Ely Bar & Grill

Located in the buzzy Docklands area, Ely Bar & Grill is a stronghold for oenophiles in a city that celebrates beer. Guests can sample Ely’s award-winning wine list in a variety of settings, as the restaurant encompasses a waterfront outdoor bar, an atrium bar and a downstairs dining room in a restored 200-year-old wine and whiskey cellar. It is also possible to book private parties in the cellar.

While the lively bar spaces attract a young crowd and serve light bites such as charcuterie platters, homemade pizzas and truffle fries, the cellar is more upscale. Well laid out under vaulted stone ceilings and lit by candles, the dining room offers a steakhouse-style, beef and pork-focused menu sourced from Ely’s own organic family farm in County Clare. There is also a notable Mediterranean influence in the menu, providing options for vegetarians and other specialty diets.

For a quieter experience, travelers should head to the  Ely Wine Bar, the original location of the Ely brand. Located in an elegant Georgian townhouse on St. Stephen’s Green, the restaurant has a sophisticated upstairs dining room and an intimate cellar tasting bar. (22 ely place, Dublin 2, tel. 353 (1) 676-8986)