Lovers of great food won’t go hungry on a visit to the island of Ireland where excellent eateries dish up top-class gastronomic experiences.
The island of Ireland’s vibrant culinary scene is flourishing with the regular opening of new restaurants and bistros offering an array of food experiences that meet every budget and taste.
Adding to the island’s menu of great eateries are some recent arrivals that are already making a name for themselves.
Catering for the capital’s cosmopolitan palate, new Dublin restaurants include Afanti, which serves food from the Uyghur province of China, and Daruma specialising in sensational sushi and flavoursome dishes from their binchōtan charcoal grill. Or put your tastebuds in the hands of the chef at Matsukawa, Dublin’s first omakase restaurant offering a Japanese dining experience where the chef selects what the customers eat.
Mumbai street food and Indochinese dishes are the stars at Indian Tiffins, while Kari creates traditional Indian dishes with an innovative twist.
And for a taste of modern Irish cuisine, Forbes Street at Anantara The Marker hotel is hard to beat with signature dishes featuring John Stone beef and Flaggy Shore oysters.
In Belfast, Blank restaurant has caused quite a stir with its ‘no menu’ concept that surprises diners by serving whatever the chef decides to create from the seasonal Irish produce delivered on the day. The restaurant has already caught the eye of Michelin as has another Northern Ireland newcomer, Artis, in Derry~Londonderry. The award-winning Artis uses both traditional and modern techniques to maximise the potential of the locally sourced ingredients.
Elsewhere, fashionable fine dining, gourmet gastro pubs and homely eateries abound ensuring that travellers can feast their way around the island.
In Doolin, County Clare on the Wild Atlantic Way, enjoy fabulous food in the cosy surroundings of a traditional Irish cottage. Homestead Cottage presents a seasonal menu rich in Atlantic seafood and locally grown vegetables.
Medieval Kilkenny is also a foodie favourite. The Bridge House at the River Court Hotel offers exquisite dining crafted from the island’s natural bounty while French-inspired cuisine is the flavour of Michelin-starred Campagne.
Relaxed dining is the order of the day at the refurbished Bramley AbbeyLeix in County Laois in Ireland’s Ancient East, where a simple menu delivers exciting flavours.
And in County Cork, a magnet for food enthusiasts, there are more award-winning restaurants than you will have time to enjoy. Vegetarians should not miss Paradiso in Cork city while fish lovers should make for Goldie where exceptional creativity is married to a focus on sustainability.
