'Tis the season to be heading for decadent dinners in the heart of the city. Dublin truly is spectacular this time of year with all of the lights, decorations and buzz on the streets as people dash around the shops.
Whether you're heading out with your work colleagues or meeting up with a big group of friends, it can be tricky to find places that accommodate larger groups (and have available bookings) this time of year.
I’ve compiled a list of my favourite places for larger groups to dine over the festive season. However, this guide can be used throughout the year for birthdays, graduations, engagements, or general nights out for a crowd.
1. Sister 7
Sister 7 is one of my favourite restaurants in all of Dublin, and it's perfect for a festive night out. The room is super spacious, so they can accommodate big numbers, and the menu is tapas style, which makes it great for sharing. Located on Queen St, the interiors are sleek and modern, with curved wood finishes, a high-fidelity sound system, and a DJ booth that comes alive in the later hours.
The menu is inventive and fun, featuring bao buns filled with beer-braised beef, crispy vegetable cakes known as "lipsticks," delicate soup dumplings, and a curated cocktail list. What I love most about Sister 7 is that Fidelity Bar is attached next door. Once you’ve finished your food, head in there and boogie the night away until the wee hours.
2. Market Bar
Another great tapas restaurant is The Market Bar. There have been more than a few occasions when I tried to book a meal with friends in December at the last minute, and they have always come through and had tables available when everywhere else was booked up.
Located on Fade Street in the heart of the city, The Market Bar occupies a striking red-brick former warehouse and delivers a vibrant mix of dining, drinks and social energy. The venue space is huge with sky-lit interiors, rustic wood benches, tall plants and the hum of conversation.
The menu leans on Mediterranean flavours, designed for sharing, and the building evolves into a hub for live music and DJs later in the evening, making it ideal for both a meal and a night out.
3. The Ivy Asia
Why not try a new opening this festive season? The Ivy Asia has just opened its doors and is already receiving rave reviews.
Located on Dawson Street, expect Asian-inspired flavours, dramatic design and a vibrant atmosphere. From the moment you step inside, the opulent décor and show-stopping interiors set the stage for a dining experience that feels like a night out rather than just a meal. The menu focuses on sharing plates and standout dishes like sushi rolls, miso-glazed fish and sushi. Of course they have a great cocktail menu as well. This is one of the most exciting openings of 2025, so get in before it books out.
4. Hawksmoor
You can’t get more elegant than Hawksmoor. Located in the iconic former National Bank building on College Green, your jaw will drop upon entering the main dining space here and looking up to the 40-foot cast-iron dome ceiling.
Steak is the showstopper here: Irish beef, dry-aged for 35 days and grilled simply over charcoal. You just can’t beat it.
There’s many ways to dine here, from formal private rooms to casual Sunday Roast menus, and even a BYO on Monday evenings. A really special dining experience, that is a true crowd pleaser.
5. SOLE Seafood
If you prefer seafood to steak, I recommend SOLE on South William Street. One of the best pieces of lobster I’ve ever had was in SOLE, after being lucky enough to go out fishing with the head chef in the morning, before sitting down to enjoy our catch of the day in the restaurant that evening. Since then, it’s safe to say I’ve been a little obsessed with this place.
The menu here is crafted with sharp attention to provenance, fresh oysters, lobsters, Dover sole, caught locally only a couple of hours before being served. With its elegant décor, upscale vibe and commitment to local ingredients, it’s the perfect place for a special occasion meal with friends and family.
6. Urban Brewing
A couple of years back, we had our Christmas work night out in Urban Brewing and it was the perfect setting for a work night out with good food, drink and atmosphere.
Located in the historic CHQ Building, Urban Brewing is a craft brewery, tapas bar, and restaurant that is housed within a beautifully restored 200-year-old vaulted warehouse. The space, rich with exposed brick and industrial charm, it’s a totally unique setting for a memorable meal.
Here, beer is brewed on-site and served alongside a vast selection of international craft beers, wines, and creative cocktails. The food menu is designed for sharing, offering globally inspired dishes made with local Irish ingredients. It’s an ideal spot for casual drinks, group gatherings, or an immersive dining experience that celebrates the city’s modern culinary culture with a craft-beer twist.
7. Fade St Social
Fade Street is an institution at this rate, a place that never fails when you’re looking for something to suit everyone. Spanning across three floors - each with their own unique energy - there are endless nooks and crannies for groups to spend time catching up over some top quality Irish produce cooked over fire and wood. A heated, covered rooftop terrace upstairs extends the experience into the evening with drinks and DJ sets. Whether you’re after a relaxed lunch, a dinner experience, or cocktails late into the night, Fade Street Social offers something for every moment.
8. Drury Buildings
Drury Street has quickly become the trendiest street in all of Dublin City; at the heart of this is The Drury Buildings. In the summer months, everyone sits out front here enjoying Aperols in the sun, but I personally love it in winter when the dining spaces upstairs are full of groups of friends.
The building started its life as a clothing factory in the 1940s and has been transformed into an industrial‑chic destination covering several floors. On the menu, you’ll find sharing‑style small plates and modern European fare that marries Italian influence with Irish produce. It feels like a slice of New York in the heart of the city. It’s prime location means you can hop around Dublin’s top bars after your meal.
9. Tippenyaki
If you want to add a bit of spice and excitement to your night out, Tippenyaki is the way to go. Located in Rathmines, this immersive dining experience will have you laughing your heads off. Here, chefs skillfully prepare teppanyaki-style dishes on an iron plate right in front of you, and may even get you involved in cracking an egg or two. The restaurant specialises in fresh Irish ingredients like prime steak, fresh fish, and generous sushi selection - all served with showmanship and flair.
You can sit at the chef’s table for the full performance or opt for standard dining; either way, you’ll enjoy a mix of quality cuisine and interactive atmosphere. With generous portion sizes and a varied menu its perfect for celebrations and an engaging night out.
10. Kaldero
Located on South King Street beside Stephen’s Green (where Wagamama used to be), Kaldero is a vibrant, modern dining spot where Filipino heritage, Irish ingredients, and Southeast‑Asian vibes converge. Led by chef Richie Castillo and his partner Alex O Neill of Bahay, the restaurant is rooted in the idea of food as a story and ritual of connection.
The menu is designed for sharing, making it great for big groups, and features the likes of from crispy baby‑leek fritters and sizzled pork‑ear sisig, grilled whole chicken in burnt‑coconut sauce and mussels in spiced coconut broth. The flavours are like no other I’ve tried in Dublin, making a truly unique dining experience.
11. Peploe’s
Peploe’s has been around for as long as I can remember, and every time I’m in there, almost every tale is full - a testament to its long-standing success. The cellar-restaurant in a Georgian building once served as a bank vault, giving it a unique setting that feels both intimate and elegant.
The menu delivers Mediterranean-style cuisine using seasonal Irish ingredients, but I always come for the seafood pasta (it’s one of my faves in all of Dublin). The wine list complements the food perfectly, with old-world bottles chosen to elevate the dining experience.
If you’re looking for a central location that blends sophistication with warmth, Peploe’s is your perfect night out.
12. Coppinger
I was so sad to see Coppinger Row close it’s doors a few years back, so when they reopened last year I couldn't wait to get back in for a meal with my friends. It’s a stylish, modern bistro from the Bereen Brothers Group, with a Mediterranean‑inspired menu with contemporary Irish flair. The atmosphere is refined yet relaxed, dimly lit, with a lively buzz, ideal for dinner, drinks, or a stylish night out.
13. Pickle
I’m such a fan of Indian cuisine, and no one does it better than Pickle. The authentic, North‑Indian dishes here will open your eyes (and your taste buds) to unique flavours that are hard to come by anywhere else in the city.
Led by head chef Sunil Ghai, the space features retro Bollywood‑inspired décor with a casual atmosphere. From goat curry to okra with mango and ginger, it’s great for adventurous groups who love to spend the night trying something new.
14. Hera
Hera takes gastropub dining to a whole new level. Located on Dorset Street Lower, this beautifully restored building blends warm wood panelling, rich textures, and soft lighting into a space that feels both comfortable and elevated.
The kitchen serves up the best of Irish ingredients with smart international twists, dishes range from torched Carlingford oysters with smoked butter to brown butter‑miso tart for dessert. The focus is on flavourful, inventive comfort food served in a stylish yet relaxed setting.
15. Achara
Achara was my favourite opening of 2024. Located on Aston Quay, in a bright spacious venue it introduces a new wave of Asian cuisine to Dublin with a focus on charcoal grill flavours from Northern Thailand.
The team behind it draw on their travels in Southeast Asia to craft dishes that combine Thai tradition, like charcoal‑grilled meats and bold spicy flavours, with seasonal Irish ingredients. Their aim isn’t to replicate exactly what you’d find in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, but to reinterpret it in a distinctly Irish context.
Expect lively atmosphere, communal‑style sharing plates and standout dishes such as chilli caramel wings, basil‑chilli aubergine, and whole char‑grilled sea bass with a punchy seafood dipping sauce. Cocktails and wines are carefully curated to match the food’s bold flavours. Achara is ideal for a memorable night out: food, fire, flavour and fun all wrapped into one.
