Explore the culinary delights of the island of Ireland
What better way to explore a new place than through its culinary delights? Get recommendations on some of the best places to dine and drink on the island.
From Dublin in the east to Galway in the west, get recommendations on both traditional and contemporary cuisine from some of the best establishments in the country – including cosy cafés and pubs, quirky and delicious hidden gems and street food stalls.
County Cork
Start your day at Cork Coffee Roasters in Cork city, located atop a hill offering a great view of the city. The coffee they serve keeps the locals coming back. Then head over to the Jameson Distillery located in its birthplace Midleton, a short drive east of Cork. Here you’ll learn about the Jameson family story and the whiskey distilling process before trying some of the golden liquid yourself. When your stomach starts rumbling again, hit the food market in Black Market back in Cork City, where you’ll be able to sample dishes from around the globe. Then finish off the day at the award-winning Cask cocktail bar with a signature cocktail made from local ingredients and love.
County Cork- Skibbereen
Take a drive along the gorgeous coast to the southwest of Cork city and you’ll arrive in Skibbereen, located pretty much at the southernmost tip of Ireland. That’s where the ecclectic Church Restaurant awaits. This holy restaurant is actually located inside a former church, but the dishes they serve are sinfully delicious. Standing imposingly in the centre of town, the Church Restaurant serves up culinary delights that would rival world-class restaurants from around the world – all made with locally-sourced ingredients. The owner’s ambition is to promote Ireland’s cuisine on the international scene – with good reason. Her traditional Sunday specials will have you wishing every day was Sunday.
County Clare
In Ballyvaughan, right on the northern tip of County Clare, is an absolute gem you won’t want to miss. This is the home of O’Loclainn’s Irish Whiskey Bar, owned by sixth generation Margaret O’Loclainn. This is the place to come after a long day exploring the Wild Atlantic Way and its beaches – the place to warm up your toes by the crackling fire, strike up a conversation with a friendly local, and enjoy one of 400 whiskeys in the O’Loclainn collection. This iconic bar is beloved by the townfolk and visitors from far and wide not only for its whiskeys and pints, but for its community spirit, spontaneous live music sessions and tasty pub food to boot.
County Galway
Fifteen minutes from Galway city in Kilcolgan awaits quite possibly the best oysters of your life in Morans Oyster Cottage. This family-owned restaurant located in a traditional thatched-roof cottage features three seemingly simple but utterly complex ingredients: Guinness, homemade brown bread and oysters. While you’re sampling your oysters or other freshly-caught seafood, take a look at the portraits on the walls. The oysters at Morans are so famous that celebrities and public figures like Bono from U2, actor Roger Moore and the Emperor of Japan have all visited to sample them.
Dublin
When you get hungry in Dublin, there’s no shortage of delicious eateries to choose from. Start your day in Dublin at Tang, a small local café chain with two locations that focuses on sustainability and using locally-sourced ingredients. Tang may well serve the best breakfast in the city, from its mushrooms on toast to its eggs. When it’s time for lunch or dinner, Glas is a restaurant that’s shaking things up and has gained a recommendation from the Michelin guide. This vegetarian and vegan restaurant features seasonal and local produce, creating colourful and flavourful dishes you won’t want to share. If you like a bit of excitement with your meal, try Mister S. All meat, fish and vegetables served are locally-sourced, and are cooked over an open flame to produce wonderful flavours.
Belfast
Above The National, on High Street in Belfast, you’ll find a drinks experience like no other. The Spirit Circle is a tasting menu designed by you and your senses, only discovered as you awaken them during the experience. On the Sensorium tour you will be led through a series of taste and sensory experiements where, together with your guide, you will find out what tastes you react most positively to. At the end of the tour in the Spirit of You Rooftop Garden, mixologists will then use your newly-discovered preferred tastes to create a customised cocktail that matches your sensory profile. A night to remember for sure.
County Down
Are you crazy for chocolate? Then you’ll want to visit NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate in Newry. As Northern Ireland’s first bean-to-bar establishment, NearyNógs controls the chocolate-making process from sourcing the single-origin cacao beans from farms all over the world, to hand-sorting, roasting, grinding and then tempering the beans into smooth and rich chocolate bars – all without additives, emulsifiers or artificial flavours. Book a Master Craft Chocolate Experience to see the whole process and taste some chocolate in 85 minutes. Or try the hour-long Chocolate & Whiskey Experience, during which you’ll see the process and try some of Ireland’s finest whiskeys along with your chocolate.
Visit with peace of mind
We’ve put extra health and safety measures in place so you can explore Ireland safely yet seamlessly. These measures, together with a very high local vaccination rate, will help keep COVID-19 at bay.