Bray Seafront Restaurants: A Local's Guide to Eating by the Sea
By Born in Bray · A guide to the best places to eat right on Bray's iconic seafront promenade.
There are very few places in Ireland where you can finish a long walk along a Victorian promenade, watch the waves roll in beneath a famous headland, and step straight into a buzzing restaurant — all within a few hundred metres. Bray, Co. Wicklow is one of them.
The Bray seafront stretches for over a kilometre between the harbour and Bray Head, and it's lined with some of the most-loved bars and restaurants in the county. Whether you're looking for a wood-fired pizza after a swim, a long lunch with sea views, or a paper bag of fish and chips eaten on a bench overlooking the Irish Sea, the prom has something for you.
This is our guide to the best Bray seafront restaurants — written by the team behind Born in Bray, a family of hospitality venues that has been part of the town's food and drink scene for years. We'll cover where to go, what to order, and how to make a proper day of it.
Why the Bray Seafront Is Such a Special Place to Eat
Bray's seafront has a character that's hard to find elsewhere on the east coast. The Victorian promenade was first laid out in the 1850s when the railway arrived from Dublin, and you can still feel that sense of occasion when you walk it today. On one side: the long stony beach, the bandstand, and the dramatic outline of Bray Head. On the other: a string of pubs, restaurants, hotels and ice-cream stops that have grown up over generations.
What makes it work for eating out is the variety. You can have a casual seafront brunch, a celebration dinner, a quick takeaway, or a late-night pint with live music — sometimes within the same building. And because everything is walkable from the DART station, it's just as easy for visitors coming down from Dublin as it is for locals.
Platform Pizza Bar — Wood-Fired Pizza on Strand Road
Address: 7 Strand Road, Bray · platformpizzabar.ie
Sitting right on Strand Road — the road that hugs the Bray seafront — Platform Pizza Bar is the go-to spot for pizza and cocktails in Bray. It's a short stroll from the prom, the bandstand and the DART station, which makes it one of the most convenient seafront restaurants in town.
The kitchen turns out fresh wood-stone pizzas topped with local produce, alongside homemade pasta, flatbreads, salads, and a strong selection of vegan and vegetarian options. Cocktails are taken seriously — there's a proper drinks list rather than a token afterthought — and the garden terrace is one of the nicest places in town to sit on a sunny evening.
It works for almost any occasion. Sunday lunch with the kids? Yes — there's a dedicated children's menu. A casual catch-up with friends? Pull up a stool. A date night before heading along the prom for an evening walk? Hard to beat. The buzzing atmosphere, the sound of pizzas going into the oven, and the easy walk to the seafront make it one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in Bray.
Best for
Wood-fired pizza and homemade pasta
Family lunches and birthdays
Cocktails and a relaxed garden terrace
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners
The Martello — Gastropub Dining Right on the Seafront
Address: Strand Road, Bray Seafront · themartello.ie
If you've ever pictured the perfect Bray seafront restaurant, you've probably pictured something close to The Martello. It sits directly on the promenade, with a balcony that looks out over the beach and Bray Head, and it's open from 8am every day.
Mornings start with breakfast — full Irish, eggs benedict, pastries, good coffee — served while the early walkers and swimmers go past on the prom. By lunchtime the menu shifts into proper gastropub territory: chowder, fresh fish, burgers, steaks, hearty mains, and the kind of plates that go well with a long afternoon. The atmosphere stays buzzing right through to the evening, when cocktails come out, sport plays on the screens, and live musicians and DJs take over at weekends.
It's also a hotel, with rooms and self-catering apartments above the bar and restaurant, which makes it the obvious choice if you want to extend a meal into a full Bray seafront staycation. For a one-stop seafront restaurant in Bray that covers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks and a place to sleep, The Martello is in a class of its own.
Best for
Seafront breakfast and brunch with sea views
Gastropub lunches after a walk on the prom
Big group dinners, cocktails and live music nights
Visitors who want a hotel right on the seafront
Fish Bar — Proper Fish & Chips by the Sea
Address: At The Harbour Bar, Bray Seafront · fishbar.ie
Some things are non-negotiable on a seafront, and one of them is fish and chips.
Fish Bar is tucked into The Harbour Bar at the northern end of the seafront, just up from the harbour itself. It serves up the kind of fishy fare that goes hand-in-hand with a walk along the prom: fresh fish and chips, fish burgers, prawns, calamari, a spice box if you're feeling like a treat, and toasties for the in-between moments. There are vegan options too, so nobody has to sit out.
It's a casual, easygoing operation — perfect for grabbing food and finding a bench by the bandstand, or eating in at The Harbour Bar with a pint while the live music starts up next door. If you only do one thing on the Bray seafront, eating Fish Bar fish and chips while the seagulls eye your basket isn't a bad shout.
Best for
Fresh fish and chips on the seafront
Casual lunches and post-walk takeaway
Pairing food with a pint at The Harbour Bar
Families, sea swimmers and dog walkers
Where to Drink on the Seafront After Dinner
Half the joy of eating out on the Bray seafront is what you do afterwards. The good news is you don't have to go far.
The Harbour Bar — voted one of the Best Loved Pubs in Ireland and the World by Lonely Planet — sits at the harbour end of the prom and is the natural after-dinner stop. Live bands play on the Live Lounge stage, trad sessions fill the bar at weekends, and the welcome is the kind that keeps people coming back for generations.
Conlon's Wine Bar, a small neighbourhood wine bar at Brennan's Parade on the seafront, is the more intimate option. Wines by the glass, charcuterie boards, and a handful of tables make it ideal for a quieter end to the evening. Walk-ins are encouraged.
How to Make a Full Day of It on the Bray Seafront
Because everything is so close together, it's easy to put together a full day on the prom. Here's a sample plan that locals would happily endorse:
Morning — Take the DART from Dublin (about 35–45 minutes from the city centre). Walk down to the seafront and have breakfast at The Martello, ideally outside if the weather plays ball.
Late morning — Walk the full length of the promenade towards Bray Head. The cliff walk to Greystones is one of the best coastal walks on the east coast — about an hour and a half each way.
Lunch — Pick up fish and chips from Fish Bar at The Harbour Bar and eat on a bench overlooking the sea. Or, if you want to sit down, head to Platform Pizza Bar on Strand Road for wood-fired pizza.
Afternoon — Wander the harbour, watch the boats, and have a coffee or a cocktail back at The Martello's terrace.
Evening — Dinner at Platform Pizza Bar, drinks at The Harbour Bar with live music, and a quiet last glass at Conlon's Wine Bar to round things off.
If you're not in the mood to head back to Dublin, both The Martello and our sister hotel Firefly (a short walk from the seafront) make excellent overnight stops.
Planning Your Visit
How do I get to the Bray seafront?
The DART runs directly from Dublin city centre to Bray station, which is about a five-minute walk from the seafront. Driving from Dublin takes 30–45 minutes depending on traffic, with parking available along Strand Road and at the harbour.
When is the best time to visit?
Bray's seafront is open all year. Summer evenings are unbeatable for outdoor seating and people-watching, but there's something special about a crisp winter walk followed by a hot meal and a pint indoors. Sunday lunch is consistently busy on the prom — book ahead where you can.
Are the restaurants family-friendly?
Yes. Platform Pizza Bar in particular has a dedicated kids' menu and is geared towards family dining. The Martello welcomes families during the day, and Fish Bar is as casual and family-friendly as it gets.
FAQs About Bray Seafront Restaurants
What are the best restaurants on the Bray seafront?
The standout Bray seafront restaurants from the Born in Bray family are Platform Pizza Bar (wood-fired pizza and cocktails on Strand Road), The Martello (gastropub food right on the promenade), and Fish Bar (fresh fish and chips at The Harbour Bar). Together they cover everything from casual takeaway to full sit-down dinners.
Which Bray seafront restaurant has the best sea views?
The Martello, hands down. Its balcony and dining room look directly out over the promenade and the Irish Sea, with Bray Head in the distance.
Where can I get fish and chips on Bray seafront?
Fish Bar at The Harbour Bar serves freshly cooked fish and chips, fish burgers, prawns, calamari and more. It's the most authentically seaside option on the prom.
Are Bray seafront restaurants open all year?
Yes. The main Born in Bray seafront restaurants — Platform Pizza Bar, The Martello and Fish Bar — are open year-round, with shifting hours in the quieter winter months. Always check individual venue websites for current opening times.
Can I walk between the Bray seafront restaurants?
Easily. Platform Pizza Bar, The Martello, Fish Bar, The Harbour Bar and Conlon's Wine Bar are all within a few minutes' walk of each other along Strand Road and the promenade. It's one of the things that makes Bray such a great food destination.
Ready to Eat by the Sea?
Whether you're after a quick fish supper, a long pizza-and-cocktails dinner, or a leisurely seafront brunch, the Born in Bray family has you covered. Browse our full list of restaurants in Bray, bars and hotels, or check out our wider guide to the best food in Bray for more recommendations across the town.
We'll see you on the prom.
