The Old Music Shop Restaurant, located just off Parnell Square North on North Frederick Street, is situated right within Dublin's thriving cultural quarter. We are proud to be an integral part of Dublin’s oldest hotel, the family owned and run Castle Hotel.
Fionn MacCumhaill has been at the helm for over 30 years, bringing a lifelong passion for architecture, local urban history, and authentic standards of traditional Irish warmth to every dining table.
Set across stylish, airy adjoining rooms, our restaurant spaces showcase meticulously preserved Georgian-era architecture dating from 1714 to 1830.
Take a virtual stroll through our dining spaces to view the structural craft, classical design choices, and unique interior atmospheres that set the stage for our daily service.
Our restaurant is named in proud tribute to the landmark music store, Walton’s, which occupied this building for over 80 years. Opening its doors in 1924, it became home to Ireland's first commercial music school, the Dublin College of Music.
Their iconic legacy mantra—"If you're going to sing a song, sing an Irish song"—is still fondly remembered by generations of musicians all over the world.
The music shop was originally established by Martin Walton, an exceptional musical talent who, at the age of fifteen, served as a volunteer in the 1916 Easter Rising. He later acted as a personal bodyguard to General Michael Collins during the War of Independence.
During those historic years, Collins and Walton were regular, frequent figures running operations within the safe walls of the adjoining Castle Hotel premises.
When Walton’s announced the closing of their retail shop doors in 2013, there were widespread community fears that it marked the absolute end of an era for this iconic building asset.
However, in 2014, Fionn MacCumhaill stepped in to purchase and carefully reimagine the much-loved music hub as a restaurant—preserving its heritage while putting a premium emphasis on honest food and warm, casual dining environments.
Today, our layout offers four beautiful, interlocking indoor dining rooms, supplemented by charming open-air seating sections out on our Garden Courtyard and front pathways along North Frederick Street.
Directly beneath us, inside the original red-brick storage vaults of the Georgian house, sits the fully licensed Castle Vaults Bar & Restaurant. It offers live traditional Irish music most evenings and treats patrons to a rich, cozy environment where our main dinner menus can easily be cross-ordered upon request.
Our menus strike an elegant balance between modern European cuisine and timeless Irish culinary favorites. From Baked Salmon and artisanal St Tola Goat’s Cheese & Fig Salads to classic Irish Beef Steaks and homemade Guinness Brown Bread, we have evolved into one of Dublin's signature afternoon tea destinations.
We remain fiercely committed to premium Irish farming. Our signature beef is sourced from a dedicated Limousin herd down in Tipperary, our chickens are raised in Monaghan, and our fresh seasonal vegetables are harvested daily on farms across North County Dublin.
Our cellar features carefully curated international wines selected to perfectly elevate your lunch or evening dishes. Our staff are always on hand to assist with pairings.
For beer enthusiasts, our menu champions regional breweries with food-matched craft ales and stouts, alongside a vibrant cocktail selection crafted downstairs in the Castle Vaults with a distinctly Dublin twist.
Situated just north of O’Connell Street, our neighborhood is packed with dynamic visitor landmarks and cultural attractions embedded in historic Georgian streets. The Old Music Shop Restaurant sits within easy walking distance of the Gate Theatre, the O’Reilly Theatre, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the James Joyce Centre, 14 Henrietta Street, and the Garden of Remembrance. Plus, we are just a comfortable 15-minute walk from Croke Park Stadium and the GAA Museum.
Right outside our windows on Parnell Square North, the city's annual celebratory lifelines come to life, including the spectacular St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride Parade.
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