Top Hidden Gems in Ireland

Moran's on the Weir ★ 4.9 · Galway

salthill · The Weir, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, H91 AV15

Morans on the Weir in Kilcolgan is 20km south of Galway city; the Clarenbridge Native oysters go from the tidal bed to the thatched table in under an hour.

Tip: Book a weekday table; Clarenbridge Natives with brown bread and Guinness is the only order needed.

Fish Shop Benburb ★ 4.8 · Dublin

stoneybatter · 76 Benburb Street, Dublin 7, D07 N5WX

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.

Tip: Walk-in only; arrive 17:30 Thursday to Saturday to get a counter seat before the line forms after work.

Darog ★ 4.8 · Galway

westend · 56 Lower Dominick Street, Galway, H91 X9F2

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.

Tip: Arrive 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 ★ 4.8 · Galway

latin-quarter · 14-16 Churchyard Street, Galway, H91 FN84

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.

Tip: Go upstairs after 16:00 on a weekday; the Ardrahan board with Grower Champagne is the right pairing.

Miyazaki Japanese Takeaway ★ 4.7 · Cork

Barrack Street and The Lough · 1A Evergreen Street, Cork

A tiny Japanese counter on Evergreen Street that most Cork visitors walk past. Chef Takashi Miyazaki's salmon zuke donburi

L'Atitude 51 ★ 4.7 · Cork

Union Quay and Ballintemple · 1 Union Quay, Cork

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 ★ 4.7 · Dublin

the-liberties · Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8, D08 HFF2

The Fumbally (The Liberties): Hidden down a Liberties lane behind The Coombe, no Google Maps queue tells you it's the Liberties' weekend ritual.

Tip: Friday Dinner is the secret-handshake booking; the daily cafe is walk-in only. Closed Sunday afternoon.

Magpie Bakery ★ 4.7 · Galway

latin-quarter · Unit 12, Cornstore, St Augustine Street, Galway, H91 CC44

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.

Tip: Wednesday to Friday from 08:30 for the best loaf selection; come Saturday after 11:00 and the country sourdough will be gone.

Oscar's Seafood Bistro ★ 4.7 · Galway

westend · 22-23 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 P6T8

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.

Tip: Book two weeks ahead for Friday dinner; the lobster bisque is the standout first course.

MacCurtain Wine Cellar ★ 4.6 · Cork

MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter) · 11 MacCurtain Street, Cork

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 ★ 4.6 · Dublin

the-liberties · 74 Francis Street, Dublin 8, D08 KA43

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.

Tip: Walk-in only. Arrive 09:30 Saturday before the queue; the long communal tables share with strangers.

Connemara Smokehouse ★ 4.6 · Galway

eyre-square · Bunowen Pier, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway, H91 HT48

Connemara Smokehouse in Ballyconneely 75km from Galway city produces cold-smoked Atlantic salmon; the drive west for direct coastal salmon is worth it.

Tip: Call 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 ★ 4.6 · Galway

eyre-square · Unit 12, MG Business Park, Tuam Road, Galway, H54 RC64

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.

Tip: Email the roastery for a Tuesday or Wednesday visit; George does a free 20-minute roast tour.

Alchemy Coffee and Books ★ 4.5 · Cork

Barrack Street and The Lough · 123 Barrack Street, Cork

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 ★ 4.5 · Dublin

south-city-centre · 26 Fenian Street, Dublin 2, D02 FX09

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.

Tip: Small room; arrive early. Friday and Saturday fill quickly. Walk from Pearse Street Station in four minutes.

Kombu Ramen and Bao Bar ★ 4.5 · Galway

latin-quarter · Druid Lane, Galway, H91 WD26

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.

Tip: Walk-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 ★ 4.5 · Galway

westend · 6 Upper Dominick Street, Galway, H91 E3W2

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.

Tip: Order a V60 and take the window seat; the Geometry single-origin filter changes monthly.

Dela ★ 4.5 · Galway

westend · 51 Lower Dominick Street, Galway, H91 E3F1

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.

Tip: Arrive early on weekdays; the dark rye and butter is the hidden menu item worth ordering.

O'Reilly's Tripe and Drisheen ★ 4.4 · Cork

English Market Quarter · The English Market, Grand Parade, Cork

The last remaining retailer of tripe and drisheen in Ireland, trading in the English Market. Drisheen is a blood sausage unique to Cork - a peppery, crumbly.

Cafe Moly Roastery ★ 4.4 · Cork

Union Quay and Ballintemple · 99 Douglas Street, Cork

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.

Stonewell Cider ★ 4.4 · Cork

West Cork · Nohoval, Belgooly, Kinsale, County Cork

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.

The Mutton Lane Inn ★ 4.4 · Cork

City Centre · 3 Mutton Lane, Cork, T12 RV07

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 ★ 4.4 · Galway

spanish-arch · 1 Dock Road, Galway, H91 D7NE

Ruibin on Dock Road overlooks Galway's harbour away from the tourist core; a relaxed bar-restaurant with seasonal small plates and natural wines.

Tip: Come on a Wednesday evening for the quietest service; the natural-wine flight alongside the day's small plates is the order.

Low Lane ★ 4.4 · Kilkenny

st-kierans-street · 45 Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny

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 Hi-B Bar ★ 4.3 · Cork

City Centre · 108 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork

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.

The Alternative Bread Company ★ 4.3 · Cork

English Market Quarter · The English Market, Princes Street, Cork

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 ★ 4.3 · Dublin

temple-bar · 17B Asdill's Row, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

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.

Tip: Saturday 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 Farmhouse Cheese Cafe ★ 4.3 · Kilkenny

kilkenny-environs · Stoneyford, County Kilkenny (approx. 12km from Kilkenny city)

Knockdrinna's farm cafe in Stoneyford, 12km out, serves lunch built on Helen Finnegan's Supreme Champion cheeses and Goatsbridge trout, worth every kilometre.

Boru Coffee Shop ★ 4.2 · Cork

MacCurtain Street (Victorian Quarter) · Brian Boru Bridge, Cork

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.

Meades Winebar ★ 4.2 · Cork

City Centre · 126 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork

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.