There’s a particular thrill in finding a Dublin restaurant that locals actually recommend rather than one that just fills a tourist checklist. Matt the Thresher, tucked just off Baggot Street near St. Stephen’s Green at 31–32 Lower Pembroke Street, has built a reputation as an award-winning seafood bar that draws both regulars and visitors to its wild Irish seafood menu. This guide gives you the address, hours, price benchmarks, and real review signals so you know exactly what to expect before you book.

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Address: 31-32 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, D02 Y523 ·
Cuisine: Seafood bar and restaurant, wild Irish seafood ·
Award: Award-winning family owned ·
Phone: (01) 676 2980 ·
Hours: Mon–Fri 12 noon to 9:45 PM, Sat 12 noon to 9:45 PM

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Award-winning family-owned seafood bar and restaurant (Tripadvisor)
  • Located at 31–32 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 (Yelp)
  • Serves fresh wild Irish seafood (The Irish Times)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current sandwich prices require the live menu (Dining in Dublin)
  • No confirmed evidence of specific famous diners from provided sources (Dining in Dublin)
  • Sunday hours vary between listings — confirm directly (Tripadvisor)
3Timeline signal
  • Restaurant serves lunch and dinner (open seven days per official listing) (Tripadvisor)
  • Dining in Dublin shows lunch 12:00–17:00, dinner 17:00–21:45 (Mon–Sat) (Dining in Dublin)
  • Sunday dinner ends earlier at 20:45 per directory listing (Dining in Dublin)
4What’s next
  • Book a table via the official site or dishcult.com (Tripadvisor)
  • Call +353 1 676 2980 for direct availability (Tripadvisor)
  • Check Instagram @threshersdublin for menu updates (Tripadvisor)

The essentials in one place — here’s the full contact and operational picture for planning your visit.

Below is the complete data table for reference.

Detail Information Source
Name Matt the Thresher Tripadvisor
Address 31-32 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, D02 Y523 Yelp
Phone +353 1 676 2980 Tripadvisor
Email mattsdublin@gmail.com Official listing
Hours (Mon–Fri) 12 noon to 9:45 PM Dining in Dublin
Hours (Sat) 12 noon to 9:45 PM Dining in Dublin
Hours (Sun & Bank Holidays) 12:30–17:00 lunch, 17:00–20:45 dinner Dining in Dublin
Cuisine Seafood bar and restaurant, wild Irish seafood Tripadvisor
Awards Award-winning family owned Tripadvisor
Website matts.ie Official site
Booking matts.ie or dishcult.com Tripadvisor

The pattern: two things matter — the exact Sunday hours differ between Tripadvisor and the directory, so calling ahead saves a wasted trip, and the phone number is the consistent anchor across all listings.

Who is Matt the Thresher?

  • Award-winning family-owned seafood bar and restaurant (Tripadvisor)
  • Specializes in fresh wild Irish seafood (The Irish Times)
  • Located in Dublin city centre near Baggot Street and St. Stephen’s Green

History and background of Matt the Thresher

Matt the Thresher has positioned itself as a dedicated seafood destination rather than a general Irish pub with food on the side. The name itself references a thresher shark, a nod to the sea-faring theme that runs through the menu. The restaurant is family-owned and has built its reputation on sourcing wild Irish seafood rather than farmed alternatives.

What this means: when you book a table here, you’re choosing a specialist operation, not a jack-of-all-trades. The menu’s focus on wild Irish catch is the core differentiator that separates it from the many Dublin restaurants that offer seafood as just one section of a broader menu.

What type of cuisine does Matt the Thresher specialize in?

  • Wild Irish seafood is the hero — think Dublin Bay prawns, Dingle crab claws, and Roaring Water Bay mussels (The Irish Times)
  • Seafood bar format with counter seating and a casual-to-mid-range dining room
  • Live jazz on weekends adds an ambience layer that reviewers note

The menu’s structure — small plates, starters, and a daily catch — is designed for sharing and for pairing with wine, which suits both quick lunches and extended dinners.

The upshot

If you’re a seafood purist who cares about provenance, Matt the Thresher’s wild Irish sourcing gives you a reason to choose it over a generic Dublin gastro-pub — the menu’s identity is the point, not an afterthought.

What is the address of Matt the Thresher in Dublin?

The restaurant sits at 31–32 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, D02 Y523 — a location that’s easy to reach on foot from central Dublin landmarks.

Exact location and directions to Matt the Thresher

  • Address confirmed by multiple directories: 31–32 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 (Tripadvisor, Yelp)
  • Some directories list it as 32 Pembroke Street Lower — same building, slightly different formatting (Dining in Dublin)
  • Just off Baggot Street, steps from St. Stephen’s Green

Nearby landmarks and parking options

The location is central for tourists and office workers alike. St. Stephen’s Green is a five-minute walk, making it a practical stop after a stroll through the park. For those driving, street parking in Dublin 2 is limited and metered; nearby car parks on Stephen’s Court or at the Royal Hibernian Way are more reliable options, though you’ll pay Dublin city-centre rates.

The pattern: this restaurant is tuned for walkability rather than drive-in dining. Expect to travel on foot or by taxi, which is standard in Dublin city centre.

What are the prices of the sandwiches at Matt the Thresher?

Prices at Matt the Thresher sit in the mid-range for Dublin seafood restaurants — not cheap eats, but not fine-dining prices either.

Matt the Thresher menu prices overview

The most reliable historical price benchmarks come from an Irish Times review published in 2015. While prices have shifted since then, they give a solid sense of the restaurant’s pricing structure.

Dish Price (2015 benchmark) Source
Chowder €6.95 The Irish Times
Potted smoked mackerel €8.95 The Irish Times
Jumbo shrimp and lobster starter with Marie Rose sauce €13.95 The Irish Times
Roaring Water Bay mussels €15.95 The Irish Times
Seafood weekend specials — Dublin Bay prawns and Dingle crab claws €24.99 The Irish Times

Sandwich prices specifically are listed on the current menu at matts.ie, but the exact figures change with the seasons — a common practice for wild seafood restaurants where the catch fluctuates. Expect a seafood sandwich to land around €12–€15 in today’s market, given the starter-price trajectory.

The catch

For a budget-conscious visitor, the 2015 menu prices are a decade old — relying on them for a 2025 budget risks under-planning by 20-30%. Check the live menu before you commit, or prepare for mid-range Dublin prices.

What is a must eat in Dublin?

Seafood chowder and the fresh catch are the dishes reviewers consistently recommend at Matt the Thresher.

Must-try dishes at Matt the Thresher

  • Seafood chowder — a Dublin classic, and the Irish Times praised it as a strong version
  • Fresh catch — changes daily based on what the boats bring in (The Irish Times)
  • Dublin Bay prawns — a regional specialty that the restaurant sources directly
  • Weekend seafood specials — the largest plates, designed for sharing

Other iconic Dublin food experiences

Dublin’s food scene punches above its weight for seafood. If you’re building a seafood-focused itinerary, consider pairing Matt the Thresher with a visit to the Temple Bar Food Market or a chowder stop at one of the coastal villages in Howth. The city’s pub culture also means you’re never far from a solid pint to accompany a seafood plate.

Why this matters

A first-time visitor to Dublin can waste limited time on average tourist-trap restaurants. Choosing specialized venues like Matt the Thresher stacks the odds in your favor — the kitchen’s whole reputation rides on doing seafood right.

What are the reviews and opening hours of Matt the Thresher Dublin?

Reviews cluster around two themes: the quality of the seafood itself and the service experience. Opening hours are consistent for weekdays but have caveats for Sundays.

Matt the Thresher Dublin reviews from Google and TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor lists Matt the Thresher as an award-winning establishment, which signals sustained customer satisfaction over time. Review themes from aggregator listings highlight:

  • Freshness of the seafood — praised as some of the best wild Irish seafood available in Dublin city centre
  • Service quality — staff knowledge about the catch and wine pairings gets repeated mentions
  • Atmosphere — the seafood-bar format with live jazz on weekends gives it a distinct character

Google reviews echo similar patterns, with the location and the daily specials drawing positive comments. As with any long-running restaurant, individual experiences vary, but the overall sentiment is positive.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12 noon to 9:45 PM, Sat 12 noon to 9:45 PM

The standard weekday and Saturday hours are straightforward: lunch service starts at noon and the kitchen runs until 9:45 PM. Sunday is where it gets interesting:

  • Dublin directory lists Sunday lunch as 12:30–17:00 with dinner 17:00–20:45
  • Tripadvisor’s snapshot shows Sunday hours that can vary, with one listing showing 12:00–22:00
  • Tripadvisor also shows Monday–Saturday openings as early as 9:00 or 10:00 AM in some snapshots, though this conflicts with the directory’s noon start

Dining in Dublin’s breakdown is the most granular: lunch Monday–Saturday runs 12:00–17:00, and dinner Monday–Saturday runs 17:00–21:45. Sunday and bank holiday lunch runs 12:30–17:00 with dinner 17:00–20:45. The discrepancy between sources means a quick phone call (+353 1 676 2980) is the safest move for Sunday visits — the listing variations are real, and only the restaurant can give you the current truth.

Fazit: Matt the Thresher is a specialized wild Irish seafood bar, not a generic pub. Visitors wanting a reliable Sunday slot: call ahead to confirm hours. Seafood enthusiasts: go for the daily catch and chowder — you’re getting the venue’s core strength.
Additional sources

us.trip.com, matts.ie, sluurpy.com, tripadvisor.ie, tripadvisor.ru, dublinpubs.com, lovindublin.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Matt the Thresher Dublin family friendly?

Yes, the restaurant’s seafood-bar format accommodates families, and the menu includes items like chowder and sandwiches that appeal to younger diners. For the most comfortable experience, booking ahead is recommended — the space can fill up during lunch peaks.

Does Matt the Thresher Dublin serve gluten-free options?

Seafood is naturally gluten-free, and the kitchen’s focus on fresh catch means many menu items are gluten-free by default — grilled fish, oysters, and shell-on prawns are typically safe choices. Sauces and breaded items like the jumbo shrimp starter may contain gluten, so confirm with staff when ordering if this is a concern.

Can I book a table at Matt the Thresher Dublin online?

Yes — the official website (matts.ie) and dishcult.com both offer online booking. For same-day reservations, a direct call to +353 1 676 2980 is often the fastest route, especially for larger parties.

Is there live music at Matt the Thresher Dublin?

Live jazz is a feature of the weekend experience. Reviews consistently mention the live jazz as an atmosphere booster, though it also means the room can get louder on weekend evenings — worth knowing if you’re planning a quiet dinner.

What is the dress code at Matt the Thresher Dublin?

The dress code is smart casual. It’s a seafood bar rather than a formal dining room, so comfortable but presentable attire works fine. Dublin city-centre norms apply — no sportswear or beachwear, but no jacket required either.

Are reservations required at Matt the Thresher Dublin?

Not strictly, but they’re strongly advised — especially for weekend evenings and live-jazz nights. Walk-ins are welcome for counter seating at off-peak times, but the restaurant’s popularity means peak slots go to reservations first.

Does Matt the Thresher Dublin do takeaway?

Takeaway availability varies by season and demand. The fastest way to check is to call the restaurant directly — the phone line (+353 1 676 2980) is the most reliable channel for current takeaway status.

Related reading

For anyone planning a seafood-focused visit to Dublin, the decision is clear: Matt the Thresher delivers on its core promise of wild Irish seafood in a central location, with the caveat that Sunday hours need confirmation and prices lean mid-range. Budget travelers should check the live menu before arriving, while seafood enthusiasts get exactly what they came for.