The Midlands
Set in a small whitewashed cottage by the River Shannon, 5km southeast of Carrick, this humble-looking place belies its innovative Irish-Asian fusion…
Must-see restaurants in Ireland
Befani's Restaurant & Townhouse
County Tipperary
Befani's brings a touch of the Mediterranean to Clonmel. Breakfasts include veggie omelettes and mushrooms on toast, at lunchtime there's a mouth-watering…
Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow & Kilkenny
International tapas dishes – mini lamb empanadas, black pudding crostini, panko-crumbed squid with wasabi mayo, roast carrot hummus and caramelised goat's…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
A brilliant spot that specialises in authentic Thai and Vietnamese street food, served in takeaway boxes, which you can eat at home or in the canteen…
Wicklow Mountains
Hearty all-day pub food at Glenmalure Lodge includes steak and Guinness pie, lamb stew, leek and potato soup and a ploughman's lunch. Breakfast is…
Beara Peninsula
The restaurant at this complex of self-catering cottages, 6km east of Castletownbere, is open to all. The dining room has an outdoor terrace overlooking…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
This cafe started life as an adjunct to the yoga studio upstairs and has since grown into one of Portobello's most desirable coffee spots, which in this…
Cork City
The Barry sisters draw on a terrific network of local suppliers built up over three decades to help them provide the freshest Cork food cooked simply,…
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,…
County Sligo
In a sheltered setting on the curving beach by the cliff walk, the pub in this 17th-century thatched cottage hosts lively traditional-music sessions and…
Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
Topped by a gleaming golden (not black) bull, this cosy pub has low ceilings, candlelit corners and a centrepiece glass table filled with illuminated…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
Dublin's answer to the American Dean & DeLuca chain is this upmarket food hall and wine cellar, which is where discerning Dubliners come to buy their…
Dublin
Connoisseurs of the various cuisines of South Asia can distinguish between Indian and Pakistani fare; this exceptional restaurant specialising in the…
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 (…
Adare
The restaurant in the charming Dunraven Arms hotel has an ambitious menu (roast chicken with caramelised fennel and celeriac puree, hake with lemon and…
Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
A floor-to-ceiling map of County Monaghan occupies one wall of this bright, contemporary two-level bistro, and locally sourced ingredients are used in…
Kenmare
Candlelight and high-backed leather chairs create an intimate atmosphere in Kenmare's best-known restaurant, where chef Bruce Mulcahy weaves his culinary…
Athlone
Fronted by a bright yellow facade, Kin Khao is renowned for its extensive menu of authentic northern Thai dishes, such as larb gai (minced chicken salad),…
Cork City
At this chic, minimalist spot, organic burgers span the globe: from Asian (tandoori lamb with raita) to Middle Eastern (falafel burger with rocket and…
North of the Liffey
Anchored by its excellent baristas (beans by coffee experts 3FE), this cafe also does a fantastic menu of sandwiches, flatbreads and salads. The recent…
County Galway
Cakes, scones, muffins and more are baked on-site daily at this sunflower-yellow-trimmed cafe, which serves breakfast until noon, meal-size salads, and…
County Waterford
Although the colourful Mediterranean-style decor lends it a Spanish air, the latest Bodega! incarnation is contemporary Irish with an emphasis on local…
Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
In a charming cottage with eggshell-blue walls, mismatched chairs and lace tablecloths, Ruby Ellen's serves wraps, bagels, jacket potatoes with gourmet…
Cork City
The quintessential Cork espresso bar, Filter is a carefully curated shrine to coffee nerdery, from the rough-and-ready retro decor to the highly…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
Virtually all of the Mediterranean basin is represented on the ever-changing, imaginative menu here. Choices include the likes of pan-fried hake with…
Temple Bar
Friendly and full of character, Chameleon is draped in exotic fabrics and serves renditions of Indonesian classics such as satay, gado gado and nasi…
Cork City
The market-sourced menu at this transformed art deco bank runs from seafood chowder to succulent steaks. There's a rustic Mediterranean-style fish bar too…
Doolin
The brief menu at this superb restaurant is accompanied by a long wine list. Dishes change depending on what's fresh, but expect plates such as baked…
Galway City
Hidden on a tiny square within footsteps of several busy streets, Kirwan's gives top billing to the provenance of the ingredients used in its creative…
The Midlands
Chocolate from a free-flowing fountain awaits as a reward for exploring the county's backroads at this cafe in the centre of Longford town. Fresh,…
County Dublin
The menu at this pleasant restaurant overlooking the marina has dishes from all over the globe: take your pick from Thai crab cakes, chana masala, wild…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
Located in a beautiful townhouse on St Stephen's Green, Cliff Townhouse is a confident expression of the very best of Irish cuisine. The emphasis is on…
Adare
Dine like a lord at the atmospheric restaurant of Adare Manor, where dinner service is lit only by candles. The superb Irish menu is backed by a fabulous…
County Tipperary
A classic multifunctional Irish country pub, McCarthy's proclaims itself as bar, restaurant and undertaker ('we'll wine you, dine you and bury you')…
County Cork
Stylish modern decor set off with polished wood and copper make an elegant setting for relaxed fine dining at this deservedly popular restaurant. Simple…
The West Cork Coast
A traditional bar with a reputation for excellent seafood, where you dine in a room crammed with knick-knacks – jugs dangle from the ceiling, business…
Kinsale
The black sheep of Kinsale's cafe family, OHK occupies an artfully distressed dining room and serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu that includes off-the…
County Sligo
Tucked away on a back road by the market sits an excellent French restaurant serving unpretentious but top-quality food. The menu spotlights local meats,…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
This top-floor cafe, part of the marvellous Avoca group, is very popular with discerning shoppers who enjoy a gourmet lunch: how about a Toonsbridge…
Connemara
Cork-roasted Badger & Dodo coffee, full Irish breakfasts and sweet treats such as rhubarb-and-raspberry slice make this cheerful cafe worth a stop. Or…
