When you’re thinking about Irish food, you’re thinking about potatoes and cheese? While that’s not wrong and many dishes are made with local potatoes and dairy products fresh from the many farms around Ireland, the country has so much more to offer when it comes to food! With more than 7,500 km of coastline, there is, for example, lots of seafood to be enjoyed on the island. And as a melting pot of cultures coming together in the bigger cities of the country, like Dublin, or Belfast in northern Ireland, you can try foods from almost all over the world. You want to know where to go? No worries! We’ll provide you with the top foodie hotspots in Ireland.
Dublin: Cultures and Creativity
Of course, Ireland’s capital makes it onto the list. Here, people from all over the world come together and bring their cultures and their recipes. If you’re looking for street food from Asia or South America, Italian pizza and pasta, or authentic French food, you will find it here – right next to the many traditional Irish pubs serving hearty stews and other classic Irish food. A clash of cultures that, mixed with the beloved Irish creativity and artistry, provokes many creative – and delicious – food combinations. Just walk through the streets of Dublin and stop for whatever you want to try. From markets and street food to restaurants with Michelin stars, the Irish capital offers something for everyone and for every taste.
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Cork: Tradition and quality
Also known as Ireland’s food capital, Cork is home to some of the best culinary experiences on the island. The city’s highlights include great Craft-Beer-Pubs, great vegetarian and/ or traditional restaurants, and one of the best food markets in Europe: The English Market. This market has been trading since 1788 and offers fresh traditional foods from local produce as well as international treats. And all that is set in a group of buildings designed in Victorian style, just like it was originally built as, before it was damaged by a fire in 1980. A bit south of Cork, Kinsale awaits food lovers with great and fresh seafood all year round and the famous annual Kinsale food festival, which usually takes place in October.
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Northern Ireland: A Rising culinary Star
A trip to Northern Ireland is always worth it – for great landscapes, lots of history, and of course, delicious food. Northern Ireland’s food scene is gaining global recognition, with its capital Belfast at its heart. From street food to fine dining, the region offers food of local produce and serves it in innovative ways and combinations. In the Michelin guide, you can find 16 award-winning restaurants in and around Belfast: for example OX, EDŌ or Deanes at Queens. In comparison, the Irish capital Dublin, has 20 restaurants listed. If you’re more into street food or want to cook with high-quality ingredients yourself, St. George’s Market is the place to go in Belfast.
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Galway: Creative and modern
Galway is young, artsy and colourful. People listen to Buskers on the streets, sit on the palisades right next to the Corrib or enjoy their dinner in the restaurants with seating on the busy streets of the Latin Quarter. Of course, the food scene mirrors this busy and creative lifestyle: There are lots of cafés and street food shops with take away food, creative pizzerias like Dough Bros, sea food restaurants and – we are still in Ireland, after all, – craft beer creations. As Galway is one of the stops on our Cliffs of Moher day tour from Dublin, feel free to use the time to enjoy some of the great food the city offers. It’s certainly worth it!
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