
When you need to celebrate something:
FX Buckley, Various Locations
With multiple locations open for lunch across the city, including Temple Bar, Pembroke Street, and Bull and Castle, FXB is a great spot to celebrate all things work related, from closing those important deals to retirement lunches. If one of their world famous steaks doesn't float your boat, they have plenty of options on the non red meat side of things, and it's an overall crowd pleaser so no need to worry about picky eater Sharon in accounts.
Hawksmoor, College Green
London giants Hawksmoor know how to show people a good time and with their range of lunch menus, this place is a celebration no brainer. They offer their full à la carte menu at lunch as well as an express lunch available Monday – Saturday until 18:00, with two courses for €29, and three for €33. With plenty of seafood and a vegan option, you can celebrate in peace knowing that everyone will be catered for.
Cellar 22, Stephen's Green
Perhaps you've hit your targets for the month, sealed that all important deal, or are in need of a well deserved "team building" lunch - whatever it is, it sounds like a glass of wine (or three - let's be honest) is in order. With over 25 wines by the glass and all the picky plates to go with them, Cellar 22 is perfect for a mid-day celebration. Grab a couple plates of their homemade charcuterie, pop them in the middle of the table, and let your hair down. God knows you work hard enough.
Pickle, Camden Street
With some of the best Indian food in Dublin, head to Sunil Ghai's Pickle when you're looking for an excuse to get the work gang together to celebrate over a well deserved (company bought) lunch. Running Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 to 14:15, their two-course lunch menu is a steal at €28.50 a head - so no excuse for the boss not to treat their staff.
When you need to get back to the office:
Brother Hubbard, Capel Street
Brother Hubbard's OG premises on Capel Street is a great shout if you're looking for good food, but need to be in and out. With zippy service and lots of seating (thanks to their expansion a couple years ago) there's lots of options for veggies, vegans, and meat eaters. Not to mention, they serve one of the best cups of Joe on Capel Street.
Featherblade, Dawson Street
Open for lunch Monday to Friday from 12:00 - 15:00, Featherblade is perfect for a sit down meal to impress, but when you have to get back to the office afterwards. They offer a steak sandwich and a smoked B.L.T as part of their lunch menu, or if you have more time you can opt for their starter-main-side-sauce-dessert menu, which at €38, is very good value.
The Legal Eagle, Dublin 1
Just next to Dublin's Four Courts, The Legal Eagle have a dedicated lunch menu with options like posh sambos and soups that make for a quicker dining experience. With a focus on Irish food, they have daily specials featuring Dublin coddle, Irish stew, and seafood chowder - perfect if you're entertaining folks from abroad but don't have heaps of time.
The Old Spot, Dublin 4
The Old Spot is ideal for when you need killer food in a traditional setting, but don't have all day. With "express lunch" options like beer battered fish and chips and a wagyu and nduja sub, you can be sure to make it back to your desk on time after a impressive feed. Lunch runs from 12:00 to 15:00, with group menus available from €50 a head.
Did we miss somewhere? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie.
