Ocean Bar & Restaurant

3.5 star rating
13 reviews Rating Details

Categories: Pubs, Modern European  [Edit]

Ground Floor, Millennium Tower
Charlotte Quay Dock

Dublin 4
(01) 6688862
Hours:

Mon-Fri 12:00 - 22:00

Sat-Sun 12:30 - 22:00

Delivery:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Children:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Price Range:
€€
Take Away:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
Free
Good For:
Dinner
Music:
Background
Best Nights:
Fri, Thu, Sat
Happy Hour:
No
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Coat Check:
No
Noise Level:
Quiet
Good For Dancing:
No
Ambience:
Casual
Has TV:
Yes
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
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13 reviews in English

  • Review from Megan G.

    • 20 friends
    • 38 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    USA
    4.0 star rating
    24/4/2012

    Friendly bartenders, pints of Guinness, ocean/docs view, and lots of nice low seating near floor-to-ceiling windows make this a nice enough place for a Friday afternoon pint.

    Restrooms are downstairs, the starters menu looked nice, and they have several private event rooms for rent. The outside patio gets busy.

    All in all, a very safe choice for meeting friends if you're in the area.

  • Review from Brian M.

    Dublin

    4.0 star rating
    2/2/2012

    So I went here last night, armed with a deal for two that covered 2 glasses of Prosecco, 2 starters, 2 mains and a tea/coffee each to end. All for €30.

    We went in and I was surprised to find so many people in there on what was a baltic evening in Dublin...I'd always assumed it was lifeless in there on nights like that.

    Down we sat and were met by the chap who seems to be running the show: the epitome of good customer service. Pleasant, welcoming and chatty. He had the Prosecco over in no time and a pair of menus.

    Both of us went for the chicken wings to start. I'd had them there before and they were tasty. I hadn't banked on quite the same size of bowl coming out this time given they were a starter but I rubbed my hands in delighted anticipation when I saw what came out. I tucked in and they were delicious. "Gaw-DAYAM"....I would have said, had I not had a mouthful of food.

    I somehow finished them all...along with two or three of my better half's:-) and sat back to let them digest. It was only then that it dawned on me that there was a main course to follow. I wondered if there was any chance of getting them too hold off on bringing out the main course for, oh...say, 24 hours. I didn't like my chances so I braced myself for the beer battered cod and chunky chips. The better half had the beef burger.

    The cod was delicious. Lovely, chunky, meaty cod with a crispy batter and chunky chips on the side. Again, delicious.

    I soldiered on to the end thinking about less fortunate people who would love such a meal and would finish it....and that it was my duty to finish it! :D

    I couldn't even finish my drink after but that's down to the fact that I could and should have left something on my plate.

    The food was great. The service was great and the atmosphere was better than expected. I'll be back for food and that's a fact!

  • Review from Alexandra M.

    Dublin

    4.0 star rating
    Updated - 20/11/2011

    Came back with the GrabOne coupon and had tea and a raspberry scone and took a winter fruit muffin to go.

    The tea was Kenyan which i was not sure how that made it different from other teas and the owner was very informative but I still could not really tell the difference, guess I need to work on that! I'm not usually a fan of scones but theirs looked so good that I had to try and they did not let me down! The winter fruit muffin I thought was a cupcake so that was a bit of a disappointment when I bit into it, but it did have melted white chocolate on top...which made it pretty amazing. I expected diversity in the muffin/cupcake in the fruit but all I got was raspberry--which is great with white chocolate, but I expected more.

    The owner was cleaning the whole time which is great to see how much he cares about the place and let you know how clean it is. Some friends were visiting Dublin for a few days and we were trying to come up with some things for them to do other than Guinness and he had a few great suggestions that were off the normal super-touristy path!

    Listed in: Dublin Eateries, Dublin Breakfast and Brunch

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      16/11/2011

      A Yelp Elite event just took place here and here is what I had to say:

      Came late :( so we missed out… Read more »

  • Review from Keith R.

    Dublin

    2.0 star rating
    17/11/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Typical new modern pub. No real feel to it, needs to be busy to be enoyed, not somewhere for a quiet drink - more like a hotel lobby!

    Great view of the Grand Canal Dock though... hence the 2 stars!

  • Review from Eoin M.

    • 14 friends
    • 21 reviews

    Dublin

    3.0 star rating
    1/8/2011

    Despite not actually being in, near or on an ocean, this bar does a reasonable job of keeping the water motif in check.

    Situated a little while off the road and right on the Grand Canal Dock basin, there's a great, relaxing view of the water where you can sit down on the dock with legs dangling over the edge. Thanks to the lack of any nearby buildings, on sunny days you get hours of uninterrupted sun, which would make this a great beer garden -- were it not for the fact that you were drinking cocktails on what is effectively a small alleyway.

    This outdoors area is responsible for the bars popularity on sunny days; There's absolutely no way you're getting a good seat if you arrive after noon. Fortunately, there is a marina nearby. All you have to do is purchase a small inflatable boat and paddle right up to the bar. Once you've gotten your drinks, just paddle out into the middle of the basin.  Guaranteed seat, but you do run the risk of drunkenly capsizing. For bonus points, dress as a pirate and drink only rum-based drinks while doing this.

    On quieter days, the bar will occasionally run a three-for-the-price-of-two offer on cocktails or beers. I haven't figured out the pattern to these offers, though. On these quieter days, you're going to be sitting inside. Even though there are loads of tables and chairs and there's hardly any customers, it's still difficult to find a table; For some reason, it seems that five customers are able to completely fill the seating. You brought the boat, just in case, right?

  • Review from Katelyn C.

    • 3 friends
    • 26 reviews

    Dublin

    3.0 star rating
    29/3/2012

    Went on a busy Tuesday evening with a voucher and we were immediately confused where to sit as there wasn't a server visible. When we finally found the guy we had a nice table for two with a lovely view of grand canal. The atmosphere was weird, seemed like a really trendy and pretentious crowd and I was clearly not cool enough to hang. My boyfriend loved his chicken parmesan and chips. I ordered a mushroom risotto which surprisingly contained no mushrooms. None. Carrots and peppers instead. It was just ok. Redeeming factor of the place was the one waiter on duty. He was hauling ass, extremely attentive, and really nice. It cannot be easy waiting on some twenty tables alone, bless him. Someone give that guy a raise!!

  • Review from J K.

    • 1 friend
    • 1 review

    Dublin

    3.0 star rating
    24/6/2011

    Nice views, great place to grab a bite though it's a bit pricey.
    Excellent seafood chowder and burgers.

  • Review from Rhatia C.

    • 18 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Dublin

    4.0 star rating
    2/7/2010 ROTD 8/7/2010

    Ah yes... there's no better and more chill a place than Ocean Bar on a warm Thursday evening. The view is awesome of course... you get to watch swans swim by, and people walk throughout the brand new, beautifully lit Grand Canal Theater right across the water. The place had a good crowd but it wasn't totally packed. I like places that don't get totally packed, because I'm a big fan of plunking my ass down in a comfy chair while I drink brew as opposed to drinking at the bar while I look around for the next couple to free up a table. The restaurant/bar environment is good looking and pretty comfy.

    A crazy dude named Brian, who had already had a good few beers, came up to me and my husband for a crazy chat. He works for IBM, is getting married next week, loved that I was enjoying my time in Ireland, and absolutely HATED my beloved brown hat. UURRGGG, I love this hat and assured him that he did not want to see the messy hair underneath. This did not appease him at all and he said I was just hiding the view of my beautiful face. Next time I will return sans hat.  :-D

    Beer selection isn't fantastic, but they've got the basics and a Carlsberg suits me fine anywhere. Our brews were not cheap, as this place is pretty expensive. This is OK by me as I can afford it, and would only come here to have a fancy pint or cocktail with a great view. Crowd varies between business chill (after work crowd) and chic pretentious (pre-theater crowd) so go depending on what you're mood is. Seems like a great place to network and/or discuss exciting future career plans!  :-)

  • Review from Hakim A.

    • 11 friends
    • 18 reviews

    Dublin

    2.0 star rating
    13/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here

    Ocean Bar is a peculiar place.

    Very, very, VERY popular among the Google-crowd so the place is swarming with "Googlers" on a Friday evening.

    The thing is... Ocean Bar isn't the best pub. By far not.
    The setting, in the middle of the re-styled Grand Canal area, is typical "Celtic Tiger Posh".

    Drinks and food are overpriced (last time I checked a pint was over the 5-Euros-bar, if I remember it correctly).

    And: they don't know how to pour a Guinness. They pour it in one go, without letting it settle first when the brew reaches the golden harp. They smash the foamy mixture towards you, I regularly get a wet, over-flooded Guinness for me bucks - which has VERY negative effects on the taste.

    Let's face it: a Guinness at Ocean's tastes like water, I don't know how they manage it, but every can-Guinness I pour at home is better...

    But then, your usual Ocean's Bar aficionado doesn't indulge in Guinness. If they would serve Fleurtinies, that's what the pseudo-posh guests would order.

    Cheap, bad tasting European and US "beer" (Carlsberg, Heineken, Budweiser, Coors Light) are the main sellers.

    The only beer I would recommend here is bavarian white beer. They have Paulaner from the bottle - this at least ensures that they can't mix it with water... but 5,70 Euros for one beer is just way too much money for value.

    The only reason to go there is the rare occasion of a sunny evening.

    Because the beauty of Ocean Bar lies OUTSIDE of Ocean Bar: you can take your drink outside and sit down, your feet towards the muddy waters of the Grand Canal.

    Then, the sun on my head, a wheat-beer from good ol' Germany in my hand, I am at peace with the world and have a smile on my face. But only after payday :)

  • Review from Annie L.

    Dublin

    4.0 star rating
    13/8/2009 1 Check-in Here

    Initially I was not the biggest fan of this place, it's on the pricey side and the crowd that were there when I was were the pretentious type. But I decided that perhaps I was being a tad too judgemental so I returned at a quieter time in the day.

    Not surprisingly the prices remained the same, but the menu is very impressive with it's exotic seafood concoctions, I am just broke and bitter so I think it's more of a jealous thing on my part.

    Location is amazing, can't imagine how cold it would be during the Winter months but during the Summer I can't think of a better place to sit out for brunch and spend a lot of money. Ask my honest opinion about the place when I am more solvent and blow my nose with 100euro notes.

  • Review from Kate M.

    • 25 friends
    • 366 reviews

    Dublin

    3.0 star rating
    20/8/2009 1 photo

    I like the Ocean Bar. On a nice day, there's no better place to have a drink out in the sunshine. You can sit on the deck, throw your legs over the side and enjoy it by the water.

    The Grand Canal/Hanover Quay area is a busy little mecca, and there's always a great atmosphere around. There are lots of little trendy café/restaurant/bars dotted around the place and I think this contributes to the buzz of the place greatly.

    The bar itself isn't particularly spectacular. I tend to only go there on sunny days, and so does everyone else. I've never known it to be jammers on a rainy mid-week night. But then again, I've never gone on this kind of night so how would I know!

  • Review from Conall O.

    • 34 friends
    • 44 reviews

    Greystones, Co. Wicklow

    4.0 star rating
    19/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here

    At one point my local, Ocean is a nice bar for a quiet pint, chilling out with friends on one of their couches or to grab a bite to eat. They once had a wider selection of beers, but they shrunk the selection somewhat a few years ago.

    Everytime I get food there, I always gravitate towards the burger. Someday, I really will try something else from the menu, but I'm always satisfied by their burger, so I don't expect to try new things anytime soon.

    Late in the week, once the weather is good, it gets packed to the rafters and people overflow the outdoor area and sit along the banks of the docklands. Earlier in the week is good for a quiet pint, later in the week is good for post work drinks in a hopping bar.

  • Review from Katie-Ann M.

    • 22 friends
    • 285 reviews

    Dublin

    4.0 star rating
    12/1/2010 3 photos

    City slickers who'd rather steer clear of the crowded seafront hotspots would do well to check out Ocean, found on an attractive waterside location in Ringsend. The Main Bar is a bright and airy room with floor to ceiling windows opening out onto the patio. Contemporary décor within this stylish bar provide an exceedingly pleasurable setting to enjoy pre-dinner drinks.

    The warm and inviting Ocean Lounge, which can comfortably accommodate up to 100 people for a meal or reception is where we enjoyed our dinner. Admittedly, its menu can be a tad uninspiring on occasion, but the restful and gentle scenery easily makes up for it. I opted for what I deemed, theoretically speaking, the most adventurous menu option, that being Lunch Baked Crab Cakes with Cous-Cous Salad and Sweet Chilli Jam for €12.25. I also ordered Sauté Potatoes for €4.50 to accompany the fish. Everything was to my satisfaction with the Sweet Chilli Jam providing a very pleasing punch that really enlivened the whole dish.

    Ocean Bar and Restaurant provides a pleasing place to relax within the cosy and spacious interior the venue proffers. The views over the water through floor to ceiling windows allow you to soak up the evening sun on the waterside patio.A welcoming ambience with friendly and efficient service confirm this as a definite place to visit.

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