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Cafe en Seine, Dawson Street, Dublin, Dublin's best bar, Europe's sexiest bar, jazz, Liam O'Dwyer
Cafe en Seine is one of the most spectacular cafe-bars in Europe, unique in terms of ambiance and style. A hidden gem on Dublin’s leafy Dawson street, approximately five minutes from Grafton street. The stylish cafe will transport you back to the heady days of early nineteenth century Paris, with excellent food and drink from noon till late.
In the early twentieth century, Cafe en Seine housed many different businesses from a piano showroom, a bicycle shop, a bank, an accountants and a solicitors. By the late 1980’s the last of the insurance companies moved out and like most of Dawson street 39-40 was left abandoned.
In the early 1990’s Liam O’Dwyer pushed back a ceiling tile with the handle of his paintbrush and saw the vaulted ceilings, which planted the seed for what was to become Cafe en Seine. The original cafe, occupying only one floor opened in July 1993. Seven years later, after what is said to be the most expensive refurbishment in Dublin, Cafe en Seine reopened in its current form in December 2001.
With a series of bars spanning three floors, and an opulent art deco theme that includes features such as a Louis XIV th bust, a french hotel lift and a glass atrium with 40 ft trees, the cafe is a stunning place to visit. Big enough to get lost in, overcrowding is never a problem.
Lunch is served daily from noon with the menu featuring dishes such as delicious soups, gourmet sandwiches and daily specials, with an excellent selection of coffee’s and yummy pastries.
Come evening, the brassiere offers a range of classic to modern dishes, including fragrant Green Thai curry, Dry Aged steak, Daily Market fresh fish catch, tasty bar bites and a range of delicious desserts.
By night Cafe en Seine turns into arguably Dublin’s most stylish bar, offering an extensive range of cocktails and beers and great music entertainment. Voted Jameson’s bar of the year and Europe’s sexiest bar it is easy to see why. The dress code is mainly stylish and the bar is full of good-looking people, the Irish being famous for their looks as well as their charm. To be honest after the experience my husband and I had in Italy, Ireland will always be my favourite place in Europe next to Paris (and that’s not just because my father is Irish). Dublin is one of Europe’s most down to earth and friendly cities and the quality of food and bar service is outstanding.
From Wednesday to Saturday the drinking and dancing doesn’t stop until 2.30am. Plus on Sunday’s there’s a jazz brunch from noon to 5pm, followed by music from the LJJ band at 6.30pm. Cafe en Seine also provides cocktail classes, perfect for hen parties or fun with friends.
I´ll probably be able to afford this in about……10 years of savings
Hi Charlie,
I thought that but was pleasantly surprised. The coffee is the same price as Starbucks and Costa where we live just outside London. They have a happy hour where cocktails are £5. But obviously I’m comparing it to London and Surrey prices. You can easily pay £14 for a cocktail in London (not that i’d pay it personally). Take care. Emma.
This restaurant sounds absolutely spectacular Emma! I want to go there for dinner tonight and have some of their Thai green curry 🙂 I love places that have a nice ambiance, and from your description and pictures this seems to be my kind of place!
What a wonderful place. Thank you for sharing. Many thanks also for visiting my blog and perusing several posts. I appreciate it.
I am so glad you enjoyed the post. It is lovely to chat to you. Emma.
Looks gorgeous. On my list for an upcoming trip!
You have to go. You’d love it and the best part is it is not as expensive as it looks. Similar prices to London £10-12 for main course. They even have a happy hour on certain days when cocktails are approx £5. Check out their website. The toilets are a sight to behold on their own. Emma xx
The prices do sound great, especially when compared to what I’ve read about Temple Bar.
Hi,
A top tip for your trip, Temple Bar is a horrible tourist trap. The beer gets cheaper and the irish music more authentic the further away you go from Temple Bar. Irish music should not be amplified and that is all you hear in Temple Bar. Awlful amplified vesions of ‘Danny Boy’. If you choose to do the Dublin Music pub crawl, that does start in Temple Bar, but it’s fine because they move on from there very quickly. I would recommend this tour. Emma xx
Thanks! What you say makes sense and fits with what I’ve read. Being a hater of drunken, violent crowds, I’ll be sure to give it a miss…
Looks beautiful and inviting. Would love to go there.
If you ever take a trip to Dublin then you must go there. You would love it and it is not expensive (well compared to London anyway). Emma.
What gorgeous style this place has, and that food looks delicious. Great photos as well – thanks!
The cafe is an incredible place. I am glad you enjoyed the post. Emma xx
Looks like a great grown up escape!
It is and not as expensive as you would first think. They have a happy hour too if you look at their website. Emma.
Wow, this bar sounds incredible! I will definitely keep this on my list for when I visit Dublin.
You should def go and the best bit is it is not as a expensive as it looks. You can check out the menus on their website. They also have a happy hour too. Emma.
Would you believe, despite living in Dublin, I have never been to Cafe en Seine. I will have to try a gourmet sandwich and a coffee there one day soon. I love the look of the vaulted ceiling and the colourful tiled floor. I am so please to hear that you like visiting Ireland. B xx
You should definitely go to Cafe en Seine and it isn’t as expensive as it looks. I love a Ireland. My husband and I would love to relocate to West Cork one day. Emma
I hope your dream of locating to West Cork comes true.
Thank you that is so sweet of you to say so. A lot of bad things have happened to us in the last six months – miscarriage, redundancy, cancer in the family, so your message was very uplifting. I hope our Cork dream comes true too. It is lovely to get to know you better. Emma xx
By all the Gods this is a beautiful building, more than a little reminiscent of Paris indeed, it whisks you straight there, and situated in a most interesting post too. Thank you for the info here Emma, one way of another I shall visit this place one day. 🙂
– sonmicloud.
You would love Cafe en Seine. I do hope you get to visit one day. Thank you for your kind comments. Have a great week. Emma.
Was one of our favorite places in Dublin. But mostly just for a drink at the bar…
Being a Irishman from Dublin I’ve spent a few nights down there… too many infact. It is a great place with a nice atmosphere.
Ah… Cafe en Seine, I know it well! have spent many a happy evening there with my gal pals! Thanks for the trip down memory lane…