The Strand Restaurant & Guesthouse

This long-established seafront restaurant has been in family ownership for 130 years, and is now run by Johnny Redmond, who is the chef, and his wife Caroline.

In a dream of a location, it is a long building with outside seating under a neat awning looking over the whole bay - a lovely spot to enjoy a leisurely drink while you watch the sun go down.

Inside, both the extensive bar and lounge area and the split level restaurant also look out over Kilkee Bay and the Atlantic beyond. In a muted colour scheme and with simply laid tables to allow the view to take centre stage, the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows right along one side so all tables can enjoy the view.

Menus arrive promptly at your table, along with home baked breads and a jug of water, and they offer a wide choice. Seafood, of course, plus favourites such as fillet steak, rack of lamb, some salads and pasta and a vegetarian dish - and there's also a tempting list of daily specials for seafood lovers: a big bowl of Atlantic Mussels or some Carrigaholt crab to start, perhaps, then oven baked Donegal salmon, or whole black (Dover) sole. Aside from the view, the quality and freshness of ingredients  is the most attractive quality of this restaurant, especially the seafood which (with obvious exceptions, such as tiger prawns) is all supplied locally.

Finish with a home-made dessert such as apple & rhubarb crumble, pavlova or hazelnut toffee meringues (deliciously chewy)...

Friendly service, fresh-flavoured food and that view should make dining here an enjoyable experience.

Restaurant: Children welcome (high chair, children's menu); Seats 46 (outdoor, 12); reservation recommended; D 6-9.30pm, early 2-course D, about €25, also à la carte. SC 10% on groups 6+. Check opening times off season

Accommodation:

Above the restaurant there are six freshly decorated en-suite bedrooms, offering simple but comfortable accommodation.  All have orthopaedic beds, tea and coffee facilities,

direct dial telephone, free WiFi, television, and hairdryer. Some also look out over the bay and the Strand Line wall; a popular perch for visitors, the wall makes a good viewing point for the Kilkee Strand Races, which are held on the beach.