About Our Venue

Wrights Anglers Rest

Strawberry Beds, Dublin

One of Dublin’s best known and most inviting restaurants, Wrights Anglers Rest offers an extensive menu and top-class cuisine in the welcoming ambience of its French threadbare-style and elegance. Originally built as a hotel in 1865 and used by honeymooning Dubliners, it has always been called The Anglers Rest and is still serving great seafood to this day.

Just a 10-15-minute drive from Dublin City Centre, this landmark establishment in the seclusion of the Strawberry Beds – next door to the Phoenix Park – has a history that stretches back to Cromwellian times and the famous patriot Michael Collins. It has long been considered as his the favourite watering hole and for anglers fishing along the banks of the adjacent River Liffey.

Today, the tradition of great food and drink continues with a strong culinary reputation, including the freshest seafood landed by Wrights of Howth, and a wide selection of national and international brands of beers, wines and spirits.

The charming Sackville Terrace is renowned for summer dining, while the ‘Salmon Room’ can cater for intimate private dining, and the stylish upstairs Phoenix room – with a capacity of up to 150 – is perfect for weddings & other special events.

Its picturesque location next to the banks of the Liffey at the Strawberry Beds and its reputation for fine food has made The Anglers Rest an increasingly popular and alternative venue for weddings.

On a sunny day our large outdoor terrace if the perfect place for a bite to eat while enjoying the tranquil surroundings of the Strawberry Beds.

Take a virtual tour of our venue here.

History Virtual Tour

The History of the Anglers Rest

The Strawberry Beds 1600 AD: Situated on steep south-facing slopes in a sheltered valley, the area got its name from the strawberries which were grown here as a commercial crop for nearly 250 years. The strawberry crops were transported to Dublin’s nearby fruit and vegetable markets for sale as well as hotels, restaurants and homes. However, it was for the sale of the strawberries with fresh cream on cabbage leaves from the cottages to travellers, day trippers or locals that the Strawberry Beds was renowned. It was a delight that hundreds of Dubliners would enjoy for years and years as they jaunted along the Strawberry Beds.

Strawberries date back to the late 1700s and it is mentioned in Cnuacha by O’Driscoll that Lord Annaly grew the fruit in his estate at Luttrellstown. The fruit grown at this period in time was a wild European variety and in 1780 a hybrid was developed in the USA. A series of new hybrid varieties were being grown in Europe by 1817. They were genetically modified to have a more succulent taste, a larger berry, and a more commercial viability. The name strawberry may have derived its name from the runners the plant puts out or ‘stray berries’. The southern border of the Luttrellstown Estate and further hills along the Lower Road descend steeply to the river and it is on these slopes that the strawberry, exposed to the warmth of the sun would ripen into a tasty succulent fruit.

Cottages, a distinctive feature of the Strawberry Beds, were always placed at the bottom of the slopes along the roadside. These cottages lined the roadside from the bridge at Lucan to Knockmaroon Hill. The hills that were cultivated rose up behind the houses and every square foot would be brought into production. Up until the early 1900s land was held by lease, so it was important that produce was maximised.

The Anglers Rest was originally built as a hotel in 1865 and used by honeymooning Dubliners. The establishment has always been called The Anglers Rest. It was a long-time favourite watering hole for anglers fishing along the banks of the adjacent River Liffey. The pub had changed hands a few times over the years until we took it in 1999. Since then, we have won several awards for our fine cuisine and have hosted weddings and events for many a happy couple.

Interesting Facts:

Previously this road was the main road to the West, on which Oliver Cromwell’s army marched in 1641.
During the 1919-1922 period, Michael Collins would meet his Dublin Castle spies in this pub. In one of these meetings, he was handed a list of names and a photograph of a group of enemy agents.
The Guinness family have long been associated with the Strawberry Beds area.
If you listen you can hear the River Liffey flowing, which runs adjacent to The Anglers Rest.
In 1840, it was known as Kellys Anglers Rest and in 1899 it was known as Doyles Anglers Rest. Since 1999 it has been Wrights Anglers Rest which people know and love today.