Winding Stair Bookshop

A quaint and cozy little bookstore with a charming atmosphere. Though it’s small, they have an impressive selection of books. There’s a comfy chair where you can sit and lose yourself in a good read from the shelf. Highly recommend!

lovely place! i love going to bookstores that aren’t chains. you can really see the thought put into everything. the prices are very fair as well and they have recent releases as well.

Dublin has many independent bookshops, but this is one of my favourites. It is located just across from Ha’Penny Bridge and Temple Bar, and the street outside is always busy. Yet somehow there’s the sense of calm as soon as you step inside the door, of time slowing down as you are welcomed by the whisper of rustling pages and a carpet softening the sound of your footsteps. The books are well curated and you can find anything from classics to modern fiction, children’s books and second hand to cookbooks and mindfulness books.

The bookstore is small, but cute and has a surprisingly big collection of fiction books, most of them known titles. I myself am a big fan of (contemporary) romance and there was not much of it, but I think they try to distinguish themselves between other chain bookstores like Eason and don't include much of the titles that are now being hyped in social media and I respect the concept. I ended up going out of my comfort zone and buy something from an Irish author. I recommend visiting if you enjoy books, it was a cozy bookshop with good vibes!

A lovely shop with a cozy feeling. The shop itself is rather small, but the selection of books they had was really nice and the background music made the shop feel homely and welcoming. If anyone is planning to visit a bookshop in Dublin I highly recommend this one <3

Lovely little bookshop! We went in and got to hear a wonderful reading of some James Joyce by a local poet, who also read some of his won work. A lovely selection, and a friendly atmosphere. Great place! Glad I found it!

Lovely little shop! The woman at the counter was very helpful and kind. They have a selection of used books, some dating back to the 1800s and at very reasonable prices. I picked up a copy of Sidh by Karina and Kathy Tynan, which is published by a local small press. Would love to spend more time here!

Small but mighty and niche selection of books. If you are tired of seeing all the same titles from Eason or Dubray stores, this is the place to go.

What an incredible bookshop! Medium sized with an incredible collection of popular fiction and nonfiction! A ton of specific nonfiction sections, easy to navigate and lots of display space for themed or popular fiction! The back has childrens and used books, too. I bought Little Rot, Akwaeke Emezi's newest book and I'm excited to read it! My big critique is they were selling arcs for a profit. Most of the used books were marked with a price around 4 quid. I found an interesting arc and asked if I could take it and they said it was also 4 quid! But on it said it was an arc and as any bookseller would know, its against bookshop rules to sell arcs for money. As a bookseller, it's a real bummer when I see this happen. I otherwise enjoyed The Winding Stair and it's definitely worth browsing! Highly recommend whether you're a local or just stumbled upon it right across the bridge.

If anything is "on brand" for me, it's finding an indie bookstore wherever I go! I wish I could have spent longer in The Winding Stair Bookshop, but unfortunately, we had had a long day of hiking and were looking forward to a shower! This small store is still very well stocked; I appreciated their organization - with Irish literature having it's own section, compared to other general fiction. They also had a whole room for children's book and some nice sections for history, nature, etc.

Writers musicians and artists used to gather here in the 70s to meet up and compare interests and have a chat, now everyone gathers here to have a browse in the book shop and to eat in the lovely restaurant that now takes over most of this establishment. The book shop is great for a browse among second hand books, you never know what you will come across. the children's section is particularly good! If you want to have something to eat here forget about just deciding on a whim and turning up, its so popular that you absolutely must make a reservation otherwise you will be very disappointed!

Absolutely love the winding stair. They stock some really weird books that you may never see anywhere else agin, as well as a lot of the more popular fiction and non fiction. It's a quaint little place where you can while away the free hours if you've nothing better to do and although a lot of their stuff is a little more pricey than most other book shops, the Winding Stair is worth your cash if only for it's uniqueness.

The Winding Stair is such a marvelous little shop, I just wish it was bigger. A friend mentioned the place to me and I decided to check it out, not realizing it is mostly a restaurant now and not strictly a bookstore. I walked in and was startled by how small the place was; I get the feeling that the focus is definitely on the restaurant now, though the bookstore still retains its charm. I decided to browse around anyway, and ended up staying for almost an hour! The stock isn't big, in fact it's downright teeny for a bookstore, but everything is superb. Their selection of art books blew me away; they had a lot of titles and collections you're unlikely to find in a traditional bookstore. They have new and used books for sale, the used ones being quite well priced. I wanted to buy their entire collection of old penguin books. With their happy orange bindings they'd make a delightful addition to my personal library.

The Winding Stair is by far one of my favourite places to go on a lazy weekend. Whether you have something specific in mind or you just want to peruse the latest arrivals, the staff will not bother you. You're free to sort through used and new books and even take a seat in their big arm chair. There's a good mix of different types of books, from children's stories to classic works. I like to look at their photography and fashion books. This bookshop is one of the reasons Dublin has such a strong reputation for literature. It has been around since the 70s and is considered by many artists and intellectuals to be the ideal meeting spot. I went to my friend's book reading here last summer and it was an unforgettable night of wine and literature.

I am writing this review in hopes that the employee that I am about to write about sees this and feels utterly ashamed of himself. Here's how it went down. I needed a book for one of my college classes. I realized that it was unlikely but I was walking past and knew it would only take two seconds to check it out. I walked up to the employee Me: Hi I'm looking for a book called "The Granta Book of American Short Stories." Him: (with a look of disgust and annoyance) hmmmm...(doesn't even look at his computer to check)nope don't have that. Me:Oh okay, that's cool, thanks. As I'm walking away I hear him muttering in an irritated voice "I didn't even know that book existed" Oh really Mr Superhuman-library-bookshop-man? Have you heard of every single piece of paper that has ever been published since the Gutenberg Bible? I could really not believe that anyone would be so incredibly rude to me. There was literally one other person in the shop, browsing in the back. I could not have been bothering him much, and even if I was, isn't it his job to answer questions about books in a freakin' bookstore??? So, sir, if you are out there reading this and you realize that I'm talking about you, seriously re-evaluate your life. Is it really making you happy? Do you like sneering at customers all day? Is your literary sweater on a little too tight? Just relax and accept the fact that you work in a bookstore. It's okay. I did too. I did my time happily and moved on with my life, and you will too, or you'll just live a sad, arrogant existence and whither away to dust like all the over-rated novels on your shelves.

The Winding Stair bookshop used to be the home for all things bohemian - with a bookshop that seemed to stretch right up into the clouds (at the top was a sticky-tabled literary restaurant that made the whole trip worthwhile). Now it's back and packing a punch! The creaky stairs and multiple floors are gone, replaced by a Michelin rated gastro-restaurant. But the ground floor has been kept on as an independent and eclectic bookstore. The most appealing feature about the store is the unexpected - you are never quite sure what you will find on the next shelf. (The children's books shelves are stuffed with some good titles but there is limited space and as a result, limited stock.) The Winding Stair has kept it's old-worldy, bohemian atmosphere - something that is lost in the new Chapters store - and it is hard to resist the urge not to just spend hours idly sifting through the hundreds of books. The appeal of the store is bolstered by its staff - who are not only friendly but know more than just a thing or two about books and writers. (Just don't drop in at half 7 in the evening and keep Regan waiting for his tea. You won't like him when he's hungry.) The shop is closed on Mondays but is open Tuesday - Sunday from 12pm till 5.

We found this place by chance and glad we did! It's a very tiny place but their selection of kid's books are pretty good. I bought a couple kid's books for my daughter.

I've developed a love of bookshops since moving here, there are just so many to choose from! The Winding stair is a wonderful little bookshop like something out of a romance novel, there isn't a huge selection but they've picked a good base of 2nd hand books and a wonderful children's section. There is a quaint coffee corner, 2 small round tables near the windows where you can people watch to your hearts content. I adored everything about this place, the mis-matching cup and saucer and sugar cubes added to the experience. The girl in the store was pleasant enough not engaging but that was fine as you want to be left alone to browse.

Great place to go if you do not feel like being overwhelmed by the selection and abundance at regular bookstores. It also has a very select taste, so you might only find a few of the copies present and that makes the selection big even though the shop is small. It is also nice that you are greeted when entering and you can even sit for a coffee on rainy days - looking out the window and imagine you are sitting in your Georgian library tinkering with a thought.

This business name should be updated to include the restaurant above the bookstore. What a random little find right on the River Liffey. Space is small and somewhat cramped - but it's worth it for the friendly staff and tasty food (steak, crab, mussels, and various other items). If you can score a front seat by the window - you'll even get a great view.

A wonderful hideaway on the river for book lovers. It's a small bookstore with a good selection of books and local literary magazines. It's got a handful of chairs to sit in if you need to duck out of the rain and read for a bit. We loved it!

This is a great little bookshop - a great place to browse; every time I have gone in, it reminds me of a little old curiosity shoppe!! The restaurant upstairs is a lovely place to lunch, but beware- remember to book for dinner; the beautiful view over the Liffey combined with the traditional and very simple concept in this gem makes it an exceptionally popular and charming spot.

It was a couple years ago so what I ate I can't really remember too well but the place was cozy with high ceilings and tall windows overlooking the Liffey. Great spot.. what a concept for a restaurant. A winding stair to reach the restaurant. An extensive menu and wine list I do remember. I do remember the entree was a fish and absolutely wonderful. My husband tells me it was 'place'. I would defintely go back again!

Would someone please tell me if there is a smell of the river liffey from this restaurant/bookshop? I have often wanted to experience it, but would not find the smell of the Liffey enticing, nor indeed the sight of the many undesirable junkies all around the area? Thank you Maria A

Food and service was very good!!! Need to make reservations to ensure you receive a table.

It's been forever and a day since I've been to Ireland, but I spent a lot of time there a while ago. At a time when I was working at a coffee shop and struggling to pay for my bedsit, I found a lot of tranquility and enjoyment at the Winding Stair! I'd thumb threw some used paperbacks and make my way up the stairs to the restaurant where I would always enjoy their soup of the day and the bread they served. It was the right price and the right sustenance I needed on those cold damp days of my life. I love Dublin and I will always love the Winding Stair!

This place is wonderful for date night. My boyfriend had visited a year before and when he brought me to Ireland he wisely made reservations for this restaurant. The service is great, the wine selection is good and I would get the bread and butter pudding if I were you. I would definitely eat here again. It is a little expensive but worth it for the atmosphere and view.

I really like this place and if you eat at the restaurant upstairs, you usually get 10% off. Check it out.

At one point during the Celtic Tiger boom, this apparently was earmarked as a new site for Starbucks, which thankfully never came to pass. Unfortunately, when the bookshop reopened, it only kept the ground floor for books; upstairs is now a swanky restaurant. I used to love the creaky stairs, bohemian cafe and shelves and shelves of random old books that littered the upstairs. Still, the current version of the bookshop is pretty cool with a well-organised selection, and I love the window displays. The windows always seem to showcase the latest kooky children's book and a few choice selections for adults. A grand little spot for browsing and buying.