Belvedere Irish Night Show, Dance and Traditional 3-Course Dinner

The best part of this Dublin evening is the close-up mix of live Irish music, singing, and fast-footed dancing. Jim Murrihy, director of Damhsa, created and choreographed the show, and the cast includes performers who have toured with Riverdance, Feet of Flames, and Lord of the Dance.

I like two things here: the audience participation keeps the show from feeling stiff, and the dinner gives you a simple one-stop introduction to Irish food and music. The main drawback is the schedule. Dinner comes first, from about 6:45 to 8:00, so the dancing does not begin until later in the evening.

Key points to know before booking

• Dinner comes before the performance: Doors open at 6:30pm, dinner begins at 6:45pm, and the show runs from 8:00 to about 9:45pm.
• The cast has serious stage experience: Performers have worked nationally and internationally with Riverdance, Feet of Flames, and Lord of the Dance.
• You may be invited to dance: Audience participation includes clapping, singing, and learning simple Irish dance steps onstage.
• Adults receive three courses: Children receive a two-course dinner. Drinks, tea, and coffee cost extra.
• The format suits families: Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the show is designed to be lively and accessible.
• You arrange your own transport: The Belvedere Hotel is on Great Denmark Street in Dublin 1, with no hotel pickup and no parking on the premises.

What the Belvedere Irish Night Show is really like

This is a dinner-and-show evening at the Belvedere Hotel on Great Denmark Street, north of central Dublin. It is built around familiar Irish cultural favorites: traditional tunes, singing, jigs, reels, and precision step dancing.

The show has been created and choreographed by Jim Murrihy of Damhsa and uses an original score. The performers bring professional credentials, but the evening is not presented as a formal theater recital. The hosts talk with the room, encourage people to clap and sing, and invite volunteers to try a few dance steps.

That balance is important. You do not need to know Irish music, recognize every tune, or have any dance ability. You can simply watch, or you can join in if the mood takes you. The audience participation is one reason the event works particularly well for families and small groups.

The Belvedere Bar is described as an intimate setting with a raised stage and good sightlines from the tables. One practical caution: the room can feel like a larger banquet space when fully arranged, and it may be noisy before the entertainment starts. The setup generally gives you a clear view, but the atmosphere is more social dinner hall than hushed theater.

Arriving at 6:30pm on Great Denmark Street

Plan to arrive at the Belvedere Hotel by 6:30pm. The published schedule lists dinner service at 6:45pm, so arriving early gives you time to find the room and settle before food service begins.

The address is Belvedere Hotel Dublin, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, D01 W1C0. You must make your own way there. There is no pickup service, public transport transfer, or parking facility on the premises.

The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying in central Dublin. Still, give yourself enough time to find the hotel and dining room. The meeting information sometimes lists 6:45pm as the start time, but the fuller schedule is clearer: doors open at 6:30pm, dinner starts at 6:45pm, and the show begins at 8:00pm.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is provided when you book. If you are bringing children, remember that they must be accompanied by an adult.

Dinner first: what the three-course meal adds

The adult ticket includes a three-course dinner with a choice of home-cooked Irish dishes. Children receive a two-course meal. Exact menu choices can vary, but the meal is intended to give you a taste of familiar local food rather than a fine-dining production.

Food is one of the less predictable parts of the evening. Many people find the meal tasty and appreciate having several choices for each course. Specific praise has gone to the chicken main course, and some diners describe the food as a good example of local dishes.

At the same time, expectations matter. This is a dinner show, not a restaurant reservation with a separate concert attached. Some meals have been described as limited in choice, and a few diners found the cooking or service disappointing. Timing can also feel uneven, with courses arriving slowly or the final bill taking time to settle.

I would treat the dinner as a useful part of the package, but not the main reason to book. The dancing and music are the heart of the evening. If you are especially particular about food, you may see the dinner as a convenience rather than the best meal of your Dublin stay.

Come reasonably hungry, since the meal is substantial enough that some people find it difficult to finish after a full day of sightseeing. The event is a better fit for a relaxed evening than for anyone hoping to get straight to the dancing.

The long wait before the music begins

The biggest planning issue is the gap between sitting down for dinner and seeing the main performance. Dinner begins at 6:45pm, while the show starts at 8:00pm and finishes by about 9:45pm.

During the meal service, the room may use video clips about Irish step dancing and its background before the live show begins. This gives you some context, but it is not the same as having dancers perform throughout dinner. If you expected music and dancing alongside every course, you may find the first part slow.

There is a sensible reason for separating dinner and dancing. Once the performance begins, staff are less likely to cross the room carrying plates and interrupt your view. The tradeoff is that the evening can feel front-loaded with food and back-loaded with entertainment.

The entire experience lasts around three hours. That makes it easy to plan as your main evening activity, but it can be a long stretch for a tired child or anyone coming off a full day of touring. One account describes leaving before the end because the evening felt too long, while another found the full event just right. Know your group’s energy level before booking.

Irish dancers, musicians, and singers on a raised stage

When the live portion begins, the evening changes pace. The program moves from older-style solo Irish dancing to the quick jigs and reels most people associate with Irish dance today.

The appeal is physical and immediate. Irish step dancing depends on sharp footwork, upright posture, and exact timing. In a small room, you can see the speed of the feet and the control behind the movement more clearly than you might in a large touring theater.

The performers’ connection to major productions adds polish. The cast members have performed with Riverdance, Feet of Flames, and Lord of the Dance, so you can expect trained dancers rather than a casual pub session. The music and singing keep the program from becoming a nonstop dance recital.

The original score by Jim Murrihy gives the show its own structure, while the traditional forms keep it recognizably Irish. You will hear the familiar lift of reels and jigs, along with singing and live instrumental music. The performance is designed to be entertaining first, with cultural flavor rather than a detailed lecture on Irish dance.

That makes it a good introduction. You get enough context to understand the style, but the evening does not ask you to sit quietly and study it.

Audience participation without pressure

The hosts work the room and encourage participation throughout the performance. You may be asked to sing along, clap to the beat, or join a simple demonstration.

The most memorable moment for many families is the invitation to the stage to learn basic Irish dance steps. This is not a serious lesson, and you are not expected to perform at professional speed. It is meant to be playful.

If you prefer to watch, you can do that too. The participation is part of the show, but you are not required to volunteer. Children often respond well to the chance to get up and move, while adults can enjoy the humor and music from their table.

The host’s energy matters here. The event works best when the room joins in, so expect a friendly, outgoing tone rather than a distant stage performance. People who want a quiet concert with no interaction may find the format less appealing.

Is the setting truly intimate?

The room is arranged around a raised stage, and the experience is intended to keep you close to the performers. The tables are positioned so that all seats are described as having a good view.

That is a useful advantage when you are booking without choosing a theater seat. You are not gambling on a distant or obstructed position. The show depends on seeing the dancers’ footwork, so clear sightlines make a real difference.

Still, do not picture a tiny candlelit pub. When the room is full, it can feel like a banquet hall, and noise before the entertainment begins may be noticeable. The setting is intimate in the sense of audience proximity, not necessarily in the sense of a quiet, small-room folk session.

This distinction helps set the right expectations. You get a social dinner atmosphere followed by close-range stage entertainment. It is polished, organized, and welcoming, but it is not an informal night of music in a neighborhood pub.

What the $56.84 price represents

At $56.84 per person, the price covers the live show and the adult three-course dinner. That is a reasonable package if you want a planned evening with food and entertainment in one place.

The value depends on how much you want the meal. If you would gladly pay for a cultural performance and need dinner anyway, combining the two saves you the trouble of arranging separate plans. The show is the stronger part of the package, so I would not choose it solely for the promise of a memorable dinner.

Drinks are extra, including tea and coffee. Bottled water is also charged separately, so budget beyond the advertised ticket price if you want beverages. The minimum drinking age is 18.

For children, the ticket includes two courses rather than three. That makes the family cost a little easier to manage, although you should still count drinks and transport separately.

The experience is booked, on average, 34 days ahead. That suggests planning early, especially if your Dublin dates are fixed or you are traveling with a small group. The advertised maximum is 10 people, which points to a limited-size format, though the room itself can feel larger depending on the seating arrangement.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would recommend the Belvedere Irish Night Show to you if you want a straightforward introduction to Irish performance without committing to a full theater production.

It is especially suitable for:

• Families with children who enjoy music and the chance to participate
• First-time visitors looking for a classic Irish evening
• Small groups wanting dinner and entertainment together
• People who enjoy lively hosts and audience interaction
• Anyone interested in Irish dancing but unfamiliar with the technique

It may be less suitable if you want a short show, a quiet meal, or a high-end restaurant experience. The dinner takes up the first part of the evening, and the performance begins only after the meal is finished.

The event is also a good choice for a first or last night in Dublin. On your first night, it gives you an easy introduction to Irish music and dance. On your final night, it offers a clear, organized way to finish your stay without planning several separate activities.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The event requires good weather and a minimum number of bookings. If it is canceled for either reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Practical tips for a smoother evening

Arrive at 6:30pm rather than cutting it close to dinner. You will have time to get settled before the first course arrives.

Eat lightly earlier in the day, but do not arrive famished after a long sightseeing day. The meal is a full three-course service for adults, and some people find the portions generous.

Bring a little extra money for drinks. Tea, coffee, and other beverages are not included, and the ticket price does not cover transport.

If you are with children, explain the timing in advance. The dancing does not start at the beginning, and the whole evening can run close to three hours. A child who is excited about stepping onstage may be happy to wait, but a tired child may not.

Keep your mobile ticket ready, and remember that there is no parking at the hotel. Public transportation is nearby, but you are responsible for planning the route and getting back afterward.

The cancellation policy is forgiving if your plans change: cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Belvedere Irish Night Show?

Book it if you want professional Irish dancing, live music, and a friendly participatory atmosphere more than a gourmet dinner. The strongest parts are the performers, the lively host interaction, and the chance to see the footwork at close range.

The show has a high overall rating of 4.6 from 1,171 ratings, with 91 percent recommending it. That fits the experience’s main strength: it is an easy, enjoyable cultural night that works well for families and first-time visitors.

Go in knowing that dinner comes first, drinks cost extra, and the food and service may not be equally strong every night. If you want a longer performance or dislike audience participation, choose a concert instead. If you want a relaxed Dublin evening with a traditional meal and plenty of Irish energy, this is a sensible and good-value choice.

FAQ

Where does the Belvedere Irish Night Show take place?

It takes place at the Belvedere Hotel Dublin, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, D01 W1C0.

What time should I arrive?

Doors open at 6:30pm, and you should arrive by then. Dinner service begins at 6:45pm.

When does the Irish dancing show begin?

The live show begins at 8:00pm and finishes by about 9:45pm.

How long does the full experience last?

The dinner and show take approximately three hours.

What food is included?

Adult tickets include a three-course dinner with a choice of home-cooked Irish dishes. Children’s tickets include a two-course dinner.

Are drinks included in the ticket?

No. Drinks, tea, and coffee are not included and can be purchased during the event.

Is transportation provided?

No. You must arrange your own transport. There is no pickup service, public transportation transfer, or parking facility on the premises.

Can children attend?

Yes. The experience is suitable for families, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum drinking age is 18.