Choosing the Right Christmas Lunch Venue in Dublin
Choosing the right Christmas lunch venue in Dublin depends on the size of your group, your budget and the type of afternoon you want to create. A smaller company may prefer a private dining room where the team can celebrate together, while larger groups may need a restaurant with the space and flexibility to accommodate 50, 100 or more guests.
The style of lunch matters too. Some companies want a traditional festive menu, while others prefer steak, seafood, contemporary Irish cooking or something completely different. For client entertaining, privacy, food and service may take priority. For a company Christmas lunch, atmosphere and the option to continue for drinks afterwards can be just as important.
Lunch timings are another consideration, particularly during December when many Dublin restaurants operate specific festive sittings. The available arrival time, how long you have the table and whether your group can stay in the venue afterwards can make a significant difference to how the day works.
With more than 15 years of venue-sourcing experience in Dublin, Find a Venue has selected 15 Christmas lunch venues offering genuinely different options for 2026. You'll find restaurants for smaller teams and private dining, alongside venues capable of accommodating much larger company groups, with practical information on group sizes, privacy, pricing and lunch times where these have been confirmed.
If you are planning a larger evening celebration rather than a daytime lunch, our Christmas Party Venues in Dublin guide covers a wider range of options. For smaller groups where privacy is the priority, you can also explore our Private Dining in Dublin recommendations.
Best Christmas Lunch Venues in Dublin for 2026
From traditional festive lunches and private dining rooms to steakhouses, seafood restaurants and more contemporary alternatives, these are 15 Christmas lunch venues in Dublin we would consider for 2026.
Each offers something different, so we have included the practical details that matter when choosing, including group sizes, private dining options, food style, location, lunch times and confirmed 2026 festive pricing where available.
The Ivy Dawson Street
Best for: Stylish company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and teams looking for a lively city-centre setting
Guests: Jonathan Swift Room up to 32 seated
Food: Modern British and international cooking with seasonal festive options
Privacy: Private dining available in the Jonathan Swift Room
Price: €65 per person for two courses or €75 for three courses
Location: Dawson Street, Dublin 2
The Ivy Dawson Street is a strong choice for companies that want their Christmas lunch to feel like an occasion without becoming overly formal. The colourful dining room and lively atmosphere give it a celebratory feel, while familiar Ivy signatures such as Shepherd’s Pie and minute steak give an indication of the style of food on offer. Its Dawson Street location also works particularly well for groups planning to continue for drinks in the city centre afterwards.
For smaller company groups or client entertaining, the Jonathan Swift Room provides a private alternative to the main restaurant. The 2026 festive menu is available from 11 November to 29 December and includes a side, an Ivy Christmas cracker, followed by mince pies with tea or coffee.
Find a Venue Tip: Decide whether privacy or atmosphere matters more before automatically choosing the private room. For a client lunch, the Jonathan Swift Room can make sense, but for a company Christmas lunch, the energy of the main restaurant is often part of The Ivy’s appeal.
Peploe’s
Best for: Client entertaining, executive lunches and smaller company Christmas celebrations
Guests: Christmas set lunch available for groups of 8 or more
Food: Modern European cooking with seasonal Irish ingredients
Privacy: Group dining available within the restaurant
Price: €75 per person for the Christmas set lunch
Location: St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
Peploe’s is a strong choice for a more traditional business Christmas lunch where the food, wine and conversation are the main focus. Set in the former bank vaults beneath St Stephen’s Green, it has an established Dublin restaurant feel without being overly formal. The festive menu has included dishes such as French onion soup, Dublin Bay prawn scampi, roast turkey and Irish ham, roast hake and dry-aged rib eye, giving groups plenty of choice beyond the traditional Christmas lunch.
Its location makes Peploe’s particularly convenient for city-centre businesses and client entertaining. The Christmas set lunch is designed for groups of eight or more, making it a good fit for smaller teams that want a proper festive restaurant experience rather than a larger Christmas party.
Find a Venue Tip: We would consider Peploe’s when the Christmas lunch itself is the main event. It is particularly well suited to groups that value good food, wine and conversation over entertainment or a large private event space.
Saba
Best for: Company Christmas lunches, teams looking for something different and relaxed group celebrations
Food: Thai and Vietnamese cuisine with sharing dishes, curries and wok dishes
Privacy: Group dining available, with larger party options across Saba’s Dublin restaurants
Price: Festive Lunch Menu from €44.95 per person
Location: South William Street, Dublin 2
Saba is a good alternative for companies that want to move away from the traditional turkey and ham Christmas lunch. Its Thai and Vietnamese cooking brings a completely different flavour to the occasion, with current dishes including grilled prawn mieng kam, Kolae chicken skewers, chargrilled tiger prawns and creamy Tom Yum Goong.
The South William Street restaurant has a lively, informal atmosphere that works particularly well for teams treating their Christmas lunch as a social occasion rather than a formal corporate meal. Its city-centre location is another advantage, with plenty of options nearby for groups that want to continue for drinks afterwards.
Find a Venue Tip: Saba is particularly useful when the brief is simply, “We don’t want another traditional Christmas lunch.” It gives the team something genuinely different while keeping you right in the centre of Dublin if the celebration is continuing into the afternoon or evening.
FIRE Steakhouse & Bar
Best for: Company Christmas lunches, larger groups and teams looking for a premium steakhouse experience
Guests: Private dining options available for smaller and larger company groups
Food: Irish steak, seafood and seasonal festive dishes
Privacy: Private dining available in the Glass Room and Terrace Suite
Price: €59.50 per person for three courses
Lunch times: Christmas lunch served from 12pm to 4.15pm
Location: Dawson Street, Dublin 2
FIRE Steakhouse & Bar is a strong option for a company Christmas lunch when you want an impressive setting without moving into fine-dining territory. Located in the historic Mansion House complex, the restaurant is particularly well known for Irish beef, while its festive menu provides alternatives for guests who prefer seafood or other dishes.
One of FIRE's advantages for corporate groups is its flexibility. Private dining spaces allow companies to create a more self-contained celebration, while the main restaurant provides a busier atmosphere for teams that want to be part of the wider Christmas buzz in Dublin.
Find a Venue Tip: The 4.15pm final Christmas lunch sitting gives FIRE considerably more flexibility than restaurants with a shorter lunchtime service. For a company that wants to start later in the afternoon and continue into drinks afterwards, that can make a real difference when planning the day.
Planning a Company Christmas Lunch in Dublin?
Tell us your guest numbers, preferred date and approximate budget, and we'll help you find Christmas lunch venues that suit your group.
The Merrion Hotel
Best for: Executive Christmas lunches, client entertaining and private company dining
Guests: Private rooms for groups of up to 12, 30 or 50 seated
Food: Refined seasonal dining with a strong emphasis on Irish produce
Privacy: Dedicated private dining rooms including the Dangan, Pembroke, Waterloo, Fitzgerald, Wellesley and Wellington Rooms
Price: Festive Á La Carte options available in The Garden Room (mains approx. €35–€40). Private room banquets are custom-quoted on enquiry (typical festive set lunches range from €45–€75+ per person)
Location: Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2
The Merrion Hotel is one of the strongest choices for a Christmas lunch where privacy, service and the overall standard of the occasion are the priorities. Its festive private dining experience includes a specially created three-course lunch, served in seasonally decorated private rooms, making it particularly well suited to client entertaining, senior management lunches and more formal company gatherings.
The choice of rooms is a major advantage. The Dangan, Pembroke and Waterloo Rooms can each accommodate up to 12 guests, the Fitzgerald Room seats up to 30, while the Wellesley and Wellington Rooms can each accommodate up to 50. This allows the space to be matched closely to the size of the group rather than placing a smaller lunch in an oversized function room.
Find a Venue Tip: At The Merrion, we would choose the room around your final guest numbers rather than simply taking the largest space available. For an executive or client Christmas lunch, a room that feels comfortably full will create a much better atmosphere.
SOLE Seafood & Grill
Best for: Seafood-led company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and groups wanting private dining in the city centre
Guests: Captain’s Table up to 18 guests, The Cove up to 14, The Vault up to 40
Food: Irish seafood, fish and grill dishes with seasonal festive options
Privacy: Private and semi-private dining available across several dedicated spaces
Price: €59.50 per person for three courses
Lunch times: Christmas lunch served from 12pm to 4.15pm
Location: South William Street, Dublin 2
SOLE Seafood & Grill is an obvious choice for groups where seafood is an important part of the Christmas lunch. Its 2026 festive menu includes dishes such as West Cork mussels, seafood chowder, Kelly’s oysters, Howth smoked organic salmon and sea bass, giving groups a distinctly different option from the more traditional Christmas menus around Dublin.
The choice of dining spaces is another major advantage. The Captain’s Table works well for groups that want some separation while retaining the atmosphere of the restaurant, The Cove offers greater privacy for smaller parties, while The Vault can accommodate up to 40 guests for a more self-contained company Christmas lunch.
Find a Venue Tip: Think about the level of privacy you actually need before choosing the space. The Captain’s Table is ideal when you still want to feel part of the restaurant, while The Vault is the stronger option when you want the lunch to feel more like your own company event.
DÍON
Best for: Contemporary company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and medium-sized groups looking for something different
Guests: Semi-private spaces for 18–24 and 24–28 guests
Food: Contemporary Irish cooking centred around seasonal produce
Privacy: Two semi-private dining spaces, Clery’s Corner and Ha’penny Bridge
Price: €62 per person for three courses with sides
Location: Central Plaza, Dame Street, Dublin 2
DÍON is one of the newer additions to Dublin’s restaurant scene and gives companies a more contemporary option for their Christmas lunch. Located on the rooftop of Central Plaza, the restaurant combines modern Irish cooking with views across the city, making the setting itself part of the experience.
For groups, the two semi-private areas are particularly useful. Clery’s Corner accommodates 18–24 guests, while Ha’penny Bridge suits groups of 24–28. The 2026 festive lunch includes three courses with sides, with the Christmas menu running from 16 November into January.
Find a Venue Tip: DÍON is particularly worth considering for groups of around 20–28 people. That can be an awkward size when you want some privacy without hiring an entire restaurant, and these semi-private spaces allow the team to stay together while retaining the atmosphere of the main venue.
Dax Restaurant
Best for: Executive Christmas lunches, client entertaining and smaller company groups where food and service are the priority
Guests: Private and semi-private dining for groups from 10–30, with exclusive hire available for up to 64 guests
Food: French-inspired fine dining using seasonal Irish produce
Privacy: Several private and semi-private dining options available
Price: €59 per person for two courses or €79 for three courses
Lunch times: Christmas lunch begins from 18 November, with extended Thursday and Friday sittings during the festive season
Location: Pembroke Street Upper, Dublin 2
Dax Restaurant is a strong choice for a more refined Christmas lunch, particularly for entertaining clients, senior management or a smaller company team. Its 2026 Christmas menu includes dishes such as roast Dinish Island scallops, Dublin Bay prawns with Clogherhead crab and Port Oriel smoked salmon, roast Challans duck breast and braised Tipperary beef.
There is also useful flexibility for corporate groups. Smaller parties can dine privately or semi-privately, groups of up to 30 can be accommodated together, while exclusive use of the restaurant is possible for Christmas lunches of up to 64 guests.
Find a Venue Tip: Thursday and Friday are particularly useful during the Christmas period because Dax operates additional festive lunch sittings. For groups of more than 20, the restaurant uses a reduced menu selection, so we would agree on the choices early rather than leave menu planning until the final headcount.
Need Help Narrowing Down the Options?
From private dining for smaller teams to restaurants for larger company groups, we'll help you compare the venues that best match your Christmas lunch plans.
Chequer Lane
Best for: Company Christmas lunches, medium-sized groups and teams looking for a relaxed city-centre restaurant
Guests: Private dining for up to 25 guests, with exclusive restaurant hire available for groups of 80 or more
Food: Modern Irish cooking with seasonal produce and familiar dishes given a contemporary twist
Privacy: Private dining area available for up to 25 guests
Price: €62 per person for three courses
Lunch times: Christmas lunch sitting from 2pm to 5pm
Location: Exchequer Street, Dublin 2
Chequer Lane is a good middle ground between a formal Christmas lunch and a more relaxed company celebration. Created in partnership with Jamie Oliver, the restaurant focuses on Irish produce and approachable cooking, with dishes such as West Cork crab, Scotch egg and Irish fillet steak giving a good indication of the style of food on offer.
The private dining area is particularly useful for teams of up to 25 who want their own space, while much larger groups can consider exclusive use of the restaurant. Its Exchequer Street location also puts the group within easy walking distance of plenty of options for continuing the afternoon afterwards.
Find a Venue Tip: The 2pm to 5pm Christmas lunch sitting makes Chequer Lane particularly interesting for companies that want lunch to lead directly into an evening out. Rather than finishing lunch in the middle of the afternoon, the timing allows the Christmas celebration to flow naturally into drinks afterwards.
Hawksmoor Dublin
Best for: Steak-led company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and groups looking for an impressive restaurant setting
Guests: Private dining rooms for up to 18 guests, with exclusive hire available for up to 150 seated
Food: British steakhouse cooking centred around high-quality Irish beef, seafood and generous sharing dishes
Privacy: Two private dining rooms available, with full restaurant exclusive hire for larger groups
Price: Festive sharing menus from €70 per person
Location: College Green, Dublin 2
Hawksmoor Dublin is a strong choice for companies that want the food to be a major part of their Christmas lunch. Set in the former National Bank building on College Green, the restaurant is known for its steaks and sharing-style dining, with festive menus built around generous cuts of beef, seasonal sides and desserts designed for the table.
For smaller groups, the private dining rooms provide a more secluded Christmas lunch for up to 18 guests. At the other end of the scale, exclusive use can accommodate up to 150 seated, making Hawksmoor one of the more interesting options for a larger company that still wants a restaurant-led Christmas celebration rather than a conventional function room.
Find a Venue Tip: Hawksmoor works particularly well when the group is happy to embrace sharing-style dining. For a company Christmas lunch where steak, wine and conversation are the priorities, the format can create a much more sociable table than individually plated courses.
The Grayson
Best for: Company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and groups looking for a stylish St Stephen’s Green setting
Guests: Private spaces available from 6 guests, with whole-house events accommodating up to 220 seated
Food: Contemporary Irish and European cooking with seasonal festive dishes
Privacy: Several private and semi-private spaces available
Price: €45 per person for two courses or €55 for three courses
Lunch times: Christmas lunch served Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3.30pm
Location: St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
The Grayson combines a central St Stephen’s Green location with several different dining and event spaces, making it a flexible option for company Christmas lunches. Previous festive menus have included dishes such as porcini and chestnut velouté, goat’s cheese mousse, guinea fowl, pan-roasted halibut and Christmas pudding, giving a good indication of the style of seasonal food the restaurant offers.
The range of spaces is a particular advantage for corporate groups. Smaller teams can choose one of the private rooms, while larger companies have the option of taking over significantly more of the venue. The 2026 festive lunch is also competitively priced at €45 for two courses or €55 for three.
Find a Venue Tip: The Grayson is worth considering when guest numbers are still likely to change. With several spaces available rather than one fixed private dining room, there is more scope to match the final room to the size and style of your Christmas lunch.
Hugo’s Restaurant
Best for: Traditional company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and smaller groups where food and conversation are the priority
Food: Modern European cooking using seasonal Irish produce
Privacy: Group dining available within the restaurant
Price: €80 per person for the festive lunch
Lunch times: Lunch served Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3.30pm
Location: Merrion Row, Dublin 2
Hugo’s is a good choice for companies looking for a more traditional restaurant Christmas lunch in an intimate city-centre setting. Its festive menu has plenty of seasonal character, with dishes including Ballycotton smoked salmon, duck liver parfait, turkey and ham with cranberry and sage stuffing, Andarl Farm pork belly and baked Atlantic cod. Desserts include Christmas pudding and a Mont Blanc choux bun.
The atmosphere is more about enjoying the meal, wine and conversation than creating a large Christmas party. This makes Hugo’s particularly well suited to smaller teams, client lunches and companies looking for a relaxed but polished afternoon in the city centre.
Find a Venue Tip: Hugo’s is best suited to groups that are comfortable dining as part of the main restaurant. For groups of 12 or more, seating may be across adjoining tables, so if keeping everyone around one table is important, we would establish the seating arrangement before booking.
Still Looking for the Right Christmas Lunch Venue?
Tell us what you're planning, and we'll shortlist suitable Dublin venues based on your group size, budget and the type of Christmas lunch you have in mind.
BANG Restaurant
Best for: Company Christmas lunches, client entertaining and groups looking for a polished city-centre restaurant
Food: Contemporary Irish and European cooking with a strong focus on seasonal ingredients
Privacy: Group and private dining options available across the restaurant
Price: €79.90 per person for the Christmas lunch
Lunch times: Christmas lunch sittings available from 1pm or 2pm, with tables required back by 4.30pm
Location: Merrion Row, Dublin 2
BANG Restaurant is a strong option for companies that want a food-led Christmas lunch in a smart but relaxed setting. Its Christmas offering includes dishes such as Irish crab on toast, fillet steak, monkfish on the bone and chicken piri piri, with burnt Basque cheesecake among the dessert choices.
Set across several levels, BANG gives groups more flexibility than its intimate restaurant setting might initially suggest. Its Merrion Row location also works particularly well for companies that want to continue the afternoon elsewhere in the city centre once lunch finishes.
Find a Venue Tip: Pay particular attention to the sitting time here. With tables required back by 4.30 pm, the 1 pm sitting gives you more time over lunch, while the 2 pm option works better if you want the meal to lead directly into drinks afterwards.
Doolally
Best for: Relaxed company Christmas lunches, larger groups and teams looking for something different from a traditional festive menu
Guests: Group dining available for up to 100 guests, with the full room accommodating up to 220 seated
Food: Indian cooking designed around sharing, with a wide choice of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes
Privacy: Large group bookings and exclusive event options available
Price: €38.50 per person for two courses or €47.50 for three courses
Lunch times: Christmas lunch served daily from 12pm to 3pm
Location: Lennox Street, Dublin 8
Doolally is one of the strongest alternatives on the list for companies that want to move completely away from a traditional Christmas lunch. Previous festive menus have included dishes such as mango chicken tikka, palak patta chaat, Parsi chicken curry and Hyderabadi lamb stew, with gulab jamun rabri for dessert. The sharing style of the food also creates a naturally sociable atmosphere for a team lunch.
It is particularly useful for larger companies. Group tables can accommodate up to 100 guests, while the full room can seat up to 220, giving Doolally considerably more capacity than most restaurants on this list. The 2026 festive lunch is also one of the more competitively priced options, starting at €38.50 per person.
Find a Venue Tip: Don't dismiss Doolally as an option only for smaller informal teams. Its capacity makes it particularly useful when you have a large company group but still want everyone dining in a restaurant environment rather than moving into a hotel function room.
Which Christmas Lunch Venue in Dublin Is Right for Your Group?
The right Christmas lunch venue will depend on your guest numbers, budget and the type of afternoon you want to create. A smaller team may value a private dining room and a quieter setting, while a larger company might need more flexibility around capacity, timings and what happens after lunch.
Food can narrow the choice quickly. FIRE and Hawksmoor work well for steak-led lunches, SOLE is an obvious choice for seafood, while Saba and Doolally offer something completely different from a traditional festive menu. For client entertaining or a more formal lunch, Dax, The Merrion and Peploe’s are particularly strong options.
Lunch times also matter. Some restaurants operate fixed festive sittings during December, so think about whether you want a traditional lunchtime booking or a later sitting that can flow naturally into drinks and the rest of your company Christmas celebration.
If you're unsure which option suits your group, tell us your guest numbers, preferred date, approximate budget and the type of Christmas lunch you have in mind. Find a Venue can shortlist suitable venues and help you compare the options before you make a decision.
If a daytime celebration doesn't suit your plans, our Christmas Dinner in Dublin guide compares restaurants and private dining options for company and group dinners across the city.
Our venue-finding service is completely free to clients.
Christmas Lunch Venues in Dublin by Group Size
Guest numbers are one of the quickest ways to narrow down the right Christmas lunch venue. For smaller groups of around 10–20 guests, options include Hawksmoor’s private dining rooms, SOLE’s Captain’s Table and the smaller private rooms at The Merrion.
For groups of around 20–40, SOLE’s Vault, DÍON’s semi-private spaces, Chequer Lane’s private dining area and Dax are worth considering. These venues give medium-sized teams more opportunity to dine together without necessarily hiring an entire restaurant.
For larger company Christmas lunches, Jean-Georges at The Leinster can accommodate up to 76 seated, Doolally offers group dining for up to 100, while Hawksmoor can accommodate up to 150 seated with exclusive hire.
For larger groups, capacity shouldn't be the only consideration. The room layout, level of privacy, lunch sitting times and what you want to do afterwards can make just as much difference to how well the venue works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Lunch in Dublin
What are the best restaurants for a company Christmas lunch in Dublin?
The best restaurant will depend on your group size, budget and the type of lunch you are planning. FIRE and Hawksmoor are strong steak-led options, SOLE suits seafood-focused groups, while Dax, The Merrion and Peploe’s work particularly well for client entertaining or a more formal company lunch. Saba and Doolally are good alternatives if you want something different from a traditional festive menu.
Where can I book a private Christmas lunch in Dublin?
Several Dublin restaurants offer private or semi-private spaces for Christmas lunch. The Merrion has private rooms for groups from around 12 to 50, SOLE offers several options including The Vault for up to 40, DÍON has semi-private spaces for up to 28, while Hawksmoor has private dining rooms for up to 18 guests.
How much does a Christmas lunch in Dublin cost in 2026?
Based on confirmed 2026 festive menus in this guide, Christmas lunch starts at around €38.50 per person, with many restaurants falling between approximately €45 and €80 per person. Prices depend on the restaurant, number of courses, menu and whether private dining or exclusive use is required.
What time do Christmas lunches start in Dublin?
Christmas lunch times vary considerably between restaurants. Some venues begin serving from 12pm, while others offer later festive sittings during the afternoon. FIRE and SOLE serve Christmas lunch until 4.15pm, while Chequer Lane operates a 2pm to 5pm festive lunch sitting. If you plan to continue for drinks afterwards, the lunch time can be an important part of choosing the venue.
How far in advance should I book a company Christmas lunch in Dublin?
Popular December dates can fill quickly, particularly Thursday and Friday afternoons and bookings requiring private dining. Larger company groups also have fewer suitable venues, so starting the search early gives you a much better choice of restaurants, spaces and lunch times.
Can Find a Venue help organise a Christmas lunch in Dublin?
Yes. Tell us your guest numbers, preferred date, approximate budget and the type of Christmas lunch you are planning. We can shortlist suitable Dublin venues and help you compare the options before you book.
Our venue-finding service is completely free to clients.
Find a Venue – Christmas Lunch Specialists in Dublin
Find a Venue has been helping companies organise Christmas lunches and corporate events in Dublin for more than 15 years. We work with restaurants, hotels and private dining venues across the city, giving us first-hand knowledge of the spaces available and the types of groups they suit.
Rather than simply providing a list of restaurants, we help companies compare the practical details that can determine whether a Christmas lunch works, including guest numbers, private dining options, budgets, lunch times, location and what the group plans to do afterwards.
Tell us what you're looking for, and we'll help identify the most suitable options for your group.
If you're planning a larger company celebration rather than a restaurant lunch, our Christmas Party Nights in Dublin service can help with the wider event, including venue sourcing, dining and entertainment
Our venue-finding service is completely free to clients.