Allta restaurant to serve ‘final menu’ as head chef announces closure plans

Allta restaurant in Dublin has announced that it will close its doors at the end of 2026.

Niall Davidson’s fine-dining restaurant, located at Grand Canal Dock will remain open until December 30th, serving its final menu in a series of sittings from July 1st.

The head chef took to social media to make the announcement.

In a post on Instagram, Davidson said his lasting memories and moments were not the accolades but “the journey”.

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“Loading vans in the rain, late night menu discussions, conversations on fishing boats, truly connecting with like-minded people made the monumental challenges I put on myself so much easier and enjoyable,” he said.

Working with his wife for the past five years was a “dream come true”.

He said seven years ago he moved back to Ireland with questions of “what if I built an Irish restaurant? What would it look like? How would it feel? Where would it be?”.

“At that time I didn’t know where that question would lead me. I definitely didn’t think it would take me through four homes, countless menus, thousands of services and some of the most extraordinary people I have had the privilege of working alongside,” Davidson said.

Niall Davidson's Allta will close its doors at the end of 2026. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

“Every chapter of Allta has defined me, every challenge has made me stronger and every single moment cooking alongside my team has shaped me into a better chef.”

He said that seven years later “it’s time to ask myself a new question”.

Davidson said the final menu will be a “celebration of seven years over seven courses” and bookings are now open.

The restaurant was previously reviewed in The Irish Times, described as “restaurant of the year”.

Davidson’s second restaurant Allta na Farraige, a newer seafood bar also located at Grand Canal Dock, will close too.

In a review of Allta na Farraige in The Irish Times, Corinna Hardgrave wrote: “I have always loved Davidson’s food, and what he is doing at his new seafood bar is equally original and thrilling.

“There is a litheness to his cooking, which allows flavours to build and reverberate, and here, at a casual but very smart counter in an eerily quiet stretch of town, he pulls it off again.”

Davidson has been contacted for comment.