Where to eat before a show in Vicar Street (and other southside theatres)

As one of the city’s most popular music and live comedy venues, we’re constantly plied with queries from ATF Insiders on where they should eat before heading to a gig in Vicar Street. From quick and casual pit stops on your way over from work to early bird options around the area, here’s everything worth considering within a quick walk away... Going to The Olympia, Project Arts Centre, or Smock Alley? Everything marked with an asterisk (*) is a perfect pick for you, with a few added options down the bottom...

QUICKER BITES

Coke Lane @ Lucky’s, Meath Street (Mon-Sun, 3 min walk)

So close to the stage you could literally leave off legging it to the last minute, Lucky’s is perfect if casual pints and pizza is your preferred pre-gig vibe. Coke Lane’s light, Neapolitan-style pies are solidly priced with great catch-all variety for any veggie, vegan or GF friends coming along, and there’s usually no shortage of space here on all but the busiest of nights – book ahead to be sure.

Space Jaru, Meath Street (Mon-Sun, 4 min walk)

Casual Korean spot Space Jaru’s large central table inside the right window is the ideal spot if you’re going with a group, and available to book by email – piled-high plates of tteokbokki and yangnyum chicken washed down with shared soju (10% off on Sundays!) is our kind of catch-up. Otherwise, it’s walk-in all the way with quick enough turnarounds and a short stroll to the venue so you don’t need to leave yourself too much time. Read our once over here.

Fusco’s, Meath Street (Mon-Sun, 4 min walk)

If the walk-in woes strike and everywhere else is keeping you waiting too long, there’s no back-up quite like one of Dublin’s most untouched old-school chippers. Fresh ray in Fusco’s is one of the Liberties’ greatest IYKYK pleasures, so quickly served up you can be in and out in no time – there’s plenty of seating inside too if you want to linger a while. Read our two minute review here.

Notions, Francis Street (Tue-Sat, 7 min walk) *

On busier and brighter nights you’ll definitely want to be booking ahead, but Two Pups’ wine-bar-by-night Notions isn’t a bad shout to chance your arm on a walk-in mid-week. The bigger inside space has plenty of room to settle in and sample a few of their superb seasonal small plates alongside plenty of BTG natty wine options.

Bolt Burger, Patrick Street (Mon-Sun, 10 min walk) *

If burgers and beers are on your agenda, nothing nearby will sort you as well as Bolt, tucked inside the Fourth Corner bar and usually easy enough to bag a table in. FX Buckley-sourced beef makes for deliciously juicy, crisp-edged smash burgers in double or triple stacks. The €13 Monday double deal (€10 for students) is a real draw here – the chicken katsu fries too. Read our two minute review here.

Sano, Temple Bar (Mon-Sun, 10 min walk) *

Surely one of the few spots still standing where you can get a half-decent pizza (and cocktails!) for south of a tenner, Sano boasts brilliant value for rock solid quality as one of its enduring draws. They’re walk-in only of an evening but tend to have plenty of room, and will text you quick to let you know when they do at busier times. They do a mean '99 too, if you fancy a walking dessert.

Chiya, Dame Street (Mon-Sun, 12 min walk) *

How we ever survived before Berliner kebabs landed in Dublin we just don’t know. Chiya pack their puffy pide pockets with delish doner meat or your choice of three (3!) veggie options, so it’s a great choice for mixed crowds. They sling them out at lightning speed at even the busiest times, meaning you can be sure of getting a bite in a hurry if time is really tight – good luck eating these whoppers on the go, though. Read our two minute review here.

Fayrouz, Cork Street (Tue-Sun, 12 min walk)

Longtime Lebanese favourite Fayrouz’s mezzes and Middle East décor make it an oasis amidst the Liberties’ busy bustle. Piled-high platters come quick, with kibbeh and fattoush among the things you need to try – shawarma and mujadra are ace too. Be warned, the draw of free corkage BYOB is sadly no more.

Doom Slice, Dame Street (Mon-Sun, 13 min walk) *

The cheesey crust crunch of Doom Slice is one of Dublin’s greatest ASMR experiences – even without the regular specials we’d be back here to hear it again and again. Those specials really do help though, with whiskey BBQ pulled pork and a pickle slice among the latest. Their slice and can €10 deal Mondays and Tuesdays is perfect when you’re out early in the week week.

BOOK AHEAD

Mongoose, Thomas Street (Sun-Tue, 2 min walk) *

While you could technically get through an early sitting at Variety Jones before most gigs kick off, you’d be nodding off all night after the feed they give you. Good news then that kid brother concept Mongoose has opened at last after years of setbacks, with a more casual à la carte menu than its starry sibling next door.

Spitalfields, The Coombe (Tue-Sat, 6 min walk)

The only issue with booking Spitalfields pre-show is you’ll never want to leave. From a special Michelin gong for the strength of its service, to the iconic plaited cock-a-leekie pie, a night here is about as good a welcome as it gets anywhere in the city. Just be sure to bear in mind it’s a long and languorous kind of vibe, so leave plenty of time.

Piglet, Cow’s Lane (Wed-Sun, 10 min walk) *

If you don’t mind making your way to Thomas Street early (or, better yet, fancy a drink along the way), Piglet’s early bird offer of three courses for €35 finishing at 17:30 is a great way to get a glut for a little less. Even outside of that awkward hour, it’s a nice near spot to wash down fine French-leaning cuisine with a ton of BTG options.

The Legal Eagle, Chancery Place (Wed-Sun, 11 min walk) *

Another early bird option, and one that runs until the far more favourable hour of 18:30 is The Legal Eagle, where it’s two courses for €30. Classic pub grub with a fancified twist is the vibe, with the pie of the day and Guinness sticky toffee pudding popular favourites for reasons we don’t need to wonder about.

Full Moon, Parliament Street (Mon-Sun, 11 min walk) *

A Temple Bar Thai that makes little-to-no concessions to local or tourist palates, Full Moon is a top pick for any parties that aren’t overly spice-averse – more sensitive souls can ask staff for help steering clear of anything more intense. Thai basil beef and the deep-fried whole sea bass are the two dishes to make a beeline for here.

Daruma, Parliament Street (Mon-Sun, 11 min walk) *

Sake and skewers make a great casual combo at izakaya Daruma, where a focus on quick-fire cooking and sushi usually gets you in and out with oodles of time – especially solo, where bar stool seats are often free. Ox tongue and oyster mushrooms are some of the best bites here, while the spiced sake cocktails are a lot of fun to explore.

Fish Shop, Benburb Street (Mon-Sun, 12 min walk)

We can’t count the number of times we sadly settled for something other than Fish Shop of a pre-Tuesday gig dinner – well, it’s sad face no more since they shifted to a seven day service at the end of last year. Now no matter what you’re seeing you can enjoy the city’s best fish burger bar none, washed down with any of their regularly switched up wines.

Sister 7, Queen Street (Wed-Sun, 12 min walk)

The pumping sound system at Fidelity and BigFan’s genius collab will get you in the gig mood over some of the best Chinese-style small plates around. Sister 7’s menu of dumplings, bao and fried chicken uses beer and brewery by-products from Whiplash for a smart, sustainable USP that keeps the crowds coming. Cocktails, no surprise, are bloody good too.

Bar Pez, Kevin Street (Mon-Sun, 16 min walk) *

Fish Shop’s little Spanish sibling just about makes the cut for what we’d consider a fair walking distance – the never-misses calibre of the food at Bar Pez is worth every extra footstep. A mandatory manzanilla-gilda combo while you mull over the menu is the first taste of the treat you’re in for, with the scallop toast and crab sandwich the ones we can never go without.

MORE OPTIONS FOR PROJECT ARTS/SMOCK ALLEY/THE OLYMPIA

Row Wines, Coppinger Row (Mon-Sun)

With their formerly midweek offer of two plates and a glass of wine for €25 now extended all the way from Monday to Thursday, Row Wines is a top spot to nab if you’re at a show outside of peak times. Even if you’re in at the weekend, the likes of their Kilkee crab rösti and yellowfin tuna tostadas are worth every penny.

Hawksmoor, Dame Street (Mon-Sun)

With a six-day set early bird menu going for €33 for two courses or €38 for three, Hawksmoor are holding hard to the pre-theatre crowd – as long as you’re happy to be in there before 17:45. And why wouldn’t you with prices like this, saving you seriously versus the à la carte cost even if you aren’t going all in on the meatiest mains.

The Seafood Café, Temple Bar (Mon-Sun)

Another set menu essential, Niall Sabongi’s Seafood Café will do you three courses for €32 or two for €27 up to 6.30 from Monday to Friday every week. It changes daily with the catch and the whims of the excellent kitchen staff, and the likes of a half lobster aren’t unheard of. The oysters here are nothing short of essential.

Achara, Aston Quay (Mon-Sun)

There might not be any better value going on this list than what you’ll get at Achara if you’re in before 18:40 Sunday to Thursday. Their charcoal-grilled Thai sharing menu for two at €32 a head dishes up their immortal fish sauce caramel chicken wings alongside another two starters, three mains including a smoked pork cheek curry, and a coconut gelato to top it all off.