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16 incredible foodie expe ...
16 incredible foodie experiences in Ireland
  • Food experiences
Oysters
Awaken your inner foodie with Ireland's top culinary experiences.
Ireland serves up a feast of unforgettable food experiences, from flavour-packed tours and hands-on cookery schools to acclaimed restaurants and local gems. Whether you’re picking fresh produce on an organic farm in Westmeath or learning the art of chocolate making in Clare, you’ll find unique tastes and culinary stories waiting at every turn.

Here are 16 memorable foodie experiences for you to sink your teeth into.

Excellent eateries

1 | Lennons @ Visual, Carlow

With a passion for sustainably sourced local ingredients, Lennon's serves up a vibrant menu that has something for every dietary want and need. Set on the first floor of VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art in Carlow, foodies can enjoy their meal while surrounded by modern art and evocative installations, as well as stunning views of Carlow Cathedral via the floor-to-ceiling windows. 

A dish from Lennon's restaurant in Co Carlow
Discover the flavours of sustainable sourced ingredients.

2 | The Tannery, Waterford

With its ever-changing menus rooted in local flavour, The Tannery in Dungarvan has earned its place as a beloved spot in the community. Housed in a former leather factory near Dungarvan Marina, this award-winning restaurant pairs a warm, welcoming atmosphere with beautifully crafted dishes and an impressive wine list. The setting is cosy, the food is inviting - and the experience is one to savour. Visitors can also book in overnight for a peaceful break away.

3 | Thyme Restaurant, Westmeath

On the banks of the River Shannon, in the heart of historic Athlone, the Bib Gourmand Thyme has built a reputation for crafting exciting, modern Irish cuisine. Owner and chef John Coffey and his wife Tara set out to showcase the talent and passion of the Midlands' talented producers. The dynamic menu gives a tasty snapshot of the diversity and quality of the local food artisans.

A table in Thyme restaurant in Co Westmeath
Give Irish cuisine a try at Thyme.

Cookery schools

4 | Cloughan Farm and School, Longford

Book your stay in Longford and join a class at Cloughan Farm and Cookery School. Under the expert supervision of chef Fiona Egan and her husband Michael, visitors prepare and make brunches, lunches and dinners with hand-reared meat and homegrown vegetables, before dining on their creations in the farm's peaceful garden. 

Chef plating food on a square, white, plate
Pick up some expert tips at Cloughan Farm and Cookery School.

5 | Dingle Cookery School, Kerry

Pay a visit to Daingean Uí Chúis (Dingle) and book a session with the Dingle Cookery School, which provides a hands-on approach and expert-led cooking demonstrations. For an immersive cooking experience to remember, snag a slot in their 'Catch and Cook' course. Nab your catch of the day in Dingle Bay, then learn how to expertly prepare and cook it with the help of your instructor.

Plate of fish at Dingle Cookery School.
Learn how to prepare fish like a pro at Dingle Cookery School.

Fun food tours

6 | Delicious Dublin Tours, Dublin

Taste the best of the capital on the go with Delicious Dublin Tours. Follow your local food expert around Dublin and sample great Irish cuisine, both classic and contemporary, and pick up some top food recommendations for the remainder of your stay in the big city.  

Fish and beef dishes on a black background.
Enjoy incredible dishes on a food tour.

7 | Taste Kilkenny, Kilkenny

Go behind the scenes with local food producers and taste some of the county's best culinary treats on a Taste Kilkenny food tour. From farm to fork, visit the restaurants, cafés, markets and gastropubs around Kilkenny that are supported by this great food network.

Explore markets in the Taste Kilkenny food network.
Explore markets in the Taste Kilkenny food network.

8 | An Ghrian Glas Organic Farm, Westmeath

Based in Westmeath, An Ghrian Glas Organic Farm welcome foodies from around the country and beyond to share a glimpse into farm life. Discover the hard work that goes into growing quality ingredients, the perks of living sustainably and how we can collectively conserve our natural heritage. You can also camp at the farm if you fancy extending your visit.

9 | Kinsale Food Tours, Cork

With great restaurants serving the freshest of seafood, Kinsale is a foodie's playground. Dive deep into the local scene with Kinsale Food Tours. Choose from one of three tour options to sample local produce from some of the town's best restaurants, forage for edible seaweed and shellfish along the coast or have a luxurious picnic and a swim on your very own private yacht. 

10 | Wilde Irish Chocolates, Clare

Book your own golden ticket and treat yourself to a tour of Wilde Irish Chocolates, Clare's original chocolate factory. Learn about the factory's history as you whiff the rich aroma of indulgent chocolate, which is made entirely from 100% sustainable cocoa. Dedicated chocolate lovers need to book in advance for the 'Build Your Own Chocolate Bar' experience, where you can create your very own sweet concoction.  

Make your own chocolate with Wilde Irish Chocolates in Clare.
Make your own chocolate with Wilde Irish Chocolates in Clare.

11 | Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours, Mayo

For over 25 years, the Gannon family in Mayo have farmed Clew Bay oysters and other local shellfish at their aquaculture farm outside Westport. With Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours, you can join owner Padraig Gannon on a shore-based tour of the oyster beds and learn all about Clew Bay's history. You'll even get the chance to sample fresh oysters straight from the Bay. 

Oysters
Taste the ocean with Croagh Patrick Seafood and Tours.

Food and drink experiences

12 | Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

While you’re on your city break in Dublin, tour the Guinness Storehouse and try their 'Connoisseur Experience', where you can try four different types of Guinness, learn how to pull the perfect pint of the black stuff and gain insight into the famous Guinness family. Afterwards, grab a bite to eat at Arthur's Bar or the 1837 Bar & Brasserie.

People pulling pints in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin city
Get hands-on at the Guinness Storehouse.

13 | English Market, Cork

Explore the iconic English Market and it's amazing selection of diverse traders, from fledgling sellers to long-established family businesses passed down through generations. Whet your appetite with a fresh sushi roll, get your caffeine hit with a coffee or pick up some fresh produce for a picnic, all before venturing out to see the sights of Cork. 

Speak to local vendors and try Cork specialities at the English Market.
Speak to local vendors and try Cork specialities at the English Market.

14 | The Sea Gardener, Waterford

Join Marie Power, The Sea Gardener, on Waterford’s Copper Coast for a deep dive into the world of seaweed. Take to the coast's secluded rocky coves for a day of seaweed foraging and learn about the variety of ways it can be used in everyday life, whether in cooking, skincare or gardening.

Walk the rocky Waterford shoreline and forage for fresh seaweed.
Walk the rocky Waterford shoreline and forage for fresh seaweed.

15 | Airfield Estate, Dublin

Visit Dublin's only 38-acre working farm at Airfield Estate and see the Overend family home, kitchen, gardens and vintage cars. Collect freshly laid eggs, see the Jersey cow herd being milked and meet the estate's goats, pigs and donkeys. Or book into one of the cooking workshops and demonstrations in the kitchen, which range from a lesson in sustainable seafood and tapas to baking with the kids.

Tour Airfield Estate and improve your kitchen skills at one of their classes.
Tour Airfield Estate and improve your kitchen skills at one of their classes.

16 | Roe and Co, Dublin

Experience this urban distillery in Dublin’s Liberties neighbourhood. Step inside the iconic former Guinness power station and learn about the whiskey distilling process. Enjoy an expert-led whiskey tasting at the 'Blending Experience,' or book in with the 'Roe and Co Flavours Experience' to discover how to create the perfectly balanced cocktail.  

Have fun with the 'Roe and Co Flavours Experience.'
Have fun with the 'Roe and Co Flavours Experience.'
Expand your menu

If you're still hungry, prepare to loosen your belt and tuck into more of the country's top food and drink experiences. 

More to discover
Four adults enjoying a whiskey cocktail making class at Roe & Co Distillery, Dublin.
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A couple eating food in Galway city
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If you're in the mood for an incredible food experience, Galway city has an abundance of possibilities to please every visitor. From fresh fish along the harbour to afternoon tea in a Georgian townhouse, exploring such a vibrant place makes for hungry work.

People eating
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A couple eating in Co Cork
The ultimate guide to dining in West Cork
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Besides its wild landscapes, picture-perfect bays and Atlantic coastline, West Cork has long been Ireland’s culinary heartland. From the 1950s on, newcomers brought new skills and fresh perspectives, helping reimagine the pure produce of local land and sea. Today, you’ll find a vibrant food scene where local sourcing is a given – whether you’re eating in a cosy café, a lively pub or a Michelin-starred restaurant. Weekly markets and food tours offer plenty of ways to meet the producers who keep this spirit alive.

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