Ireland’s best bars and restaurants for dates

Vi’s restaurant at Lawlor’s is named after socialite, Violette Lawlor and is a feast for the eyes as well as a delight for the taste buds. Here you’ll discover modern, contemporary food which makes for great first impressions. The iconic round bar adds drama to the restaurant setting and hidden gems like the outdoor terrace can offer a range of spaces to enjoy cocktails and conversations, allowing you to get to know your first date better. Vi’s menu was crafted by Executive Chef Liam Forde, Executive Sous Chef Kiaran Ward and Vi’s Head Chef Simon who together have developed dishes that incorporate the very best of Irish ingredients from land and sea.

At The Peregrine expect a relaxing ambience combined with exceptional, original cuisine that celebrates Kerry’s finest produce. A combination of comfortable banquettes and atmospheric horseshoe booths make this the perfect setting for romantic dinners, as well as those intimate gatherings needed for milestone anniversaries. As the year turns, the dinner menu evolves. Award-winning Executive Head Chef Eric Kavanagh and his team work passionately behind the scenes to develop original dishes based on the very best produce their local suppliers can offer from day-to-day. This is true ingredient-led menu design – a rousing creative challenge that sparks feats of alchemy in the kitchen. What arrives at your table are exquisite plates designed to enchant your senses and ignite your imagination with distinctive flavours, novel pairings and exciting presentations.

Situated a stone’s throw from the iconic Octagon Monument, M.J. Hobans’ Bar is a historic landmark Westport pub best known for a friendly welcoming atmosphere, good food and traditional Irish music entertainment. The recently refurbished downstairs bar is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet drink on an iconic stone counter, built by Italian stone masons who visited Westport in the 1930s, or sit in one of the comfortable snugs and enjoy a gourmet coffee and pastry prepared by a friendly, barista-trained waiting team. The all-day bar food menu is freshly prepared to order by the kitchen and includes all the traditional pub dishes, but with a contemporary twist.

On weekends at Arkle Bar & Restaurant, you and your date can enjoy live piano music while you make your way through the extensive drinks menu created by the Arkle mixologists in-house. Sourcing the freshest, most high quality produce from local suppliers, you can expect the best Maynooth has to offer seven nights a week. Indulge in the new Arkle Bar & Restaurant where the elegant lighting and plush seating provide the ideal setting for all that desire a refined dining experience and fine wines for their date.