The Winding Stair Dublin: Menu, Dress Code, and Reviews

Any Dublin pub crawl worth its salt has a literary ghost or two, but The Winding Stair is something different — a bookshop downstairs and a restaurant upstairs, all tucked into a narrow building on Ormond Quay. Named after the W.B. Yeats poem, it’s been a fixture of the city’s cultural landscape since 1981, and the restaurant has earned a reputation for serving modern Irish food that draws both locals and visitors.

Year established: 1981 (bookshop), 2006 (restaurant) ·
Location: 40 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin 1 ·
Rating: 4.5 stars on OpenTable ·
Price range: €€€ ·
Dress code: Smart casual ·
Known for: Irish artisan produce, views of Ha’penny Bridge

Nine facts about The Winding Stair, one pattern: the restaurant leans hard into its Irish identity — from the produce to the poetry that gave it a name.

The table above summarizes the key details for anyone planning a visit to this Dublin landmark.

Is the food good at The Winding Stair?

What are the signature dishes?

The menu at The Winding Stair changes with the seasons, but the core approach stays the same: ingredients sourced from Irish artisan producers. According to the official site, the kitchen builds dishes around what’s fresh and local. A 2008 review from The Independent described plates built around smoked fish, charcuterie, Irish cheeses, lamb chops, haddock, pork belly, plaice, and Aberdeen rib eye. A 2014 Irish Examiner review called the menu “comfort food assiduously sourced in Ireland.”

Popular dishes that appear regularly include seafood chowder, steak, and homemade desserts. Yelp reviewers frequently mention the haddock and the hake — one Yelp diner noted they preferred the haddock because it was lighter and paired well with the mash. The Tripadvisor listing categorises the cuisine as seafood, Irish, and European.

What do customer reviews say about the food?

On OpenTable, The Winding Stair holds a 4.5-star rating, with reviewers praising “exceptional service and food.” The Irish Examiner gave it an 8/10 overall, while The Independent awarded 15/20. Yelp shows over 230 reviews, with consistent praise for the cozy atmosphere and the view of the Ha’penny Bridge. One Yelp review described the restaurant’s “rustic charm, cozy atmosphere, and view of the Ha’Penny Bridge and Liffey.”

Professional critics and casual diners agree on the quality of the ingredients and the cooking, though some note that the menu’s seasonal nature means favourites disappear without warning. The implication: consistency of sourcing matters more here than a fixed menu.

What is the winding stair in Dublin restaurants?

Is it a restaurant or a bookshop?

It’s both. The ground floor is a bookshop, and the restaurant occupies the floor above. The Dublin City of Literature site explains that the name comes from the W.B. Yeats poem “The Winding Stair” and honours the building’s actual winding staircase that connects the two spaces. A 2025 dining essay on Chris Plus Melissa described it as “a literary landmark with the restaurant upstairs and the bookshop below.”

What is the history of The Winding Stair?

The bookshop opened in 1981, becoming a fixture of Dublin’s literary scene. The restaurant launched later in the same building, and the two have operated side by side ever since. The building sits on Ormond Quay, with views of the River Liffey and the Discover Ireland guide notes it as a prime spot for visitors exploring the city centre. The Wikipedia entry for The Winding Stair confirms its dual identity as both a bookshop and a restaurant, noting its literary significance in Dublin.

What is the dress code for The Winding Stair?

Is there a dress code for dinner?

Multiple sources describe the restaurant’s dress code as smart casual. Dress Code Finder lists the attire as “casual dress or smart casual, with no formal restrictions.” A dining guide on Pearl says the same: smart casual, no formal dress code. The 2025 essay on Chris Plus Melissa notes there is no official dress code but recommends business casual as a safe choice.

What should I wear to The Winding Stair?

While there are no strict rules, diners are encouraged to dress neatly. Avoid sportswear or overly casual attire for dinner service, especially if you’re dining in the evening. The restaurant’s atmosphere — polished but relaxed — rewards a tidy appearance without demanding a jacket and tie. The general consensus across review platforms is that most diners wear collared shirts, blouses, smart jeans, or dresses.

The pattern: smart casual at The Winding Stair means the same thing it means at most mid-range Dublin restaurants — neat, comfortable, and respectful of the setting.

Where do celebrities eat in Dublin?

Which celebrities have visited The Winding Stair?

The Winding Stair has a reputation as a spot where visiting celebrities might show up, drawn by the literary atmosphere and the quality of the food. However, no official list of celebrity diners exists. Reports on social media and review sites occasionally mention sightings of actors and musicians, but these claims are anecdotal and not formally documented.

Where did Taylor Swift stay in Dublin?

Rumours have circulated that Taylor Swift either dined or stayed near The Winding Stair during a visit to Dublin, but there is no confirmed sighting of her at the restaurant. The uncertainty around celebrity visits is typical for a restaurant that doesn’t publicly track its VIP guests — the stories add to the mystique but lack hard evidence.

The trade-off: the restaurant’s literary cachet and central location near Temple Bar make it a plausible stop for famous visitors, but the lack of documentation means the celebrity buzz is more about atmosphere than a verified guest list.

Where do the locals eat in Dublin?

Why do locals recommend The Winding Stair?

Locals appreciate the fresh, seasonal Irish ingredients and the cozy atmosphere. The restaurant’s location in Dublin 1, near Temple Bar, puts it right in the heart of the city’s cultural district. The fact that it’s both a bookshop and a restaurant means it offers something you can’t find in most other dining rooms — a genuine sense of place that feels Irish rather than generic.

What is the poshest area of Dublin?

While the poshest areas in Dublin are often considered to be Ballsbridge or Dalkey, The Winding Stair is firmly in the city centre. Its Ormond Quay location puts it on the north bank of the Liffey, within walking distance of the main shopping and cultural districts. For locals, the appeal isn’t about prestige — it’s about consistency, quality, and the view of the Ha’penny Bridge from the upstairs windows.

What diners say

“The Winding Stair offers exceptional service and food.”

OpenTable review summary

“Named after the Yeats poem, and in honour of its winding staircase.”

Dublin City of Literature

“Comfort food assiduously sourced in Ireland.”

Irish Examiner, 2014

“Rustic charm, cozy atmosphere, and view of the Ha’Penny Bridge and Liffey.”

Yelp reviewer

The Winding Stair is what happens when a restaurant leans into its location — literally, with the river below and the bookshop below that. For anyone visiting Dublin, the choice is clear: browse the shelves, climb the stairs, and eat the food that the Irish larder provides. For locals, it’s a reminder that the best dining rooms don’t need to chase trends — they just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing since 2006, with the same care for produce and place that made the bookshop next door a landmark since 1981.

Frequently asked questions