Salamanca — Restaurant in Dublin

Absolutely the worst dining experience I’ve had in Ireland, no any exacurate. A woman who called herself the “manager” was extremely rude from the very beginning. From the moment she led us to the table, she showed impatience and hostility. When serving food, she almost threw the plates onto the table. I always smile and say “thank you” when staff bring food, but in return I got a look of disgust, as if I was unwelcome. During the meal, she was in charge of our section. I watched her walk over to every table with local customers, asking politely “all good?” and offering help, yet she deliberately skipped ours, so I tried to make eye contact to ask for service, and I’m certain she noticed—but she chose to ignore me. It was only thanks to a male staff member, who saw that we had been left unattended for a long time, that someone finally came over and asked if we were waiting for something. The male and one female staff member we interacted with were actually kind and professional—completely opposite of this so-called manager. What made it worse was how obvious her behavior was racially motivated. She showed locals warm greetings, smiles, and respect, while giving us the complete opposite. When I asked why we were being treated so poorly, she suddenly exploded and started talking loudly, nonstop, ranting over and over without letting me say a word. This wasn’t just unprofessional—it was outright racist and humiliating. Afterward, I checked Google reviews and realized many people had described the exact same behavior for years, with similar complaints dating back over three years. Clearly, nothing has changed. It’s shocking and disappointing to encounter such blatant racism in 2025, in one of Dublin’s “prime location” restaurants. Shame on her and shame on the restaurant for allowing this toxic behavior to continue. I would never recommend this...

Salamanca!!! A true Tapas restaurant. Chosen as an evening venue for a group of friends reuniting after many years. It was packed by 7.30pm. A good sign. We were in no rush. The team were very attentive and helpful. Their sense of humour was spot on. I knew it was going to be a great evening. We selected eight different Tapas. I am salivating as I write this!! We sat for for two hours enjoying great food and reminiscing. Everything was prepared and served to perfection. The Tiger prawns were succulent coated with the crispiest tempura batter. The wild boar chorizo and prawns were unique and came in a delicately tomato flavoured sauce. We all pondered over the secret ingredient in the chicken wings. It hinted at being peanut. The level of heat would suit most wing lovers. The pate selection was unusual and I was particularily impressed with the one containing black pudding. The paella tapa for our pescatarian was cooked perfectly and she allowed us each to taste it albeit reluctantly.To top it all the garlic ciabatta was oozing. Every mouthful had a unique flavour and had to be savoured before moving on. The ambient lighting and different chandeliers were romantic. After paying the bill which I thought was extremely reasonable for the amount of food we were presented with a complementary Limoncello. A perfect touch to round up an amazing evening. Highly recommended by all of us. A huge thank you to all who made our evening memorable. I am returning in two weeks bringing my family from America. Five stars on all counts. Ticked...

We recently visited Salamanca Tapas Bar on St. Andrew’s Street in Dublin and it truly felt like a little Spanish escape in the heart of the city. The atmosphere is lively, the staff are friendly, and the menu is full of authentic Spanish flavours.

🌟 What to Try: • Croquetas de Jamon Iberico – crispy and creamy, served with apple alioli. • Secreto Iberico al Grill – Iberian pork marinated in miso, paired with rocket & apple chutney. Unique and very memorable. • Pollo al Pedro Ximenez – chicken in a Pedro Ximenez brandy cream sauce, rich and indulgent. • Pulpo a la Gallega – grilled octopus with chorizo crumbs and paprika. A must if you enjoy seafood.

🍷 Their wine list is well-curated and pairs beautifully with tapas – ask the staff for recommendations, they are very helpful.

💡 Tips: • Great place for groups – sharing tapas is the best way to explore the menu. • Early bird menu and tapas platters are good value if you want to try a variety. • Booking ahead is recommended, especially at weekends, as it gets busy. • Portions are generous for tapas – 2–3 dishes per person is usually enough. • Save some space for dessert – churros are a classic finish.

🏛 The building itself is charming (late 1800s) and located just a few steps from Grafton Street, so it’s perfect to combine with shopping or a walk through the city centre.

In short: Salamanca is one of the best places in Dublin if you want to experience authentic Spanish tapas in a warm, bustling atmosphere. Highly recommend both for locals...