In a flurry of big openings, Díon on Dame Street certainly stands the tallest, says our critic, with fab views from its perch on the 10th floor of Central Plaza
Deep-fried globe artichoke, sage and tomato, romesco sauce at Díon in Dublin. Photo: Lucinda O’Sullivan
Dubai has AT.MOSPHERE on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, London has Ting on level 35 of The Shard, New York has One Dine on the 101st floor of Manhattan’s One World Observatory and, while we’re not exactly clipping the clouds just yet, Dublin now has its tallest restaurant – Díon on the 10th floor of the Sam Stephenson designed former Central Bank on Dame Street. Perched 150 feet up, it may be the baby of them all but nonetheless the views out over our fair city are pretty dramatic.
It’s the dream of Alan Clancy, whose House hotels in Dublin and Limerick have just gone into receivership – you have to hand it to the man, who has worked since he was 15, that he has brought colour and joy with his various establishments not just to Dublin but around the country. Costing up to an estimated €10m, Díon has been three years in the making, with lawyer Barry McGrath as an investor, Jamie Belton as general manager and Alan Clancy now described as a consultant.