Where to eat near Vicar Street - Thomas Street and the Liberties

Thomas Street is not Temple Bar. It is an old market street in the Liberties, and the good places to eat are few, close and often booked. Plan dinner before you leave home.

The pub a few doors down

Tom Kennedy's, 65 Thomas Street, is where half the Vicar Street crowd has its first pint. The building has been an inn since the early 1700s according to the owner, and the name has been over the door for about twenty years. It is long and narrow, walls covered in old Dublin photos. Hot Press reported in July 2026 that it now serves food and has live music five nights a week. Sinéad O'Connor and Roddy Doyle have both stopped in.

Dinner on Thomas Street

• Mongoose, 78 Thomas Street. The casual sibling of Variety Jones, opened in April 2026 in the original Variety Jones room. 28 seats, a short menu of starters, pasta and a whole chicken to share. The Irish Times gave starters at about €8 to €13 and mains at €18 to €25. The catch: it opened for lunch and dinner on Sundays and Mondays, and dinner on Tuesdays only. Michelin added it to its guide in August 2026.
• Variety Jones, 79 Thomas Street. One Michelin star, a chef's-choice sharing menu, 12 tables, sittings at 17:00-17:30 and 20:00-20:30, Wednesday to Saturday. The early sitting is the only one that fits before a show. Bookings open months ahead: this is a birthday dinner, not a quick bite.

A short walk away

• The Brazen Head, 20 Lower Bridge Street, 5 minutes downhill towards the river. It claims to be Ireland's oldest pub, established in 1198. Food until 21:00, open from noon, live music every night from 21:00. No bookings for groups under eight, so just turn up.
• Lucky's, 78 Meath Street, 3 minutes south of the venue. Bar, beer garden and pizza kitchen, pizza from 16:00 on weekdays and 14:00 at weekends, until 22:00. The easy, cheap option.

Inside the venue

Vicar Street's five bars open at 19:00 on show nights and stay open after the show. Drinks are allowed into the auditorium for most shows, so there is no need to down a pint at the door. Upstairs, regulars say the balcony rail doubles as a shelf for your glass: more on that in the best seats at Vicar Street.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pub near Vicar Street?

Tom Kennedy's, a few doors down at 65 Thomas Street, is the classic pre-show pint. The Brazen Head on Bridge Street is five minutes away if you want somewhere older and bigger.

Can I eat at Vicar Street?

The venue's five bars open at 19:00 on show nights, but no food service is listed. Eat on Thomas Street or Meath Street beforehand.

Is there a cheap place to eat near Vicar Street?

Lucky's on Meath Street does pizza from 16:00 on weekdays, three minutes' walk away. The Brazen Head serves pub food until 21:00.

Can you bring drinks into the auditorium at Vicar Street?

Yes, for most shows, according to the venue. Some artists ask otherwise, so follow the staff on the night.