La Cave Wine Bar and Restaurant

An old gem that is one of Dublin's hidden secrets. Tucked away underground just a stones throw away from Grafton street, Le Cave is the same as it always was. Great food, fine wine and the same ambiance since I was first in it in 1992. We love the place!

According to our new friend Margaret, who we met in Cork, we chose a great hidden gem for our last meal in Dublin. She was not wrong. At first when you walk in and then down the stairs to this tiny place, packed with people, it can be a little bit concerning. However, we were quickly acknowledged and seated. A booking is recommended. They pack the tables in, so be prepared to become best friends with the people around you, just as we did. We selected a Margaux from their exceptional wine list, and Oysters and a Prawn cocktail to start. For our mains we had Duck a l'orange and the filet of beef. We finished our meal with the cheese plate. Every course was excellent. This classic French bistro did not disappoint. Highly recommend.

Had a meal here on Sat night - was my first time - will definitely be going back.
My wife had the prawn salad to start - she said it was delicious, and so fresh. (And a decent size portion too).
I didn't have a starter. But their "bread for the table" portion was extremely generous. My only negative on the bread was that the butter was far too hard - it really should be at room temperature.
My wife had the Duck Confit à l’Orange for mains and I had the Chicken Supreme.
Both dishes were delicious.
The veg was cooked to perfection.
The only negative would be that the skin on the duck was not crispy - and was therefore far too fatty.
However, the flavours were amazing - and for that - I will definitely be returning.
22/10/24 - ate again here - another superb meal - the food is so, so flavoursome.

Amazing mushroom ravioli, lamb shanks, le poisson du jour were so delicious. Great wine selection. Great date spot. Great carafes! Stunning food.

I ordered the niçoise salad and gran ravioli from the express lunch menu with a glass of L'Or du Sud chardonnay. The servers were welcoming and attentive, and the food was delightful! Most of all I was amazed by the beautiful decor and the atmosphere. It is rare that a place with such an upscale, classy feel also has such a warm, cosy ambiance. This was certainly a lovely dining experience!

Lovely décor in a colourful setting in a basement restaurant (la cave). There is a separate Chinese restaurant upstairs. In La Cave there a number of options: wine and tapas on high stools near the small bar; or a sit down meal. Best value is the lunch special menu for about 20 euro from Monday to Saturday. Best value on Sunday is the early bird menu between 4 and 6pm. Evening à la carte menu is more expensive. Great service from two very helpful ladies. Food was tasty and good options available. Great selection of wines. Tables are quite close, but the restaurant was not too busy at the time. A fine meal and a very pleasant experience. No complaints. La Cave also offers wine and cheese tasting evenings. It is also a recognised training facility for wine connaisseurs.

The place is definitely a gem. If you don’t know yet, just go. The place is downstairs (a cave 😅) and super cozy. I loved the atmosphere. It is French, elegant, beautiful. The wine selection is to die for. The first place in Dublin that I found Chocolate Block bottler 🤤. The food is good (average) nothing special, but fair. But the whole experience and the service will make me come back many times. Conclusion: if you are a lover wine, as me, and like great experience, this is a must place to visit.