02 Oct 2024
Why Platform 61 is Dublin's new brunch hotspot
Located on South William Street, just off Dublin’s famous St Stephens Green, lies a basement bar that oozes class. Platform 61 is one of Dublin’s trendiest bars and in this Dish Cult piece, we want to showcase this unique restaurant.
An underground hideaway in Dublin City
Platform 61 is modelled on a secret subway platform, which was located in the Waldorf Astoria, New York. It was a subway station built under a hotel, which hosted private underground parties for the likes of Andy Warhol. The platform today, known as track 61, has become an urban explorer’s paradise. In turn, the Platform 61 restaurant has become the ultimate underground dining experience in Dublin.
There’s almost a party-like atmosphere when you walk down the narrow stairs into the restaurant. The staff are incredibly attentive and caring for their clients. The restaurant interior makes you feel as if you’re a VIP, and the staff only double down on this energy.
Unrivalled all-day brunch
With its contemporary interior, which features plenty of mirrors, windows, and reflective surfaces, ultimately creating a minimalist and somewhat futuristic look in this Dublin basement, Platform 61 certainly matches the vibe with a stellar all-day brunch menu.
There’s an extensive menu, which features dishes inspired from central America, Europe, and the UK. For a Tex-Mex style brunch, the ‘Huevos Rancheros’ is an inspiring plate. Two eggs fried alongside a spicy homemade tomato relish with fresh guacamole to create a balance. We’d recommend you add chorizo to the meal for an extra €2.50.
The small plates are fantastic too, with tender meatballs surrounded by a hearty tomato sauce, generously sprinkled with parmesan a delightful way to start the meal. Furthermore, BoCo wood fires its garlic pizza bread and again tops this with parmesan. If you’re into your Italian cheeses, BoCo is a must for you.
If you’re looking to stick to traditional Irish style all day breakfast, Platform 61 offer a spectacular Irish beef burger, complete with their signature homemade relish, and the options to add some streaky bacon and cheese, over a toasted brioche bun. Their steak sandwich is also making a massive statement on the menu, served on an olive bap roll, with mushrooms, parmesan, rocket, and hollandaise sauce.
An honourable mention must go to Platform 61’s baby roast potatoes, which seem to be roasted the exact same way any Irish mum would do them for a Sunday roast dinner. In short, they’re a delight. Topped off with truffle oil and shaved parmesan, replacing sweet potato fries with their homemade style roast potatoes has been a roaring success at Platform 61.
What’s more, Platform 61 offers almost every dish on their main menu in a vegan or vegetarian format. Often, restaurants add on one or two vegan dishes, but Platform 61 truly goes above and beyond when preparing for a vegan or veggie customer.
An all-day par-tay
Platform 61 hosts an extensive drinks list, which compliments much of the food menu. The signature cocktail list includes the highly recommended P61 G&T, featuring some gorgeous Irish gin, finished off with some Champagne foam. The Irish Mule features some fantastic whiskey, apple juice, 7-up, and ginger. Platform 61 also offer a high-quality wine list. We’d recommend pairing the Ronda Crianza with a steak sandwich, to balance a tender steak with a fruity and silky Tempranillo.
However, the undisputed star of the show is the bottomless mimosas. Ideal for a date, a birthday, or just a catch-up with friends, the bottomless mimosas are €19 per person. Almost everyone orders this drink, as the idea of sharing from the same jug truly brings friends closer during the meal. The bottomless lasts for an hour and a half, with staff being incredibly attentive to ensure you’re not left waiting for your next jug of bucks fizz!
Platform 61 is always a fantastic buzz. We’d highly recommend you book in advance to avoid disappointment and to ensure that the bottomless mimosas and Huevos Rancheros don’t allude you for your night out in Dublin City.