Although often seriously over-crowded with tourists in summer, this famous and genuinely characterful old pub in the shadow of Bunratty Castle somehow manages to provide cheerful service and consistently above-average food to the great numbers who pass ... more...
Birr Castle is a brilliant place to visit at any time and, tucked away in a restored stable block in the entrance courtyard, is a gorgeous café that’s a destination in its own right and it's accessible to all, i.e. you don't have to pay th ... more...
In the Cronin family since 1970, this harbour-front pub has oodles of character; with its walls and high shelves crammed with maritime memorabilia, it’s an unofficial exhibition of local history. Ballymaloe-trained chef Denis Cronin, is t ... more...
This attractive modern café in the restored Red Stables courtyard at St Anne's Park is a little sister of the excellent Moloughney's Restaurant of Clontarf and Woodstock of Phibsborough, and shares their commitment to good healthy food sourced f ... more...
Fans of real-deal Thai street food should make a beeline to Parliament Stree,t where Thai chef Ju McCarthy and her Irish husband Derek have garnered quite the fanbase since opening early in the pandemic (July 2020). Chef Ju hails from Isaan in north-ea ... more...
Nestling in an attractive wooded hamlet in the Dublin Mountains, south of Dublin city, this popular pub dates back to the eighteenth century and has numerous claims to fame, including the fact that Daniel O'Connell was once a regular, apparently, and i ... more...
Formerly the official palace for the Bishops of Down, Hastings Hotels’ flagship property in Holywood is the region's premier hotel and a fine example of 19th-century Scottish Baronial architecture, with plasterwork ceilings, stained glass windows ... more...
Atmospheric is one of the things they do best in the Foley family and this younger sister restaurant to Nick’s (see entry), run by Clíodhna Foley, proves the point.
Located in a former Church of Ireland premises just up the hill a little ... more...
The Guide has long had a soft spot for this pub on the seafront in the pretty village of Blackrock – which, although very close to Dundalk, is not at all suburban and retains the atmosphere of an independent community.
The Brake has a loyal loca ... more...
Peter and Shelley Stokes’ substantial 18th century country house midway between Dublin and Cork is an impressive building with some magnificent period features, and offers comfort and relaxation with style.
A large marbled reception area with fr ... more...