BYOB Restaurants in Dublin, Ireland
What restaurants to visit when you have a bottle in your cellar that is crying out for food, friends and a night on the town.
Oh, the joys of dining in a restaurant. When it’s a really good experience, it’s hard to convey why it was so great. What made it so special? Did you get an elusive sought-after last-minute reservation at the hottest restaurant in town? Was your waiter a dream, who kept your wine topped up all night without you even noticing? Perhaps each morsel of food was better than the last, and with each bite, you slipped further towards Nirvana? And the wine list…the wine list was a whistlestop tour across the world’s most iconic grape-growing regions, dotted with names of producers you could only dream of tasting.
I could go on. But in today’s economic climate, we’re all feeling the pinch. Even the cost of chicken fillet rolls are slipping into Celtic Tiger times. And while there’s nothing I love more than perusing a restaurant wine list, and picking out a lip-smacking bottle, when the purse strings are tightening up, cutting down on the final bill can dramatically help your piggy bank balance. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of restaurants across Dublin that allow you to BYOB, that’s Bring Your Own Bottle, in case you were living under a rock.
Bethlehem
If you’re on the prowl for Palestinian delights, look no further than Bethlehem in Rathmines. Enjoy traditional dishes like musakhan (roasted chicken served on a flatbread called taboon) accompanied by flavourful salads of tabbouleh and fattoush. As they say in Arabic before a meal, “Sahtein”.
Musashi
I remember when Mushashi first hit the scene, my friends and I flocked to it regularly for speedy lunches, catch-ups or night’s out. BYOB is available in their Parnell Street location only. Corkage is €6 per bottle.
Fayrouz
Located in Dublin’s iconic Libteries, Fayrouz will certainly be at the top of your list when I tell you corkage is free. If you’re a wine lover like myself and want to share that special bottle with friends, this is an ideal place to do so. Or, if you’re in a wine club, also like yours truly, it’s a great way to show off those bottles you’ve been hiding away in your cellar with fellow wine geeks. Irish Times restaurant critic Corinna Hardgrave gave Fayrouz a big thumbs up when she visited.
The Greedy Eagle
Located in one of the capital’s most sought-after suburbs Glasthule, The Greedy Eagle aims to get you through the mid-week slump with their Wednesday Wine Club. Bring your favourite bottle of vino along, and have it with your dinner for just €5 corkage. A mid-week dinner date is good for the soul and makes the slog to Friday a little easier, so grab your guys and girls and get booking.
Dada
This Moroccan eatery is slap bang in the middle of Dublin city centre, on the buzzing South William Street. The elaborately decorated dining room adds an element of theatre to your meal, and the menu is flavour-packed. There’s even an early bird menu available every day, two courses for €25.95 or three courses for €29.96. This combined with BYOB, you’re practically saving money! Dada’s corkage is €5 for wine, €7 for Champagne, and €1.50 per beer.
Zakura
Located on Baggot Street, Zakura is one of Dublin’s go-to BYOB spots. Here you’ll find Japanese fare of ramen, sushi and sashimi, gyoza, noodles and more. There’s a well-priced kids menu too, if you’re dining with family. Corkage is €8 per bottle.
Hawksmoor
In May 2023 our fair city was the setting for UK steakhouse Hawksmoor’s latest venture. Steak is the star here, alongside Sunday roasts. Tuesday to Sunday corkage is available for €25, however, if you buy a bottle from The Corkscrew nearby, corkage is free. What makes BOYB at Hawksmoor even more special? It’s only €5 on Monday for any size bottle. Yes, you read that correctly, €5 per bottle no matter the size. Forget your regular-degular 750ml, bring a magnum, hell bring a Balthazar (that’s 16 standard-size bottles in one - click here for a handy size guide). At last, we know, size does matter.
M&L
M&L is one of those restaurants that people in the know love, and the rest of the dining population has never heard of it. Chefs rave about it, and it’s a sure bet for Monday dining, which, in Dublin can be a tough day to find a decent dinner. They run regular dumpling workshops for budding cooks. Corkage is €6.50 per bottle.
Pho Ta
For most locals, Temple Bar isn’t the first port of call for decent food, but a big shout-out goes to Boxty House for proper Irish grub or Il Vicoletto for an Italian experience that will have you convinced that you’re in the motherland. While I’ve not visited this restaurant it does offer decent corkage, and that’s certainly a plus. Corkage is €5 per bottle.
Pho Kim
If you were a fan of Parnell Street’s Pho Veit and wondered where it went, the answer is nowhere. It’s now renamed as Pho Kim, but still run by the same family. I LOVE Vietnamese food mainly because it tastes so good and partially because my boy Anthony Bourdain had his own love affair with Vietnam, and this spot is a must when I’m craving pho. Their Banh Mi is an excellent under €10 lunch option, coming in at just €8.50. My go-to dish is “Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio” with grilled port, fried spring rolls and vermicelli noodles. Corkage costs €7 per wine bottle and €1.50 per bottle of beer.
Lottie’s
This Rathmines restaurant is offering diners €10 corkage on Sundays. Lottie’s was added to the Michelin Guide in 2023, who loved the “terrific buzz”, and in January 2024 they were awarded a Michelin Bib. Their Sunday lunch menu features dishes like Andarl Farm pork belly, confit duck leg, gnocchi and sea bass. Corkage is available on Sundays, priced at €10 per bottle.
Eatokyo
Offering everything you’d expect in a Japanese restaurant, this Temple Bar location couldn’t get any more central. Can’t decide what to order, try a bento box, or like I often do, order lots of starters and indulge in some “japas” (Japanese tapas if you will!). Corkage is €6 per bottle.
Rotana Café
This Portobello haunt offers a taste of Lebanon in the capital of Ireland. Corkage at Rotana is free when you have two courses, which ties in perfectly with their brilliant set menu, priced at €26.90 for two courses (starter and main).
Basil
Pizza and beer or pizza and wine are truly some of life’s greatest pleasures, and for Dubliners who want to live la dolce vita, this is the BYOB spot for you. It’s not just pizza at Basil, the menu features lasagna, bruschetta, pasta and caprese salad. Corkage is €7.50 per bottle of wine, €1.50 per beer
The Little Kitchen
The early bird menu is priced at 2 courses for €30 and 3 courses for €35. Corkage is €8 per bottle. Grab a pal, or on your next date night, buy a decent bottle in a shop for €25, two courses, corkage and a tip for a little over €100. Not too shabby in today’s prices.
The Dog House
With so many restaurants, and those offering BYOB specifically located in the city centre, it’s great to see suburban restaurants like The Dog House doing the same. When dining in the seaside village of Howth, eating seafood is practically law, and the menu here boasts chowder, crab claws, oysters, fishcakes, mussels and more. Corkage costs €7.50 per bottle of wine and €1.50 per bottle of beer. Personally, I would order the fish and chips and pop a bottle of BYOB Champagne - one of my favourite food and wine pairings.
Michie Sushi
What began as a takeaway has now evolved into three fully functioning restaurants in Dún Laoghaire, Sandyford and Ranelagh. The speciality here is hand-rolled sushi, made to order, although no fish eaters will have heaps to choose from with ramen, noodles, tori karaage (fried chicken) and more. Corkage is €6.50 per bottle.
Aoshima Sushi & Grill
Enjoy a Japanese feast at this Stillorgan restaurant, while you sip on your favourite wines or beer at a knockdown price. The menu has favourites like ebi gyoza, katsu curry, chahan and an array of sushi. Corkage at Aoshima costs €6 for wine and €1 for bottles of beer
Cafe Oasis
While my bus sees me pass this restaurant by more times than I could ever count, I’ve only stepped inside its doors once, a lifetime ago. On the Café Osais menu, it says the cuisine is Lebanese and Meditteranean, but guests can expect a mixed-bag menu, offering everything from pizza and pasta to kebabs, hummus and Egyptian dishes. Corkage is free.
Shouk
A firm favourite of Dublin’s dining public. I’m a fiend for the kebabella hummus that comes topped with beef and lamb, and the mezza platter is always a winner when you fancy a bit of everything. If you’re dining with six or more guests opt for the Middle East Feast, complete with Shouk’s classic dishes, sweets and hot drinks for €35 per person. Corkage is €10 per bottle.
Wongs
If you don’t fancy a trip into the city centre and want to stick to the suburbs Castleknock restaurant Wongs offers BYOB at €15 per bottle. Everyone loves a delicious Chinese meal, and considering Wongs has been open for over two decades, its popularity is evident. Only one bottle is allowed, although even after contacting the restaurant I’m not sure if this is per table, per couple, or if you’re really thirsty, per person. I’d assume it’s per couple, but please check beforehand.
Marco Pierre White
The celebrity chef’s Donnybrook restaurant has launched Corkage Thursdays, allowing diners to bring their beloved bottles of wine to the restaurant. Corkage is priced at €15 per bottle. Their early bird menu happens to run all evening on Thursdays - 2 Courses for €39.95. Bring your own wine, opt for the early bird and you’ll get a meal for two people for under €100, which these days in Dublin is cracking value.
CORKAGE DEALS IN DUBLIN
The Wine Pair
A proper neighbourhood wine shop and bar, run by local couple Canice and Mags McKee aka The Wine Pair. If you visit on Sunday you can avail of their fantastic zero corkage offer. My advice would be to order a stunning bottle, grab a cheese board and have a right old gossip with your nearest and dearest. Keep an eye out for their regular wine-tasting events.
Green Man Wines
Perhaps you don’t want to fully BYOB - what if you bring a desperate bottle and your mates slag you for all eternity? One minute you’re called Laura, and next you’re Ms.Liebfraumilch. A very likely possibility in Ireland. Take the pressure off, and book a table at Green Man Wines. Ask the staff in the wine shop to recommend a bottle to your taste and pay €10 to enjoy in the wine bar.
Fallon and Byrne Wine Cellar
One of Dublin’s most upmarket food shops has a basement like a treasure trove for wine drinkers. Purchase your desired bottle from the shelves at retail price, and spend just €1 to open it in the cellar, every Monday & Tuesday (excluding December). What a great way to get some decent wines without forking out a small fortune. Corkage is €10 from Wednesday to Saturday.
Have I missed your favourite BYOB joint? Get in touch