Peruvian Wood-Fired Feasts at Cantina Valentina
Tucked inside The Hoxton on Exchequer Street, this lively picantería turns out citrus-cured sea bass ceviche, anticuchos, and pisco sours against cozy terracotta tiles.
peruviancocktailsdinner
For couplesRomantic things to do in Dublin this weekend (Oct 16–18)
This weekend in Dublin: Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026 · 7 dated events
Romantic things to do in Dublin, Ireland include hidden gems and locals-know-this picks — the restaurant you won't see on a top-10 list, the late-night spot, and quick escapes worth a weekend.
14 hand-picked things to do in Dublin, Ireland right now · 7 with confirmed dates
Photo: Gregory DALLEAU / Unsplash
How we pick date-night spots
- Intimate, lower-key rooms over loud group venues
- Hidden gems locals know, not top-10-list regulars
- Late-night and cultural picks that make an evening
Planning a romantic trip to Dublin?
This page is what's on now. These hold up any week of the year — written out in full, built from real, checked places.
Date night ideas in Dublin, Ireland
Looking for date night ideas in Dublin, Ireland? These are pairings from what's actually on this week — the picks below are refreshed daily, so it's a live shortlist rather than an evergreen top-10 list. Take one as the anchor and keep the rest of the evening loose.
- Dinner first — Peruvian Wood-Fired Feasts at Cantina Valentina and Northern Thai BBQ & Smoked Ribs at Achara are on this week's list, and the easiest date night here is one good table with nowhere to be after it. Jump to Eat & Drink
- Make an evening of it — Anchor the night on something that's actually scheduled, like Matilda The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, and put dinner on either side of it. Jump to Happening Today
- A first date that isn't dinner — A show, an exhibition or a gallery hour is lower-pressure than a two-hour table when you barely know each other; start here and keep it short. Jump to New & Notable
- Turn it into a weekend — When one night isn't enough, the quick escapes on this page, Glendalough & The Sally Gap Autumn Drive among them, stretch a date night into a weekend. Jump to Quick Escape
🍷 Eat & Drink
Warm corners, seasonal bites, and buzz-worthy spots
Northern Thai BBQ & Smoked Ribs at Achara
From the team behind Crudo, this riverside kitchen fires up Irish produce with northern Thai funk — think glazed Leinster lamb ribs, chargrilled squid, and natural wines.
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Special Ham & Cheese Toasties at Grogan's Castle Lounge
On a blustery 50-degree afternoon, pull up a stool next to local artists, order a creamy pint of stout, and ask the barman for the legendary cheddar toastie with English mustard.
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Plan a couples trip to Dublin, Ireland
Tell us who's going and WonderKit drafts three Dublin, Ireland trip ideas in about a minute — free, and you see them before creating an account.
👀 New & Notable
Fresh exhibits and what to book ahead
Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary at National Gallery of Ireland
Opened this week in Rooms 6–10, Ireland's first major retrospective of the Swedish mystic and abstract trailblazer showcases large-scale spiritual canvases and rarely exhibited watercolours.
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Bram Stoker Festival 2026 Bookings Open
Dublin's annual celebration of its homegrown Gothic master returns October 23–26; reserve the popular torchlit walking tours and cathedral spectacles before they sell out.
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🍁 This Weekend in Dublin, Ireland · Oct 16–18
Weekend gigs, shows, and crisp autumn strolls
Melanie C at 3Olympia Theatre
Sporty Spice takes the ornate stage on Dame Street on Sunday evening, delivering solo pop anthems and nostalgic favorites.
poplive-musichistoric-theatre
The Mountain Goats at Vicar Street
John Darnielle brings his verbose, impassioned cult-classic indie folk repertoire to Dublin 8 for a Sunday night showcase.
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Keith Barry: Unhinged at Gaiety Theatre
Mentalism, hypnosis, and sharp comedy collide at South King Street's historic Victorian theatre for his final tour run.
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Autumn Canopy Walk at St. Stephen's Green
Wrap up for a brisk mid-morning stroll past fiery copper beeches and the duck pond before warming up with flat whites across the road at Hatch & Sons.
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✨ Happening Today
Events and things to do tonight
Matilda The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Catch the Saturday matinee in Grand Canal Dock — Tim Minchin's sharp, energetic musical staging is an ideal rainy afternoon escape for families and theatre lovers alike.
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Arlo Parks: Desire Tour at The Academy
Mercury Prize-winner Arlo Parks brings poetic indie soul and warm brass melodies to Middle Abbey Street tonight.
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Declan O'Rourke Live at Vicar Street
One of Ireland's finest lyricists commands the legendary Liberties stage with intricate acoustic storytelling and full band arrangements.
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🚗 Quick Escape
Mini-trips within two hours of Dublin
Glendalough & The Sally Gap Autumn Drive
Drive 60 minutes south into County Wicklow where rusty bracken coats the hills. Walk the sheltered Lower Lake trail by the 6th-century monastic round tower, then thaw out by the fire at The Wicklow Heather in Laragh.
naturescenic-driveheritage
Boyne Valley Ancient Trail to Medieval Carlingford
Head an hour north along the M1 into County Meath and Louth. Explore Newgrange's prehistoric stone passages before continuing to Carlingford Lough for coastal chowder and cobble-lined medieval lanes.
day-tripancient-historyseafood
Frequently asked
What can couples do in Dublin, Ireland?
Date-friendly picks in Dublin, Ireland right now include Matilda The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Arlo Parks: Desire Tour at The Academy, and Declan O'Rourke Live at Vicar Street. WonderKit curates these hidden gems and romantic spots daily.
What are some good date night ideas in Dublin, Ireland?
Date night ideas in Dublin, Ireland this week: start with dinner from the "Eat & Drink" picks — Matilda The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Arlo Parks: Desire Tour at The Academy, and Declan O'Rourke Live at Vicar Street are on the current list — then finish the evening with a cultural or late-night pick from the sections on this page. WonderKit refreshes all of it daily.
Where should we go for date night in Dublin, Ireland?
The "Eat & Drink" section above lists romantic restaurants and date-night ideas in Dublin, Ireland, including locals-know-this picks that don't show up on top-10 lists.
What are the most romantic spots in Dublin, Ireland?
See the curated sections above for cultural nights, hidden-gem dinners, and quick escapes from Dublin, Ireland worth a weekend together.
Plan a couples trip to Dublin, Ireland
Tell us who's going and WonderKit drafts three Dublin, Ireland trip ideas in about a minute — free, and you see them before creating an account.