The beloved restaurant known for affordable lunches will shut its doors at the end of February after owners cite exhaustion and staffing challenges since Covid
Soup Dragon will close this month(Image: Instagram/soupdragon_dublin)
Dublin city centre is about to bid farewell to another beloved foodie haunt as Soup Dragon on Capel Street, famed for its budget-friendly lunches, prepares to shut its doors after over 25 years of trading.
The city centre local, a favourite for inexpensive but wholesome fresh soups, stews and snacks, has confirmed it will permanently close at the end of February. The decision has been met with dismay by its patrons.
Established by friends Fiona Fairbrother and Niamh Healion, the lunch venue first opened its doors on July 6, 2000. What started as a straightforward concept rapidly evolved into one of Dublin’s most visited lunch destinations.
As the years passed, the menu broadened to provide breakfasts, gluten-free and vegan choices, salads, sandwiches, wraps and daily specials. The café cultivated a devoted customer base and achieved a 4.7 star rating on TripAdvisor, placing it among the top 100 restaurants in Dublin.
However, after a quarter of a century, the duo have decided it’s time to step back. Fiona told the Irish Times: “Just with the two of us since Covid, it’s been a little bit more challenging. We had four or five staff pre Covid and since Covid it’s only been the two of us. We are wrecked. It’s hard work.”
The pressure became particularly evident last year when Fiona suffered an injury. Niamh explained: “Fiona had an accident last year. She was knocked off her bike and broke her collarbone and we were quite exposed then in terms of having no staff and trying to keep standards up. It was a bit of a wake up call.”
The duo had initially intended to operate Soup Dragon for a further five years, however a new landlady is taking on the lease. What lies ahead for the Capel Street location remains uncertain at this stage.
Soup Dragon via Instagram
The two friends said that the greatest reward from 25 years in business hasn’t been the achievements, but rather their friendship. Fiona explained: “We have been through it all together – the whole spectrum. Losing parents, getting married, having kids. And still talking to each other. The friendship is the best thing that came out of it.
“Some days we are outside locking up and actually can’t close the door because we are laughing so much. That’s special. I don’t think we’ll meet anyone else that has the same sense of humour as us.”
Soup Dragon will shut its doors at the end of February, signalling the end of an era on Capel Street. However, there’s a silver lining for Fiona and Niamh, who noted: “We are finally going to take a holiday together.”
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