Octopussy's Seafood Tapas

I've been in this place many times that the staff already recognize me when I come 😅, and every time, the food has been really good. At first, the tapas looked small, but I found them very filling. The ingredients are fresh and prepared with great quality. The staff is very friendly, I am giving only 4 stars because I usually had to wait long to get a table, but for me, it has been worthy every time.

Worth the wait to be seated! The food was pretty good: Green salad (3/5 - has an odd sweet dressing) Seafood soup (NOT the chowder - 3/5 - tomatoes base, pretty decent) Oysters (5/5 - huge and very fresh, well worth the price) Dressed crab (3/5 - so so, tasted like crab mixed with ketchup and mayo) Whiskey scallops (5/5 - stellar, fantastically delicious, sauce was perfect) Monkfish, Prawns and Mussels (5/5 - very decadent, not for the faint of heart) Mixed shellfish platter (4/5 well priced for the portion, well seasoned, but very labour intensive to get the shrimp cleaned before you eat them) Lastly, don't be filled by the name, there's no octopus on the menu!

A nice spot that is always packed. I have been several times and never had a problem. The fish and chips is perfectly light and it is nice to get a lot of small plates to share. However, my partner and I felt sick after our most recent visit.

The oysters and seafood chowder were absolutely delicious. While enjoying lunch, I even spotted a seal in the bay! It’s an amazing little restaurant. I visited at 12:30pm on a chilly winter Thursday, and it was already quite busy. Be prepared for a bit of a wait, but it’s well worth it!

Howth is undoubtedly one of the best destinations for seafood lovers, and our recent dining experience at Octopussy’s only reinforced this reputation. If you enjoy fresh and flavorful seafood, this is the place to be. The dishes were nothing short of exceptional, with the lobsters standing out as perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. For the first time, I tried mussels, and they were absolutely delightful—a true testament to the freshness of the ingredients. The open kitchen added a unique charm, allowing us to watch the chefs work their magic, which made the experience even more special. The combination of delicious food, a welcoming atmosphere, and the thrill of seeing our meals prepared right before us makes Octopussy’s a must-visit. Highly recommended for anyone looking for fresh, mouthwatering seafood. We can’t wait to return!

One of the best meals I’ve ever had! The food was so fresh and was all around amazing. The price is also really good for the high quality!

We were bummed there was no beer or alcohol-(wine & soda only); Seafood chowder full of seafood. Fish & chips AMAZING & SUPER CRISPY!! The outdoor heated benches are nice on a cold day. This was our favorite place out of all the places we ate in Ireland as far as the fish & chips and seafood chowder.

I still haven’t found calamari and oysters that beat the ones at Octopussy in my country. The food tastes super fresh and the wait time isn’t that bad. The only downside is that the place is a bit small, so it can get a little hard to move when it's crowded. But other than that, i love it!

I understand why this place can have a wait! Their service is friendly and straightforward, and the seafood (and wine!) is thoughtful and good quality. Some of the seafood dishes can be really rich, which to be clear, I'm not complaining about. I also really enjoyed their bread - I believe it's made in house and a bit dense and feels like a nutrient dense bread Both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the pier

This place was very crowded when we went, so we waited outside until the table was ready. It took about 30 minutes or so. The food was pretty decent. The fish and chips were lacking flavor but the chowder was amazing!!! Highly recommend it!! Also, the Thai dish was very flavorful as well. It's pretty small inside so if you have a big group, it might be worth splitting up! We also got a bottle of wine that was pretty cheap and delicious!

We were bummed there was no beer or alcohol-(wine & soda only); Seafood chowder full of seafood. Fish & chips AMAZING & SUPER CRISPY!! The outdoor heated benches are nice on a cold day. This was our favorite place out of all the places we ate in Ireland as far as the fish & chips and seafood chowder.

I've been here a few times and it just never gets old. I order the same thing cuz it's just so good. This is a small restaurant on the boardwalk that frames in the harbor in Howth which is right outside of Dublin, Ireland. The sea air, the Bailey Lighthouse which is what you see on short final into Dublin airport is truly so to behold. The seafood in all of these restaurants Is as good as it gets. Octopussys is a small, crowded, hopping spot where the service is wonderful and the food is pretty special. The crab salad is so solid. It's how all crab salad should be, crabby! The fish and chips are too big and too much gif the plate but they manage as do the diners! I always look for Bono when I'm here cuz this is where U-2 live. ;-) win win!

I don't even know where to begin. While on vacation, after a hike up Howth Cliff Walk, we wanted some good seafood and a nice glass of wine. There were two of us so we ordered a few smalls and a large dish, I think. It was a lot of food and it was plenty! The scallops? Oh my. I really don't have the words. It was the best food ever! The fresh pawns with their poor heads still on. It was unfortunate but it was delicious. Get there early. It's the only place with a line and for good reason. It is tightly run, small and busy! They do have outside seating but the inside is small. We were lucky to get the table on the left inside. It was the perfect size for our appetites because we ordered scallops, fish and chips, pawns, and calamari. The table was off to the side and a little private. It made for a wonderful experience. A glass of white wine went perfectly with everything. The service was very good and friendly. We didn't want for anything. I recommend getting there early and putting your name in. If there are a lot of people, they ask that you wait across the street so as not to block the walkway or disturb outside diners. It's a small space and it's busy! They will come and get you when your table is ready. Thank you for a great dinner and memories!

I got the mixed seafoods with muscles in the creme sauce. It was delicious and fresh! The creme sauce was not what I quite expected but that was a good surprise! Yummy base to dip the fresh Irish bread into. I would definitely recommend!

Last night in Ireland. Nicole said, "Oh, you saved the best place for last"! A joke? NO! Octopussy was in fact THE best place we ate for the week we were here. Head and shoulders above the rest. Perfectly cooked seafood, tapas plates perfect size for sharing with our friends. Paella, Whiskey Scallops, monk fish and prawns. All perfect! Nicole's service, friendliness, recommendations...outstanding! Do NOT miss this gem in Howth!

Hands down the best meal I had in Dublin. Super small place, Super busy when we first showed up. They said just wait a bit, well there is no place to wait if there are bunch of people. It was raining outside. With all of that we went away and came back and was totally worth it. Fantastic everything. The best fish and chips way better than the pub that I went the day before. The broth, the shrimp, the wings incredible. Everyone we spoke to said the loved their meals. I'd come back here on my next trip

Great location and the food is amazing only 30mins out of Dublin. If you're looking to take a trip to Howth be sure to stop here

Ambience: 1/1 Service: 1/1 Food: 2.5/3 Octopussy is the definition of a "hidden gem"! This small (and I mean SMALL - it only has like 6 tables cramped into it!) restaurant is hidden at the end of the pier of this tiny town and serves some of the best seafood I've ever had! Love the pun as well in the name, definitely had a good chuckle ;) I think we got lucky that we visited in between busy hours when we went and got seating immediately because the place has very little space/seats available in general. It felt crowded but once the food came I didn't even notice as I was so busy enjoying my food! My only complaint is the bread that came with some of the dishes. The seafood - incredible! But the accompanying bread was very meh and did not do the dishes justice at all. I 100% recommend stopping by Octopussy if you're ever in Howth and want some good seafood!

After hiking the "purple route" (Bog of Frogs) we were ready for some dinner before catching the Dart back to Dublin. My fellow Yelpers did not let me down with this place, as the seafood paella that I got was delicious (I would also like to mention that the calamari rings in the paella were by far the most tender and best calamari rings that I have ever had). The only negative about this place is that THEY DON'T SELL BEER. They have wine, but I was not in the mood for wine.......a nice cold beer after a big hike is what I wanted to pair with my paella. Maybe management will reconsider and keep some cans/bottles of beers in a mini fridge in the future.

That fresh fresh unlike any other. Dare I say the best oysters I have had in my life? The mussels were perfect. The atmosphere was great. You will end up sharing a table but who cares. This was great. Go here if you are in Howth

I would stand in an hour long queue any day to eat this food. The seafood is so incredibly fresh and the flavors are out of this world. We had: Chilli and chorizo squid - my favorite... I'd eat this every day. The squid rings were enormous and the most tender I've ever had. The sauce was well balanced and so flavorful. Prawns pil pil - another exceptionally flavorful dish Lemon and garlic scallops - my least favorite of the 3. I had to add salt and the scallops were a bit overcooked, but it was still tasty Patatas bravas - always good, but I particularly loved the sauce here Everything that went out to other tables looked amazing. The space is TINY and there is only one single bathroom. They do not take reservations... just stand in line outside and wait to be seated. 1000% worth it.

I recommend seafood paella (mussels, calamari), seafood broth soup, and terriyaki salmon. The fish tasted delightfully fresh. Seating is all on elevated chairs. This is a great restaurant for couples dining or those with larger children--there are no high chairs so kids have to be able to sit on their own or on a lap. I wait staff gets very busy at lunch time. Service was prompt. Service could have been faster at providing the check. Overall, a great place to visit.

Excellent seafood tapas style in a lovely harbor town. I should get the sampler but I ordered everything and was over stuffed. The best: Gampas, mussels, monk fish, and oysters! Totally dug the vibe! Wine selection is great. Broth is better than chowder as it is lighter. Will be back!

When it comes to tapas, these are the largest tapas portions I've ever had lol. I was pleasantly surprised. The chowder I had was delicious and so was the calamari. It was unlike any calamari I've had. I think it had a little pork in it. If you're going to share dishes at this place, it's perfect for a large group of people. The restaurant is small so I would suggest going early in the day to secure a seat.

Thank you Fellow Yelpers!! Spot on with this absolutely gem of a small, hard working, and incredibly delish restaurant in Howth!! Definitely a "Very Best" category for fabulous food, service and cozy ambience. The Whiskey Scallops: perfectly cooked w an incredible cream sauce. Fresh oysters--YES! So fresh. Monkfish, Prawns and Mussels: monkfish sweet like lobster, nice Spoon-size shrimp and lovely sweet and sand-free mussels--the sauce..."O" YES! A real bread dipper, bread sponger, as in don't leave a drop in the bowl. Ya, I might have ordered a beer if they had it, but it forced me to order the Tempranillo red and I loved every drop w this food!! A total Do Me Over...again and again!!

My friend and I went here for lunch and both of us came down with absolutely insane stomach aches shortly after- we think something was up with the food. But the food was unreal. Sherry monkfish and prawns was lovely.

Octopussy's was the best possible reward for finishing a Howth cliff walk in the heat. We arrived right at opening on a Saturday (12:30) and that is the MOVE. It got extremely busy shortly after with longer wait times (but...worth it!) We got the oysters, chowder, gambas, and the fish & chips. Everything was delicious and I just wish we came with a larger party so we could've tried more off the menu! Service was great! Every server we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and efficient despite it being so busy. Would return in a heartbeat!

The food was excellent. We went back twice in one day while we were in Howth. The staff said that is not uncommon for people to return twice. We ordered the lemon garlic scallops, scampi and dressed crab with side salads for lunch and ordered garlic potatoes and Monkfish/Prawn Thai Curry for dinner. The curry was not spicy hot at all and could've used a little more flavor development but we still ate it all! The only reason I put 4 stars was because of the lack of space. As a group of 2 it was easy for us to get seated both times but there were families coming 6+ and they had extremely long waits. When the weather is nice they have outdoor seating, probably to accommodate the bigger groups. Our dinner waitress took the time to talk to us and recommend places to get a pint afterwards. We had a great day in Howth!

The wait is nothing compared to how delicious and filling the meal is. I grew up in New England on the seacoast and this was so good, better! Just go for it- a large shellfish platter is worth it. The langostine is so delicious- tastes like lobster. The chowder is so damn good. Really light and crispy fish and chips too. Service was charming. Ladies- we adored you. Highly recommended.

The name drew us in... it was way better than we expected!!! My wife & I ordered 1 dozen oysters, two bowls of chowder, prawns & paella. Everything was so tasty & came out perfectly. If we're ever back in Dublin, we will definitely make our way back!

This place was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint. The service was very slow and it took me over 30 minutes of simply waiting around for me to get the check. BUT, that was the bad part. The food. Was. AMAZING. I got the seafood paella and it was the best thing I've ever eaten. The seafood chowder was okay, but I dream about that paella. This place was more pricey than I would have expected and the wait is the only reason I rated this 4 stars. In my mind, the food was 5 stars.

On vacation in Dublin Ireland. This place was a 40 minute train ride but it was worth the trip! The BEST seafood chowder I've had. The Oysters were amazing, and the service was great. The venue only sits max 15-20 people and it's walk in only. No reservations. 10/10 will come back the next time I'm in Ireland.

So amazing! The food was just to die for. The wait was over an hour at around 1:30pm on a Saturday and the place is relatively small and cramped. Overall, the wait was worth it because the flavors were so unique and the seafood was so fresh. Yum.

Very small, but the food was incredible. Mussels we're great. Monkfish and prawns were good. Scallops were amazing (my 20 yr old didn't want to share). Crab on bread was ok, scampi was lightly fried and very good.

We went there in 2017. We sat in a little nook. The food was fantastic! We had several different tapas and all were really good. I love the quaintness. The place was absolutely charming and we tell everyone about here in the states. I'm in Florida and I'm dying to get a picture of the shark wall that my husband was reacting to. If there is someone out there who sees this review I would be eternally grateful if you could post a picture of just the shark wall. Cheers!!!

Loved this place after cliff walking. One star down from 5 due to no beer. They do have nice wines though but post hiking, beer is kind of a deal breaker. Tiny but efficient and very nice staff.

Phenomenal service, phenomenal atmosphere, great ambiance, and food that is off-the-boat-fresh. Seriously: the dock is 30 feet from the door, and they also sell fresh seafood from their shop next door. I cannot say enough about the service, our waitress was frickin hilarious. The tappas-style entries we ordered were: scallops, oysters, calamari, seafood chowder, and we capped with Tiramisu and Creme Brûlée. The chowder was the best on the Emerald Isle we tried, and the smoked salmon in it made it complete. This experience made us determined to come back again and eat here, despite the fact we live 3500 miles away!

The food was EXCELLENT!!! Very casual, unassuming, REAL seafood spot that served deliciously fresh entrees and small plates. Scallops were scrumptious, seafood chowder was made to order and phenomenal, and the paella was fantastic! Service was welcoming, accommodating, and genuine. We cannot wait to go back again!

When my friend recommended this spot, I must have asked her the name 20 times in disbelief. She promised excellent seafood, despite my hesitation. It feels like a wine bar that'd be great for a first date. Very intimate seating, food prepped in front of you, and a view of the harbor. The waitress was knowledgeable and very personable. They have a plentiful wine list with moderately priced tapas. I chose the merlot, mussels, calamari, and whiskey scallops. All the fish was fresh, presented in a case in front of the prep station. The whiskey scallops were amazing! Just get them, you won't regret it. Calamari was a bit lackluster. I would have liked for them to be crispier and seasoned a bit more. The mussels were prepared well, but I didn't care for the sauce. It was a bit heavy, and came off as a cheese soup. Flavor was good overall though, when not drenched in sauce. I would go back just for the whiskey scallops honestly!

This is in the perfect seaside town of Howth. Take a 30 min train out to Howth and then grab lunch here. Delicious seafood tapas and amazing wine selection. Fresh, fresh, fresh! We had the best French white wine to accompany our bountiful plate of seafood: shrimp, mussels, langoustines, and clams. The best! We just wanted to sit, eat, and take in the sights of the water. Perfect afternoon outside of Dublin.

I think very often about the meal that I had here, and I feel it was one of those experiences that I'll remember for the rest of my life. The food was spectacular, everything was super fresh and delicious, plus it was such a beautiful day that while we waited outside and watched as others were brought food, the entwining smells of seafood cooked in wine, and butter, and garlic sent me swooning, getting my salivary glands working for what was to come. There's no doubt that the location adds to the dining experience you'll have here. You can see fisherman docking their boats just mere feet away, some of them carrying hauls of fish and other seafood. We did wait a while for a table but we understood that there was a long list of people waiting to eat here, and there wasn't a whole lot of room but we were patient and were rewarded not only with an extra large helping of Portuguese Pinot Grigio from our waitress who was relieved at our being understanding, but also with extremely delicious food. I highly recommend the monk fish stewed in garlic, crab, and bay shrimp, absolutely phenomenal. It comes with brown bread and butter but I'd personally recommend ordering a side of chips (french fries) to sop up all the delicious sauce; you'll thank me for that tip. We also enjoyed white bait, which is like deep fried little sardines; drool-worthy. One person in our party really enjoyed her octopus stewed in wine and tomato sauce and she too thought the chips were a good little mop rather than the brown bread. Seafood chowder was also rich and filling, with an overall fresh and deep flavor. I absolutely loved it, and if I ever have the privilege in life to come back to Howth, I'd definitely eat here again.

This was the BEST restaurant we visited in Ireland in the most adorable little fishing village! We literally recommend it to anyone we know traveling to Ireland. The views were breathtaking and the food and service were delicious! It's a very small restaurant and was crowded during lunch so we opted to sit outside. We ordered two glasses of white wine and everything on the menu is tapas style. We started out with the Seafood Chowder which we literally devoured and then the Beer Battered Fish and Whisky Scallops. I sometimes dream about how delicious the Whisky Scallops were and beg my husband to recreate it for me. We have plans to definitely come back and hit the Octopussy for another 5-star meal! Unfortunately, we ate everything so fast and took no pictures.

Tiny little place but the food is FANTASTIC. Might have to wait for a table but it's worth it. Paella was awesome, and get the whisky scallops - really really good. And Linda and Carol are just Irish gems! Strongly recommend.

Disappointed, nothing we had lived up to all the hipe. I regretted eating here because I insisted we try it because of the reviews. my friends didn't like the overcooked prawns, I forced myself to finish the seafood chowder. Waitress was somewhat rude and forgot one of our plates. Over all very bland tasting. Good luck

One of the most famous tapas restaurant in Howth. So great to have the lunch in the Harbour with fresh sellfisfh, delicious mussels and amazing gambas. A place to be in Howth.

Without words. Had it on my todo list for a while, presented as one of the best seafood restaurants in Ireland by lovin.ie. Even got this as a recommendation by an waitress at a breakfast cafe earlier this day. Freshest oysters I've ever tasted, great seafood chowder, the sherry monkfish was exceptional, all accompanied by an extensive list of fine wines. The service was just right. The place is pretty small and not really suitable for large groups, if its full, its defo worth the wait. What you get is not just great food but a wonderful view on Howth harbour. Addendum 05/19: still unbeatable, needed to wait about 15 minutes but again, its just worth it. The service was absolutely caring!

Octopussy's was the restaurant that I was most excited to visit. The food looked amazing on Yelp and their reviews were fantastic. As soon as we stepped into the restaurant we were warmly greeted. The atmosphere is quaint and very relaxing. Since it is a tapas restaurant we decided to order several items for the table. We ordered Deep Fried Brie with Chutney. ( £9.50), Calamari (£9.00), Crab Claws (£12.00), Seafood Paella (£15.00), Mixed Seafood Platter (£30.00) and Fish & Chips. (£15.50) All of the seafood was super fresh and wonderfully cooked. The seafood paella was my most favorite item. It is made with paella rice, chorizo,squid rings, mussels, smoked coley and gambas. It came out in a little cast skillet and it taste amazing. Even the rice was stand up and left you wishing for more. The mussels came in at a close second and all the others dishes were spectacular.

Food was really good, and everything tasted great. However, I experienced food poisoning last night after eating there which was not fun whatsoever. Recommend it for the tapas, but maybe this should be looked in to....

All the food was amazing and fresh! I'm sure the oysters came straight from the boat to our plate they were so tasty and fresh! Luckily we got a table pretty quickly, they were busy! Even if you have to wait a bit, it's worth it.

So not only was our hostess the sweetest person by trying to accommodate all the people who came in this small little venue. She even offered us blankets to sit on and wrap around while we ate outside and then as soon as there was an opening for our group of 4 she asked if we wanted to come in and still apologize because the area was really small. I found it to be a polite gesture because it was nothing in her control. I can understand why this place was full and the food is really good . I had the whiskey scallops and our group shared a tomato paste french fry "chips" concoction. All of that completely filled us up the portions don't look very big but you can you either share a few options or get one main dish and share aside and you get pretty full.

Delicious food, and the tapas style encourages you to try a bunch of different things. The best dish of all is the monkfish with prawns in sherry chorizo sauce! The spicy seafood soup was also amazing (not too spicy). The place itself is super cute and the portions are large enough that 3 plates will fill up 2 people. The location is also perfect, highly recommend!

What a joke! Waited until 12:30 pm for the place to open. A line started forming and they didn't let anyone in until 10 min later, so I guess they just open the doors when they feel like it. We were seated and a few minutes later the server came over with a piece of paper with six items handwritten on it. NO SQUID, NO CALAMARI, NO SCALLOPS, NO PRAWNS, and I don't remember the other two things. We specifically came for the calamari and scallops, so we promptly got up and left. Very curious as to why they even bothered opening the doors since they didn't have any of the food that people wanted, unbelievably ridiculous, will never return here.

This was probably my favorite meal during our trip to Ireland! We were getting a little tired of bangers and mash and all your other Irish dishes, so we were more than happy to indulge in some seafood in Howth. The staff were friendly and kind and the restaurant was cozy and welcoming. We came right after the weekend that the Pope visited, so apparently his visit was delaying the local fish delivery that day. This meant there were no oysters, prawns, crab or monkfish available. Nonetheless, we surprisingly ordered a ton of food and enjoyed every single dish we ordered. We ordered the chowder, the whiskey battered scallops, calamari, octupus, mussels, fish, etc. My favorite was the whiskey battered scallops and even after the scallops were done, I kept dipping the bread in the sauce. No beer or hard liquor but a great wine selection that goes well with the seafood. All in all, a great spot for dinner after a nice hike on the cliff walk!

The applicable words: seafood, fresh, local, perfectly prepared, friendly staff. Lots of competition on the pier, but don't pass this one up!

Small place, had to sign yourself in, but people walked in without signing in which caused issues with who was to be seated next. Bread was good. Hard to get service and to pay when you are finished.

By far, some of the best seafood I have ever encountered. Even though the alcoholic drink menu only included wine, that was no problem at all. There is a sign up sheet is by the door when there's a wait, and the picnic table seating outside is shared, which is great for multiple smaller groups. My wife and I shared the "Seafood Chowder", "Monkfish, Prawns, and Mussels", and the "Mixed Shell Platter" for one person. Everything was very flavorful and delicious.

Fresh seafood with a great view of the bay. Seafood chowder had chunks of actual seafood. It's not your typical restaurant seafood chowder with little leftover bits. You get chunks of fish, mussels(shell included), whole shrimp(the fancy kind), large ring on calamari. Fish and chips fried to perfection. Light batter crispy batter with lightly salted crispy potatoes. The tips still have the skin on it. Unfortunately I didn't get to try the lobster because my finished before I could get to it. She is a picky eater so it must have been delicious. I bet you will have the same experience. An amazing experience. Oysters were popular as well, but didn't have the room.