"Open since 1956 and run by Robert Doggett, the Troc is Dublin's pre-theatre institution — book it for the room and the chargrilled steak."
The Trocadero has been Dublin's theatre restaurant since 1956, spread across two red-brick Georgian buildings at 4 St Andrew Street, steps from the Olympia and Gaiety. Long-time proprietor Robert Doggett joined in 1985 and now co-owns the room, which keeps original lighting from the old Theatre Royal and walls of signed star portraits. The kitchen is unapologetically classic, and a pre-theatre menu runs 2/3 courses at €24/€29.50 before 6:30 p.m.
This is old-school cooking done properly: the much-loved house pâté, cannelloni, chargrilled Angus steaks, succulent Wicklow lamb and fresh local bass and sole, finished with classic desserts. The Irish Times called it a timeless classic in 2025, and the appeal is exactly that — dishes that haven't chased trends in decades.
The room is the draw: low light, red velvet, white linen and six decades of theatreland portraits, with staff who know the curtain times of every nearby stage. It is warm, theatrical and entirely itself.
For a night at the Olympia or Gaiety, the Troc is the pre-theatre table in Dublin: a set menu paced to the curtain in a room dense with stage history.
Not for diners chasing modern tasting menus or natural wine — the Troc is proudly old-school, and that is the entire point.
The Trocadero has operated on St Andrew Street since 1956, making it one of Dublin's longest-running restaurants and its best-known theatre restaurant.
Long-time proprietor Robert Doggett, who joined in 1985 and now co-owns the restaurant. It is family-run rather than chef-branded.
Yes. A pre-theatre set menu runs two or three courses at €24/€29.50, served before 6:30 p.m. with tables vacated by about 7:45 p.m. À la carte is available all evening.
Classic European cooking: house pâté, cannelloni, chargrilled Angus steaks, Wicklow lamb and fresh local fish such as bass and sole, with old-school desserts.
At 4 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2, in the city centre near the Olympia, Gaiety and Abbey theatres.
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Where the Trocadero sits among Dublin's special-occasion tables.
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