Eat, Drink & Be Merry
Eat:
For many years, Ireland's reputation for food had not been great, renowned for its boiled or stewed foods and other lackluster dishes of old. Well, that is not the case. Ireland has a fantastic food scene, from Michelin Star restaurants to the humble pub. The ethos is fresh local produce and lets the food speak for itself. The myriad of celebrity chefs has elevated the traditional staples to new heights, and the great thing about that is they can teach you how to do that too through the many cookery schools. Here is a list of some recommended restaurants. Enjoy!
Kinsale:
Know as the gourmet capital of Ireland and its narrow streets hold a large amount of great restaurants and cafes.
- Lemon Leaf Cafe € - €€: Treats & Lunch
- Dinos € - €€: Fish & Chips, seafood, sit in or take out, but good food and good value.
- Brunos Italian Eatery €€: rustic setting, but if you need a break from pub food or want something different.
- Bastion €€€: Modern fine dining, One Michelin Star.
- Fishy Fishy €€: As the name suggests, its mostly seafood and reservation is recommened, it can be busy.
- The Black Pig €€: Modern Europen food in this bistro style, highly recommended, but make a reservation.
- Man Friday €€: Again, a seafood restaurant and a Kinsale stalworth, but is up against serious comepetition from the above.
- The Spaniard €€: Good pub food, just on the edge of town, another Stalworth of Kinsale.
- Jim Edwards €€: Good Pub food in the heart of Kinsale.
Kenmare:
Plenty of pubs and restuarants to choose from and some fine dining options also
Restaurants:
- No 35 Kenmare €€: Modern Irish and European dishes
- The Lime Tree €€: Modern Irish & European dishes
Pub Food:
O'Donnabhains €€ - The Purple Heather €€ - Davitts €€ - Foleys €€
all feature good solid pub food and are all comparable.
Killarney:
The birth place of Irish Tourism is always bustling with tourists an dlocals alike, its a busy place, but plenty of choices to suit every taste.
Restaurants & Pubs: some high to mid level restuarants to choose from
- Gabys €€€: Steak & Seafood, long established in Killarney
- The Flesk €€ - €€€: family fun restaurant serving good home cooking of modern Irish and European food.
- Treyvauds €€: Irish and International Cuisine, renowned TV chef.
- The Stonechat €€: Quirky little restaurant with good food.
- Mac's on Mainstreet €€: Relaxed casual dining with good value and wide range.
- Foleys Main Street €€: Good steak & Seafood
Pub Food:
- Porterhouse €€: Pub Style restaurant with music during the busy season.
- Murphys / Squires Pub €€: much bigger than appears, but good quality pub food.
- The Laurels €€: Music and pub food every evening, very traditional.
Dingle:
Awash with artisnal producers from the simple deli to the top restaurants Dingle really has something for everybody with a hint of a bohemian vibe form the local artisans showing the pride in their produce.
Cafe & Deli: Want to grab some goodies for a picnic before heading put on the Slea Head or even just a mid morning treat.
- My Boy Blue €-€€: sweet treats and good coffee
- Bean €-€€: yep the same, good coffe and treats
- Bacus Bakery € - €€: delicious home baking, breads and treats.
- The Little Cheese Shop €-€€: great selection of local artisnal Irish Cheese.
- Garveys Super Valu: greta super market for your wine or beer and great deli area also fo r all the extra little bits.
- Murphys Ice Cream €€: pop in for a sample of any or all flavours, the key is to choose 2 flavours, so one accentuates the other as you eat!
Fish & Chips - Casual:
- Reel Dingle Fish €€: A grad and go but a must for the freshest fish and chips.
- The Fish Box €€: Grab & go or casul sit down with a varied fish menu, they have their own boat, cant get much fresher.
- Chewy & The Beast €€: The yard in Dick Macs is where this food truck serves its cheese burgers and wood fired pizzas.
Restaurants:
- The Chart House €€€: Higly recommend, but small so a reservation is a must.
- Global Vilage €€€: Modern Europeran with Irish twist, reservations are recommended
- Out of the Blue €€€: Fresh seafood with modern twist.
Pub Food:
- John Bennys €€: A Stalworth in Dingle, good seafood good atmosphere
- Marina Inn €€: Good pub style seafood.
- The Dingle Inn €€: Decent pub food, but an early traditional music can be had with dinenr if you get in early enough, but it can get busy.
- Danno's €€: Good pub food with changing daily specials, worth seeking out
Tralee:
Tailored more towards locals and irish vactioners, Tralee still has something to offer.
Restaurants & Pubs:
- Chez Christophe €€: Modern Irish & European ina relaxed envirnomet.
- The Pike Man Bar €€: Good homecooked style pub food.
- Kirbys The Brouge €€: Good pub food and music during the summer season.
Drink
Ireland is renowned for its pubs. Often mimicked throughout the world, but it's still hard to capture that homely feel of the Irish Pub. Whether it be a small local or a larger city location, the pint of Guinness and a trad session are hard to beat. But a note of warning, most music won't start until 9ish! (which is anywhere between 9 & 10 pm).
Kinsale:
The Tap Tavern: This little Jem is small in size but big on charachter, the mother and son run bar is where you will find a great trad session.
The Armada Bar: Great little family run pub with music and traditional food
Sams Bar: This is very much a locals pub with good music and all are welcome
Kenmare:
Crowleys Bar: Good Guinness and traditional music always on tap.
PF McCarthys: Good local character and traditional music sessions most evenings in summer.
Tralee:
Sean Og's: Music alomost everynight of the week and a good local pub, it does get busy.
Clonakilty:
DeBarras Folk Club: Renowned traditional music venue in West Cork. Serves good food and nice atmosphere.
An Teach Beag: A traditional pub with plenty of character
and good local musicians. Music alomost evry night.
Killarney:
Sheehans - The Grand Hotel: Trad music in the front start about 9am and then a local rock style band comes on later at teh back of the venue.Tip; Be in Early if you wanta seat in the front, its busy.
Courtneys: Good selection of different beers and good selection of whiskey, music most eveings. nice atmosphere.
Laurels: Music most evenings starts after they are finished serving food. It can be a busy spot
JM Reidy - The Candy Store: Full of character and charm, dont be fooled, it slooks small in the front but stretches way back and is full of nooks and crannies.
Dingle:
Dick Macs: An old shoe makers to the front full of charcter and stretches out the back to a courtyard. Music most evenings.
An Droichead Beag: This is a busy spot with music every evening.
O'Sullivans Courthouse Bar: Cosy pub with some great traditional musicians, worth staying up for.
Be Merry
There is nothing like a little retail therapy, and Ireland is the perfect place for that. Ireland is a country that has fostered the arts and crafts industry, which has led to a vast amount of young designers following their dream and offering us unique handcrafted goods. Their passion and love for their craft evident as they draw inspiration from the countryside.
Kinsale:
Mamukko: taking old sails and liferafts Mammuko upcyle the material and craft it with leather and create new unique bags of may types. Each sail is different making each bag unique. pop into their store in Kinsale or www.mamukko.ie
Wild Goose: drawing from our Celtic, Christian and various parts of Irish history, literature and culture, Wild Goose create hand crafted pieces from various metals, mostly bronze to create beautiful pieces. available in many stores or at
www.wildgoosestudio.com
Bantry:
Forest & Flock: is a craft and design store that features local crafts people from West Cork to creat an oppertunity for them to sell their craft that they wouldnt be able to achieve normally.
Kenmare/Molls Gap:
Avoca Handweavers: renowned for their blankets throws and scarves, they have many stores around Ireland, but this little one is tucked away in the mounatins. It also has a great little cafe for that afternoon treat.
Killarney:
Kerry Woollen Mills: the mills are a generations old family run business in beaufort, and you can visit the mills where they have an array of wolls and products to choose from. You can also see the mills in opeartion.
Dingle:
Dingle Goldsmiths: Aideen & Jerry create beautiful hand crafted pieces based on Dingle & Celtic History. They can customise your piece with Ogham the ancient Celtic script or they can create a unique piece commissioned by you.
Lisbeth Mulcahy Weaver: Lisbeths store and design studio all roll into one and she features woven garments and wall hangings, the store also stocks other local artists and designers.
Louis Mulcahy Pottery: the pottery is made on the peninsula near Ballyferriter and takes inspiration from both land and sea. Louis has been referred to as the Godfater of Irish Craft by the Irish Craft Council. He is renowned for his art pieces as his functional tableware.
