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A new year brings new beginnings and sets the scene for memorable meals endlessly over the next 12 months. Here is a round-up the new openings you might have missed in late 2024 to add to your list alongside some of the main headlines of what we can all look forward to coming down the line in 2025.
Late 2024 New Openings You Might Have Missed
Hera, Drumcondra
Juno has been quietly ticking along on Dorset Street since mid-2022 and now has made space for Hera, which aims to reimagine what a local, Irish gastropub is. From the same team behind Crudo in Sandymount and trendy Thai spot Achara on the Dublin Quays, Joe Smith is the young chef (formerly of Michelin-starred Bastible) at the helm in the kitchen and the menu reads sensationally, definitely one to hold space for in 2025.
Bodega Bagels, Belfast
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Having established their delectable bagel bakery outpost at Banana Block on the Newtownards Road in East Belfast, late '24 saw Bodega wing its way into the city centre with its first proper bricks and mortar bakery and deli on Royal Avenue, open seven days a week 8am to 3pm.
Vada, Stoneybatter
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On Brunswick Street North in impossibly hip Stoneybatter, November saw the arrival of new neighbourhood cafe and eatery Vada. Founded by Ballymaloe alum Sarah Boland, the brunch/lunch spot, with its regularly changing menu depending on what’s in season and plentiful, is created with a commitment to sustainability and zero-waste practices.
Reggies, Rathmines
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The name Reggie White is synonymous with pizza in Ireland and now Reggie has his name proudly displayed over the door of his debut neighbourhood restaurant, set in a former bank building in the heart of Rathmines. Occupying the former Sprezzatura/Flanêur space, expect big flavours across all the starters and a line-up of pizzas topped with great Irish produce, made using organic and regeneratively farmed Wildfarmed flour. Eat-in for now, with a third of the space kept for walk-ins, and take-out is also on the cards very soon.
Goodhood, Cork City
In other pizza news, Goodhood flung open its doors in early December 2024 in St. Luke’s in Cork. Colin Ryan (of the Ryan dynasty which includes Arbutus and Isaac’s), the man behind Hansum rotisserie chicken at Marina Market and Paperboys café at the Triskel Arts Centre on Tobin Street, is also behind this brand new pizzeria while Rita’s in Dublin’s Ranelagh also has a hand in the pizza pie. @goodhoodcork on Instagram.
Kaldero, Dublin 2
A new restaurant from the Press Up hospitality group opened in late 2024 taking over the former Wagamama site on King Street, below St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. The menu brings together the bold culinary traditions of India, China, and the Philippines, consulted on by a trio of chefs: Richie Castillo of Bahay, Cantonese chef Darren Liew and Alfred Prasad, the youngest Indian chef to win a Michelin star.
Forêt, Dublin 4
John and Sandy Wyer’s collection of 'forests’ continues to grow. Alongside their fine dining Forest Avenue and more casual pizza and antipasti-focused Little Forest in Blackrock they introduced Forêt to the pack in November. A casual French bistro with seriously fine food, set one floor above M. O’Brien’s pub on Sussex Terrace (right beside Forest Avenue) and a contender for one of our top meals of 2024. Get booked in!
Hong Kong Wonton, Dublin 2
Taking over the former Duck site on Fade Street, Hong Kong Wonton is exactly how it sounds: a wonton noodle soup spot, inspired by the casual diners and cha chaan tengs (tea houses) in Hong Kong from the same team behind Asia Market.
Honourable Mentions...
Elsewhere in December, Grindstone opened a second location at Dublin Landings, Bread 41 opened a third site in Stillorgan (their second only opened a few months ago in Greystones), Krisitian Burness relaunched legendary Merrion Row restaurant The Unicorn, and Grá Linn opened a second site (after Fethard-on-Sea) in New Ross.
The Headlines: 2025 Openings
Tidbits, Cork - Opens New Year’s Day
Opening on 1 January 2025 on Relief Road in Douglas is Tidbits from chef Hugo Martins (executive chef Cornstore Cork) and wife Rebecca Martins. The couple, who met in hospitality roles in London and have over 15 years experience, will open the casual cafe-restaurant serving breakfast and lunch with a focus on local sourcing as well as specials that reflect Hugo’s Brazilian heritage, including feijoada, moqueca and picanha. The plan is to expand into evenings and add on a terrace space later in 2025. @tidbitsDouglas on Instagram.
Per Se, Dublin - Opens 2 January
The very next day, on 2 January 2025, a new Italian is opening in Knocklyon in Dublin. Per Se will be a neighbourhood cafe and restaurant serving from breakfast ’til 8pm daily (10pm weekends) offering artisanal pizza, house-baked pastries, 3FE coffee and wine.
Lena To Replace Locks, Dublin
Locks in Portobello overlooking the canal is now no more after almost fifteen year in-situ and various iterations, from Michelin-starred at one point to casual brasserie at another. Now, the space is being reimagined as Lena by a trio from the Etto/Uno Mas stable - Liz Matthews, Simon Barrett and Paul McNamara - and is set to open in February as a neighbourhood Italian. @lenaportobello on Instagram.
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Cush moves to Midleton, Cork
Cush in Ballycotton is packing up and relocating to the former SAGE premises in Midleton. The harbourside restaurant, remarked for chef Dan Guerin's elevated, fine dining take on pub classics and awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good cooking and value, will relocate in spring — while they will retain the space in Ballycotton keeping the accommodation and introducing a new food offering later in the year.
Picado’s Long-awaited Second Site, Dublin
Lily Ramirez-Foran and husband Alan are putting the finishing touches to the second site of Picado, located on Cork Street in the Liberties area of Dublin. It will feature a bigger and improved teaching kitchen and events space for cooking classes and supper clubs, a production kitchen with a plan to launch Ireland's first Mexican Molino and both a retail space and coffee bar that will specialise solely in Mexican drinks.
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MANI Pizza Continues in Kildare and looks Northwards
MANI Pizza, the popular Roman-style slice shop on Dublin’s Drury Street, began a pop-up at Kildare Village in mid-October. That partnership is now continuing throughout the entirety of 2025 after phenomenal demand and success. Owner Ciaran McGonagle is also eyeing up a second Dublin city centre location for MANI, this time on the opposite side of the Liffey, though nothing confirmed yet.
Charlies, Belfast
In more pizza news, Pi Guy (Marty Duggan) is putting the final touches to his first pizza place, set to open on the Ormeau Road in February/March 2025 with a rebrand as ‘Charlie’s’. @charliesbelfast on Instagram
Pullman at Glenlo Abbey, Galway
Reimagining the luxury Orient Express carriages that form the Pullman restaurant at Glenlo Abbey in Galway, January to March will see the space close for refurbishment between January and March while Angelo Vagiotis, former head chef at two Michelin-starred Terre in Cork, has joined to lead the kitchen.
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The Sea Hare, Connemara
Many will remember the lauded iterations of Sinéad Foyle and Philippa Duff’s The Sea Hare in different locations around Connemara, notably Cleggan and Clifden. The first time we ate there we shared space with none other than President Michael D. Higgins who popped in for lunch. After a hiatus over the last two years, 2025 will see The Sea Hare resurrected in an undisclosed location in Connemara. Keep an eye on socials (@theseahare.ie) for the announcement.
Ottolenghi Backs Capparelli At The Mill, N. Ireland
Yotam Ottolenghi is a big name linked with a massive new project at Dundonald Old Mill, 30 minutes outside Belfast. The chef, author and restaurateur is supporting and mentoring Carlos Capparelli, a former executive chef of his stable of London restaurants, who relocated to Northern Ireland with his young family almost five years ago and has been quietly working away on this project which is set to come to fruition in summer ’25. Expect an all-day cafe-restaurant with a deli/shop and a Mediterranean-influenced menu while weekends will welcome evening services. Keep an eye on @capparelli_cooks for updates.
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TANG #4 at Windmill Lane, Dublin
TANG will open at Windmill Lane in spring 2025, making it the fourth location for the popular Dublin café-restaurant group.
Stoney to Sandy: China Tang, Dublin
Finally, a new Cantonese restaurant from the same team as Hakkahan in Stoneybatter will open in Sandymount in the first two months of 2025. @chinatang_dublin on Instagram
