Lena

Restaurant · Rathmines ·

Lena

Restaurant · Rathmines ·

Italian cooking with sage fritti, pici cacio e pepe, halibut

Information

1 Windsor Terrace, Portobello, Dublin 8, D08 HT20, Ireland Get directions

€100+

@cntraveler

42,481 Postcards · 5,683 Cities

23 Dublin Restaurants to Visit in 2026 | Condé Nast Traveler

"This newly unveiled neighborhood Italian is set in a prime spot on the canal in Portobello, where classic haunt Locks traded for many years. Grab a seat at the counter for kitchen views and a quick bite, bag the window seat to watch canal life float past or bring a whole crew and fill one of the two private dining rooms upstairs. A cherry Negroni or low-alcohol peach spritz is a perfect aperitivo to accompany snacks of sage leaf and anchovy fritti or melting lardo on toast. Primi might include thick pici cacio e pepe, followed by salt-aged Delmonio steak with beef dripping potatoes and roast garlic aioli, with tiramisu or chocolate and olive oil tart for dessert. Due to the perennial successes of its sister restaurants Etto and Uno Mas (known for their excellent service and consistent cooking), Lena was one of the most hyped openings in recent years, but it’s lived up to the buzz." - Aoife O'Riordain

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-dublin-restaurants

Lena

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

The 38 Best Restaurants in Dublin, Ireland | Eater

"Lena is as close to the perfect restaurant as it gets. From the team behind Uno Mas and Etto, it delivers confident, razor-sharp Italian cooking with no gimmicks. Start with the crisp, golden sage and anchovy fritti, before moving to the thick, house-made pici cacio e pepe, which carries its silky, peppery sauce with ease. The halibut with vermouth sauce is masterfully cooked, while the osso buco arrives with shimmering saffron risotto. The wine list is serious and the execution flawless. Know before you go: You’ll want to book ahead — though good luck getting a table." - Corinna Hardgrave

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-dublin-restaurants-38

Lena

Beatrice H.

Google

I had an amazing dinner with my friends there. This little gem is truly unique and beautiful, perfect for a romantic date or dinner with your loved ones. We mentioned before booking that we have vegan friends coming in and he was nice about it, making some delicious vegan plates too. The wine here is the best addition, having so many options to choose from. Looking forward for the next special occasion to visiting this place again.

Damien D.

Google

Had an absolutely amazing meal here. Lena is going to be one of Dublins favourites for people. Great location (where Locks used to be), super cool and really top level staff, and amazing food! Same people behind Etto and Uno Mas restaurants. Italian inspired food with a modern but non pretentious style. I will be back again and again. We sat at the bar and got really well taken care of by the lovely floor staff. Really knowledgeable about the food and wine they're serving. Get your booking in!

Inara A

Google

Sat at the counter. Really enjoyed the steak and dessert. We were impressed by the non alcoholic IPA. Despite being aesthetic, the crudo tasted very average. Same with the chicken liver pate. Expected more for the reputation. Service left something to be desired; felt there was a general lack of energy compared to other similar restaurants in Dublin eg Host.

Marina R.

Google

First time in Dublin and visited this cute place for lunch. We didn’t make reservation, but there was a place at the bar - grateful the staff suggested this. I would recommend dining out here - the location, the interior and service are ambient and quite good. Reservations highly recommended Our order: Focaccia - the best I ever tried with crispy top and moist and spongy character Halibut - 10 out of 10 as per feedback of my friend - they enjoyed the sauce especially Risotto with scallops- it was quite salty which I didn’t really like, but scallops were great Chocolate cake with olive oil - must try! Divine!

Kevin R.

Google

The kitchen is fantastic, seriously, order the Cacio e Pepe and the beef dripping potatoes. But the service really missed the mark. The waiter’s wine pick was average, and worse, we were mostly ignored after the bottle arrived. For the price they charge, the waiter should be refilling the glasses, not the guests. We sat dry way too often. I can recommend it for the food, just don’t expect the service to match the bill.

Andy K.

Google

Good restaurant overall, but I went there craving Italian pasta and ordered two plates. The first was Cacio E Pepe and I have never tasted a sauce like this before, it did not taste like Cacio E Pepe. It tasted like pepper sauce with vinegar that would accompany a steak. Secondly the Vodka and Nduja pasta was too spicy and there wasn't a shred of Nduja. Tiramisu was rather plain but airy. Secondly the prices were ridiculous. 16e for 3 ravioli!? 8e for two anchovies. Come on.

Ray L.

Google

From the first bite to the final spoonful, Lena delivered a masterclass in flavor and finesse. Every dish was a delight — bold, balanced, and beautifully plated. Cathia’s hospitality was the cherry on top: warm, intuitive, and effortlessly charming. A truly memorable afternoon that left us smiling long after the last sip of coffee. Bravo!

Luciana

Google

We came here as we wanted to try something new and generally we quite enjoy Italian. Overall the food was fine - Starters we got the supplì and focaccia, which were both nice. Primi we got the cacio e pepe and the vodka nduja. The vodka nduja was way too salty for me, and the helping of extra cheese on top was a bit much in my opinion. My partner said the cacio e Pepe was fine. Please note that the portions are small as they really want you to get a secondi (we didn’t though). I got a salad contorno. Was good, but the shiso leaves were massive to fold. Please do consider ripping the leaves in the future to make it more manageable, since you can’t cut into salad. The deserts were fine - my favorite was the chocolate olive oil cake. Not sure we will come back due to the prices and our mixed experience, but overall it was a cute spot / atmosphere. Seems to be ideal for special occasions and to get a multi-course meal, which maybe the restaurant should consider introducing set menus instead.