"Garry Hughes's seafood-and-grill room in The Shelbourne, open since 1824 — try the Lambay lobster thermidor for a Dublin client lunch."
About The Saddle Room
The oyster bar runs down one side of the room, ice glittering under low light, stocked with Carlingford, Lambay and Galway natives before you ever reach a table. The Saddle Room is the signature seafood-and-grill restaurant of The Shelbourne, the St Stephen's Green hotel that has anchored Dublin society since 1824 and brought the room back in its current form after the 2007 restoration. Head chef Garry Hughes cooks a classic surf-and-turf menu: Lambay Island lobster thermidor at €59, dry-aged Irish steaks, Dover sole, with set lunches from €45.
The Kitchen
Garry Hughes runs a kitchen built on Irish produce and classic technique rather than novelty. The oyster bar is the calling card, shucking Carlingford, Lambay and Galway natives to order, and the seafood carries through to a Lambay Island lobster thermidor at €59 and a seared Kilmore Quay cod with cauliflower and squid-ink purée. The grill side is just as serious: dry-aged Irish steaks and Dover sole on the bone, the dishes a grand hotel dining room is expected to do well and here actually does.
The menu is flexible by format. A five-course tasting is €80, or €120 with wine pairings; set lunches run €45 for two courses and €50 for three, and a pre-theatre menu is €49. It is priced as hotel fine dining, which is the point: this is a room for an occasion, a deal or a long Sunday rather than a casual weeknight. For the wider scene, see our top Dublin restaurants and the city's best steakhouses and grills.
The Room
The Saddle Room sits on the ground floor of The Shelbourne, a high-ceilinged dining room of banquettes, white linen and the oyster bar along one wall. The sound level is conversational, the lighting warm, the spacing generous, the kind of grand-hotel room built for talking across the table rather than performing. Service is formal but warm, and dress runs smart: jackets are not required but most guests dress up for the setting. The St Stephen's Green address makes it one of the easiest fine-dining rooms in Dublin to reach.
Best for a Client Lunch or Celebration
Book The Saddle Room for a client lunch, a deal or a milestone, because the grand-hotel setting does the heavy lifting: the room reads as serious without trying, the seafood and grill menu offends nobody, and the set lunches from €45 keep a business meal sensible. The oyster bar is a strong opener and the St Stephen's Green location is unbeatable for a city-centre meeting. For more, see our picks for a client dinner and a business lunch.
Not for
Not for a budget or casual night; this is grand-hotel dining inside The Shelbourne, where prices and formality match the address, so anyone after a relaxed, low-cost meal should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked
Is The Saddle Room worth it?
Yes, for the right occasion. The Saddle Room is The Shelbourne's seafood-and-grill room, and head chef Garry Hughes does the classics well: an oyster bar shucking Carlingford and Galway natives, Lambay Island lobster thermidor, dry-aged steaks and Dover sole. It is priced as grand-hotel fine dining, so it suits a client lunch, a deal or a celebration more than a casual weeknight, but the quality and setting deliver.
How hard is it to book The Saddle Room?
Booking is moderate and best done ahead for weekends and lunch service. As The Shelbourne's signature restaurant on St Stephen's Green, it draws hotel guests, business diners and celebrations, so Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunch fill first. Reserve several days to a week out for prime times, and book directly through the hotel. Midweek lunches are easier to land on shorter notice.
What is the dress code at The Saddle Room?
The dress code is smart. Jackets are not strictly required, but given the grand-hotel setting inside The Shelbourne, most guests dress up, and smart-casual is the practical floor rather than the ceiling. A blazer or a nice dress fits the room perfectly. Avoid sportswear or beachwear. The atmosphere is formal but warm, so aim to look put-together for lunch or dinner.
What is the average meal price at The Saddle Room?
Set lunches start at €45 for two courses and €50 for three, with a pre-theatre menu at €49, so a midday visit can be relatively contained. Dinner climbs quickly: a five-course tasting is €80, or €120 with wine pairings, and a la carte mains like the Lambay lobster thermidor run €59. A full dinner with wine for two comfortably reaches the higher end of Dublin dining.
Is The Saddle Room good for business?
Yes, it is one of Dublin's stronger business-dining rooms. The Shelbourne setting reads as serious without ostentation, the seafood-and-grill menu is safe for any guest, and the room is quiet enough to talk numbers. The St Stephen's Green location suits a city-centre meeting, and set lunches from €45 keep it sensible. See our best business-lunch restaurants for more.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The Saddle Room
Via theshelbourne.com · book ahead for weekends
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressThe Shelbourne, 27 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
NeighbourhoodSt Stephen's Green
CuisineSeafood & grill
Set Lunch€45 (2 courses) · €50 (3 courses)
Tasting Menu€80 · €120 with wine
Dress CodeSmart
ReservationDirect · book ahead for weekends
