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Chez Max
The Chez Max team holding golden “20 years” balloons in front of the restaurant on Palace Street

Our Story

A humble bistro with Paris in its bones and Dublin at its doorstep — since 2005.

Red bistro tables and chairs on the terrace of Chez Max, beside the gates of Dublin Castle
A French restaurant in Dublin

Welcome to Chez Max

Chez Max is a French restaurant located beside Dublin Castle, in the heart of Dublin 2.

Opened in 2005, it’s a local favourite for everything from brunch and lunch to dinner and French wine. Max saw the potential in the historic Palace Street location the moment it became available and knew it was the perfect home for his vision.

We serve timeless French food with warm service, in a relaxed and lively setting. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite or a longer meal, we’ll always make you feel at home. We take pride in welcoming every guest with the same care and attention—whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning as a familiar face.

Black-and-white view of the Chez Max terrace on Palace Street, with the Peugeot 404 parked out front
From kitchen porter to patron

How It All Began

“I came to Ireland with no English, a head full of dreams, and hands ready to work. My first job? Kitchen porter. Not glamorous, but it was the start of everything.”

Max DeLaloubie

Chez Max was founded by Max, who wanted to bring the feeling of a true French bistro to Dublin. He has built a loyal team and maintains strong relationships with our trusted French suppliers—partnerships that remain at the heart of what we do today.

Since the beginning, our focus has been simple: quality ingredients, classic recipes, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Max’s passion for good food, French culture, and friendly hospitality is what still defines Chez Max today.

Max and 25 staff around a five-tier cheese “cake” at the 20th anniversary celebration, photographed by Barbara McCarthy
2005 → 2025

Twenty Years, Countless Memories

In May 2005, Chez Max opened its doors. This May, we turned 20, and through the years, we were the lucky witnesses to love stories and met incredibly talented people. We also received an award as World’s French Restaurant Award from the Association Française des Maîtres Restaurateurs, and saw our old staff open their dream places in New Zealand and Benin.

We’ve been through it all: Covid, rising taxes, and a full kitchen rebuild that nearly drove us mad. What makes it all worth it? That people still walk in, take a breath, and say: “It feels like France in here.”

We marked the moment our way: 25 staff, a five-tier cheesecake, a champagne toast, and our beautiful Peugeot 404 out front, like always. 20 years. Still hungry. Still grateful.

Read the full story in our Journal

The journey

Twenty Years on Palace Street

  1. Chez Max opens its doors

    A humble bistro with Paris in its bones and Dublin at its doorstep, beside the gates of Dublin Castle. Max saw the potential in the historic Palace Street location the moment it became available.

  2. The same trusted French suppliers

    We’ve worked with the same two trusted French wine suppliers—one from the South-West and the other from the Loire Valley—since day one.

  3. Weathering every storm

    Covid, rising taxes, and a full kitchen rebuild that nearly drove us mad — and former staff who went on to open their dream places in New Zealand and Benin.

  4. World’s French Restaurant Award

    Awarded by the Association Française des Maîtres Restaurateurs — twenty years of boeuf bourguignon, croque-monsieur, crème brûlée, clinking glasses and laughter on the terrace.

  5. Twenty years celebrated

    25 staff, a five-tier cheesecake, a champagne toast, and our beautiful Peugeot 404 out front, like always.

The international Chez Max team in berets and breton stripes with Max, outside the restaurant
The team

Meet the People Behind Chez Max

From the first coffee brewed in the morning to the last glass of wine poured at night, there’s a whole cast of passionate individuals behind every moment. What makes our team truly special? It’s international to its core.

In the kitchen, we’ve got chefs from Mexico, Ukraine, France, England, Ireland, Türkiye, and Romania. Our front-of-house team is just as full of character. With roots in France, Bolivia, Brazil and the Caribbean, they bring a special kind of hospitality to the room. It’s warm, it’s elegant, and it’s effortlessly charming, making you feel like you’ve stepped into a little slice of Paris.

We work hard, we help each other out, and yeah, we have a laugh along the way. We’re a close-knit crew, not just co-workers. And when you walk through the door, you’re part of it too.

Tables set with menus and fresh flowers in the Chez Max dining room, French wine shelves behind
100% French

French Wine at Chez Max

Our wine list is curated by two of our team members who trained in Paris and bring deep knowledge, passion, and care to every selection. All our wines are French, with a focus on quality over quantity. You’ll find everything from bold reds from Bordeaux and Rhône to elegant Loire whites, crisp Champagnes, and more. We’ve worked with the same two trusted French suppliers—one from the South-West and the other from the Loire Valley—since day one.

Guests often ask for recommendations, and our French team are always happy to help you find the perfect pairing to suit your meal.

Explore the Wine List

From morning to night

A Day at Chez Max

View all menus →

Breakfast

Breakfast at Chez Max blends French ritual with a touch of Irish rhythm. We serve proper French coffee, including our signature café allongé with cognac and heavy vanilla double cream, viennoiseries, natural yoghurt with fruit compote and granola, toast with butter and jam, and light egg dishes. We’ve adapted the menu to local tastes, and the heart remains unmistakably French: coffee, pastries, and quiet starts. Located just beside Dublin Castle, it’s ideal for breakfast before work, a relaxed morning meeting, or a quiet solo start to your day.

Brunch

Every Saturday and Sunday, Chez Max serves one of the most loved brunch menus in Dublin. With French classics and creative dishes like Poached Eggs with Smoked Haddock, Croque-Madame, and Bacon & Fried Egg Waffles, it’s a brunch worth booking. Add a mimosa, a glass of French wine, or a strong coffee and stay a while. With a sunlit terrace and relaxed French vibe, brunch at Chez Max has become a favourite for couples, friends, and families alike.

Lunch & Dinner

Our lunch menu features a changing plat du jour alongside bistro staples. For dinner, we offer a set menu of 2 or 3 courses from 5:00 PM every evening — generous, comforting dishes made with care and excellent value. Whether it’s lunch with colleagues or a dinner date near Temple Bar, Grafton Street or the Olympia Theatre, Chez Max offers an authentic French dining experience in the heart of Dublin.

The heated patio at Chez Max, with a mural of Paris rooftops and the Eiffel Tower
A slice of France

French Food, French Staff, French Charm

Chez Max has stayed true to its roots. We serve French food, made by French chefs, and delivered by French waiters with the kind of warm, familiar hospitality you’d find at a bistro in Paris.

We’re more than a restaurant – we’re a slice of France, right here in Dublin 2.

Find Us

Chez Max — 1 Palace Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
We’re located just beside the gates of Dublin Castle, a short walk from Temple Bar, Grafton Street, the Olympia Theatre, and other popular attractions.

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Still hungry. Still grateful.

Come Be Part of the Story

Join us beside Dublin Castle — whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning as a familiar face.

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