Ireland is a small entry in our directory, but a useful one. We list six Spanish restaurants there: five in Dublin and one in Galway. This guide goes through each of them using what their listings actually say, so you know what kind of place you are walking into before you book.
Three of the six belong to one group, which matters if you want variety. The other three have their own listings: two tapas restaurants in Dublin 2 and a tapas and wine restaurant in Galway run by its chef-owner.
The Port House group: three Dublin addresses
Our listings describe The Port House as a chain of Spanish restaurants with four locations in Dublin and one in London. The menus are built on traditional Spanish tapas, with a mix of Basque pintxos and tapas, and the drinks list covers wines, ports and sherries. Three of the Dublin venues are in our directory:
- The Port House, 64 William Street South, Dublin 2.
- The Port House Pintxo, 12 Eustace Street in Temple Bar.
- The Port House Ibéricos, Pembroke Cottages on Ballinteer Road in Dundrum, outside the city centre.
The Dundrum address is the one to note if you are staying in the southern suburbs rather than in town. The two city-centre venues are the easier pick for a visitor. Because all three share the same listing text, we can't tell you from our records how their menus differ, so check each venue's own site if a specific dish matters to you.
If you like fortified wine, the ports and sherries are a reason to go. If sherry is new to you, our sherry guide explains the styles, from bone-dry fino to sweet Pedro Ximénez.
Two tapas restaurants in Dublin 2
Las Tapas de Lola is at 12 Wexford Street, Dublin 2. Its listing describes a casual tapas restaurant and names a few classics on the menu: patatas bravas and chorizo, with Spanish wines and sangria to drink. It is set up for sharing plates in a group.
La Gordita is at 6 Montague Street, also in Dublin 2. Its listing describes a cosy restaurant focused on simple, traditional Spanish dishes, with tapas covering both seafood and meat. Of the Irish listings that carry a price band, it is the only one in our lowest band, so it's the one to look at first if budget matters. Check the menu for current prices.
Both are in the same postal district, so you could try one for a first round and move on to the other. Our listings don't include opening hours for either, so confirm times before you plan a crawl.
Galway: Cava Bodega on Middle Street
Outside Dublin, our one Irish listing is Cava Bodega at 1 Middle Street, Galway. Its listing describes a Spanish restaurant serving a wide range of tapas and wines. It also offers a catering service and runs a cookery school. The head chef and owner is JP McMahon, who, according to our record, holds a Michelin star.
If you are travelling around the west of Ireland, it is the only Spanish address we list outside the capital, and the cookery school is worth knowing about if cooking classes interest you. Check its own site for what is currently on offer.
How to choose between them
- For pintxos with ports and sherries: one of the Port House venues.
- For classic bar tapas like bravas and chorizo: Las Tapas de Lola.
- For the lowest price band in our Irish listings: La Gordita.
- For Spanish food in the west, or to ask about its cookery school: Cava Bodega in Galway.
New to ordering tapas? Our tapas etiquette guide covers how many plates to order and how sharing usually works. And if you know a Spanish restaurant in Ireland that we are missing, the full Ireland page is where new listings will appear once they are reviewed.
