I Monelli Authentic Italian Restaurant

Intimate atmosphere. Well varied menu. Good sized portions. Tasty food. Reasonably priced. Friendly genuine service.

Very nice atmosphere and great service! Lovely location as well! The calamari are to die for! The batter is so light and the calamari are very fresh and not chewy! The sea food pasta was very nice and it was a lot portion wise! The arrancini were nice as well but if you’re a seafood person definitely go with the crispy calamari (nice portion and delicious marinara sauce).

Came for dinner without booking, but the staffs were still able to manage in such a short notice, both the starter and main course in weekend set menu were perfect, and the 3 scoops of Gelato was surprisingly nice 😀.

Fantastic dinner with our family. We are vegetarian and we had plenty of options. The arrabbiata was the best we have had. They even made a special dish for my son that was not on the menu. Must have Italian in Dublin!

Delicious food, warm and comforting, served in a cosy and inviting atmosphere. Friendly staff and attentive service make the experience even more enjoyable. A lovely spot to relax and enjoy a great meal.

This place is absolutely amazing! Good food, great atmosphere and the staff were so friendly and most welcoming :) The menu offers so many choices and every dish looked amazing and had the authentic Italian taste. I would 100% recommend it to my friends and I look forward to returning to try their fabulous Christmas menu as well! Thank you for a lovely evening!

I booked this restaurant for a romantic dinner with my boyfriend, and it truly exceeded my expectations. The carbonara was absolutely delicious – probably one of the best I’ve ever had in Ireland, with a perfect balance of flavors and texture. The atmosphere was warm, cozy, and very welcoming, creating the ideal setting for a special evening. What stood out even more was the staff: they were incredibly kind, attentive, and made us feel genuinely cared for throughout the whole experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for amazing food combined with excellent service, and I will most certainly be coming back.

One of best Italian Restaurants in Dublin, situated in Portobello serves wonder authentic Italian food. Loved every bite. Starter with spinach ,blue cheese and walnuts is a must try.Pastas and dessert platter were the highlights. Their cocktails are also very good.one of the best meals in last month.

+6

We had a really nice dinner at I Monelli. The Xmas set menu is simple but delicious, with the real taste of Italy. My husband had the scarmoza for starter and the sauce was to die for. I had a (giant) platter of the most fresh procciuto with honey and focaccia. For main I had the mushroom tagliatelle, and he ordered the venison ragu, witch was the best I've had since my grandma's cooking (highly recommended). The montepulciano wine was a great match and the tiramisu was lovely. Really looking forward to come back.

I accidentally found the ads of this restaurant on Instagram actually. Lovely cosy authentic Italian restaurant right in front of the canal in the heart of Portobello. Atmosphere was great, feels like you’re being served good food at home. I can imagine how nice it would be in the summer. The head waiter, whatever his name was, was very attentive and friendly. While making sure every customer was attended for, he still spares the time to entertain a small family with little kids dining next to us. Food was excellent. We went for calamari and pan fried prawn for the starters (for the love of me I can’t remember the proper Italian name for the dish). Sure, sounds simple but the sauces and seasonings paired perfectly with the protein. Ingredients were as fresh as it could be at this time of year. Pasta dish was also great. We both went for the same thing; seafood spagghettoni. It was well balanced, the richness was properly cut with the amount of acidity from the tomatoes. A sprinkle of parmiggiano reggiano do wonders here. Properly seasoned as well. Again, ingredients were as fresh as they could be. Not sure if they make their own pasta. All these, paired with a tangy mocktail, completes the meal. For wine connoisseurs out there, don’t worry, they have great selection of wine as well. We left satisfied. Portion is reasonable, not excessively hearty. Price was reasonable for the quality of food and service provided. In short, it was a great dining experience. Would definitely recommend. I reckon this place would be great for special occasions (anniversary, birthday, etc) as well.

We had an extremely pleasant and lovely experience! Neri attended to us and was exceptionally kind and attentive, which made everything even more special. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, perfect for enjoying the moment. On top of that, everything was absolutely delicious and prepared with great care. We will definitely be back and highly recommend it!

The food didn’t make it to the picture as it was SOOO good. This restaurant is a must if you’re into just the best homemade food. We had the mussels and the tagliatelle with truffle and mushrooms. I’m still dreaming about it. Also the service was impeccable! The staff was so helpful, knowledgeable and extremely friendly. We definitely coming back!

We went there to celebrate our one-year anniversary, and it was such a lovely experience! The service was fantastic — the staff were all super friendly and attentive. Our waiter had a really sweet gesture when he realized we were celebrating our anniversary: he brought a small candle to make the moment more romantic. The food wasn’t served in large portions, but everything was delicious and full of flavor. Overall, a cozy and charming place — perfect for a special evening. Highly recommend!

Had dinner here with my mom and it was such a memorable spot! The place was cute and cozy, and I still remember how delicious everything was. The staff gave great recommendations, and everything, from starters to mains, exceeded expectations. Definitely a spot for a special occasion.

We had dinner here a few days ago and it was truly a flawless experience from start to finish. The quality of the food is outstanding; you can really taste the freshness of the ingredients and the passion behind the cooking. It brings a genuine, real taste of Italy right to the heart of Dublin. What made the evening truly special, however, was the impeccable service. Alessandro and Giuseppe were absolutely fantastic. They were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, giving us great advice and making sure we had everything we needed without ever being intrusive. It is rare to find such a perfect balance of amazing cuisine and warm hospitality. If you are looking for great Italian food and a wonderful atmosphere, look no further. We will definitely be returning soon!

An absolutely wonderful Italian restaurant! The food is delicious, fresh, and prepared with great care, each dish with that authentic flavor that makes you feel like you’re in Italy. The atmosphere is warm, elegant, and perfect for special moments. 🍝🍷 I especially want to highlight the manager, Giuseppe. He is amazing! Attentive, friendly, and extremely professional, he made all the difference in our experience, always ensuring everything was perfect and making us feel very welcome.

Food was absolutely delicious and authentic Italian food! Especially the fried squid, really recommend it. The service was great as well!

One of the best Italian restaurants in Dublin, location is amazing, and the restaurant has a very good ambience. Food is amazing and the staff very helpful.

An amazing Italian place with great offers and support for bdays and good food. Support from the stuff working there, amazing chef and relaxing atmosphere. I enjoyed and I got great support to celebrate bday (second bday I decided to spend at I Monelli). I ordered fried mozzarelle, absolutely fantastic and ravioli with honey.. watery but not superspecial! The team has been very supportive and opened to get feedback and support! Matteo very special and supportive! Great team arranging Happy Birthday… I will be back there quite often! Miss them already: very friendly and available!!! Including the chef!!! 😍

The atmosphere is warm, authentic, and full of charm — the perfect setting for a memorable meal. The food was absolutely outstanding, with every dish bursting with flavor and clearly prepared with care and passion. What truly made the evening unforgettable, however, was the service — especially from our waiter, Giuseppe. He was incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and attentive without ever being intrusive. His recommendations were spot-on, and his friendly, genuine personality added so much to the experience. You can tell he takes great pride in his work and in making sure guests have a wonderful time. I Monelli is a true gem, and thanks to Giuseppe, it felt like we were being hosted by family. Can’t wait to come back!

Great, authentic Italian food. Fantastic service from Giuseppe. Treat yourself to a delicious meal in a great atmosphere. Will return.

The best gnocchi I've ever had, exceptional service. Giuseppe made the evening even more incredible.

One if not the best Italian restaurant in Dublin. Really Italian, from the genuine and superb food, to the kind and friendly service! To say highly recommend is the least. Get any dish, really. You won't be disappointed. The atmosphere is also great!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We visited this restaurant to celebrate my sister’s 21st birthday, and it was an absolutely exquisite experience! Every dish was a delight—starting with the mozzarella balls, which were incredibly tasty. The ravioli was cooked to perfection, the tagliatelle was fantastic, and the spaghetti with fish was beautifully flavorful. Even the chicken was exceptional! The service was impeccable—attentive, friendly, and made the evening even more special. To top it all off, the tiramisu was a perfect ending to a memorable night. This place truly made the celebration unforgettable. Highly recommend for any special occasion (or just because)!

I had a very beautiful experience at this cozy place. The dinner was delicious and the atmosphere was amazing! Giuseppe and his colleagues are very kind and it’s easy to start an enjoyable conversation. Another important aspect, I was offered a seat for dinner although it was very late in the evening. Few restaurants offer such flexibility. I would strongly recommend this place for both formal and informal occasions.

We were welcomed and served by the restaurant's manager, he was friendly and professional. We felt right in Italy. We tried penne with salmon and broccoli and the pappardelle with ragù di cervo, finishing with a delicious profiterole. The portions were generous and the food was incredibly tasty. We will definitely be back soon. Bravi ragazzi.

The food is to die for.. we ordered calamari, homemade gnocchi with truffle, cavatelli with meatballs, tiramisu, and cheeseboard…. everything was done to perfection & really well presented. Do yourself a favour & come dine here!

Honestly a perfect little restaurant full of heart. I had their venison ragu and it was extraordinary, and while the calamari may not be the single best I've ever had it's certainly up there. They have a huge wine selection and our choice was lovely, we ended the night with a lovely cannoli desert. The staff were pleasant and welcoming, if a bit busy (due to their success, which of course I wouldn't hold against them). The service was still satisfyingly quick. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside and full of authentic Italian decor. While it wasn't the cheapest restaurant, it absolutely earns it's above average price range through consistently high quality and I am eagerly awaiting my next visit. Huge thumbs up.

We went on a Monday night and it was buzzing. The food and wine and service was superb. We had the arancini and the meatballs special, both delicious. We will definitely be back again.

I Monelli is a fantastic place. The food is really very good, with great flavours and well-prepared dishes. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal or a nice evening out. What truly stands out is the staff: they are extremely friendly and attentive, and they can speak three different languages, which makes the whole experience even better and more comfortable. Highly recommended — I would definitely come back.

We had such a lovely evening at I Monelli. The restaurant was full, yet Matteo and Giuseppe took care of us with incredible attention. We felt welcomed, seen, and genuinely looked after the whole time. The location is beautiful: right on the canal in Portobello, super quiet and peaceful, but still a few steps away from Dublin’s nightlife. The food was excellent. We tried the truffle flan (absolutely delicious) and the broccoli and salmon pasta, which was perfectly balanced in flavour. They also offer vegetarian and gluten-free options, which is a huge plus. Definitely one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had in Dublin. Ciao from Sardinia! Thank you for such a warm experience. We’ll definitely be back

Amazing food and Top-class service Hands down one of the best Italian cuisine spots Aperol Spritz in Dublin. I stopped by a few days ago and everything was wonderful.. A special Shout- out to waiters, Giuseppe and Alessandro and in particular the services from Matteo and Stefania. Great atmosphere and even better food execution and excellent house.

What an incredible experience. Amazing food, it was mouthwatering. Giuseppe was an expert at recommending wine from our vague description and was a wonderful host. Mateo was one of the best bartenders we've encountered, recreating drinks we had in Italy with ease Highly recommended to dine here, food and atmosphere can't be beat.

Fantastic arrabiata - cooked and seasoned perfectly, with the búfala melted and cherry tomatoes the perfect spice level. Giuseppe could not have been more welcoming or accommodating and made my evening there so relaxing. Can't wait to come back!

Will go again! Lovely spot along the river - incredibly good Italian food. Delivers on classic Italian dishes and has some new takes on classic dishes (which were amazing). We’re able and kind about working through a bizarre food allergy, and provided great recommendations for both of us. We finished off with the gelato, which was epic!

Authentic Italian food. Pricing in line with Italian food prices in Dublin. Staff are friendly and make you feel welcomed. The only drawback is if the restaurant is busy and though you have a reservation you may have to wait for the table. Great wine selection as well.

+1

The starter was amazing!! Tye wine as well and they have various selections. The main we had a sea food pasta which was massive and very tasty, just a little bit too oily. My friend had a monkfish pasta which was very well presented, however, a bit rubbery and not so pleasant. We had a lovely evening all together.

Warm, welcoming atmosphere and excellent service made for a lovely evening. The food was good overall, though the gnocchi wasn’t my favourite. Still, a charming spot for a relaxed Italian meal in Dublin. The gelato was also a great option on the menu.

+2

We went to I Monelli for Valentine’s and overall had a nice evening. Ambience: The atmosphere is really cool — proper traditional Italian, small restaurant vibes with a great energy in the room. It feels intimate and lively, which suited Valentine’s perfectly. Service: Excellent. The staff were attentive, friendly and on the ball all night. No complaints at all here. Food: This is where it fell slightly short for us. It wasn’t bad — just… good. The ragu felt more like a standard bolognese than something rich and slow-cooked. The prawn rigatoni was fine but nothing particularly memorable. Even the tiramisu was a bit dried out, which was disappointing as that’s usually a highlight. We had high hopes for the food given the reputation and price point, and while it was enjoyable, it didn’t quite live up to expectations.

The food was tasty and of good quality, but the portions were extremely small. We paid €100 2persons) for a two-course menu but for that amount the portions were far too small per person. Furthermore, We were also not informed anywhere beforehand that taking a set menu was mandatory and a tip was also automatically added to the bill. It’s not pleasant to dine at a restaurant like this. I had seen comments in the reviews beforehand about the small portions but still wanted to give it a chance. Unfortunately, I am also disappointed.

I went to the restaurant tonight and the service was excellent. The food however, even though the Cannellini were tasty they were only 2 small ones for 21€. I thought it was too expensive for what they served. The beers we ordered were hot and it was a particularly warm day so I would have definitely preferred a cold beer. I left the restaurant hungry

We had a very bad experience here last night upstairs from two very unprofessional staff. The waiter who served us was clearly not trained in service. The lady in black, acting like the manager also clearly was untrained in customer service. We where handed the xmas menu upon arrival which was €3 per dish more expensive than the normal menu. I asked the waiter who said this was the only menu, I then saw the real menu going around on other tables, when I asked him, he then said he forgot. Anyway, we asked for the real menu and thought that was a very strange and sneaky tactic from the get go. When the food finally arrived super late. He put my food down and walked off. I noticed he had got my order totally wrong and he knew it cause he tried to ignore our table. I tried a prawn, they where extremely overcooked and hard on both our dishes, bear in mind i hadnt ordered this dish i recieved at all so i left the plate to the side clearly untouched for him to come back while trying to get his attention . To my suprise he didnt come back to check if the food was ok (which is standard protocol in any restaurant). 15mins passed. My partner ordered the seafood pasta. It came with no monkfish or clams just a huge pile of muscles and very over cooked prawns. Ww thought this was very amateur from the chef and the waiter. He only came when I stood up and went over and asked him for the bill. I explained the situation, he didn't seem to understand how to deal with it, he said he would replace the dish. I told him it's too late,we had somewhere else. I didnt eat any food. To add further insult.He then tried to charge us the uplift price of the xmas menu..which we didn't order from. I would never in my life step foot in this restaurant for the simple reason of how we felt we where treated. If they had any good management. (Who was present by the way and trying her best to ignore). This could have been dealt with promptly and easily, no issues. But turned out they don't have good management.