MV Cill Airne is a 1960s tender ship turned floating bar and restaurant, moored at Quay 16 on North Wall Quay in Dublin 1’s Docklands. Diners come for Modern European cooking on board a vessel with real maritime history and open views across the River Liffey.
The ship was built at Dublin’s Liffey Dockyard in 1961. It ferried transatlantic passengers between Cobh and the ocean liners anchored offshore, and it later became a training vessel for maritime students. The venue’s history page traces its connection to its sister ship, the MV Blarna. Today the main deck holds the Quay 16 Restaurant, which seats up to 64 guests “at the Captain’s table,” according to Visit Dublin. Dark wood, brass fittings and porthole windows keep the nautical character intact. Cocktails are served in the main bar or outside on the deck, where the Samuel Beckett Bridge and the glass façade of the Convention Centre frame the river.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Age policy: MV Cill Airne is strictly over-18s, so plan family outings elsewhere.
Booking: Reserve through OpenTable, especially for weekend evenings and summer sunsets, when deck seating fills fast. Weekday lunches and early evenings are calmer.
Getting there: The Luas Red Line stops at Spencer Dock and Mayor Square, both a short walk away.
Nearby: Pair your meal with a visit to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum at CHQ, or the Jeanie Johnston famine ship replica moored upriver.
