ELY BAR & GRILL

Bar & grill · Ringsend

ELY BAR & GRILL

Bar & grill · Ringsend
CHQ Building ISFC Georges Dock, Dublin 1 Co. Dublin IE, George's Dock, North Wall, Dublin, Ireland

Photos

ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null
ELY BAR & GRILL by null

Highlights

Nestled in a chic converted tobacco warehouse, this gastrobar serves up delicious family-farmed meats and fresh Irish produce, making every meal a tasty adventure.  

Placeholder
Placeholder

CHQ Building ISFC Georges Dock, Dublin 1 Co. Dublin IE, George's Dock, North Wall, Dublin, Ireland Get directions

elywinebar.ie

$$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

CHQ Building ISFC Georges Dock, Dublin 1 Co. Dublin IE, George's Dock, North Wall, Dublin, Ireland Get directions

+353 1 672 0010
elywinebar.ie
𝕏
@elybarCHQ

$$$ · Menu

Features

wifi
Tap to pay
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.

Yeming Huang

Google
Nice rustic ambient. Recommend the scallop starter, meaty big pieces of seared scallops topped with bacon and crisps. Great satisfaction for protein lovers. Steak is mediocre, a bit over cooked for medium and seemingly seasoned with barbecue sauce, beef jus sauce is a bit too starchy. Will give 5 stars if steak improved.

Rica Carlos

Google
Upscale dining in a beautiful setting of renovated underground caverns where whiskey and tobacco were stored hundreds of years ago! Very tasty and delicious food that take you to a whole new level of epicurean dining! They have their own farms where they raise their own beef for use at their restaurants.

Rachel Annett

Google
Fresh tasty food with an emphasis on Irish produce and wine-pairing. Also a varied whisky and gin cocktail list. Good for lunch and near to the EPIC Museum. Outdoor seating and downstairs a large stone cellar restaurant seating area including a private dining room. Good service too!

Pat Kramer

Google
We spent our last evening in Dublin at Ely’s Bar & Grill and it was one of the best during our entire stay. The shared platters and prawns were very tasty and spicy how I like it 😋 and the service was excellent 👍🏻 The first time we saw the place it was super crowded and I realized afterward that the entire financial district is having their TGIF drinks there, so maybe pick another day if you prefer it less busy. I will be back 😎

Jason Cole

Google
Great location, delicious contemporary Irish food and a great wine list. Whether outside enjoying the open fronted bar area or in the restaurant downstairs (in the beautifully restored wine cellars), Ely is well worth a visit and can easily be combined with a visit to the Irish Emigration Museum and Samuel Beckett Bridge (for example!)

Renan Martins de Jesus

Google
Nice atmosphere, delicious food and great service! I really recommend this restaurant to come with friends or even to have a special dinner with someone. They have good options in the menu and also a good selection of drinks. If you are interested just to have some beers, I recommend the tables outside during the summer time.

Colin Tilley

Google
Food in the restaurant downstairs is phenomenal. Atmosphere is also fantastic. This was a highlight of our trip to Dublin. The service was excellent as well, and pricing was good also (it's a little pricey, but certainly worth it). Definitely a good date spot or special evening out. We didn't visit the bar upstairs, but it seemed to be quite popular.

Loke LA

Google
Good place with nice ambience. Was very crowded but the server took care of us well. Liked the food and drinks

Diane D.

Yelp
Great ribeye steak! Trying a Galway red ale. Very nice. However the service was very slow, even on a quiet Sunday. And 20 minutes after asking for the check, I finally just walked up to the entrance and asked if someone would take my money. Probably the worst pint of Guinness I've had in 2 weeks in Ireland.

Ellen S.

Yelp
SUNTRAP ALERT! Ely in the IFSC has a big terrace, and you are usually bound to find a table outside on one of those rare sunny days in Dublin. But let's face it, 355 days of the year you are better off inside and the front bar is lovely and bright and when you go downstairs you will find a cozy wine cave. I have stopped by here on numerous occasions on my way from work. It's probably a little bit out of the way to go there in the weekend, but I just found out they have a new brunch menu, which looks divine and it's added to my list.

Bridget R.

Yelp
Seriously chic and incredibly delicious, Eli CHQ is another instalment of the very successful Eli restaurant group. Just over the Sean O'Casey bridge and right in the heart of uber-sleek IFSC shopping district, this is the kind of restaurant I wouldn't mind making a habit of. Our table was in the rooms under the main restaurant, enjoying a full view of the massive wine vault (glass fronted for maximum drooling) and stand-and-your-there bar access. The restaurant was buzzing that night but we could have been the only table there. The staff were, as to be expected, experienced professionals - suggesting wine / food combinations with practised calm. After a starter of oysters I opted for steak (done rare, pinking my mash so deliciously) and a good glass of red. If my little notebook could fit in my fashionably slim clutch, I could report on the name and pedigree of the selection. Suffice to say, it was tasty! Finishing off with espressos and a chocolate marquis, we raised our glasses, toasted the evening and wondered how to finagle another visit.

David W.

Yelp
Amazing atmosphere, wonderful food, and the atmosphere... did I mention the atmosphere? Upstairs it's a contemporary bar & grill, but downstairs you are transported into a an underground experience that is unexpected and completely hidden by the bar upstairs.

Val L.

Yelp
This place is amazing for dinner. But prices are a bit hight so be prepared! The food is delicious so it is def worth it. The bar is OK - nothing special but the dinner area is superb. It is decorated to look like a cave and it definitely does! We were in a big group and I was amazing how fast they would bring our food. I had salmon with some cream and crackers as a starter and it was better than I expected. Of course I had to go for steak - it was really really tasty. The mushrooms on the top of it made it even more delicious. For dessert I had the 70% dark cocoa brownie but the brownie was a bit... tasteless. The ice-cream, however, was the best I had this year, I'm sure! Next time I'd have just ice-cream for dessert, no problemo! #DublinShopsLocal

Catarina L.

Yelp
Since a little more than a month ago, they've started serving Brunch on saturday mornings and they've also upped their game in terms of service. Good news, because this is a really nice venue and I love to have reasons to come back! Prices are still a bit steep for what you get, especially certain items such as craft beers and some of the dishes. Adding to my last review, my experience with brunch here was a good one. You can make reservations, and the super comfortable seating inside is exactly what you need if you're looking for a relaxed while. The Saturday morning when we visited the whole place was very different. The front of house staff and especially the hostess were exemplary and very nice. There was a small display with some cakes and scones, tempting you as you walked by the counter. You felt a lot more catered for as a customer. The brunch menu is good, both on food and drink options, ranging from lighter to more elaborate items. Yoghurt or some eggs benedict? Start slow with freshly squeezed orange juice or maybe go for a cocktail? I only felt that more vegetarian options were lacking, but that's a minor peeve. A bigger one is the fact that some dishes, like the fry-up, while slightly re-invented to a more elegant result, were too small to justify its price. The staff was more than happy to know all about what we thought of our meal, so that was a nice touch. Unfortunately, even though we had a exceptionally smooth sailing brunch, we noticed that some of the usual problems with this restaurant were happening at other tables. From mistakes with the order to huge delays in service, I fear they still don't have their act together. But it has definitely improved and I'll be back for some more :)

Steve H.

Yelp
There are two Ely experiences. On the upper level is the bar, which is buzzing with lots of people and excitement. My review is about the brasserie, the restaurant located downstairs. You take a lift or the stairs to access it. The restaurant came recommended by the hotel concierge. In my opinion, the restaurant has the right intentions, but the execution was poor. I really, really wanted to like the restaurant, but I recommend it with caution. The first thing is the space. It's underground, in what I can best describe as caves that have been transformed into a spectacularly beautiful space. It really was beautiful. The space was extremely HOT. As in the temperature. We estimated the temperature to be around 25-28 Celsius - or somewhere in the 80's Farenheit. We asked and were given a very vague answer about how they were having problems. It was strange, because we expected a space underground to be naturally cool. By the end of the evening, it had cooled a bit; but you might want to check on the temperature before you go in. My real issue was service. Let me preface it by saying we have traveled the world, and are not the typical "Ugly Americans" demanding this and that. But I do have standards that are not at all unreasonable. We were greeted and sat, but it was a full 15 minutes before we were offered even water. Even then, the reason was that I'd needed to go upstairs and outside to use my phone, since the restaurant doesn't have WIFI, and the signal inside for a phone is non-existent due to its underground location. I said something to the hostess who went and took orders from our party herself. Our server struggled with English. She was pleasant, but extremely inattentive. Our service came only when we flagged down someone who we could get to take an order or refill a drink. Our food was delicious. We had virtually every appetizer and all were wonderful. I can speak to the burger which was one of the best I'd had anywhere in a long time. The house made chips were something special as well. After dinner, we sat with our dirty dishes in front of us for about 30 minutes. We finally tired of them and ended up stacking them ourselves and asking a passing busboy to remove them. We ordered desserts and enjoyed them. Three times we asked for our bill, were told "ok", but no one showed. I went to the bar and spoke to the bartender about the horrible service. She apologized, and the general manager appeared at our table with profuse apologies. He explained that they were dealing with triple the customers they expected. He did realize that this isn't the customer's problem, and was kind enough to comp our desserts. He was genuinely apologetic and very kind. I wish we had met him' three hours earlier. You might look for updated reviews to see if they've fixed the issues. I wouldn't send someone here. In fairness. the location is beautiful and the food was very good. But this was the worst service we'd experienced in 10 days in Ireland. Hopefully they fix it.

Fiachra O.

Yelp
This review is for the downstairs restaurant. The space downstairs in old brick cellars is amazing but the service is so slow and disorganised it really ruins the experience. We had a reservation and a voucher but the table wasn't ready for 45 mins after it was booked for. We were left sitting at a waiting table for over 10 mins before being asked if we wanted a drink, we were given wine when we had paid for Prosecco and worst of all we waited a full 45 mins after finishing our last drink and actively looking for the bill to actually get the bill. The food was very good and the servers were friendly but they badly need to re-organise themselves.

Emily C.

Yelp
This is a really lovely spot. You've seen the pictures downstairs in the crypt-y kinda basement - it's visually stunning and I guess because you're so underground, actually pretty cosy! The other aspect that I have been enjoying more over the summer though, is their terrace on the bar on the ground floor. Avail of the wifi, sip a nice glass of one of the many wines they have on offer here, and work in the sunlight, looking out over the water. Sure ye can't get better than that! Top tip: if you've got a gang to impress (I think it would seat around 10ish), there is a temperature controlled room that's shut off from everyone else, surrounded by their best wines. It looks a bit like a presidential dining room, with a huge dark wood table - true opulence. If I was thinking of a family birthday celebration or the likes, I'd be on it like a car bonnet!

Mike K.

Yelp
When I walked up to this restaurant around 7:15 on a Thursday and saw a couple dozen people waiting around outside for a table, I wasn't too surprised because it looked like a small place. When we went in and were seated in the downstairs area, which is several times larger than the upstairs area, then I knew I was in for something good. And I wasn't disappointed! First off, the downstairs ambience (all masonry with vaulted ceilings and walls separating each area of tables) is a repurposing of an old tobacco/wine storehouse and it's absolutely incredible. One section has a full bar and another has a wine cellar. The menu was expensive, don't get me wrong, but each of the six people in my group ordered three courses each and we were all raving about each dish we ate so I can say it was well worth the splurge. The menu ranges from seafood (oysters, fish) to meats (steak, lamb) to burgers to salads and it seems like they go out of their way to source ingredients locally. The dinner menu also has a separate prix fix option if you want two or three courses of smaller portions. I really can't say enough good things about this restaurant. If you're not up for dinner it's also a great place to relax in the soothing ambience with a glass of wine and a couple friends (in addition to the bars I noticed some nice armchairs scattered about). If I lived in Dublin there's no doubt that it would be a regular dining option for me.

Ciara S.

Yelp
Ely Bar & Brasserie is fantastic. There's no other experience as wonderful as dining in their underground vaults. The building itself is stunning with wine cellars dating from the 1800s, which have been given a modern twist via Ely restaurant structured within, around and above them. A juxtaposition of the old and new which works exceptionally well, giving an atmosphere of luxury and grandeur. I've my Wine Class friends to thank for introducing me to Ely where food, wine and service is out of this world. They could offer more vegetarian options, however the overall experience of dining in Ely's wine cellars was so wonderful I can't knock a star off them for this. There's also an outside terrace for the summer months, if you don't fancy going down to the cellars for your meal on a sunny day. Located within the Docklands and a short walk from Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Ely is ideal for a meal before or after a show. Would also be great for special occasion dining such as weddings, birthdays or anniversaries. Not cheap but a quality, unique experience and not many restaurants have vaulted basements so it's worth a visit just to experience this alone. Ely also offer Wine Appreciation Classes which I would sign up to immediately if only I lived in Dublin...

Edel M.

Yelp
I attended the wine tasting evening last week and got the opportunity to taste some really unusual white Sauvignons. The night got off to a poor start as we started about 20/25 minutes late and the wines were not poured before we got there so this took some more time to sort out. A couple of late comers arrived and extra place settings had to be arranged for them further lengthening the delay. Once the tasting actually began we found Ian to be very knowledgeable and gave a great insight into the regions, prices etc of wines we would not otherwise have experienced. After tasting 4 wines we took a break to have a salmon dish which was delicious but very small. Given the size some accompaniments would have been a help. Two more wines tasted after the salmon which brought the night to a close. I dropped one star because of the poor organisation and late start. Overall we had a great night. We said we would go back again.

Sara Kate T.

Yelp
Ely's was recommended by our hotel concierge. It is a nice littte gem!. Steakscwete well seasoned & cooked exactly to medium how I like them. Desert was fabulous. Definitely go and try Ely's when you are in Dublin.

Paul M.

Yelp
Had lunch here 2Xs during a recent business trip. Trout appetizer was good, great salmon main course, great risotto main course with mushrooms. Nice atmosphere - the lower level feels like a trendy cellar; hopping lunch scene. Good for after dinner drinks, close to the financial district.

Paul M.

Yelp
Havnt been here for a good while so I was looking Frwd to dinning again We where down stairs which is lovely but was extremely warm ! Bit unpleasant Got steak for mains which was average , chips bit of a let down just like frozen ones . Cheesecake desert was delicious very nice and wine was lovely For what you pay and compared to other places similar I wouldn't rush back but that's not to say I wouldn't recommend .. Your call

Dale V.

Yelp
Great food and atmosphere down in an old brick lined storage bunker underground. Fun bar tenders and drinks upstairs before dinner. The service was outstanding.

Maire B.

Yelp
A tour de force from Ely for our foodie club UYE there last night. I'm not totally sure if we had 10 or 11 courses, but it was all delicious. There's definitely something good for everyone there. From all that we ate, the chowder, the steak and the strawberry parfait standout, but there was just so many taste sensations that its hard to remember them all. The vaults set the perfect ambience for our special menu and Sharon and the rest of the staff really showed their best for us. A standard has been set that will be hard to beat!

Cristin L.

Yelp
I had never been to the Ely Bar & Brasserie before and I was mightily impressed with the subterranean restaurant. The architecture and decor really caught my attention here, I was frequently looking around taking it all in. So we were shown to our table by Sharon C, who is the events organiser at Ely Bar & Brasserie, where there was a set menu ready to peruse. At first I thought it was going to be difficult trying to chose what to go for in each course. But it was explained that on this occasion it was a tasting menu and we would be getting a little of everything. Super! I am so glad we got to try all that was offered because I know I wouldn't have ordered the smocked haddock chowder, but it was really good. I am not a huge fish fan, but this really impressed me. But I am getting ahead of myself. Back to the starters and what stood out for me here was the butternut squash, pecan and clotted cream tart. This was outstanding I thought. Back to the mains and along side the chowder, I was also impressed with the Burren sirloin steak and the roast Fermanagh chicken. The chicken actually had flavour. Something you don't really get too often these days. For dessert we had a medley of brownie, strawberry parfait, lime cheesecake and a scoop of chocolate ice cream. The parfait was the highlight, but really all the desserts were good. Hats off to Maire B for organising this evenings visit to the Ely Bar & Brasserie, the second UYFCE (unoficial yelp foodie club event, yup it rolls off the tongue). Also a mention to Sharon C for organising the tasting menu for us and looking after us on the night. And the staff who were very attentive and unobtrusive. I am definitely coming back to the Ely Bar & Brasserie.

Dan C.

Yelp
After a long day in meetings and a tour bus ride that zigzagged around Dublin for what seemed like an eternity, I was ready to eat my shoe. Luckily, we (50 of us) went to Ely for a group dinner. We sat downstairs in what reminded me of a wine cellar. The room was fantastic - hardwood floors, brick walls, low barrel-vaulted brick ceilings and soft lighting. We had a set menu of: -Salad nicoise -Steak with fries or salmon over risotto -Pear pie (like an apple pie) or ice cream & sorbet or tiramisu I had the steak. It was perfectly cooked and the fries.... oh the fries.... they were absolutely great! I burnt the heck out of my tongue from my inability to stop eating them even though they were fresh out of the fryer. For desert I had the ice cream & sorbet. It was three scoops; one scoop each of lime ice cream, caramel ice cream and mango sorbet. The food and wine were great, but what was really a knockout here was the service. It was nothing short of amazing. Sometimes large parties can cause service to slip, with one table eating dinner and another table waiting for salads. Sometimes it is subtler, like a dirty salad fork still on the table when you are finishing desert or crumbs everywhere. The staff at Ely executed flawlessly filling wine glasses, filling water glasses, cleaning tables and resetting the utensils in between courses, bringing the food for each of our 4 huge tables at the same time and to the right people (rare steak, vs well done steak, etc.) They even made a nice risotto for the vegetarians on the fly. I really felt that I was out to dinner with just a few friends, not 50, with the level of service we received. Our whole group walked out of there all talking about how good the food and service was at Ely. Even the next day people were still talking about it. Now I just hope my tongue heals.

Gigi L.

Yelp
Lovely location; but, seems to be off the beaten path and a bit quiet on the weekends. The bar area is a cool open space that trickles out to a nice patio. On a good day, this is a welcome spot. There are also a few TV screens inside the bar to watch the game. Downstairs is the amazing dining area that I haven't tried yet. But, it's worth making a reservation just to take it all in while you're enjoying a meal. I took a self-guided tour of the dining areas separated by stony arches and high ceilings. It feels like you're walking through a winery cellar. I love the proximity to the river but it may be a trip worth taking for dinner during the week as opposed to the weekend. I think I heard crickets in the adjacent indoor shopping center... ;)

Allen O.

Yelp
Mmm, hokay - went in expecting a lot more - the place has got seriously good reviews and yes the staff are very friendly and all that good stuff, the location/ambiance cannot be faulted, and yes its a tad on the above average price side, but of course the food is pretty good (as one would have to expect), but for all that ... I just came away feeling a tad empty about the place - as in, If I'm in the area, would I rush to go back again? ... nope, I'd be looking for something else, something that has that certain ... who the heck knows, but I'll know it when I find it. Will you be guaranteed a nice evening at a not totally mad (but on the edge) price? ... yes, no worries on that front, but will you spend the rest of the month trying to find excuses to go back? ... prob not. I'll continue my search for something a bit more edgy where the off-chance of a suitably mad head chef throwing his best lobster bisque over some complaining punters head looms near as the potential excitement of the evening ... Next?! ps: my only hint for this place is that contrary to the website, they ARE open on a Sunday *providing* there is a big gig on nearby at the O2 or somefink similar....

Annie L.

Yelp
It's no mystery as to why my GPS Ely antenna always defaults to this Ely. I am in love with the layout of the space, so well designed and to suit any type of mood. From romantic and intimate downstairs in the exquisitely lit cellars to upstairs in the bright nautical feeling of the space. I had a business dinner here and the service was great, as you would expect they know their wine very well and paired a glass with the mains that worked perfectly. I had the ham hock to start followed by sea bass. It was my first time to try ham hock and the rich meatiness of the dish contrasted well with the lightness of the wine that was recommended. The sea bass was pan fried and came with baby tomatoes, courgette (an oft forgotten food) and a light dressing. It was perfect and light after the heavy starter. Afterwards we relaxed for a few drinks up stairs and enjoyed the long Irish evening which is what I love about this country and Ely is a great place to soak those rays up, because you can sit inside or out - weather permitting!

John L.

Yelp
I came here with my parents for dinner after being recommended Ely wine bar for food. I was very happy with the experience we had. The entrance at first scared me, with a large crowd drinking at the bar up top, as I wanted a quiet meal. However, once I got downstairs I was pleasantly surprised. The decor was fantastic, and the lighting perfect. Sure, sound traveled a bit downstairs because of the stone walls, but it wasn't hard to maintain a conversation without yelling. The food was phenomenal. All the starters we ordered were fantastic and well worth the price, and the mains were fairly good. Of the few restaurants I've eaten at in Ireland, only one other meal has beat this one at this price point, and it's in Galway. We tried the pigeon and mussels, and their fillet steak, duck confit and monkfish. Every person at the table gave rave reviews of their chosen dish. Overall it sounds like the Ely group of restaurants are in general great restaurants, and I cannot recommend this more for a meal at their price point. Going higher you'd have to ask someone else.

Lindsay L.

Yelp
Have never been to Ely Bar & Brasserie before, and I don't know why it took me so long to get here! I stopped in on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon with a friend. Although we had already eaten, I had wanted to check it out at least for a drink since we were in the area. The outdoor seating was packed, but we were still able to take a seat along the bar to have a cocktail. The inside of the restaurant is class, extremely spacious, vaulted ceilings, very relaxed feel about it. While we were sitting at the bar, we were chatting with the bar man who was paying meticulous attention to every little detail while making each drink that came up to him. Although we only had mojitos, I saw strawberry and raspberry martinis being made..so much love went into each one of them! I look forward to going back for a meal, as all of the food I saw go out around me looked amazing. Check back for my next review!

Reuben G.

Yelp
An excellent place on the docks. I first noticed it during the craft beer festival over the St Patrick's weekend and thought it looked nice. I finally got to go in recently and while the main bar is in fact nice and full of light due to the glass front, it's when you go downstairs to the restaurant area that it comes to life. It's an old shipping warehouse and look like an old wine cellar. It's beautifully decorated. There is some decent beer available too with Carlow bottles and even O'Hara's IPA on tap for €5.50 which is a little expensive but not overly so. The staff are wonderful and incredibly helpful.

Amy L.

Yelp
I have given this place 3 stars because it WAS really pretty inside, and the food, while rather blah, didn't give me food poisoning. However, it was otherwise unimpressive, over-priced, and the waitstaff was kind of sketchy. The restaurant was almost empty at 7:45 pm on a Wednesday night, rather surprising, considering the vast amount of space and how enthusiastically it'd been recommended to me by a local (I've learned not to really trust restaurant endorsements from locals, because apparently they are used to paying waaaay too much for seriously mundane cuisine). They coat-checked our coats, which was a nice touch, but left us wondering about the tipping standard for that in Ireland. This next part bothered me a LOT: the server asked if we would prefer sparkling or still water. We asked for still, assuming he'd bring tap water, like every other restaurant or bar we'd been to in Dublin. Before we had time to protest, he'd brought expensive bottled water and poured it into our glasses. Um, that's cheesy. This isn't France. If they offer you water that doesn't come out of the tap, they should specify you'll be receiving a BOTTLE of water, not just the tap water that, like I said, generally arrives at every other restaurant (including others fancier ones in Dublin). This is a big pet peeve of mine, and felt very dishonest and shady. The bread that was brought to the table was tasty, but tiny, and considering there were four of us, including 3 large grownup males and 1 large grownup female, it seemed painfully and embarrassingly insufficient. Luckily, they brought us more bread when we inquired. The server kept trying to up-sell us on wine, which was annoying. Most of us had strong opinions about what we wanted to drink, yet he tried to convince us to start with a bottle of white, then go onto a bottle of red. Um, one of us had already declined wine (because he doesn't drink at all), and I only drink white. That's a LOT of wine for 2.5 people just having a casual meal on a Wednesday!!! When that tactic didn't work with us, he then tried to start suggesting wines. Oy. Dude, seriously? Server 101: you don't suggest unless somebody asks for suggestions! Otherwise you come across as pushy, especially if you never bother to ask the all-important question of "What kind of wines do you generally like?" They handed us menus, and we noticed quickly that some of us had one menu, others had a completely different one. We then had to sort out with the wait staff which one was the current menu, which took a while and several trips by our server to the kitchen. I ordered the CHICKEN ROULADE with mozzarella and Irish bacon, "creamed" spinach, aubergine tempura (that's eggplant to us Americans), and potato (because what would a dish in Ireland be if it didn't somehow include a potato?!). It arrived looking very pretty, very appealing to the eye and looked hearty in size, a pleasant surprise. The tempura'd eggplant was delicious and crispy. The "creamed" spinach was actually just whole leaves of spinach that were maybe dragged through some cream in a pan, pretty flavorless. The potatoes were nicely cooked and tender, but not flavored in any additional way, and I would up salting mine out of desperation. The chicken roulade was tender but relatively flavorless. In fact, as I started eating it, I realized that it reminded me of the type of chicken dish you'd get at some generic banquet hall wedding in the 1980's! The sauce on the plate didn't help, either, as it kind of resembled a low-flavor ketchup. My partner's loin of bacon with potatoes was delicious (I should've gotten that), but honestly, it was over-priced...I had a similar dish at another much less expensive restaurant that was just as tasty, perhaps moreso. After dinner, we opted not to get dessert, as one of the members of our party was exhausted from just getting off a trans-Atlantic flight a few hours earlier. Part of me wonders if perhaps that was the course that might've really made the dinner...but I guess I'll never know, because honestly, I don't feel particularly motivated to ever go back to this restaurant. I'm giving it three stars because the food was okay and the service was at least attentive. Also, I did find the decor to be very pleasant, with a modern-yet-comfy vibe. Perhaps someone else will like this restaurant better than I did?

Sean T.

Yelp
Stopped in for a drink and some dinner after a wonderful day of sight seeing. Bearded server dropped off a couple menus and we didn't see him again for 20 minutes. Too tired to waste my time begging an establishment to take my money. Too bad.....

Keith R.

Yelp
Firstly, I am marking Ely down to 3 due to the price, €14 for bangers and mash (with only two sausages) at lunch time is pushing it imho! No as a venue it is very enjoyable with helpful staff and a lovely setting. There is a very relaxed atmosphere in the upstairs portion. Downstairs looks great, it is built into the old warehouse area from the customs building. It looks like a lot of fun, they store the wine down there and you can get a private section. I will be back with friends for dinner!

Juls N.

Yelp
I love Ely, especially in the Summer, it is the perfect sun trap - the classier side of a beer garden and around Christmas time. I've organised many a christmas event @ Ely CHQ. With evenings consisting of a cocktail reception which was amazing, Dinner & Wine tasting. The food is beautiful. But the co-ordination of the wine tasting by the staff was a little more that exasperating with lasrge groups. I was asked by 3 separate waitresses what way I would like it to happen. After planning the whole event for over a week with the manager & supervisor of the restaurant. The service for this was quite slow, however I have been told that the company has had wine tasting there before & it was excellent! So maybe they were just under pressure. Still the customer comes first & we were spending quite a bit of money there so you would presume we would be a priority! Overall it was most pleasant & I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion.. The food is exceptional and I do love the bar menu! High Five Leo!

Ashley W.

Yelp
What an incredible find! This restaurant was suggested to us by a lovely Women we met in Galway on our way East to Dublin and we couldn't be more grateful. From the scallops to the risotto to the best steak my partner has ever had, this place not only met our expectations, they blew them out of the water. Our amazing server Doireann expertly helped us pick the perfect wine for our meal and also helped with selecting our dishes. She was insightful, warm and gave us an amazing history lesson about the surroundings the restaurant is housed in. We've already recommended this incredible restaurant to our fellow travelers and we can't wait to plan another trip to Dublin, if only for the scallops!

Christian P.

Yelp
Staff not interested in their work and you are left with the feeling that you are actually bothering them. Which is funny, because that makes the tip stick in my pocket. They where pushing wine (#WaiterCommission) and we almost had a shakedown to get beer. Cocktails overpriced and food is Meh. Went here twice which is twice to many.

Simon B.

Yelp
Had a three course meal here and everything was delicious. The space itself is set in the vaults of this fascinating old building in the docklands. The staff in the restaurant were great. My only gripe was that the front of house staff were less than impressive. On arrival it seemed like they couldnt find our booking. They left us standing there for a few minutes but still couldnt find it so then asked us to take a seat in the bar area while they sorted it out. The bar itself was quite busy so we had to go on the hunt for chairs and tables. When seated it was a bit of an ordeal to get service (due to it being busy). After 20 minutes we hadnt heard anything about our table so went back to the lady to inquire, after which we were shown to a table in the restaurant (no apology for the delay). To our surprise they were only 3 other tables in a restaurant which must have 15+ tables. Ok maybe they had booking for all the empty tables ... but when we left the restaurant was still half empty! Still.... didnt detract from a great evening out. Looking forward to a return visit.

Rachel L.

Yelp
I went here last Friday after a trip to Oktoberfest, service was fine, beer was fine and I had a place to sit. Nothing special in my view but I hear great things about the wine cellar downstairs so I'll pop back for another try there for sure.... I was surprised to see them throwing out plates and plates of food after a corporate event though...there are many starving people in Dublin who'd have loved burgers and pizza I'm sure!!

Niall N.

Yelp
Absolute rubbish of the highest order. It's so bad they can't even get a hamburger and chips right.

April B.

Yelp
Wow!! They fit us in on a busy night which was great after a long day of travel. We sat in the bar which was cozy but dinning room down stairs is beautiful, like being in a wine cellar. All the food was amazing and so good we made reservations to go back. Says a lot when your on vacation and want to go back. Beef carpaccio was stunning and so delicious. Pork shoulder was wonderful. Can't wait to go back.

edel n.

Yelp
Yaaaaay I love when I go back to a place and can upgrade to a stellar 5 star and that is what Ely CHQ is. Yet again I had a great time and tasting 10 courses was amazing (though the waistband is definately tighter this morning). Sharon had kindly arranged a special tasting menu for the UYE Foodie club and we were not disappointed. Like Maire said the strawberry parfait was sublime, the chowder an explosion of flavour and oh so wholesome, the salmon terrine served with guinness brown bread a triumph and the company wonderful. I'll be back again and again.

Liat F.

Yelp
I was actually at the IFSC for Oktoberfest. When I had arrived it was raining cats and dogs and was miserable just walking in the rain, looking for cover and a beer. Luckily, my companion for the evening is also at a stage and maturity in his life that he wanted to sit down somewhere warm and dry and have his drink. So we went into Ely's bar and had something our German beer in relative civility. Finding ourselves hungry and the queues in the pub getting longer, we decided to head downstairs for dinner. We shared the squid salad and then each had a steak. Everything was delicious even though I was a bit worried when the waitress presented me with a medium steak after I had asked for a medium rare. I'm also happy with the fact that it's my birthday week so I didn't have to pay (Thank you V.H. for the lovely evening by the way!) as prices are a bit steep for my blood-at least these days-but will definitely go back for a meal when feeling flush.

Sylvie C.

Yelp
oh heaven...thank you destiny for making me discover this place at last ! It has the best of both world : bright upstairs with nothing but bay windows, and a terrace for these sunny days that will come ( short pause to pray in silence..), and moody and intimate massive area downstairs where you really feel like in catacombs filled with bottles of wine. Actually this area is PERFECT for big parties, it's nicely spaced. The staff couldn't be nicer and more professional, on the ball, I really liked the atmosphere and the food...well, let me put it this way : I haven't had another proper meal yet but I know I ll cry next time I ll eat, wondering why it can't be as good as in Ely :-D Seriously they have such a commitment to good and organic food, it feels like the chef was thinking about your taste buds when he made the dish :-D Oh oh oh and don't you dare leaving without a dessert ! I tried about 3 of them (not on my own!) and all 3 were to die for !

Mary P.

Yelp
I guess what bring me back to Ely is a combination of efficient, friendly & knowledgeable staff, menu and for me a different selection of wines in my price bracket. Enjoyed a Christmas lunch with 8 colleagues in the surrounding of the wine room, nice would I do prefer the openness of the restaurant. As usual I look forward to returning even if only for a glass of wine after work.

Jodie B.

Yelp
A wonderful brunch in a lovely sun-trap of a terrace. Great food and brilliant service. We had cocktails and the eggs benedict- a wonderful weekend treat. Special mention to the very thoughtful staff who offered us sunscreen!

David F.

Yelp
4 stars for the premises. It is a seriously impressive location, all granite, polished glass and expensive wood panelling befitting what I presume was a former bonded warehouse. 1st time there and a tad disappointed. For a Thursday night, albeit in January, it was dead. Including us two, there were maybe 4 other tables in use at the peak, The rest of the vast and beautiful cellar space was completely empty which was a great pity. My friend had a steak which looked excellent. I had a burger which, while done to perfection, was disappointingly small, It reminded me of the 'sliders' served in some American steak joints - 3/4 mini hamburgers served on a plate. This was a bigger burger, but not by much so I was still hungry after eating. We had a very nice bottle of Poggio to accompany the meal and several coffees which were also excellent. My friend picked up the tab so I have no idea how much it cost. On the evidence, this place deserves to survive but based on the covers last night I couldn't see how. A great pity. Lovely restaurant, great location in the IFSC, good food but zero atmosphere. I genuinely hope it'll still be there next time I venture north of the river.

Theresa W.

Yelp
This restaurant does not just serve up delicious, exquisite meals, but the service and ambience in this lovely establishment make for a wonderful dining experience. Our friends suggested we go one evening and we were every pleased...delicious assortment of starters and very good wine choices as well. Hope to return again very soon now that we live right here in beautiful Dublin!

Bria M.

Yelp
I'd consider having my wedding her. This decide is beautiful as it seems to be old vaults. Wonderful wine list and exceptional food. Host and waiting staff are very attentive and friendly. The steak was cooked to perfection. I can't wait to go back here with my partner as we have a voucher to spend. We're saving it for a special occasion.

Reid Y.

Yelp
Solid restaurant in Dublin - good list of craft beers and bistro dishes. Came here with a group of work colleagues and our table of eight was seated promptly inside and we had solid service. Would definitely include it on my list of go to places in Dublin for business or casual meals.

Edward O.

Yelp
Great atmosphere, great selection of drinks and great service. I really like this place! They sure do l know their stuff when it comes to wines too! The bathrooms are so spotless which is a plus (compared to some of the public restaurant/bar bathrooms I've been forced to visit of late!). I haven't eaten here but based on what I've heard from others that have eaten here, the selection and quality of food is excellent. All in all I think Ely on the IFSC is a great place for a drink! There's always a good atmosphere in the place and full of people that seems to appreciate their wines! I ordered my girlfriend a Mojto this evening and she said it was really good! (And believe me, when it comes to cocktails. She's quite the Fuss Pot!!). So, based on my girlfriend's opinion, their Mojto's are 'TOP NOTCH'!

David C.

Yelp
Can't say enough about this place - simply amazing! We had mixed drinks, wine and lots of appetizers in bar - everything was AWESOME! The beef carpaccio was exceptional! We are only in Dublin for one week, but already made a reservation for a last night/meal - can't wait to go back!

Abhishek T.

Yelp
I went to this place with my colleagues and found it a very nice place to have food and talk till late. Ambiance was very nice and staffs were very welcoming. Little pricey but it was ok for me as all was paid by my project manager :-)

Qype User (Papusk…)

Yelp
I ate here twice and both times the food was excellent and service perfect. They have a some seating outside and a bar upstairs, however, all the seating for the actual restaurant is downstairs in these huge rooms. Both the times I ate there I was possibly a bit too early as it was kinda empty but livened up at around 8pm on both evenings. It's great for big groups as there really is the space for it. I recommend any seafood they have, never lets you down. It is a bit expensive though so maybe for a special occasion!

Brendan D.

Yelp
Went here as part of a group recently and the service was very poor. We had just been interested in a few drinks and nibbles however the staff insisted that they could not provide table service outside (on one side of the entrance but the other side with no free seats would have been fine ?!?). This was for either food or drinks. Not sure if their ideal scenario was to wolf whistle from the bar when the food was ready. I was tempted to protest when our plates & glasses were cleared away - such a double standard after we had collected them from the bar!