With great enthusiasm and determination – and perhaps a slight sense of trepidation – many Michelin-Starred restaurants in the UK & Ireland are beginning to reopen to the public.
Ireland’s pubs and restaurants were the first to open, with many beginning to trade again from 29th June. Here is a list of all Michelin-Starred restaurants in Ireland which are already open, or will be opening in July:
Two MICHELIN Stars
Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin
Open 29th June – Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday to Saturday.
A truly sumptuous restaurant in an elegant Georgian house; the eponymous owner has run it for many years. Accomplished, original cooking uses luxurious ingredients and mixes classical French cooking with modern techniques. Dishes are well-crafted and visually stunning with a superb balance of textures and flavours.
Aimsir, Celbridge
Open 4th July – Tasting Menu or Lounge Menu, Wednesday-Saturday. Sunday Lounge Menu.
At this elegant restaurant, head chef Jordan Bailey brings together overwhelming passion, a great understanding of flavours and supreme craftsmanship, resulting in superbly balanced, original dishes with real depth of flavour. Each of the labour-intensive courses are all very different.
One MICHELIN Star
Lady Helen, Thomastown
Open 29th June.
Sited within an impressive Georgian house is this grand, luxurious restaurant which looks out over the estate and the River Nore. Boldly flavoured, visually impressive dishes are precisely prepared and ingredients come from the estate, the county and the coast.
L'Ecrivain, Dublin
Open 30th June – Dinner only.
A well-regarded restaurant with an attractive terrace, a glitzy bar and a private dining room which screens live kitchen action. The refined, balanced menu has a classical foundation whilst also displaying touches of modernity; the ingredients used are superlative. Service is structured yet has personality.
Bastion, Kinsale
Open 1st July.
Bastion is an intimate bistro run by keen young couple, Paul and Helen. Skilfully prepared, exacting dishes take on a modern style and often exhibit a playful, innovative element, while at the same time showing depth in their flavours and textures. Local seafood is a highlight.
Campagne, Kilkenny
Open 3rd July – Lunch, Saturday-Sunday; Dinner, Wednesday-Saturday.
A chic, relaxed restaurant with smart booths and contemporary local art, hidden near the railway arches, away from the city centre. Modern cooking has a classic base, and familiar combinations are delivered with an assured touch. Service is friendly and efficient.
Loam, Galway
Open 3rd July.
A large basement with industrial styling; the focus here is on the quality of the ingredients, which grow in the fertile local loam. The talented chef understands his craft and produces modern, understated dishes with pure flavours.
Ichigo Ichie, Cork
Open 7th July, with sittings at 6pm & 9pm.
This authentic restaurant has dark, moody décor and something of an industrial feel. The interesting omakase menu changes every 6 weeks and cleverly mixes long-standing Japanese techniques with local ingredients and modern touches.
Chapter One, Dublin
Open 8th July – Lunch, Friday-Saturday; Dinner, Wednesday to Saturday.
Good old-fashioned hospitality meets with modern Irish cooking in this stylish basement restaurant beneath the Writers Museum. The series of interconnecting rooms have an understated elegance and striking bespoke art hangs on the walls. Boldly flavoured dishes showcase produce from local artisan producers.
Chestnut, Ballydehob
Open 9th July – Dinner, Thursday- Saturday.
Locally-born Rob and his partner Elaine run this sweet, intimate restaurant, which has an elegant style and a relaxed feel. Chef Rob has a great understanding of textures and flavours and dishes are understated with a focus on pure, natural flavours and regional produce.
House, Ardmore
Open 10th July – Six/ten course tasting menu, Tuesday-Saturday.
Full length windows give every table an impressive coastal view at this smart hotel restaurant. Concise menus showcase local and garden produce and cooking is complex – a host of ingredients are used for each course. Creative dishes combine a good range of flavours and textures and presentation is unique.
Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna
Open 17th July.
This personally run inn started life as an 1860s hotel, so it may not look much like a pub, but once inside it’s warm, cosy and full of pubby character. Menus have a classical French base and showcase the county’s produce in neat, confidently prepared dishes which are packed with flavour.
The Oak Room, Adare
Open 30th July.
Named after the wood-panelling commissioned by architect Augustus Pugin, this hotel dining room exhibits all the comfort and grandeur one would expect. Assured, understated cooking showcases top ingredients from artisan producers and flavours are complex. For garden views ask to sit in the glassed-in terrace.
