Two Michelin stars is an accolade reserved for Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, a contemporary French restaurant run by the restaurateur of the same name. Parisian chef Guillaume Lebrun employs his savoir-faire to bring French fine dining to Dublin’s Merrion Square.
The restaurant’s setting mirrors its elevated cuisine, located in a grand Georgian house next door to the five-star Merrion Hotel. Expect a seasonally-changing menu, with fish, meat and vegetarian options, which blends classic French cuisine with local Irish produce. Standout dishes include blue lobster poached in salted butter, and a fillet of Irish beef with roast foie gras, followed by a tempting pear and chestnut croquant pudding. The wine cellar boasts over 30,000 bottles from all over the world, picked by trained sommeliers and paired with bespoke glassware.
Located at the front of the restaurant, the elegant private dining room caters to both intimate dinners of 10-12 people, or larger meals of 30 people. While the room is certainly grand – expect curtains fastened by gold-feathered brooches, a traditional fireplace, gild-framed mirror, and spectacular œuvres d’art – the restaurant is by no means pretentious or snooty.
You might even be blessed with a visit from restaurateur Patrick himself, known to pop in to chat to private diners. The spacious room, characterised by high ceilings and plush velvet chairs, is flooded by natural light which glistens off wine glasses and crisp white tablecloths. Bookend your dinner with a visit to the garden-like terrace – the space is cosy, with inviting sofas and warming heaters. The restaurant can also be hired exclusively for larger private dining groups.