Where to eat near the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Grand Canal Dock

On a show night, Grand Canal Dock fills at about 6pm with people who all want dinner by 7.15pm. Book, or eat early. Inside the theatre there's a licensed bar on every floor and kiosks selling tea, coffee and popcorn, but no proper food. The bars close when the curtain falls, so after the show you'll be going back out to the square anyway.

On the square and the quays

• Herbstreet, Hanover Quay. A family-run neighbourhood restaurant on the water since 2008. It does supper from 5pm to 7pm, and on Sundays it opens for supper on show nights only. That tells you who its evening customers are. Closed Mondays.
• Forbes Street by Gareth Mullins, in The Marker hotel on Grand Canal Square. Contemporary Irish, seasonal, dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm. The smart option, and you can't get much closer to the theatre.
• Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane, on Cardiff Lane, about two minutes from the theatre doors. A pre-theatre menu on the mezzanine, 5pm to 7pm every day, two or three courses from €34 per person. Not glamorous, but it's reliable and close.

Across the dock

• Osteria Lucio, The Malting Tower, Clanwilliam Terrace. Italian, with home-made pasta, arancini and a long Italian wine list. It's open daily, and on show days it runs a shorter menu early in the evening for theatre-goers. It fills fast, so book well ahead.
• Charlotte Quay, ground floor of the Millennium Tower on Ringsend Road, a few minutes' walk from the square. Irish produce with a Mediterranean feel and plenty of fish. It has a pre-theatre menu (see their site for this season's prices). Open until late Tuesday to Saturday, closed Mondays.

A pint and a proper dinner

• The Old Spot, 14 Bath Avenue, about 10 minutes' walk south-east of the theatre. A long-standing pub with Michelin Selected food. Dinner runs from 5pm to 9.30pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and 5pm to 8pm on Sundays. Worth the walk if you want a pub dinner instead of a set menu.

Timing it

Frequently asked questions

Is there a restaurant inside the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre?

Not for general ticket holders. There are bars on every floor and kiosks for snacks. Only Circle Club members have a restaurant inside.

Where can I get a pre-theatre menu near the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre?

The Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane serves one from 5pm to 7pm daily, two minutes from the doors. Charlotte Quay and Osteria Lucio also cater for theatre-goers.

Do I need to book restaurants near the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre?

On show nights, yes, especially at Osteria Lucio, which fills up early.