In search of the best restaurants in Ballsbridge? Our Ballsbridge restaurants guide will make your belly happy!
Ballsbridge is a real paradise for foodies and, with such a huge variety of restaurants in Ballsbridge, it can be hard to know where to start.
Whether you’re looking for casual dining, a very good take away pizza, Thai curry or some posh nosh, you’ll find it in this affluent corner of Dublin.
In the guide below, you’ll discover the best Ballsbridge restaurants on offer, with a little bit of something to tickle every fancy.
Our favourite restaurants in Ballsbridge
The first section of our guide to the best restaurants in Ballsbridge tackles our favourite places to eat in Ballsbridge.
These are pubs and restaurants that we (one of the Irish Road Trip team) have munched away in at some point over the years. Dive on in!
1. Baan Thai Ballsbridge
Photos via Baan Thai Ballsbridge
Opened in 1998, this authentic family-owned Thai restaurant in Ballsbridge serves coeliac-friendly, halal and vegan dishes so it’s a great choice for meeting up with friends.
It’s easy to recognise on Merrion Road as it is in a distinctly Thai building which is rich in history. Inside, the intricately carved wood and oriental decor set the scene for a delicious meal.
Little Dishes provide an array of mouthwatering starters – the Mix Platter is great for sharing 6 different appetizers and a selection of sauces. Main courses include curries, noodles and stir fry dishes with a choice of meat, fish or prawns.
2. Roly’s Bistro
Photos via Roly’s Bistro
Celebrating over 25 years of fabulous cuisine, Roly’s is a bustling bistro overlooking leafy Herbert Park from its first floor restaurant. Offering smart food at reasonable prices, it was an instant winner with Ballsbridge locals and continues to be popular today.
The friendly ambience is perfect for casual dining, but Roly’s is a top choice for celebrations too. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with gourmet sandwiches, coffee and ready meals.
The restaurant showcases the best Irish food, carefully sourced and cooked with passion and imagination. Roly’s has long been one of the most popular Ballsbridge restaurants for good reason.
Related read: Check out our guide to 10 of the best pubs in Ballsbridge (mainly old-school, traditional pubs)
3. Al Boschetto Restaurant
Photos via Al Boschetto Restaurant on FB
Let the menu at Al Boschetto Restaurant transport you to Italy through its ingredients, flavour and Mediterranean-inspired ambience. Run by husband and wife, Loreta and Jimmy, this upscale restaurant specialises in antipasti and pasta dishes.
They are all perfectly complemented by the full-bodied house wines. Whether you order a pizza, tagliatelle, lasagna or other favourite pasta, every dish uses carefully sourced top quality ingredients and is prepared with passion.
The rustic interior has cosy booths and intimate corner tables to accommodate all sizes of parties and groups.
4. Kites Chinese Restaurant
Photos via Kites Chinese Restaurant on FB
Another timeless classic restaurant in Ballsbridge, Kites Restaurant serves upmarket Chinese food. From spicy Szechuan to sophisticated Peking style dishes, every dish uses quality meats, vegetables and ingredients.
Arranged over two floors, the elegant restaurant has plush comfortable surroundings. Service is first class, making every customer feel welcome and special.
Start with dim sum dumplings, local scallops on skewers or more exotic choices such as Lotus with prawn before tucking into forkfuls of expertly shredded duck pancakes or fillet of beef with oyster sauce – a real classic.
Related read: Check out our guide to 9 of the finest hotels in Ballsbridge (from luxury stays to quirky guesthouses)
5. Base Wood Fired Pizza Ballsbridge
Photos via Base Wood Fired Pizza on FB
Base is known for its wood-fired pizzas, cooked and delivered from their distinctive premises on Merrion Road. Offering delivery or collection, they open daily at 4pm, and from noon Thursdays through Sundays.
Their speciality is Artisan-style pizzas. Made to order and cooked in a searing hot wood fired oven.
Founder Shane Crilly discovered his passion for pizza when he visited Naples, birthplace of this humble dish, where he learnt Neapolitan cooking methods. He founded Base in 2008 and the chain has since expanded to 7 stores across Dublin.
6. The Bridge 1859
Photos via The Bridge 1859 on FB
The Bridge 1859 is a handy place to eat in Ballsbridge, especially if you’re heading to the RDS or the Aviva. It’s a modern gastropub with a big kitchen, built to handle busy periods without falling apart.
The menu sticks to well-judged pub classics, done properly and served quickly, which makes it a strong choice for pre-match meals, group dinners, and business lunches.
Downstairs gets loud on event days, while the upstairs rooms work well if you need space and a bit of control. It won’t surprise you, but it delivers exactly what it promises, consistently.
7. The Cow Pub & Kitchen
Photos via The Cow Pub & Kitchen on FB
The Cow Pub & Kitchen sits on Shelbourne Road, a few minutes from the Aviva and right in the thick of Ballsbridge. This is a proper food-led pub, not a place that treats eating as an afterthought.
The menu leans classic but thoughtful, with strong meat dishes and one of the better vegetarian line-ups you’ll find in a Dublin pub.
Portions are generous without being sloppy, and service is consistently sharp, even when the place is busy.
It suits relaxed dinners, pre-match food, and smaller groups who actually care about what lands on the plate. Booking ahead is sensible, especially at weekends.
What great Ballsbridge restaurants have we missed?
I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some other great restaurants in Ballsbridge from the guide above.
If you have a favourite Ballsbridge restaurant that you’d like to recommend, drop a comment into the comments section below.