30 editor picks across Ireland.
30 hidden gems worth the trip across Ireland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Ireland guides.
Morans on the Weir in Kilcolgan is 20km south of Galway city; the Clarenbridge oysters come from the family's own natural bed to the thatched cottage table.
TipBook a weekday table; Galway Native oysters are in season September to April, and a plate with brown bread and Guinness is the only order needed.
Fish Shop Benburb is sit-down chipper in a converted stoneybatter shop, walk-in only, the city's most refined fish and chips off any tourist radar.
TipWalk-in only; arrive 17:30 Thursday to Saturday to get a counter seat before the line forms after work.
Darog on Dominick Street Galway is the most distinctive natural-wine bar in the city; 90 low-intervention labels and small plates make it impossible to leave.
TipArrive at 17:30 before the evening crowd; the oysters and house charcuterie board with a Sancerre is the ideal entry point.
Sheridans Cheesemongers wine bar on Churchyard Street Galway opens Thursday to Saturday above the cheese shop; a 50-bin natural list with boards of Gubbeen.
TipGo upstairs after 16:00 on a weekday; the Ardrahan board with Grower Champagne is the right pairing.
A tiny Japanese counter on Evergreen Street that most Cork visitors walk past, where chef Takashi Miyazaki serves salmon zuke donburi to a handful of seats.
Cork's most celebrated natural wine destination - a cave-a-manger with a 400-bottle organic list and the most expert natural wine staff in Munster.
The Fumbally (The Liberties): Hidden down a Liberties lane behind The Coombe, no Google Maps queue tells you it's the Liberties' weekend ritual.
TipFriday Dinner is the secret-handshake booking; the daily cafe is walk-in only. Closed Sunday afternoon.
Magpie Bakery in the Cornstore on St Augustine Street bakes sourdough in tiny batches; wild-yeast croissants and rye sell out before 10am most days.
TipWednesday to Friday from 08:30 for the best loaf selection; come Saturday after 11:00 and the country sourdough will be gone.
Oscars Seafood Bistro on Dominick Street Galway seats just 30 and fills nightly; the wild Atlantic fish board and ten-dish menu is the best value in Galway.
TipBook two weeks ahead for Friday dinner; the lobster bisque is the standout first course.
Cork's most important wine venue, rated number one by Star Wine List for two consecutive years. The grower Champagne list and pet-nat selection have no.
Two Pups Coffee is liberties brunch room far enough off the tourist track that the saturday queue is locals only, no signage from patrick street.
TipWalk-in only. Arrive 09:30 Saturday before the queue; the long communal tables share with strangers.
Connemara Smokehouse in Ballyconneely 75km from Galway city produces cold-smoked Atlantic salmon; the drive west for direct coastal salmon is worth it.
TipCall ahead to confirm shop hours before the drive; the oak-smoked side salmon vacuum-packed makes the best edible souvenir from the west.
Geometry Coffee Roasters in Galway supplies the best cafes in the county; the roastery door is open on weekday mornings for direct whole-bean sales.
TipEmail the roastery for a Tuesday or Wednesday visit; George does a free 20-minute roast tour.
The corner of Barrack Street and Evergreen Street holds two of Cork's most-loved off-the-track rooms - Alchemy on one corner, Miyazaki on the other.
Note is a wine bar room in South City Centre. Small room; arrive early. Friday and Saturday fill quickly. Walk from Pearse Street Station in four minutes.
TipSmall room; arrive early. Friday and Saturday fill quickly. Walk from Pearse Street Station in four minutes.
Kombu on Druid Lane Galway is JP McMahon's small Japanese ramen and bao bar; the chocolate ganache bao with wasabi sea salt is the locals signature order.
TipWalk-in seats fill from opening on Friday and Saturday; arrive at 15:00 for the first round of ramen and a chocolate ganache bao for dessert.
Plamas on Upper Dominick Street Galway is the specialty coffee window where Geometry Roasters serve single-origin filter in a room of just eight seats.
TipOrder a V60 and take the window seat; the Geometry single-origin filter changes monthly.
Dela on Dominick Street Galway is local knowledge; the daily-changing farm menu sourced from Moycullen is the best Galway lunch that short-stay visitors miss.
TipArrive early on weekdays; the dark rye and butter is the hidden menu item worth ordering.
The only producer of tripe and drisheen left in Ireland, an English Market stall since the early 1900s; drisheen is Cork's peppery, crumbly blood pudding.
A Korean specialty cafe, microroastery and barista academy brought to Cork by Daniel and Sunmi in 2020. The in-house roasting on a small-batch machine.
Ireland's Supreme Champion cider, produced by Daniel and Geraldine Emerson from Cork apples since 2010. A wine-standard craft cider found on Cork menus.
Cork's most photogenic traditional pub, reached down a laneway off Patrick Street that the English Market guidebooks barely mention. The dark, fire-warmed.
Ruibin on Dock Road overlooks Galway's harbour away from the tourist core; a relaxed bar-restaurant with seasonal small plates and natural wines.
TipCome on a Wednesday evening for the quietest service; the natural-wine flight alongside the day's small plates is the order.
Low Lane on St Kieran's Street is Kilkenny's most serious specialty coffee spot, opened 2022 after 3fe Coffee training in Dublin, walk-in only.
The O'Donnell family's pub since 1924, with a no-mobile-phones policy that ensures it never appears in anyone's Instagram feed. Cork's most authentic pub.
Sheila Fitzpatrick's 1997 bread counter claims the largest handmade bread range in Ireland. Syrian flatbread alongside organic sourdough and certified.
Lucky Tortoise Temple Bar on Asdills Row off Fleet Street is an Asian sharing-plate counter for handmade dumplings and bao under one Temple Bar roof.
TipSaturday hands-on dumpling classes book a month ahead; the walk-in dinner runs Tuesday to Sunday from 17:00. Friday and Saturday open lunch from 12:30.
Knockdrinna's farm cafe in Stoneyford, 12km out, serves lunch built on Helen Finnegan's Supreme Champion cheeses and Goatsbridge trout, worth every kilometre.
The most ambient specialty coffee in Cork, built in an 80-year-old Clyde Shipping building on the Brian Boru Bridge. SOMA beans, guest grinder rotating.
Cork's longest-running wine bar in a candlelit room at 126 Oliver Plunkett Street. €5-6 glasses of European wine at pub pricing, simple tapas, retro.
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Enjoy a relaxed but highly-focused 2.5 to 3-hour stroll through the city center of Cork, stopping at a range of foodie hotspots. Discover local and Irish cuisine, meet...
Private tour · 3 hours
Enjoy a private tour with your own local guide. Embark on a delightful 3-hour private Cork Culinary Tour, immersing yourself in the rich and diverse food scene that de...
Private tour · 8 hours
Discover Cork’s vibrant markets, medieval castles, and world-renowned whiskey on a private guided journey. Savor local flavors and scenic coastal views along the way.