Café en Seine
Café en Seine is a Dublin city centre restaurant and late-night cocktail bar, established in 1993, serving locals, tourists, corporate groups, and event clients across multiple dining and bar spaces with a premium cocktail and French-inspired food program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Café en Seine does
Café en Seine is a single-venue restaurant and late-night cocktail bar located at 40 Dawson Street in Dublin city centre, established in 1993 and operated by The Mercantile Group. The venue operates across multiple reconfigurable spaces — a 100-seater restaurant, the Art Deco-style Grand Bar, Cocktail Bar, Balcony Bar, two Loft Bars, and a Parisian-inspired Street Garden with a retractable glass roof and its own entrance on Anne's Lane — supporting dining, bar service, and private events for up to 1,000 guests. The food program is led by Head Chef Stephen Gibson with a French-inspired seasonal menu using locally sourced Irish ingredients, while the cocktail program was co-developed with Cal Byrne, Diageo Reserve's World Class Bartender of the Year 2021 Ireland.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with no proprietary technology platform. Reservations are managed via OpenTable (up to 10 guests with deposit and 48-hour cancellation policy), walk-ins are accepted, ticketed experiences are sold through Eventbrite, and email marketing runs on Mailchimp. Distribution for corporate and large-group events is handled through a direct enquiry form and event sales team, with no intermediaries. The venue is open seven days a week, with extended late-night hours on Thursday–Saturday until 2:30am.
Revenue is generated across five streams: à la carte and set-menu dining (set menu at €58 per person for groups of 10+), bar sales (signature cocktails €15 standard, premium whiskey cocktails up to €74.50, wines up to €500 for Dom Pérignon), private events and corporate bookings, ticketed special experiences (5-course Champagne Paired Experience at €90 per person, Peroni Sagra at €60, Aperitivo Hour at €20), and gift vouchers sold through The Mercantile Group platform. A 12.5% service charge applies to tables of six or more. The target customer base spans local diners, tourists, corporate groups, families, and special-occasion parties.
Café en Seine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Café en Seine
- Legal name
- Café en Seine
- Website
- https://cafeenseine.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Café en Seine is a Dublin city centre restaurant and late-night cocktail bar, established in 1993, serving locals, tourists, corporate groups, and event clients across multiple dining and bar spaces with a premium cocktail and French-inspired food program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Café en Seine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Restaurant & Bar Services
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ), Cocktail Bars & Lounges (CRANACAD)
Keywords
Where Café en Seine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Café en Seine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Dining Revenue: Revenue from food sales through table reservations and walk-ins. Covers brunch, lunch, and dinner service with set menus available for groups.
- Bar Sales: Revenue from cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. Signature cocktails priced from €12-€55, with premium whiskey cocktails up to €74.50.
- Private Events & Corporate Bookings: Revenue from hosting private events, corporate parties, and group bookings. Can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for private bookings. Set menus for large groups, cocktail masterclasses, and themed events.
- Special Events & Ticketed Experiences: Revenue from ticketed special events such as the 5-course Champagne Paired Experience (€90 per person), Peroni Sagra events, and seasonal promotions sold via Eventbrite.
- Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers sold through the Mercantile Group platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Signature Cocktails - Standard Range |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium & Elevated Cocktails |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Non-Alcoholic Cocktails |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Food Menu - Starters & Small Plates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Food Menu - Main Courses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Set Dinner Menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special Event Experiences |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Café en Seine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Café en Seine operates a Parisian-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar on Dawson Street, Dublin, offering French brasserie-style food service across brunch, lunch, and dinner. The venue also runs a curated cocktail program, private dining and event hire (Street Garden, Pearl Suite, and other event spaces), and ticketed experiential products including a cocktail-making masterclass and a champagne-paired dining experience.
Product overview
Café en Seine is a single-venue restaurant and late bar offering operated by The Mercantile Group. The venue features a 100-seater restaurant serving contemporary Irish and European cuisine, multiple bar spaces including the Grand Bar and Street Garden, and an extensive cocktail and wine program. Dining services include brunch, lunch, dinner, and set menus, complemented by private event spaces and cocktail masterclass experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Restaurant Dining (Brasserie) Full-service French brasserie-style dining experience offering brunch, lunch, and dinner menus in the main restaurant area for individual diners and small groups.
- Grand Bar Cocktail Lounge Dedicated cocktail bar offering a curated cocktail menu and late-night drinks service within the venue for walk-in trade and bookings.
- Private Event Spaces & Venue Hire Bookable private event spaces including the Street Garden and Pearl Suite, offered for corporate events, private parties, and group functions with bundled food and beverage service.
- Cocktail Making Masterclass Ticketed educational experience where participants learn to make cocktails under the guidance of the venue's bartenders, sold as a standalone ticket via Eventbrite.
- Champagne Paired Experience Ticketed multi-course dining event paired with champagne selections, sold as a standalone experience to individual guests and small groups.
- Peroni Sagra Experience Ticketed themed event experience at Café en Seine developed in partnership with Peroni, offering a fixed Italian-inspired food and drink experience for paying attendees.
- Gift Vouchers Pre-paid vouchers that can be redeemed against dining, drinks, and event bookings at Café en Seine, available for purchase on-premises.
Companies that use Café en Seine
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Café en Seine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Café en Seine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Mercantile GroupcoreThe Mercantile Group is one of Ireland's leading hospitality and entertainment groups, owning Café en Seine and over seven other unique venues in Dublin City Centre. The group provides operational infrastructure, recruitment, training, and development programs for staff.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Café en Seine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Opium (Wexford Street): Opium is a Dublin cocktail bar and late-night venue on Wexford Street. Comparable as a Dublin cocktail-led late-night venue competing for the same nightlife customer segment, though with a smaller food offering.
Direct peers
- The Woollen Mills: The Woollen Mills is a Dublin restaurant and bar on Ormond Quay, also operated within The Mercantile Group portfolio. Comparable as a sister Mercantile Group venue offering dining, cocktails, and bar service in Dublin with overlapping customer base and shared operational infrastructure.
- The Bridge 1859 Bar: The Bridge 1859 is a multi-floor bar and restaurant venue in Dublin offering dining, cocktails, live music, and late-night entertainment. Comparable as a Dublin late-bar and dining destination with similar capacity, atmosphere, and customer mix.
- Bison Bar: Bison Bar is a Wellington Quay, Dublin cocktail bar and restaurant known for premium cocktails and shareable food plates. Comparable as a Dublin venue competing on craft cocktail programs and casual upscale dining with similar price points.
- Peruke & Peruke: Peruke & Peruke is a Dublin cocktail bar and restaurant on Dawson Street (adjacent to Café en Seine) offering a curated cocktail program and casual dining. Comparable as a nearby Dawson Street cocktail-led venue competing for similar food and beverage customers in the same micro-market.
- The Church Bar: The Church Bar is a Dublin city centre restaurant and late bar located in a converted 18th-century church, offering dining, cocktails, live music, and late-night entertainment. Directly comparable as a Dublin destination venue combining restaurant, bar, and event spaces with similar tourist and nightlife customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Marco Pierre White Courtyard Bar: Marco Pierre White's Courtyard Bar is a Dublin restaurant and bar located within Bewley's Hotel. Comparable as a Dublin venue combining restaurant and late-bar formats with celebrity-chef branding, premium cocktails, and event capabilities.
- Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud: Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is Dublin's only Michelin two-star restaurant, located in the Merrion Hotel. Comparable as a Dublin fine-dining destination with premium pricing, chef-led kitchen, and corporate/client entertaining customer base, though positioned at a higher price tier.
- The Ivy Dublin: The Ivy Dublin is part of The Ivy Collection, a UK-based group of upscale casual-dining restaurants. Comparable as a premium all-day dining destination in Dublin city centre with similar pricing, design-led interior, and broader customer appeal including tourists and corporate diners.
Regional players
- The Dean Hotel (Dean's Cocktail Bar): The Dean Hotel Dublin houses a popular cocktail bar and restaurant that serves as a Dublin destination for food and cocktails. Comparable as a Dublin hotel-anchored bar and restaurant competing for similar tourist and local nightlife customers, though located in a different neighbourhood (Harcourt Street).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Café en Seine social profiles
Digital presenceCafé en Seine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Café en Seine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Café en Seine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Café en Seine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Café en Seine
What does Café en Seine do?
Café en Seine operates a Parisian-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar on Dawson Street, Dublin, offering French brasserie-style food service across brunch, lunch, and dinner. The venue also runs a curated cocktail program, private dining and event hire (Street Garden, Pearl Suite, and other event spaces), and ticketed experiential products including a cocktail-making masterclass and a champagne-paired dining experience.
Is Café en Seine a public or private company?
Café en Seine is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Café en Seine founded?
Café en Seine was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Café en Seine based?
Café en Seine is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Café en Seine make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Dining Revenue is the primary driver. The others are bar Sales, private Events & Corporate Bookings, special Events & Ticketed Experiences and gift Vouchers.
Who are Café en Seine's main competitors?
Opium (Wexford Street) is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are The Woollen Mills, The Bridge 1859 Bar, Bison Bar, Peruke & Peruke and The Church Bar. Broad incumbents are Marco Pierre White Courtyard Bar, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud and The Ivy Dublin. The Dean Hotel (Dean's Cocktail Bar) is listed as a regional player.
Does Café en Seine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Café en Seine.
What industry is Café en Seine in?
Café en Seine's product category is Restaurant & Bar Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAK, Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAJ, All-Day Dining Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.