The ultimate staycation guide for Ireland

The Ocean View Restaurant, which was voted “Best Hotel Restaurant in Ireland 2012” by the Restaurant Association of Ireland, matches exquisite dining with impeccable service. In a beautiful setting overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, visitors to the Ocean View Restaurant can enjoy cuisine of a quality that is matched only by the high levels of attentiveness given to preparing it. The dishes promise pleasure-inducing flavours that have been extracted from the best of local produce. This is not one to miss.

On the tasting menu you’ll find local seasonal produce in the form of pan-seared Irish XI scallops with crispy pork belly and pineapple salsa, house-cured wild Atlantic salmon with Irish gin and salmon roe, Tian of White Crab dressed with pineapple, chilli, and grapefruit, and corn-fed chicken with wild mushrooms, cabbage, and bacon.

At Fire & Salt Restaurant, the team likes to keep things simple by doing their best to pick quality fresh ingredients, sourced from local producers who share a passion for the fruits of this land. From the seas off the west and east coast, the hills and glens of Galway and Mayo, the lush green fields of Meath and Kildare, the vales and glens of Tipperary, Kilkenny and Cork, the food sourced has a proud heritage and a story to tell. No wonder Fire & Salt has become a destination restaurant, making it an ideal choice for your next staycation.

Their specially designed wine cellar offers a sanctuary of fine wines found from across the globe, complete with a sommelier who can happily help pick out a wine to suit your taste. To get an taste of what you may be trying at Fire & Salt, the sample menu boasts salmon and citrus crab with pink grapefruit and cucumber pickle, goat’s cheese parfait, 28-day aged prime fillet with celeriac puree, caramelised onion and watercress, confit duck leg with a maple glaze.

Combining local foraging, artisan ingredients and house-grown produce across seasonal menus, The East Room Restaurant in Limerick is a definite go-to for any staycation in Ireland. There’s a gourmet lunch menu as well as an impressive a la carte menu and a pre-theatre menu, too. Voted Limerick’s number one restaurant on TripAdvisor, The East Room Restaurant also boasts two AA rosettes and has been recognised by the Michelin Guide.

On The East Room’s menu works seasonally, and has recently featured dishes such as caramelised cauliflower risotto with goats cheese and hazelnut pesto, roast scallops with maitake mushroom and chicken & eel consommé, Johnstone Beef sirloin with a foie gras & beef croquette and glazed short rib, and truffle polenta. For an unforgettable meal, treat yourself to an evening at The East Room.

Underneath Farnham House is an array of underground tunnels, which served as the kitchen and quarters for the Farnham House staff throughout the centuries. Today, one of these tunnels located underneath the hotel’s reception area houses the Wine Goose Cellar Bar where guests and visitors alike can enjoy a drink, and step back in time. This is a wonderfully interesting and atmospheric bar and is often used as a venue for wine tasting evenings. Perfect for those who enjoy a bit of history and culture with their holiday.

Onsite you’ll have the choice between dining at the Cedars Steakhouse, or Maxwells for dinner, all day dining and room service from Farnham Estate, or the afternoon tea. Our top pick has to be the certified Black Angus beef cut served with skin on fries, tenderstem broccoli, rocket and parmesan salad, bone marrow butter, and green peppercorn jus from. Cedars Steakhouse. Simply divine.

European-style meets New York bars blended with Irish hospitality – this is what you can expect from Bia & Co, a chic and modern gastro bar and restaurant. The mouthwatering menus will give you a taste of what’s to come – the finest cuisine from incredible European chefs, which include a lot of new vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. We love the stone baked pizzas, Hereford beef burgers, and healthy salad options, while the exclusive cocktail menu helps wash it all down very nicely indeed.

For a chic staycation, we highly recommend starting with a cocktail or two at the bar (we suggest a Manhattan or Cosmopolitan, of course), before tucking into a gastronomical feast of seafood chowder, crispy calamari, flamed goats cheese, and BBQ-spiced slow cooked pork belly. Cheesecake and apple crumble are a must for dessert. Better yet – Bia & Co also offer breakfast and afternoon tea if you really want to make a trip out of your visit.

One of Galway’s most enduring restaurants, housed in one of the city’s most iconic restaurant spaces, Ard Bia has always placed as much emphasis on community experiences and aesthetic stimulation as on serving great food in a fun environment. The team here believes in having roots in a place whilst having an identity that transcends location and takes inspiration from around the world.

The menu has a strong emphasis on seasonal produce, letting the ingredients take centre-stage. You’ll find the likes of homemade breads and butter to start, Korean fried oyster mushrooms, cider-braised pork shoulder, Killary mussels in chipotle cream, whiskey-cured trout, and apple and blood orange cake to end. Add on a bottle of one of their many natural wines and tuck into one of the most memorable meals in a while.