Must-see restaurants in County Kerry

  • Smuggler's Inn

    Ring of Kerry

    At this diamond find near Waterville Golf Links, owner and chef Henry Hunt's gourmet creations incorporate fresh seafood and locally farmed poultry and…

  • Boathouse Bistro

    Kenmare

    At the water's edge, this blue-and-white 1870s boathouse 4.5km west of Kenmare has been stunningly converted to a beach-house-style bistro specialising in…

  • Tom Crean Fish & Wine

    Kenmare

    Named for Kerry's pioneering Antarctic explorer, and run by his granddaughter, this venerable restaurant uses only the best of local organic produce,…

  • Heather

    Gap of Dunloe

    In a glorious setting, this light-filled cafe adjoins a farm that provides produce from its fields and polytunnels, while seafood and meat are locally and…

  • Quinlan & Cooke

    Ring of Kerry

    This is a modern take on a trad pub, so you can drop in for pints and craic in the afternoon, and stay for dinner. Some of the finest food on the Ring…

  • Gregory's Garden

    Dingle Peninsula

    This cute cottage restaurant in the middle of Castlegregory village takes the claims of 'locally sourced produce' very seriously indeed, pairing the likes…

  • Out of the Blue

    Dingle Town

    Occupying a bright blue-and-yellow waterfront fishing shack, this rustic spot is one of Dingle's top restaurants, with an intense devotion to fresh local…

  • Quinlan's Fish

    Tralee

    Quinlan's is Kerry's leading chain of fish shops, with its own fleet so you know everything here is fresh. The fish and chips are great; alternatives…

  • Celtic Whiskey Bar & Larder

    Killarney

    This buzzing gastropub serves some of the tastiest food in town, with menu highlights ranging from cheese and charcuterie platters and aged fillet steaks…

  • Jacks' Coastguard Restaurant

    Ring of Kerry

    A door at the back of this village pub, housed in an 1886 coastguard station, leads to a striking contemporary restaurant with picture windows looking out…

  • Murphy Brownes

    Killarney

    Elegant and candlelit, but pleasantly informal, this place is ideal for a relaxing dinner. Service is smiling and attentive without being overbearing, and…

  • Lizzy's Little Kitchen

    County Kerry

    This busy wee place is a top spot for lunch, whether squeezed around one of the old wooden tables or perched at the window counter. The menu is gourmet…

  • Reel Dingle Fish Co

    Dingle Town

    Locals queue along the street to get hold of the freshly cooked local haddock (or cod, or monkfish, or hake, or mackerel…) and chips at this tiny outlet…

  • Chart House

    Dingle Town

    Window boxes frame this free-standing stone cottage, while inside dark-red walls, polished floorboards and flickering candles create an intimate…

  • No 35

    Kenmare

    Hand-cut limestone walls, exposed timber beams, stained-glass windows and an open fire set the stage for some of Kenmare's most creative cuisine. All…

  • Curious Cat Café

    Killarney

    Tucked away on New Market Lane, with cable-drum tables out the front, this quirky little cafe serves a varied menu that ranges from breakfast smoothies…

  • Murphy's

    Dingle Town

    Made here in Dingle, Murphy's sublime ice cream comes in a daily changing range of flavours that include brown bread, sea salt, Dingle gin and whiskey…

  • Treyvaud's

    Killarney

    Mustard-fronted Treyvaud’s has a strong reputation for subtle dishes that merge trad Irish with European influences. The seafood chowder – a velvet stew…

  • Mews

    Kenmare

    Two of Kerry's top restaurateurs helm this stylish, palm-filled spot hidden in a laneway off Henry St. Vermouth-cream chowder with citrus oil, Kerry beef…

  • Giovannelli

    Ring of Kerry

    Northern Italian native Daniele Giovannelli makes all his pasta by hand at this simple but intimate little restaurant. Highlights of the blackboard menu…

  • West End Bar & Bistro

    Tralee

    'Fresh or nothing' is the motto of this local icon in the village of Fenit, 13km west of Tralee. The fifth-generation bar serves a mouth-watering line-up…

  • Valentia Island Farmhouse Dairy

    Skellig Ring

    Dairy cattle on this working farm provide the milk for all-natural handmade ice cream in flavours such as cinnamon, caramel, mint choc-chip and strawberry…

  • Strollers Bar & Bistro

    County Kerry

    Neighbouring the golf club at Teach de Broc, Strollers serves dishes like roast duck with potato rösti and ginger star-anise sauce, and roast Kerry rack…

  • Strawberry Field

    County Kerry

    This 200-year-old stone-built cottage, brightly painted in sunshine yellow and strawberry pink, serves up a tantalising menu of homemade soups, scones,…

  • Moorings Restaurant

    Skellig Ring

    This nautical-themed restaurant specialises in locally landed seafood, used in dishes such as hake with lemon-butter sauce, and a fresh seafood platter (…

  • Mulcahy's

    Kenmare

    Candlelight and high-backed leather chairs create an intimate atmosphere in Kenmare's best-known restaurant, where chef Bruce Mulcahy weaves his culinary…

  • Tigh TP

    Dingle Peninsula

    At the north end of Wine Strand, this beachfront pub serves fantastic local seafood, from Dingle Bay prawn-topped chowder to lobster, crab and Brandon Bay…

  • Brícín

    Killarney

    Decorated with fittings from a convent, an orphanage and a school, this Celtic-themed restaurant doubles as the de facto town museum, with Jonathan Fisher…

  • Chez Christophe

    Tralee

    French native Christophe uses Kerry produce to create delicious dishes such as prawn and crab-claw cassoulet, and smoked fillet of beef with goat's-cheese…

  • Avoca Cafe

    County Kerry

    In a stunning location at the summit of the Moll's Gap pass between Killarney and Kenmare, this craft and gift shop sports an upstairs cafe with views…

  • Bianconi

    Ring of Kerry

    This Victorian-style pub has a classy ambience and an equally refined menu. Its spectacular salads, such as Cashel Blue cheese, apple, toasted almonds and…

  • Louis Mulcahy Cafe

    Dingle Peninsula

    The bright, contemporary cafe at Louis Mulcahy Pottery serves fresh homemade fare using Dingle Peninsula produce and herbs from its own gardens. Open…

  • Global Village Restaurant

    Dingle Town

    With the sophisticated feel of a continental bistro, this restaurant offers a fusion of global recipes gathered by the well-travelled owner-chef, but uses…

  • Lake Room Restaurant

    Killarney

    At this panoramic lake-view restaurant in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel, adults have gourmet options such as turbot with langoustine and courgette velouté,…

  • Khao

    Killarney

    Fiery spices waft from this cosy spot, which sizzles up authentic stir-fries and wok-fried noodles along with rich curries, rice dishes and noodle soups…

  • Sammy's

    Dingle Peninsula

    Sammy's, at the entrance to the beach, is the nerve centre of the area. The beach-facing bar-restaurant serves a vast range of dishes from sandwiches to…

  • Pod Coffee Shop

    Skellig Ring

    Sweet crêpes such as lemon and sugar or apple and cinnamon are served alongside savoury galettes made from buckwheat flour (Cashel Blue cheese, walnuts…

  • Jam

    Kenmare

    Cheerful and bustling Jam makes a great breakfast venue, with a menu that includes granola with fruit, pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, and scrambled…

  • Camo's

    Ring of Kerry

    During the day, this friendly neighbourhood spot serves dishes such as oak-smoked salmon sandwiches on home-baked brown bread, and a delicious black…

  • Blind Piper

    Ring of Kerry

    This local institution is a great family pub with a lovely beer garden set beside the tiny Coomnahorna River, serving quality pub fare like deep-fried…