Act i: Trocadero,
Dublin’s Velvet Time Capsule.
Step inside the Georgian townhouse at 4 St. Andrew Street and you’ll find Dublin’s most theatrical dining room. With plush red booths, flattering mirrors and vintage lights salvaged from the old Theatre Royal, The Trocadero feels less like a restaurant and more like a velvet-draped stage.
Opened in 1957 by Eddie “the Greek” Lassides, the Troc quickly became the place for Dublin’s theatre crowd. Its location was perfect — a stone’s throw from the Gaiety, Abbey, Olympia, and Tivoli theatres — and its mood was pure backstage glamour. Signed photographs of actors and playwrights who have dined at the Troc over the years still cover the walls, a living scrapbook of Irish stage and screen.
Act ii: The food?
Classic, comforting and proudly Irish.
Think steaks, rack of lamb, fish and timeless desserts. The house favourite, cannelloni, has been on the menu since the 1950s and shows no sign of leaving. The Troc doesn’t chase trends; it delivers consistency with a side of nostalgia.
But what really makes the Trocadero sparkle are the stories.
One diner came every Thursday at exactly 5 p.m., ordering Chicken Portuguese, orange juice (no ice) and tea. Even after the dish disappeared from the menu, the kitchen made it just for him. Another night, a nervous suitor proposed — staff ready with champagne — only to hear the would-be bride reply: “I thought we were just friends.” The fizz went back in the fridge.
Act iii: Famous Faces at Trocadero.
Musicians and actors like Roger Moore, Dame Judi Dench, Paul Rudd, Brandon Flowers and Fran Healy have all squeezed into the booths, while director Tim Burton slipped by unseen — still remembered as “the elusive director.” On Oscar night, our beloved Brenda Fricker revelled the night away with her Oscar taking prize position on the table beside her.. and in the end forgot to bring it home! We of course, were delighted to display it with pride until she came to collect it.
Through it all, maître d’ Robert Doggett, who’s been at the helm since the 1980s, keeps everything running smoothly with a blend of warmth and discretion.
Act iv: Why Trocadero still Endures.
In a city where restaurants come and go, the Troc has stayed true to its script: simple, well-cooked food, a glamorous but cosy setting an unforgettable service that treats regulars like celebrities and celebrities with discretion.
The magic is in the mix. Alone, you never feel lonely. With one friend, you might end up part of a crowd. Step inside and you’re part of Dublin’s longest-running production.
Nearly seventy years on and Dublin’s oldest restaurant, the Trocadero still hums with theatre energy. Closed on Mondays but busy and buzzing most other nights, it remains a place where the curtain never really falls — it just rises on another act, another meal, another story.
Act i: The Trocadero,
Dublin’s Velvet Time Capsule.
Step inside the Georgian townhouse at 4 St. Andrew Street and you’ll find Dublin’s most theatrical dining room. With plush red booths, flattering mirrors and vintage lights salvaged from the old Theatre Royal, The Trocadero feels less like a restaurant and more like a velvet-draped stage.
Opened in 1957 by Eddie “the Greek” Lassides, the Troc quickly became the place for Dublin’s theatre crowd. Its location was perfect — a stone’s throw from the Gaiety, Abbey, Olympia, and Tivoli theatres — and its mood was pure backstage glamour. Signed photographs of actors and playwrights who have dined at the Troc over the years still cover the walls, a living scrapbook of Irish stage and screen.
Act ii: The food?
Classic, comforting and proudly Irish.
Think steaks, rack of lamb, fish and timeless desserts. The house favourite, cannelloni, has been on the menu since the 1950s and shows no sign of leaving. The Troc doesn’t chase trends; it delivers consistency with a side of nostalgia.
But what really makes the Trocadero sparkle are the stories.
One diner came every Thursday at exactly 5 p.m., ordering Chicken Portuguese, orange juice (no ice) and tea. Even after the dish disappeared from the menu, the kitchen made it just for him. Another night, a nervous suitor proposed — staff ready with champagne — only to hear the would-be bride reply: “I thought we were just friends.” The fizz went back in the fridge.
Act iii: Famous Faces at The Trocadero.
Musicians and actors like Roger Moore, Dame Judi Dench, Paul Rudd, Brandon Flowers and Fran Healy have all squeezed into the booths, while director Tim Burton slipped by unseen — still remembered as “the elusive director.” On Oscar night, our beloved Brenda Fricker revelled the night away with her Oscar taking prize position on the table beside her.. and in the end forgot to bring it home! We of course, were delighted to display it with pride until she came to collect it.
Through it all, maître d’ Robert Doggett, who’s been at the helm since the 1980s, keeps everything running smoothly with a blend of warmth and discretion.
Act iv: Why the Trocadero still Endures.
In a city where restaurants come and go, the Troc has stayed true to its script: simple, well-cooked food, a glamorous but cosy setting an unforgettable service that treats regulars like celebrities and celebrities with discretion.
The magic is in the mix. Alone, you never feel lonely. With one friend, you might end up part of a crowd. Step inside and you’re part of Dublin’s longest-running production.
Nearly seventy years on and Dublin’s oldest restaurant, the Trocadero still hums with theatre energy. Closed on Mondays but busy and buzzing most other nights, it remains a place where the curtain never really falls — it just rises on another act, another meal, another story.
The Troc is more than just a restaurant, it’s a tradition, steeped in history.
Supporting the Arts
Trocadero Dublin prides itself on being Dublin’s theatre restaurant. We have attracted stars of the stage and screen for almost seven decades.
Today, we are proud to support the next generation of up and coming stars.
