The best wheelchair/buggy accessible restaurants in Dublin

Although a 2022 survey ranked Dublin as the most accessible city in the world, does this really reflect reality? The Irish Wheelchair Association found that over seventy percent of people with physical disabilities report poor access to public spaces, with wheelchair users in particular facing challenges navigating the city, and being effectively banned from many buildings due to access issues. In 2019, after being contacted by, and then dining out with wheelchair users, former Irish Times restaurant critic Catherine Cleary added an accessibility rating to her restaurant reviews, highlighting that sometimes a restaurant can be accessible, but not have an appropriate toilet, leaving the diner to have to leave the restaurant in search of one elsewhere when nature calls.

It isn’t always easy to find accessibility information online, with the details rarely listed on restaurant websites, so we’ve compiled a guide to Dublin’s best wheelchair friendly dining spots - with accessible entry and a fully accessible toilet. While it's not as serious as issue for buggy-pushing parents who can generally lift it up steps and into narrower spaces, we get copious requests from readers asking what café and restaurants are buggy friendly and have a toilet big enough for changing a nappy, so this guide should be useful for them too.

We'll keep this updated so please let us know if you think somewhere else should should make the cut...

Dublin 2

Thai-inspired food using Irish produce, from the guys behind Crudo and Hera. Great wine and cocktails, and a stellar group menu.

Café by day, wine bar by night, with ever changing small plates and a tasting menu that delivers some of the best value in town.

Snacks, small and large plates that are all designed for sharing, in a floral draped room with cool tunes and a view right into the kitchen.

Some of Dublin's best pizza served in an unpretentious space. Red and white pies, standout dough, vegetarian and vegan options and a compact wine list.

Cocktails and a tapas inspired menu in a buzzy central bar and restaurant. Get the night started here with a drink and a snack before hitting the town.

Uncomplicated bistro classics downstairs, woodfired flatbreads on the rooftop terrace. Signature cocktail menu alongside the usual suspects.

**Bunsen, all locations (except Temple Bar)**

Dublin's go-to burger joint serving black Aberdeen Angus burgers on Amish dinner roll buns. Menu the size of a business card needing no embellishment.

Niall Davidson's nomadic restaurant concept settles in the docklands, featuring gorgeous plates and good wine. Pared back onsite sister Allta Bar serves outstanding bar food and burgers.

Spanish style à la carte dining from the guys behind Asador, alongside a more traditional gastropub menu. Lots of options in this sprawling space near Stephen's Green.

Crispy, Korean-style fried chicken, with bright, spicy, punchy signature sauces and OTT sides in a chilled out setting. Burgers, nugs and wings are all winners.

Outrageously delicious Hong Kong style eatery. Dim Sum adjacent small plates and steamed buns stuffed with flavour-packed fillings, in a laid back neon dining room.

Approachable and vibey wine bar and restaurant with a menu of excellent small and large plates and a crowd-pleasing drinks selection.

Affordable Thai street food that you order at the counter before fetching your own cutlery. Communal dining on a long central table, and you can fill your own ice cream cone for dessert.

Vibrant New York-does-Paris bistro serving signature cocktails alongside an extended menu (with a dedicated section for healthy options). A good bet for brunch.

**Dunne & Crescenzi, Frederick Street South**

A Dublin institution. Trattoria style restaurant showcasing Irish produce and Italian imports. Menu of pasta, salads, meat and fish, and very family friendly.

Dublin 1

Traditional Roman-style Italian serving house made pasta overlooking the Millennium Bridge. The carbonara and caci e pepe are standout

Contemporary twists on classic menu items in a historic building. Great for a relaxed midweek lunch overlooking the Liffey, or when you want lots of space.

Contemporary cafe serving an extensive pancake menu. Family friendly with lots of child-focused options, and meat is sourced from the owner's sister's farm.

Middle Eastern inspired menu featuring seasonal flavours, excellent coffee and baked goods. Hard to beat for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner.

Platonic ideal of the modern gastropub featuring nicely put together small plates and snacks. Drinkswise there's an inventive cocktail menu and well priced wines.

Dublin 7

A buzzy and stylish space with an Asian influenced menu. A collaboration between Big Fan and Fidelity, expect good tunes, great food, and all the vibes.

Great coffee and an ever changing selection of imaginative specials. Nice list of natural wines and an excellent brunch menu on weekends.

Sister café of One Society in Dublin 1, serving brunch and lunch until 3pm, and pizza/ Italian tapas from 4:30pm. Nice wine list to pair with the food and friendly vibes.

Dublin 8

A casual Korean diner showcasing some of the best kimchi on the island, handmade in-house. Enjoy alongside authentic Korean street food dishes and sharing plates.

French style bakery and pizzeria, meaning thin crusts and Emmental cheese in place of Mozzarella. Fresh pastries baked in house in the morning, and a good natural wine list at night.

South Dublin

Michelin Bib Gourmand brasserie serving a modern European menu. Classy yet casual, and good value. Lovely high-ceilinged room with plenty of space.

Relaxed neighbourhood pizzeria by Dublin pizza King Reggie White. Standout pies and snacks in a laid back space and about as family friendly as restaurants get.

Thoughtful, seasonal, produce driven cooking. Beautiful plates, and an equally excellent wine list. A no choice tasting menu in the evening - we'd trust them.

Mezze plates, Middle Eastern flavours and the perfect brunch in Brother Hubbard's first suburban venture. They also do dinner at the weekend as "Yves".

Modern Irish restaurant by chef Philip Yeung. Seasonal dishes served in a minimalist setting, with a reasonably priced chef's menu for the indecisive. A great neighbourhood restaurant.

Warm and welcoming family friendly, Mediterranean-style neighbourhood jewel. A seafood-forward menu featuring generous portions and everything done just as you hoped.