Seafood Restaurant Pubs in Dublin

Listen up, because I'm about to put you on to the hottest dining spot in Dublin right now - The Cow Pub & Kitchen is that perfect mix of upscale vibes and down-to-earth Irish charm that's going to become your new favorite haunt. Trust me, this place has been causing serious buzz, and after multiple visits (purely for research purposes, obviously 😉), I can confirm the hype is REAL. Picture this: You're strolling through Dublin, maybe showing off the city to some friends, when you stumble into what might just be the most perfectly designed gastropub ever. The Cow Pub & Kitchen hits that sweet spot between fancy enough to impress a date but casual enough that you won't feel weird posting up at the bar for a casual pint. The modern-meets-cozy interior is basically MADE for Instagram, but like, in an actually cool way. Y'all. The FOOD. I cannot emphasize enough how this isn't your standard pub grub situation. The kitchen team at The Cow Pub & Kitchen Dublin is doing something magical back there. Their steaks? *chef's kiss* Life-changing. The kind that makes you pause mid-conversation and just have a moment of silence for how good it is. And the seafood? Fresh enough to make you think you're sitting harborside. Let me tell you about last Saturday night - walked in thinking we'd just grab a quick bite and ended up having one of those epic evenings that people talk about for months. Started with cocktails at the bar (their mixologists are actual wizards, btw), moved to a cozy booth for dinner, and somehow ended up making friends with half the restaurant. That's the magic of this place - it just creates these perfect little moments. The outdoor seating area? GENIUS. It's covered (because, hello, Dublin weather), but somehow they've made it feel like you're dining in some secret garden. Perfect for those summer evenings when the sun's taking its sweet time to set, or those crisp autumn afternoons when you want to feel cozy but still get that fresh air hit. Here's your game plan: Make a reservation. Seriously. Don't even think about winging it - this place fills up faster than a pub during Six Nations. Show up about 30 minutes early and start with drinks at the bar. The staff here are like walking encyclopedias of good times - tell them what you like, and they'll sort you out with something perfect. For food, you absolutely CANNOT skip their starters. Like, I know everyone says that, but I mean it. The menu changes regularly because they're all about seasonal ingredients, but whatever's on there, get it. And if you're vegetarian? Don't worry - they've got a whole separate menu that'll make your meat-eating friends jealous. (True story - saw it happen!) Sunday brunch here is basically a religious experience. The kind of meal that makes you cancel all your afternoon plans because you need time to properly appreciate what just happened. They do this thing with their coffee where... actually, no, I'm not going to spoil it. You need to experience that joy for yourself. Quick insider tips: The corner tables by the windows are prime real estate for date nights. The bar seats are perfect for solo diners or casual drop-ins. And if you're coming with a group? There's this one section near the back that's basically made for those nights when the stories start flowing and suddenly it's way later than you planned. The Cow Pub & Kitchen sits in this perfect pocket of Dublin where everything's happening but it somehow maintains this neighborhood gem feel. Whether you're a local or just passing through, missing out on this place would be like visiting Dublin and skipping Guinness - technically possible, but why would you do that to yourself? Look, I could go on about this place all day (and trust me, I have), but instead, why don't you just make a reservation and thank me later? The Cow Pub & Kitchen Dublin is waiting to be your next favorite story. Don't be the person who has to hear about how amazing it is from everyone else - be the person who gets to tell those stories. Your taste buds (and your Instagram feed) will thank you.

Just what Dublin needed - another seafood spot in Howth claiming to serve the freshest catch this side of the Irish Sea. Wrights Findlater Howth sits there on the harbor like it owns the place, all historic building charm and ocean views, practically daring you not to be charmed by it. And wouldn't you know it? Despite my best efforts to maintain professional cynicism, I found myself reluctantly impressed. Let's address the elephant in the room - yes, it's in tourist central. The moment you step into Wrights Findlater Howth, you half expect to be handed a "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" t-shirt along with your menu. But here's the thing: they actually know what they're doing with seafood. Their fish and chips - that most predictable of Irish pub offerings - somehow manages to be both crispy and succulent, like they've struck some Faustian bargain with the cod gods. The building itself is something of a local landmark, with those sweeping harbor views that make you forget you're sharing space with camera-wielding tourists fresh off the DART from central Dublin. The interior strikes that delicate balance between traditional pub comfort and restaurant refinement - no easy feat when you're trying to please both the "just a pint" crowd and the "anniversary dinner" set. Speaking of which, the bar program deserves mention. While I approached their cocktail list with the skepticism it deserved (this is a seafood pub, after all), their mixologists apparently didn't get the memo that they're supposed to be mediocre. The drinks are actually... good. There, I said it. Their Irish Coffee doesn't taste like it was made by someone who just learned what coffee is yesterday. The seafood chowder - a dish I've consumed enough of around Dublin to develop a serious love-hate relationship with - is surprisingly complex. Rich without being heavy, creamy without drowning the seafood, and seasoned by someone who apparently knows that salt and pepper aren't the only spices in existence. It's the kind of dish that makes you angry because now you'll have to admit to friends that yes, the tourist spot actually serves good food. Service manages to hit that sweet spot between Irish hospitality and actual efficiency - a combination as rare as a sunny day in Dublin. During peak hours, they handle the crowds with surprising grace, though you might want to make a reservation unless waiting at the bar for an hour is your idea of fun (though with their Guinness pour, you could do worse). The price point sits squarely in the "you're not being robbed, but you're definitely paying for the view" category. Portions are generous enough that you won't need to stop for a chip shop crawl afterward, which is something of a miracle in tourist-heavy Howth. The menu walks the line between approachable pub grub and more ambitious seafood dishes, meaning you can bring both your foodie friend and your meat-and-potatoes cousin without either one staging a revolt. For families, they've managed to create an atmosphere that welcomes children without making the child-free among us feel like we've accidentally wandered into a playground. The kids' menu offers actual food rather than the usual frozen nugget parade, and they even provide crayons - though whether this is a blessing or a curse depends entirely on your proximity to the young artists. Live music features regularly, and unlike many venues where "live music" means "time to leave," the performers here generally know their craft. It adds atmosphere rather than requiring you to shout your order across the table, which in Dublin's pub scene is practically a miracle. Look, I wanted to dismiss Wrights Findlater Howth as just another tourist trap in Dublin's seaside playground. But between the consistently well-executed food, the legitimately good service, and those annoyingly gorgeous views, I have to admit defeat. If you must do the whole Howth experience - and let's face it, you're going to - you could do far worse than grabbing a table here. Just don't tell them I sent you. I have a reputation to maintain.