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Restaurants · Leinster, Dublin

The Winding Stair

Riverside Irish cooking above a former bookshop

  • CuisineModern Irish
  • CategoryCasual
  • VibeRelaxed, literary, riverside
  • Rating★ 4.5
  • Price€€€ (lunch €20–€30, dinner €40–€60 / ~$22–$33 / ~$44–$66)
The Winding Stair

Set over a narrow, book-lined staircase on the north quays, The Winding Stair pairs Liffey views with a straightforward menu that leans on named Irish producers — Castletownbere fishermen, Connemara farms, Carlingford oyster beds. It is a reliable, unfussy choice for a solo traveler wanting good Irish food without fine-dining formality.

Practical information for The Winding Stair
Price €€€ (lunch €20–€30, dinner €40–€60 / ~$22–$33 / ~$44–$66)
Hours Daily 12:00–15:30 & 17:30–22:00
Reservations Recommended; book at windingstair.com or +353 1 873 7320
Address 40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, D01 K4D4, Ireland

Signature dishes

  • Castletownbere crab on toast
  • Connemara lamb shank
  • Carlingford oysters with Guinness

Good to know

Known for
Bookshop café turned acclaimed restaurant; seasonal Irish produce with Liffey views

Weather through the year in Ireland

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Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Ireland.

Location

40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1, D01 K4D4, Ireland

53.3473, -6.2640 View on map

Highlights

  • Window tables look directly over the River Liffey and Ha'penny Bridge
  • Named-producer sourcing printed on the menu
  • Started life as a secondhand bookshop, retaining shelves on the ground floor

Tips for visiting

  • Ask for a window table when booking — they go first and make the meal worth the visit
  • The early evening slot (17:30) is quieter and easier to walk into without a reservation than after 19:00