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20th December 2016
12:10am GMT
It may not be for everyone – but if you’re doing Valentine’s Day, you have to do it right.
Somewhere romantic, unique, special…a place that will create a great memory, and of course, impress that special someone. The best spots in Dublin tend to fill up pretty quickly, however – so to ensure you get in there ahead of the game
Check out some of these places for a perfect evening.
Temple Bar’s Chameleon is always a winner when you’re looking for places that set a mood: it has beautiful rich colours and decorations, but is always tasteful and romantically lit. Even if you’re not in one of the private Balinese rooms upstairs (for groups), it’s easy to forget you’re not the only ones in the restaurant.
Chameleon specialises in rijzt tafel (like an Indonesian tapas), so you can share and nibble to your hearts content without worrying about courses and being interrupted.
Just like Chameleon, this stylish tapas bar (part of the Port House chain) is dark and atmospheric, making it really mysterious and exciting.
It has underground booth-style seating, and fantastic wine menu, so you can stay for the whole evening in perfect comfort and privacy.
Probably one of Dublin’s most famous spots for fine dining, Trocadero is traditional pre-theatre restaurant, and has even won awards for being “the most atmospheric restaurant of the year”!
As well as the earlier pre-theatre menu and a la carte menus, they now have a ‘late late’ supper Thursday–Sunday (Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year) with last orders at midnight, so great if you have pre-dinner plans.
You can’t have a list of fancy romantic meals without including a French restaurant: The Green Hen on Exchequer Street will make you feel like you’re on a Paris sidestreet, as everything about it just screams bohemian chic.
Get lost in the capital of romance, in the heart of Dublin city centre.
You also definitely need at least one Italian – otherwise how are couples going to accidentally kiss while eating the same piece of spaghetti?
While the upstairs of La Caverna is a pretty standard if very pleasant restaurant, their downstairs cellar is something really special and very intimate. They’re also doing a special Valentine’s Day menu, which you can check out here.
The Pearl Brasserie is not dissimilar to the La Caverna cellar in feel – all stonework, atmospheric lighting and quiet relaxed moods – but up a considerable notch, and admittedly a bit on the pricier end of the scale.
It’s a simply stunning restaurant with a simply stunning menu, and if you’re lucky you might get one of these alcoves, making you feel like you're the only two people in the world.
If you’re more into your drinks than your food, you could do worse than spend quite some hours in this fantastic wine bar, also on Exchequer Street. Sample wines from across the world in this intimate setting ‘for lovers of wine and of life’.
Not to play down their food though – accompany your drinks with nibbles, cheese and meat platters, or some really unusual Russian-inspired dishes.
Amazing food, candlelit tables, the warms and golds of Moroccan decor, the scents of spices and perfumes… Dada really creates an unforgettable experience for its diners.
Visit another world with your valentine – and you can bring your own booze if you want to make it a little more affordable.
