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Café en Seine

The first of the continental style café-bars to open in Dublin, Café en Seine is still ahead of the fashion - the interior is stunning, in an opulent art deco style reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Paris.

Not so much a bar as a series of bars (your mobile phone could be your most useful accessory if you arrange to meet somebody here), the soaring interior is truly awe-inspiring with a 3-storey atrium culminating in beautiful glass-panelled ceilings, forty foot trees, enormous art nouveau glass lanterns, and statues and a 19th century French hotel lift among its many amazing features.

No expense has been spared in ensuring the quality of design, materials and craftsmanship necessary to create this beautiful Aladdin's cave of a bar. Lush ferns create a deliciously decadent atmosphere and the judicious mixture of old and new which make it a true original - and its many 'bars within bars' create intimate spaces that are a far cry from the impersonality of the superpub.

Appealing food is a feature too: there's a sociable combination platter serving four people and hot dishes like steak sandwiches, scampi and quiches with salads are popular; everything is spotlessly clean and, while simple, the food is really tasty.

An informal range of contemporary dishes is available over lunchtime every day, also light bites all day - and there's a popular Jazz Brunch every Sunday. Little wonder that so many people of all ages still see it as the coolest place in town.


Small al fresco covered section at front seats about 30. Lunch daily, 12-3; (Sun brunch 1-4). D daily: Sun-Wed, 5-9; Thu-Sat, 5-10. Wheelchair access. Bar open 10.30am-2.30am daily. Carvery lunch 12-3. Snack menu 4-10. Closed 25-26 Dec & Good Fri. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Upper Dawson Street, on right walking towards St Stephen's Green (St Stephen's Green car park is very close).