Georgina Campbell
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Set in one of the most historic buildings in Dublin's redeveloped inner docklands, Urban Brewing was established in 2017 by the celebrated Co Carlow craft brewing pioneers, O’Hara’s Brewery, and is the first of its kind in Dublin. Over three floors now offering an imaginative mix of traditional and contemporary settings, it comprises a microbrewery (tours available), two stylish bars (Taps + Tapas and Vault Bar) and a fine dining resta
urant, Stack A Restaurant (see below).
urant, Stack A Restaurant (see below).As well as a rotating selection of exclusive in-house brews and an extensive range from O’Hara’s, Urban Brewing offers a choice of over 200 beers, including some of the world's most unusual beers - and an impressive menu of wine, spirits and cocktails to match.
And, if you're interested in finding out more about the world of brewing, you can book a Brewery Tour where you will learn about recipes, techniques and flavour combinations, as well as how to match beer and food successfully.
Stack A Restaurant
Retaining the original name for the CHQ building on Custom House Quay, Stack A Restaurant is a fitting tribute to one of the architectural gems of the old Dublin docks. The vaults of the 200-year-old tea and tobacco warehouse have been converted into a stylish restaurant which retains some wonderful features. Off the central aisle, brick walls and arched ceilings separate a long space into intimate areas on both sides, with subdued atmospheric lighting providing a unique atmosphere.
The food lives up to the surroundings. From the à la carte dinner menu, you might choose seared foie gras, served with spiced wine gel and pickled blueberries, followed by poached fillet of halibut with Jerusalem artichoke, Serrano ham and peas. Irish beef and lamb also feature – slow-cooked belly of lamb, perhaps, or roast saddle.
The ‘Discover the Unexpected’ Tasting Menu offers excellent value at around €45 and, for an extra €15 or so, you can get matching beers. This four-course dinner might start with confit tuna rillette with delicious sourdough and Romesco sauce, then cured fillet of sea trout, perhaps, with a trio of beetroot, blood orange and watercress. A typical main course is Duo of Irish beef (also a popular choice on the à la carte menu); meltingly delicious 14-hour daube and charred cheek are balanced perfectly with smoked potato, forest mushrooms and baby spinach.
You may then welcome a short rest, before finishing off with a dessert such as toffee cake with miso gelato and caramelised banana, a brainwave combination.
As well as listing an exceptional range of beers - a selection brewed inhouse, plus some 200 other beers from Ireland and elsewhere - a well chosen International wine list not only offers wine by the glass and bottle but, unusually, also by the half-glass – and a decent half-glass it is too.
Stack A must be one of the most unusual and atmospheric restaurant locations to be found anywhere and, with chef Daniel Keane's excellent food to match, it stands out as a ‘must-see’ destination when visiting Dublin.
