FROM LOCKS TO LENA
LENA RESTAURANT PORTOBELLO ROAD [ONCE OPERATED AS LOCKS]
🍽️ Lena Restaurant, Portobello
Lena is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant located at 1 Windsor Terrace in Portobello, Dublin 8. It occupies a well-known, canal-side spot, offering picturesque views of the Grand Canal.
The restaurant is the creation of a highly-regarded Dublin culinary team: Paul McNamara (who was also the chef and co-owner of its predecessor, Locks) in partnership with Simon Barrett and Liz Matthews (the co-owners of the acclaimed restaurants Etto and Uno Mas).
Lena opened its doors in early 2025, shifting the focus from the fine dining of Locks to a more casual, "neighbourhood Italian" concept. The menu is structured around contemporary Italian cuisine, featuring antipasti, primi (pasta dishes), and secondi (main courses).
🏛️ The History of the Building
The restaurant is housed in a charming 19th-century building at 1 Windsor Terrace. It is a classic example of the Georgian and Victorian-era architecture that defines the Portobello area, which was largely developed as a suburb in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This specific building has a long history as a restaurant venue, holding a prominent and scenic position overlooking the La Touche Bridge (often called Portobello Bridge) and the Grand Canal. For decades, it has been one of Dublin's most iconic dining locations.
🔒 What Happened to Locks Restaurant?
Locks was a much-loved and critically acclaimed fine-dining restaurant that operated in the same building for many years. Its story is one of evolution and change rather than a simple closure.
Early Days: The original Locks Restaurant was opened in the 1980s by Claire and Richard Douglas and became a staple of the Dublin dining scene.
The 'Brasserie' Era & Michelin Star: In 2010, the restaurant was taken over, becoming Locks Brasserie. Under the leadership of chef Rory Carville, it achieved significant critical success, earning a coveted Michelin star in the 2013 guide.
Transition and Change: The chef's departure in 2013 was followed by the loss of the star in 2014. The Brasserie incarnation closed in July 2015, but the restaurant was quickly reopened later that year as Locks 1 Windsor Terrace under new management, which eventually included chef Paul McNamara.
The Rebirth as Lena: Locks remained a very popular, high-end restaurant for several more years. However, in late 2024, the owners announced a new direction. Locks served its last meals over Christmas 2024 and closed for a brief refurbishment. In February 2025, it reopened as Lena.
In essence, the popular Locks Restaurant was not "forced to close" but rather transitioned. The core team, led by Paul McNamara, partnered with the owners of Etto and Uno Mas to launch a new concept in the historic space, moving from modern Irish fine dining to the neighbourhood Italian cuisine of Lena. The Locks website now directs all visitors to the new Lena website.
🍽️ Lena Restaurant, Portobello
Lena is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant located at 1 Windsor Terrace in Portobello, Dublin 8. It occupies a well-known, canal-side spot, offering picturesque views of the Grand Canal.
The restaurant is the creation of a highly-regarded Dublin culinary team: Paul McNamara (who was also the chef and co-owner of its predecessor, Locks) in partnership with Simon Barrett and Liz Matthews (the co-owners of the acclaimed restaurants Etto and Uno Mas).
Lena opened its doors in early 2025, shifting the focus from the fine dining of Locks to a more casual, "neighbourhood Italian" concept. The menu is structured around contemporary Italian cuisine, featuring antipasti, primi (pasta dishes), and secondi (main courses).
🏛️ The History of the Building
The restaurant is housed in a charming 19th-century building at 1 Windsor Terrace. It is a classic example of the Georgian and Victorian-era architecture that defines the Portobello area, which was largely developed as a suburb in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This specific building has a long history as a restaurant venue, holding a prominent and scenic position overlooking the La Touche Bridge (often called Portobello Bridge) and the Grand Canal. For decades, it has been one of Dublin's most iconic dining locations.
🔒 What Happened to Locks Restaurant?
Locks was a much-loved and critically acclaimed fine-dining restaurant that operated in the same building for many years. Its story is one of evolution and change rather than a simple closure.
Early Days: The original Locks Restaurant was opened in the 1980s by Claire and Richard Douglas and became a staple of the Dublin dining scene.
The 'Brasserie' Era & Michelin Star: In 2010, the restaurant was taken over, becoming Locks Brasserie. Under the leadership of chef Rory Carville, it achieved significant critical success, earning a coveted Michelin star in the 2013 guide.
Transition and Change: The chef's departure in 2013 was followed by the loss of the star in 2014. The Brasserie incarnation closed in July 2015, but the restaurant was quickly reopened later that year as Locks 1 Windsor Terrace under new management, which eventually included chef Paul McNamara.
The Rebirth as Lena: Locks remained a very popular, high-end restaurant for several more years. However, in late 2024, the owners announced a new direction. Locks served its last meals over Christmas 2024 and closed for a brief refurbishment. In February 2025, it reopened as Lena.
In essence, the popular Locks Restaurant was not "forced to close" but rather transitioned. The core team, led by Paul McNamara, partnered with the owners of Etto and Uno Mas to launch a new concept in the historic space, moving from modern Irish fine dining to the neighbourhood Italian cuisine of Lena. The Locks website now directs all visitors to the new Lena website.
FROM LOCKS TO LENA