Where to eat near the Ambassador Theatre, Dublin

Parnell Street is not Grafton Street, and that's the point. Within a few hundred metres of the Ambassador you get a two-star Michelin dining room, cheap sushi, a hi-fi bar and a rock pub that never seems to close. All four places below are on Parnell Street or Parnell Square, so you're never more than a five-minute walk from your seat.

A proper dinner: Chapter One

Chapter One, at 18-19 Parnell Square, is the big-night-out choice: the restaurant shows its 2026 Michelin two-star badge on its own site. It is on the square just north of the venue, so a long dinner and an 8pm curtain are compatible if you book an early table. Prices match the stars. Tables go fast, so reserve on its website or by phone as soon as you have your show tickets.

Quick and cheap: Musashi Parnell

Musashi, at 179 Parnell Street, is the Dublin sushi chain's Parnell branch: sushi, sashimi, maki, ramen and donburi. It opens at noon and serves until 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and 23:00 on Friday and Saturday, which makes it the easiest bowl of ramen before a 20:00 start. You can book a table online or call ahead, which helps on a busy Friday.

A drink before or after

• The Big Romance, 98 Parnell Street: a music bar from the team behind Hidden Agenda and Fidelity, built around a custom sound system and playing vinyl only, with natural wine, craft beer and cocktails. It opens at 16:00 on weekdays and 13:00 at weekends, until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. Good for a quieter drink after a singer-songwriter set.
• Fibber Magees, 80-81 Parnell Street: "Dublin's Original Rock & Roll Bar", open from noon until 3am seven nights a week, with its own gigs and after-show parties. If the show was loud, this is where the night carries on.

Tips for the night

The Ambassador's programme mixes comedy, music and family shows, and evening listings usually start between 19:00 and 20:00. Eat on Parnell Street rather than heading down to Temple Bar: you're already at the door when it's time to go in. Tickets left at the box office can only be collected on the night, so build that into your timing.

Coming by tram? The Parnell Luas stop is on the same street: see getting to the Ambassador Theatre. Driving in for dinner, check parking at the Ambassador first, as one big car park closes early. And for picking a seat, the best seats at the Ambassador. After the show, write a review.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat before a show at the Ambassador Theatre?

Musashi at 179 Parnell Street is the quickest sit-down option, open until 22:00 or 23:00. For a special occasion, Chapter One on Parnell Square is a two-minute walk away, but you'll need to book well ahead.

Is there a bar near the Ambassador for after the show?

Yes. Fibber Magees at 80-81 Parnell Street is open until 3am every night, and The Big Romance at 98 Parnell Street stays open until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Is Chapter One near the Ambassador Theatre?

Yes. Chapter One is at 18-19 Parnell Square, a couple of minutes' walk from the Ambassador at the top of O'Connell Street.