One of Dublin’s best bookstores has found a new life as a trendy Irish restaurant on Liffey Street, while still maintaining its more literary past. Book shelves can still be found on the ground floor of The Winding Stair, but the historic spiral staircase that gives the space its name now leads to an open kitchen serving a menu focused on local foods.
Stop by to shop, have a coffee or linger over for a meal – here’s your comprehensive guide to The Winding Stair in Dublin.
Story
The Winding Stair became one of Dublin’s most beloved bookstores in the 1970s and 1980s. The freestanding bookstore was filled with stacks of books and bookshelves on several floors, connected by a creaky staircase.
Housed within a historic building with a classic facade with gold and green lettering, the most notable feature inside was a spiral staircase dating from the 18th century. The name of the bookstore is a play on this architectural detail, but it is also a reference to a poem by WB Yeats, which begins with the lines:
My soul. I summon the winding ancient staircase;
Put your whole mind on the steep climb, on
the broken and crumbling battlement, in
the breathless air lit by the stars,
«In the star that marks the hidden pole;
Fix every wandering thought on
that room where all the thinking is done:
Who can distinguish the darkness of the soul?
During the pre-internet heyday, the store was a gathering place for book lovers of all stripes. Sticking with the literary theme, a local Dublin magazine even moved into the basement. However, in 2004 The Winding Stair was bankrupt and when it closed in 2005, many mourned the end of an era.
Fortunately, the historic building and its famous bookstore were rescued by new owners who reopened the shop on the lower deck in 2006. At the same time, the upper deck was converted into a restaurant serving local and organic menu items.
The winding staircase bookcase
The winding staircase came to life as a bookstore and remains one of the oldest independent bookstores in Dublin. While chain stores may prioritize best sellers, this cozy bookstore along Liffey prefers to specialize in harder-to-find titles.
The store front has new books in a variety of genres, including humor, fiction, works by Irish authors, and cookbooks. There is also an extensive children’s section with interesting books for younger readers. Stroll back to find a small but admirable selection of used books.
In addition to books, The Winding Stair Bookstore also has craft cards, notebooks for recording ideas, and literary magazines.
For bibliophiles who can’t wait to get home and open their new book, there are two tables by the window that look out over the river and foot traffic on Liffey Street. It is possible to take a seat here and order a cup of tea or coffee. Those looking for a full menu will have to climb the spiral stairs.
The spiral staircase restaurant
When the spiral staircase reopened in 2005, the biggest change was on the second floor. While the books have remained below, the next floor has been converted into a restaurant that shares a name with the original store.
The Winding Stair Restaurant serves up-to-date classics such as a full Irish breakfast or freshly caught fish. Much of the food is organic, and most of it is local. The ingredients are so local, in fact, that you can find the name of the farm printed next to the products when they are incorporated into a dish. Because food is prepared nearby, the menu changes with the seasons to make the most of what’s in the markets at that time of year.
Food offerings are complemented by a list of Irish craft beers and suggested wines to pair with the meal.
The stripped wood living room has been kept simple to highlight the Irish cuisine that comes from the open kitchen. The classic coffee tables are placed near the windows to make the most of the beautiful view of the river and the Ha’Penny Bridge that sits just outside the front.
What else to do nearby
The restaurant is popular for its delicious menu and enviable view as the large windows overlook Ha’Penny Bridge, Dublin’s most famous pedestrian bridge.
Temple Bar, the popular pub-filled neighborhood that comes alive after dark, located just across the river. Many of the pubs have live traditional music at night.
O’Connell Street, a busy street that runs through the heart of the city, is a popular area for shopping.
The spiral staircase is centrally located and due to Dublin’s compact size, many of the main sights are easy to reach before or after a meal.
