We’ve all had that midsummer moment where you look out the window, see a sudden burst of proper sunshine, and collectively decide that working for the rest of the afternoon is a secondary priority. When the city actually gets a summer, the race is on to find somewhere that matches that energy.
Walk through the doors of Cantina Valentina and you’ll find exactly that. Cantina Valentina is one of the most vibrant restaurant spaces around, bringing a serious injection of Peruvian warmth to the city centre. It’s a gorgeously styled, funky room that somehow manages to bridge the gap between South American heat and easy, unpretentious Dublin sociability.
Inspired by Peru’s traditional picanterías — informal, family-run canteens known for their hospitality — the space hits the sweet spot between a casual drop-in joint and a proper night out. The walls are wrapped in natural, textured plasters, there’s woven-cane seating, and it’s all anchored by a massive yellow-marble bar. A stunning Andes-inspired mural by artist Cadhla Forde ties the whole thing together. It feels vivid and alive, whether you are taking over a big table with a crowd, tucked into a corner on a date, or sitting solo at the counter watching the kitchen team do their thing.
This summer, they’ve added a few brilliant new dishes that give a nod to traditional Peruvian street culture while keeping things incredibly fresh and summery. One of the real conversation starters is the beef heart anticucho. If you’ve ever spent an evening wandering around Lima, you’ll know this is the ultimate street-food staple. At Cantina Valentina, it’s expertly charred, smoky, and deeply savoury. It might sound adventurous on paper, but it’s pure comfort food.
Speaking of comfort, the kitchen has also introduced lomo saltado, a dish that perfectly illustrates the ‘Chifa’ tradition, a historic culinary crossover where Cantonese cooking techniques meet Peruvian ingredients, and a stir-fried masterclass. Bavette of beef is flash fried with a deliciously tangy sauce and a tangle of onions and peppers, and served — these are the rules — with double carbs of rice and chips. For something a little lighter, the grilled monkfish is served in delicate slices, swimming in a rich, velvety ají gallina sauce. If you’re eating green or just want something that really says summer, the heirloom tomato ceviche is a total hero dish. It uses a garlic leaf tiger’s milk with basil and pisco-infused cucumber, and looks just as pretty as it tastes.
These new plates sit comfortably alongside the established menu champions that everyone has been obsessing over since the doors opened. You can still kick things off with the legendary prawn croquetas slathered in amarillo mayo, or a plate of crispy chicharrónes tossed in aji lime salt. The giant tiger prawn anticucho brings incredible char from the grill, while the pollo a la brasa remains a gold standard in juicy, spiced chicken. And if you just want a really good burger on a casual Thursday night, their Lima cheeseburger, decked out with onion criolla, rocoto ketchup, and a punchy ají amarillo mustard, is an absolute tier-one choice. As a lighter option, the superfood salad combines roasted sweet potato, avocado, and tenderstem broccoli with a bright lemon dressing.
The bar team is operating on the exact same wavelength. While they naturally shake up a flawless Classic Pisco Sour and a lethal El Spicy Marg, the summer standout is their Thai Basil and Coconut Pisco Sour. Fragrant and tropical, it’s exactly what you want to be holding if and when the afternoon temperatures hit the twenties. To finish, skip the coffee and go straight for the tres leches cake, a beautifully soaked three-milks sponge topped with toasted coconut, fresh berries, and a squeeze of lime to cut through the richness.
Cantina Valentina feels like a flavour of holidays right there on Exchequer Street, a mini-trip away without leaving the city. Settle in for a long, lazy dinner that inevitably turns into a late-night cocktail session; it’s exactly where you want to be this summer.
For those big-hitter occasions with friends and family, Cantina Valentina is a brilliant place for private group bookings to celebrate, with set menu options, crowd pleasers, and generous sharing plates full of flavour. Get booking and have the cocktails flowing this summer for birthdays, weddings, and all the moments in between.
Discover more @cantinavalentina.dublin or visit thehoxton.com/dublin/cantina-valentina/
