La Cosa Nostra
Merchants Quay A, Dublin
Restaurant in Dublin, Ireland
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
La Cosa Nostra is a practical pick in Dublin's Liberties when timing and location matter more than a destination dining format. Use it for an easy meal around a city-centre evening; choose Variety Jones or Matsukawa instead if the occasion calls for a more polished, higher-spend restaurant experience.
About La Cosa Nostra
La Cosa Nostra is a Dublin venue with daily opening hours and a casual dress code. It is worth considering when the brief is simple: a low-fuss Dublin plan where timing matters and you do not want to build the whole day around a formal itinerary.
The strongest reasons to keep La Cosa Nostra on the shortlist are practical ones: it is in Dublin, it opens daily from 12 PM, and it stays open until 9:30 PM most nights, with later closing at 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. If the evening needs a more destination-led plan, compare it with Variety Jones or Matsukawa. If the priority is a casual Dublin stop with clear daily hours, La Cosa Nostra fits that simpler role.
Use it for a practical Dublin visit, not a trophy dinner
The smart way to approach La Cosa Nostra is as a practical Dublin option: choose it when location, opening hours, and a casual dress code matter more than documented culinary theater. For a deeper search across the city, use our full Dublin restaurants guide; for broader Dublin planning, our full Dublin bars guide may also be useful.
Compared with more detailed options, the risk is expectation. Do not plan around a tasting format, awards, or a special-occasion profile. Consider La Cosa Nostra if the plan calls for a casual Dublin venue with daily hours from 12 PM. Visitors comparing other venues can also look at Proof Trattoria, Fish Shop, and Roe & Co Distillery.
Quick reference: choose La Cosa Nostra for a casual Dublin plan with daily hours; choose another venue if you need an outing built around awards, format, or menu detail.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12–9:30 PM · Tuesday: 12–9:30 PM
- Location
- 37 Thomas St, The Liberties, Dublin, D08 A319, Ireland
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- lacosanostra.ie
- Phone
- +35315327378
The take
The Take
The Vibe
La Cosa Nostra sits comfortably within the Liberties' evolving, independent food scene: a neighbourhood Italian that makes a deliberate pitch away from Dublin's polished fine-dining addresses. The copy paints it as a local-facing, scrappier alternative where the kitchen stakes a clear sense of ownership rather than leaning on generic formulas. The room reads as approachable and characterful: the sort of place that benefits from its surroundings, drawing on the area's mix of creative businesses and long-standing local trade. It feels like a modest, personable addition to Thomas Street rather than a destination spectacle.
Best For
This is a dependable option for both midday and evening meals. La Cosa Nostra treats lunch and dinner with comparable attention, making it a practical choice for a working-day lunch or a straightforward neighbourhood dinner; tradespeople, students and nearby staff feature in the crowd. Its informal, local orientation suits casual meet-ups, daytime stops and low-key evenings out where the cooking, not the pomp, is the main attraction.
Ordering Tips
The menu highlights traditional Italian pizza and classic desserts: the signature items listed include Il Grande Capo (Margherita), Goomar (Diavola), I Federali (Pepperoni) and Tiramisu. Given the kitchen's stated consistency between sittings, you can expect the same preparations at lunch and dinner, so ordering a Margherita or Diavola is a safe way to judge the oven and dough. Finish with the Tiramisu to complete the meal; these named dishes are the clearest markers of what the kitchen wants to be known for.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm and cosy atmosphere with lovely staff.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Italian wines, Cocktails
Signature Dishes
- Il Grande Capo (Margherita)
- Goomar (Diavola)
- I Federali (Pepperoni)
- Tiramisu
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 37 Thomas St, The Liberties, Dublin, D08 A319, Ireland
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12–9:30 PM
- Tuesday
- 12–9:30 PM
- Wednesday
- 12–9:30 PM
- Thursday
- 12–9:30 PM
- Friday
- 12–10:30 PM
- Saturday
- 12–10:30 PM
- Sunday
- 12–9:30 PM
Location
37 Thomas St, The Liberties, Dublin, D08 A319, Ireland · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Proof Trattoria, Notable alternative
- Variety Jones, Modern Cuisine, €€€€
- Matsukawa, Kaiseki, Japanese, €€€€
- Fish Shop, Notable alternative
- Roe & Co Distillery, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares in Dublin
La Cosa Nostra makes the clearest sense as the lower-commitment option in this Dublin set. Variety Jones is the stronger choice for a modern-cuisine splurge at €€€€, while Matsukawa is the more specialized pick for diners who want a Kaiseki or Japanese-led meal and are comfortable with €€€€ pricing.
For a casual Italian-leaning comparison, Proof Trattoria is the closest cross-shop: choose it when the meal itself is the focus, and choose La Cosa Nostra when The Liberties location and an easier evening flow matter more. Fish Shop is the better alternative when seafood is the brief rather than a general city dinner.
Roe & Co Distillery is not a like-for-like restaurant substitute, but it matters for the same neighbourhood plan: use it when drinks and distillery context are the anchor, then choose a nearby meal around that schedule. For value and ease, La Cosa Nostra is the practical choice; for occasion value, Variety Jones or Matsukawa carries more weight.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full La Cosa Nostra guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare La Cosa Nostra
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Cosa Nostra | Dublin | No published awards | ||
| Proof Trattoria | Dublin | No published awards | ||
| Variety Jones | Dublin | Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #1Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin 1 Star2025 The Sunday Times Ireland's 100 Best Restaurants2024 Michelin 1 Star |
| Matsukawa | Dublin | Kaiseki, Japanese | €€€€ | No published awards |
| Fish Shop | Dublin | No published awards | ||
| Roe & Co Distillery | Dublin | No published awards |
How La Cosa Nostra Dublin compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is best to visit La Cosa Nostra?
La Cosa Nostra opens daily from 12 PM and closes at 9:30 PM most nights, with a 10:30 PM close on Friday and Saturday.
What are alternatives to La Cosa Nostra?
Other venues to compare include Proof Trattoria, Fish Shop, Variety Jones, Matsukawa, and Roe & Co Distillery. Pick based on the type of outing you want, then check each venue's current details directly.
Is La Cosa Nostra good for a special occasion?
La Cosa Nostra has a casual dress code and daily hours, but no awards, menu format, or special-occasion details are specified. It is best treated as a casual Dublin option unless the venue confirms otherwise.
