Where to eat near the 3Arena, Dublin - pre-gig food and pints

Eat before the doors, not inside. The 3Arena sells drinks, sweets and snacks, but it has no sit-down food areas and won't let you bring anything in. The good news: everything below is within five minutes of the door, so you can finish your pint while the queue shrinks.

Point Square, next door

Point Square is the shopping centre beside the arena, with the Odeon cinema and the Luas stop. It is where most of the crowd ends up.

• Ruby's Pizza and Grill: the default pre-gig spot since 2017. Wings, pizza, house-smoked ribs and cocktails, plus a terrace that fills on show nights. Book on OpenTable: listed hours end around 9pm, so it is a before-the-show place, not after.
• Eddie Rocket's and Zambrero: burgers and shakes, or burritos and bowls, for a quick and cheap fill. Both are listed in Point Square.

The Gibson Hotel

The Gibson sits on Point Square, about 20 seconds from the 3Arena door by the hotel's own reckoning.

• Coda Restaurant: the proper sit-down option, and the home of First Dates Ireland. Book for a pre-concert dinner.
• Hemi Bar: bar bites and a drink if you don't want a full meal.

The Dean Dublin Docklands

Further back along North Wall Quay, less than five minutes' walk, The Dean (formerly The Mayson) has three venues in one building:

• The Bottle Boy: a pub with snugs and an open fire, the cosiest pre-gig pint on the quay. Wine and cocktails too, and late drinks after the show.
• Elephant & Castle: casual dining, best known for its wings and burgers.
• Ryleigh's Rooftop Steakhouse: steak cooked over an open flame, and cocktails, on the hotel roof. The dressiest option here, so book.

Timing it

Everything near the arena gets swamped between 6pm and 7.30pm on a sold-out night. Book, or eat at 5.30pm. If you are coming in on the Luas, another option is to eat in town and ride out later: see getting to the 3Arena. Driving? Book the concert rate first: see parking at the 3Arena.

Then head in, find your block with the best seats at the 3Arena, and after the show, write a review.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get food inside the 3Arena?

Only snacks and confectionery from the bars and kiosks. There are no sit-down food areas, and outside food and drink is not allowed in.

What is the closest restaurant to the 3Arena?

Ruby's Pizza and Grill and the Gibson Hotel's Coda Restaurant, both on Point Square, a minute or two from the entrance.

Where do people drink before a gig at the 3Arena?

Ruby's terrace, the Gibson's Hemi Bar and The Bottle Boy at The Dean on North Wall Quay are the usual meeting points.