Make the most of the sunshine with these gorgeous outdoor dining options in Dublin

Nothing enhances the summertime in the city experience better than dining alfresco. From authentic barbecue to dressed up, five-star glam, here are some of the capital’s hotspots.

Suesey Street, Fitzwilliam Place, above

Great food and a relaxed vibe, contemporary dishes with decent wine and cocktail options. Suesey Street is all over its food vibe: “Combining local and seasonal produce to create a delicious dining experience”. So, what of its terrace? Suesey Street’s outside area feels luxurious but never stuffy with management and staff always hitting the right note between being attentive and friendly, meanwhile, it all runs like clockwork under the watchful eye of longstanding hospitality pro John Healy.

Baste BBQ, Clanbrassil Street

Grillin’, smokin’, mouthwaterin’ … the folks at Baste have extended their pick-up option to allow BBQ fans the pleasure of eating alfresco at the Clanbrassil Street HQ. Andy Noonan, whose Baste To Go barbecue concept began taking orders a few months ago, has parked up his beast of a food truck, smokers and all, in a spacious yard where food fans can order ready-to-eat BBQ and remain en piste to chow down. This space has a funky DIY, urban feel to it and should impress committed hipsters (are they still a thing?) everywhere.

The Terrace at The Shelbourne, St Stephen’s Green

Five-star luxury, serious attention-to-detail and an airy space that wows at every turn, The Shelbourne’s terrace area is a stunning late-summer bloomer. Food-wise, in keeping with its posh picnic vibes, expect a menu that is heavy on sharing platters that are just perfect for social dining with friends in the centre of the city. Meanwhile, if it’s a boozy (yet responsible!) weekend lunch you’re after, there is also a superb, upmarket cocktail list to pore over.

Saba Secret Garden, Baggot Street

More funky than fancy yet none the lesser for it, Saba continues to churn out its greatest Thai hits in a space that wouldn’t look too out of place in Brooklyn, or any other regenerated urban space where young creatives like to preen. The Secret Garden’s artwork has been painted by Dublin-based graffiti guru, Subset, adding further cool cache to the space. As to the food, as mentioned, it’s Saba’s greatest Thai food hits all the way … if it ain’t broke, etc.

Sole, South William Street

South William has long had plenty of kudos as a fashionable city centre artery, located, as it is, in the heart of what is sometimes referred to as Dublin’s Creative Quarter (yeah, me neither). Recently, the street has seen pedestrianisation at weekends allowing restaurants, like Sole, to really strut their alfresco stuff. The menu at Sole focuses mainly on well-executed, high quality seafood, so expect lots of that, as well as a delicious Schezwan-cured flat iron steak number, if gills and shells aren’t your thang.

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