The Best Seafood Restaurants in the Republic Of Ireland

Anyone who loves oysters should beat a path to the door of this attractive thatched pub hidden away in the tiny hamlet of Kilcolgan. Dishes are largely seafood based and oysters are the speciality, particularly the ones from nearby Clarenbridge. Aside from the oysters, it’s all about straightforward cooking and good hospitality. The homemade soda bread and Carrageen Moss (a type of seaweed found on the west coast), are well worth trying too.

Close to the Cliffs of Moher, in the small fishing village of Liscannor, chef James Vaughan heads up the kitchen of the business first started by his grandfather John back in 1979. Given the traditional look of the exterior, the stylish, modern bistro appearance of the interior comes as a pleasant surprise. Locally sourced seafood underpins the cooking – when they have crab on the menu, go for it. The chips, which are steamed first and then fried in beef dripping, are also worth a special mention. Bright, contemporary bedrooms mean you can linger for longer should you wish.

A stalwart of the Kinsale dining scene, which opened back in 1999. this two-roomed bistro sits in a characterful, historical, brightly painted cottage on the main street, and is run with great pride by Olivier and Anne Marie Queva. The unfussy, classical seafood menu offers plenty of choice, with a subtle international flavour added in on occasion. Go for one of the tasty ‘Fresh Catches’.

Martin Shanahan is credited as being the seafood chef in Ireland, and his name is equally synonymous with the coastal town of Kinsale, where he first opened a fish shop and deli in 1990. A small restaurant followed, and this then re-located to a larger, former gallery in 2006 in order to cope with the demand from locals and visitors alike. The extensive all-day menus feature classical dishes and some more interesting specials showcasing the best of the catch from the local day boats. A range of smaller plates is served in the Blue Room wine bar.

You’ll go a long way to find somewhere as welcoming and friendly as Poachers, a smart dining pub run with genuine pride and charm. Dine under the eaves in the cosy bar on the first floor, or out on the newer garden terrace. Whilst the menu at dinner is more extensive than lunch, you are certainly spoilt for choice with the boldly flavoured, classically based dishes, all prepared with such care. Fish landed at nearby Union Hall and crabs from Courtmacsherry are must-tries.

Seasoned hotelier, John Brennan, converted the former Dromquinna Manor and its surrounding 40-acre estate into a modern-day resort offering a host of options for the modern-day traveller. Located within the grounds is this former boathouse overlooking Kenmare Bay, the peninsula and the mountains; now a nautical, New England style bistro with a laid-back vibe. Fish, bread and dairy products are delivered daily and used to create simple yet appealing dishes – which taste all the better when eaten on the waterside terrace.

Its name is perfectly apt: not only is it painted bright blue, but this simple harbourside restaurant keeps its focus firmly on ingredients that come from the sea. Its known locally as OOTB, and chefs Eric Maillard and Jean Marie Vaireaux have headed up the kitchen since it opened in 2001. Menus, chalked up on the blackboards, are decided each morning, based on the latest local catch. Look out for the Dingle Bay lobster.

Situated in The Ring of Kerry – one of the most scenic parts of Ireland – ‘QCs’, as the locals call it, is a restaurant full of atmosphere, with a fitting nautical theme. Seafood-orientated menus offer unfussy classics and some more unusual daily specials. Owner Kate Cooke’s family also own the local fish wholesale business, so you’ll be sure to get the pick of the catch. Stylish, well-equipped bedrooms are located in a townhouse and mews – and breakfast is brought to your room the next morning.