Dorans on the Pier

Not sure why you would go to any other fishmonger in Howth. Dorans on the Pier has by far the best value and freshest fish out there. Just spent € 13 this morning for one whole whiting, 2 whole seabass and a selection of prawns… you simply can’t beat that. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. If you can’t get out to Howth and want some fresh fish get online and order it from this place… beats the supermarkets on price and selection every time!

Ann and I had lunch in Dorans in Clerys on Saturday we enjoyed one of the best lunches we ever had. The fish was excellent, great value for money and the service also excellent. This is a hidden gem. Can’t wait to return.
Seamus

Probably the best fishmonger in town. Fresh fish at really good price. It’s a shame I don’t live nearby, otherwise I would buy fresh fish almost everyday.
I usually buy Oysters, Salmon and Mussels: they are always fresh and tasty. Fresh it is not only when you eat but when you smell.
Also the salmon and mussels are simple to prepare so it doesn’t take so long before eating.
Their shop is clean and tidy and when you come in you will be busy looking at the different kind of fish and seashell on display. It seems like to enter into the stomach of a whale :-)
This place is always crowded on weekends so if you want to get your fish in a reasonable time I would advise to go there on week days as it is more relaxing and there is no queue.
If you live in Dublin but you are too far away from Howth or for other reasons, you can purchase their fish through their website. They can deliver to you at the price of 7.50 Euro or if you spend more than 75 Euro you get free delivery. (Delivery is from Tuesday to Saturday).

Basically I agree with everything Hakim said below (and said much better than I could say), so check out his review for all the details about Dorans on the Pier.
One thing I would add is that Dorans delivers if you live in Dublin, so if you can’t/don’t want to go to Howth, you can order online at
, which now redirects to freshfishdublin, com
They’ve vastly improved their website over the past few months, and you order online by midnight, and then can get everything you need delivered to your door the next morning.
Some caveats:
1) The delivery fee seems a bit hefty, 7 euros, but I often organize with my friends, get it delivered to my house, split up the order, and share the fee. It’s worth paying the fee if you don’t want to take the Dart out to Howth, and in the end, it would cost about that if you went out there. I think they might also waive the delivery charge on your first order or if you order more than X euros, but I’m not entirely sure.
2) They don’t deliver on Sunday or Mondays.
3) Okay, it’s not really a caveat, but a recommendation you should definitely heed. If you buy one small container of Doran’s smoked mackerel pâté, you will probably eat it all just standing there in the kitchen, with the refrigerator still open, so go ahead and buy two. They should sell that stuff in American-​sized margarine tubs. It’s divine.

I’m a big fan of Doran’s. It’s my local fishmonger and the day the merchants started to recognize me and give me tips about the freshest catch of the day, I felt for the first time at home here in Ireland.
Don’t be mistaken: the place isn’t pretty. If you value fancy décor and a known «brand», you should go to «Wrights of Howth». And if you prefer to buy overpriced wine, french cheese and a farmers bread with your fish, then «Beshoff» is the place to go. Or, if you are not looking for choice in fresh fish and seafood but are after a variety of smoked fishy stuff, then try the classic shop «Nicky’s Plaice».
But if it is a huge selection of fresh stuff from waters near and far, unbeatable value for money and friendly staff you are looking for, then Doran’s the place you were looking for.
The fish on display changes slightly every day, it naturally depends on what the brave fishermen caught last night.
Oh and if you are looking for a special treat and own a car, try their «Seafood Platter» for 50 Euros. It should be enough for 2 – 3 people, it’s a real treat with cooked lobster, loads of cooked shrimps, crab’s claws, cooked mussels and fresh oysters. Yummy. You have to pre-​order it one day in advance at least.
There are a couple of ‘minuses’ though, and I was considering giving them only 4 stars because of them. If I finally settled for 5 stars, that’s because I hugely value the points above, especially the low prices, the helpful staff and the huge choice.
The «minuses» are:
1. Tourists & overcrowding
As Doran’s sell bags with «unfresh» fish for the Howth seals, tourists tend to swarm in here, even in groups, in order to buy that stuff, throw it into the harbor just outside the shop and watch those overfed sea-​cows. I always imagine a group of tourists falling into the water, but that’s just me being mean.
So if you come there on a week-​end or during the season, be prepared for a very crowded place.
2. Opening times: they close at 6pm, which means that under the week I am not able to shop there. I know those are normal closing times for shops in Ireland, but I always wonder if it is by law or if business owners don’t want that extra-​money from the working population… I hate it when I only can buy fresh fish on week-​ends. No, fish from Tesco isn’t fresh, and Superquinn buys at the same fish-​market but sells it way more expensive, thank’s but no thanks. I’m proud to buy good value Mr. Quinn.
Well I can’t find too many negative points. The décor is very basic. I mean, hello, it’s a fish-​store. I don’t expect them to be designed and I don’t need a stuffed shark over the counter neither.
Oh one last thing:
You can collect «Pier Points» in the shop. You get stamps on a little card for every 5 Euro spend at Doran’s, the tapas bar «Octopussy» next door, the fish restaurant «Oar House», the café «Quay West» and the fishing supplies & hardware store on the pier. Once you’ve filled up the card, every store offers some extras, and I guess at Doran’s one of the options is the fabulous «Seafood Platter».

Dorans on the Pier is one of the three most popular fish markets on the Howth pier. Unlike Beshoffs and Wrights of Howth, it doesn’t bother with a décor. The inside is more bare than the other two. It’s basically a big fish counter encased within four white walls.
The skimpy décor doesn’t take away from the quality of the place. Dorans offers a great selection of fish and seafood and it isn’t expensive as expensive as Beshoffs. For these reasons, it pulls in its fair share of customers so there’s a nice buzz inside.