The Pig’s Ear

The Pig's Ear is a modern Irish restaurant on Nassau Street, with views across the road to Trinity College. It describes its cooking as traditional Irish fare with a modern feel, and it launched a new Irish menu for 2026. The combination of a central location, a view and Irish cooking makes it a convenient choice for a dinner out.

A sample menu is published on the website, so check it before you go to see the current dishes. It is a good place to try Irish food in a polished but unstuffy setting, and it suits couples, families with older children and small groups.

Service runs from Tuesday to Saturday. Dinner is served from 17:00, finishing around 21:00 to 21:30, and there is lunch on Saturdays only, from 12:00 to 14:00. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Online booking through the website is available for parties of up to ten; it closes after 17:00 on the day, so call if you want a same-day table. Larger groups should email [email protected]. A card is taken to hold bookings but not charged, and late cancellations and no-shows incur a charge per person, so cancel in good time if your plans change.

Window tables with the Trinity view are the most sought after, so mention it when you book, and come in daylight in summer to enjoy the outlook. Allow around two hours for dinner. Smart casual dress fits in well.

Nassau Street runs along the southern edge of Trinity College, between Grafton Street and Merrion Square, so the restaurant works well after a visit to the Book of Kells or before an evening at the nearby theatres. The National Gallery and the National Museum of Archaeology are a few minutes' walk away, and Grafton Street's shops and pubs are around the corner.

If you are planning a special occasion, booking a week or more ahead for a Friday or Saturday is sensible. Remember that the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan those evenings elsewhere, and keep the per-person no-show charge in mind if your plans are uncertain.