Table for one? We recommend the following restaurants …
“A table for one?” exclaimed the incredulous maître‘d, the first time I summoned the courage to dine alone in an actual restaurant. I recall how my face burned with shame as I mumbled something about being let down by friends but the truth was, I was hungry, at a loose end and in the city centre with its abundance of good restaurants, which was not a regular occurrence at the time. Happily, times have changed and solitary dining is no longer the social faux pas it once was. Some of my most memorable meals have been unaccompanied where there was nothing to distract me from the food or the ambiance. Nothing that is, except my phone (or my book depending on the mood). But that’s a discussion for another day. Table for one? We recommend the following restaurants for dining solo in Dublin …
The Winding Stair, Dublin 2
If you are lucky enough to nab a table by the window, overlooking the Ha’penny Bridge, then lunch or dinner for one in The Winding Stair will be a memorable meal. The Winding Stair Fish Plate which includes Sally Barnes, Goatsbridge and home-made smoked fish and shellfish all served with Dillisk bread and house-pickled cucumbers while surveying the city is a very pleasant way to fritter away an hour or two and with views this good, who needs company. www.winding-stair.com
Little Forest, Blackrock
Excellent pizza is just one of the draws to Little Forest in Blackrock, the cosy interior with a view on to Main Street is another. But back to the pizza. Usually considered a sharing exercise, eating pizza can also be dismissed by solo diners for that very reason but this needn’t be the case. If ever a dish was made for taking home and enjoying the following day, it’s pizza. And when it’s this good, you will want to take it home. If there is any left of course. www.littleforest.ie
The Wine Cellar at Fallon and Byrne, Dublin 2
There is a lot to love about the wine cellar in Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer Street. The candlelit ambiance, the array of charcuterie boards, the small plates, the nibbles. It’s the perfect menu for sharing and even more perfect for solo dining. Bring your book and enjoy a glass of something delicious and a plate of something moreish. www.fallonandbyrne.com
Fish Shop Benburb, Dublin 7
Fish Shop is small, yet perfectly formed and completely fitting for a solitary casual bite after work, before work or on the weekend. I have yet to have fish and chips this good anywhere else in Dublin but that is only part of the story. There are the smoked haddock croquettes, the cockles with chorizo and sherry and the extensive selection of excellent wine. Sharing food is so passé. www.fish-shop.ie
Shouk, Drumcondra
At first glance, you may feel like Shouk is the ideal place to meet with friends or go for a casual date but on closer inspection, singletons will feel right at home here too. The dining area is laid out in two sections and while the larger of the two is usually filled with groups, the smaller is perfect for those craving their fix of excellent Middle Eastern arayes or whole roasted cauliflower. The baklava is excellent too. www.shouk.ie
Miss out on electric picnic tickets? Don’t fret – Ireland offers several other wonderful music festivals and concerts this spring and summer …
For many months, music fans have scrolled up and down event schedules online, waiting and wishing for tickets for gigs, concerts and festivals to be released. Finally, with the beep of iPhone reminders across the country, booking buttons are now being pressed seconds after sales go live. Just this morning, Electric Picnic, Ireland’s biggest music festival, sold out within 30 minutes – highlighting just how desperate we all are to return to life with live music.
Don’t panic if you missed out. So many festivals are still selling tickets – and some extremely wallet-friendly ones offer payment plans. Even better? No capacity limit on attendance! No social distancing! No early closing time! What joy, as nothing sounds more tempting right now than a sun-drenched evening listening to the brand-new, the much-hyped, or even old beloved, musical talents of big names.
While we do curse what we lost to Covid, now is the perfect time to appreciate what we have, and rejoice. Isn’t that what festivals were invented for?
Love is a Stranger | Saturday 19 March | Ballymaloe Estate, East Cork
A mini-festival hosted by Another Love Story, Love Is A Stranger | Ballymaloe takes place across two rooms in the elegant setting of The Grainstore – a beautiful converted 17th-century barn complex – from 14.00 – 00.00 Saturday March 19th 2022.
One room shall be featuring musical stylings from acts like Villagers, Anna Mieke, Junior Brother, Clare Sands and Les SalAmandes – while the other, Carrigaun Studio, will provide an afternoon of talks and workshops, leading into an evening of cosy dancefloor goodness from Cork’s finest Sunday Times (4 hour set).
Pick up your tickets here.
Beyond the Pale | Friday 10 June – Sunday 12 June | Glendalough Estate
Beyond the Pale started to pop into Insta-consciousness, its striking red polka-dot poster peeping out from sceney Instagram stories, earlier this year, and piqued my curiosity. Featuring not just a mesmerising lineup, but also three days of excellent food offerings and comfy camping, all in the gorgeous Glendalough Estate.
Beyond the Pale’s lineup features Lisa Hannigan, Bonobo, Elder Island, John Francis Flynn, Nealo, and Soda Blonde.
Pick up your tickets here.
Forbidden Fruit | Saturday 4 June – Sunday 5 June | Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
Forbidden Fruit is a reliable good time whose raison d’etre appears to be, to signal the real start to summer. Because it’s not a camping festival, and because it only has two days to make an impact in attendees’ memories sometimes it gets ignored. However this year, with one of the best schedules it’s ever had, it’s bound to be a can’t-miss event.
The lineup is – put delicately – ridiculous. Forbidden Fruit 2022 will feature Tom Misch, Hot Chip, Lorde, Bicep, Kojaque, Loyle Carner, Chet Faker, and Peggy Gou.
Pick up your tickets here.
All Together Now | Friday 29 – Sunday 31 July | Curraghmore House & Gardens, Co Waterford
2018 saw All Together Now set off on its maiden voyage – to great success. Curraghmore Estate’s 3000 acres provided a setting that while broad enough to host its many stages and acts, retained an intimate village feel. Of course, the draw that year was the impressive line-up – and its 2022 edition follows suit.
This year’s lineup features Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Groove Armada, DIIV, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Denise Chaila, Jungle, John Francis Flynn, CMAT and Gemma Dunleavy, to only name a few.
Pick up your tickets here.
Another Love Story | Friday 19 – Sunday 21 August | Killyon Manor, Co Meath
This bespoke festival option, taking place at August’s prettiest peak, is seriously gaining traction despite being so green to the scene. Another Love Story is sure to be well-attended – particularly if its sister event, Love is a Stranger, is a success – if purely for the gorgeous scene at picturesque 18th-century home Killyon Manor.
According to announcement in July, Another Love Story’s lineup will feature Luke Una, Rachael Lavelle, Map.Ache, Niamh Regan, The Altered Hours and Barker, for starters.
Pick up your tickets here.
Body & Soul | Friday 17 – Sunday 19 June | Co Westmeath
Body & Soul is a wonderful multifaceted festival with a defiantly hippy-dippy personality, and a generous attitude to its attendees. Its lineup hasn’t even dropped yet but it’s so beloved that many are rushing to grab tickets already. For those who’ve splurged enough, why not select their payment plan (didn’t I say they were generous?)
No lineup yet – but expect all kinds of entertainment, including comedy, artistic performance, yoga, cultural conversation, and more.
Pick up your tickets here.
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