101 Great Irish Restaurants: Look for these tasty spots in Leinster

Our 101 Great Irish Restaurants guide, sponsored by Nespresso Professional, includes restaurants from all over the country that serve up delicious food, offer wonderful service, and are well worth a visit.

Whittling the lists down to just 101 listings was no easy task, which is a testament to the sheer number of quality outlets that can now be found around the island of Ireland. We hope this guide will be one you refer to again and again throughout the year when deciding where to eat. Read on for the Leinster restaurants that made the cut in our 101 Great Irish Restaurants guide.

Bramley, Abbeyleix, Laois, bramleyabbeyleix.com

Husband and wife team Sam and Emily Moody opened Bramley in Abbeyleix last year, taking over a historic building on the main street and lovingly refurbishing it to create a space that feels like home. The welcome is warm, the menu is seasonal and the food is exciting, so it’s no wonder that this restaurant has cemented itself as a must-visit spot.

With lunch and dinner on offer, you’ll be surprised at how reasonably priced the offerings here are, plus there is a multi-course tasting menu available for €75. Don’t miss the potato hash fries, a signature of Moody’s, that are just €5 and taste like such a treat.

Neighbourhood, Naas, Kildare, neighbourhoodnaas.com

Stunningly laid out with a brand new bar now open upstairs, Neighbourhood in Naas is something special. Chef Gareth Naughton has created a menu that’s moreish and well-curated, with dinner, Sunday roast and lunch options available. If you poke around the space, you’ll find the restaurant’s dry ageing fridge at the back, alongside a wall of great wines.

The team here all have an incredible pedigree which really comes through in their warm and welcoming service. Don’t skip the cocktails here, which have been developed with incredible care.

Thyme, Athlone, Westmeath, thymerestaurant.ie

John Coffey, who runs Thyme with his wife Tara, is the best Irish chef you’ve never heard of. His food is sensational, but don’t just take our word for it - Mickael Viljanen of Chapter One, a regular customer, says he’s never had a bad meal there, “and I’ve had a lot of meals there”.

Here you will find dishes for the adventurous like wood pigeon with spatzle, Aztec broccoli and a ramson emulsion, and the more traditional like roast ribeye with Yorkshire pudding and beef cheek croquette. But wherever you fall on the culinary spectrum, you will eat spectacularly well.

Daata, Bray, Wicklow, daata.ie

Daata might have four locations now across Dublin and Wicklow, but the Bray outpost is a classic for a reason. Now in a larger location on the seafront, it has kept all of the charm and joy of a small restaurant, which is primarily thanks to the dedication of the family that run it.

The comforting food sings with flavour, while the service is so friendly that you’ll want to return again and again. The famous Afghani chicken is not to be missed, while the fragrant Daata thaal sharing board will give you a taste of every tasty thing on offer.

The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s, Rosslare, Wexford, kellys.ie

You don’t stay in business for as long as the Kelly family without constantly adapting to the changing needs of your customers, and the glass box in the grounds of their hotel in Rosslare is testament to that.

It is the home of The Sea Rooms, designed by LUCA Architects, and it’s where chef Chris Fullam serves up contemporary Irish dishes, many of which are cooked on the custom barbecue made for him by Smokin’ Soul.

Expect dishes like scallop with smoked eel, apple, samphire and brown butter hollandaise, and barbecued monkfish with smoked mussels, asparagus, broad beans and a fish velouté. The service, as you’d expect in any part of Kelly’s, is wonderful.

The Morrison Room at Carton House, Maynooth, Kildare, cartonhouse.com

Adam Nevin came back to Ireland last year to take the helm at The Morrison Room, having been head chef at The Grill at the Dorchester in London, and has hit the ground running in this dining room, which must be one of the most beautiful in Ireland.

Channel your inner duke or duchess as you take in the period plasterwork and wallpaper, and dine on dishes like McConnell’s ex-dairy sirloin with Irish wasabi, potato mousseline, tempura rib and morels, and west Cork lobster morteau sausage with celeriac and citrus.

The wine list has a good level of choice by the glass along with some interesting options like sake, and the Champagne selection will put a smile on your face whether you’re celebrating or not.

The Grain Store at Killruddery, Bray, Wicklow, killruddery.com

Located on the historic Killruddery Estate in Wicklow, The Grain Store offers seasonal supper clubs created by head chef Niall O'Sullivan, as well as lunch four days a week. Each menu features meat that has been reared on the estate itself and produce from the stunning gardens.

O'Sullivan is a keen forager, so you can expect to find intriguing local ingredients taking centre stage too. The space is stunning, with high, beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls, and service is always incredibly welcoming.

The Lady Helen at Mount Juliet, Thomastown, Kilkenny, ladyhelen.ie

John Kelly is a chef who never stops striving to improve, which makes a visit to the Lady Helen, in the gorgeous surroundings of Mount Juliet, always worthwhile.

A full vegetarian tasting menu is served alongside the standard one, and will tempt even the most committed carnivore, while the wine list has some interesting natural options alongside the type of bottle you’d expect find in this style of Michelin-starred restaurant.

The Coach House, Roundwood, Wicklow, thecoachhouse.ie

The Coach House may only have opened last December, but the combination of its cosy atmosphere, well-priced and delicious food, and great service means it’s packed out most of the time. Simon Pratt and Monique McQuaid, who also run Roundwood Stores, the cafe, bakery and food store next door, are the owners here, and in the kitchen are chefs Luke Matthews and Ciaran Kiely.

Their food is full of flavour and comfort: a mash-topped venison pie will ward off any winter chills, while beautifully-cooked fish like skate will come simply served with a perfect brown butter. If it’s on, don’t miss the chocolate cremeux with olive oil and sea salt, and don’t forget to book ahead.

Square, Dundalk, Louth, squarerestaurant.ie

Conor Halpenny’s menu at Square is a joy, a mix of classics like chicken liver parfait and sirloin with beef fat chips, with more contemporary bites like padron peppers with fermented sriracha, and sourdough with black garlic butter. The wine list features that most mythical of creatures, a bottle for under €30, and there’s also a small but well-considered cocktail list.

Pink Salt, Bray, Wicklow, pinksalt.ie

Located on Bray main street, Pink Salt is an Indian restaurant that has mastered the art of hospitality. You’ll be welcomed in like an old friend, regardless of whether it’s your first or 50th visit, and enjoy genuine warmth throughout your whole meal.

While the menu offers plenty of delicious, classic options, the Alleppey fish curry is always a treat and the gosht hyderabadi lamb is tender and unique. Open throughout the week, the restaurant is a firm favourite with locals, for good reason.

Statham’s at the Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny, pembrokekilkenny.com/eat-and-drink

Hidden inside the Pembroke Hotel in central Kilkenny, Statham's offers more than just typical hotel fare alongside an impressive selection of drinks. Chef Ken Harker has developed a menu that rarely misses a note, serving up dishes formed around great Irish produce.

Service here is wonderfully warm and the room is comfortable - you'll forget you're actually in the middle of one of the country's busiest cities.

Nine, Bray, Wicklow, ninebray.ie

A relatively new offering to this seaside town, Nine is located on Bray's Albert Walk, within a minute of both the Dart station and the seafront, and offers a creative dinner menu from chef Ciara O'Leary in addition to a wonderful daytime selection.

Owned by Matthew Forde, this popular neighbourhood spot masters that tricky transition from brunch and lunch to comfortable dinner location. You'll settle in among the pleasant interiors and local art to enjoy truly friendly service at a very reasonable price. It's casual, curated food done incredibly well in a great location.

Chakra by Jaipur, Greystones, Wicklow, chakra.ie

Located just off the main street in Greystones, Chakra by Jaipur has cemented itself as a favourite for both locals and those from further afield. With chef Dinesh Chander at the stove, the offering here is modern Indian fine dining, with refined, beautifully presented dishes and top notch service.

The Goan seafood curry is reason alone to visit but you'll be truly spoiled for choice with the tasty food on offer here.

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