Exploring Haddington House’s two brilliant dining options

Luxurious locations

Haddington House boasts one of the most stunning beer / cocktail gardens in Dublin. With waterfront views stretching down to Sandycove Beach and across much of Dublin bay, accompanied by fresh Guinness on outdoor taps or a wide range of sparkling wine and Champagne, Haddington House’s beer garden is a brilliant spot to have a pre-meal drink. The Dun Laoghaire pier and promenade offer a spectacular opportunity for diners to have a scenic stroll after a meal, where they can avail of Dun Laoghaire’s famous Teddy’s ice cream.

Whether it’s an afternoon tea at Parlour or a lavish evening out in the Oliveto restaurant, you’ll be welcomed into a sleek and modern diner. Wooden finished booths and tables accompanied with the warm glow of orange lights, create a homely atmosphere with post-modern art adorning the high walls.

As you make your way to the dining area, you’ll find yourself wandering past a gin bar that seems to be lifted straight from the set of a James Bond film. The lavish bar is home to expert mixologists, crafting some of Dublin’s most exquisite cocktails. Enough about Haddington House’s lavish settings though, let’s get down to business.

Parlour at Haddington House

Parlour has put a modern spin on the long-standing tradition of the Haddington House tearooms, which date back to the early 1900s. On Saturday and Sunday from 12.30-4pm, Parlour hosts a contemporary tearoom experience, fitting for a day out with your parents or that someone special. Parlour combines the tradition of sweet and savoury treats alongside a variety of teas, changing seasonally. Five creative savoury snacks are served in delicate portions for the first course.

Parlour’s team curate a second course that puts a modern spin on some classic teatime snacks, with their dedicated pastry team crafting a shortbread scone. It pairs brilliantly with Haddington House’s homemade jams or clotted cream. You’ll be served a loose-leaf Ronnefeldt tea, one of the most sustainable and special tea-strains around, stemming from Frankfurt. The Ronnefeldt tea is served in the finest bone China cups, furthering the luxurious experience.

The final course is three perfectly formed sweet treats that flow with the seasons, such as rhubarb and grapefruit cheesecake macaron or dark chocolate and miso tartlet. Each patisserie is hand-crafted and brings a light treat to round off your afternoon in Parlour. However, afternoon tea also features a complimentary glass of the gorgeous Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and the option to purchase another glass for €19. Afternoon Tea at Parlour is €50 per person, but the experience is utterly priceless.

Oliveto at Haddington House

Such a spotlight wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the excellent Italian cuisine on offer at Oliveto. Oliveto is a casual ‘neighbourhood Italian’ diner, with a relaxed setting. A focus on honest, seasonal, and authentic produce is led by Head Chefs Barry O’Neill and Francois Jacusse, with wines on offer from small wine houses that bring a unique character to the wine list.

Their starters merge fresh Irish seafood with classic Italian dishes. We’d recommend kicking off with the bruschetta, with homemade ricotta, king oyster mushroom, brown butter and rosemary for €8.50. Ideal as a sharing platter for two, and a fantastic way to experience the crossover of culinary cultures.

Oliveto offers up some spectacular pastas too, from pan-fried gnocchi to rigatoni featuring guanciale, pomodoro, and chilli. However, our favourite has to be the veal ragu – ‘ossobuco’ style (slow cooked) veal shin ragu served with saffron handkerchief pasta for €22. If you’re in the market for a pizza, Oliveto has you covered with some excellent varieties, made from scratch with signature 48-hour fermented dough, giving a depth of flavour and allowing for a crispy thin base.

The gamberi pizza features fresh mozzarella, roasted Atlantic prawns, garlic, chilli, lemon, and rocket for a superb seafood pizza at €17. If you’re up for the classics, Oliveto creates a stellar diavola and a tasty margarita pizza from €15. Round off your Italian diner dreams with a traditional style affogato featuring Ricciarelli biscuit and enjoy the brilliant dining experience at Haddington House!