If you’re hitting the road for a last-minute escape, plan a pit stop to refuel, recharge and refresh …
Killruddery House, Bray, Co Wicklow: There are a few food options from the Pizza Shed and Garden Coffee Shop to The Grain Store. Open for lunch from Thursday to Sunday, the menu here is designed around seasonal produce grown on the estate. Choose from dishes such as the warm peach and burrata salad with Killruddery courgette, broad beans and croutons, or warming Rings Farm chicken pie with bacon cream, celeriac remoulade and seasonal salad. From Killruddery, it’s a mere 90 minutes to Rosslare Strand where the real fun can begin. www.killruddery.com
Browne’s On The Green, Tyrellspass, Co Westmeath: My usual stop-off on the way home from Galway used to be the (excellent) Fatted Calf before it moved location from lovely Glasson to Athlone town, and who is inclined to add navigating Athlone traffic into an already lengthy road trip? While most stop-offs require leaving the main drag, a short detour to Tyrellspass is no hardship. Open from 9am-8.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-9pm, Friday to Sunday, Browne’s is a great choice for classic home cooking such as soups, sandwiches and salads en route to your destination. On a sunny day, sit outside and soak up the idyllic village ambience. www.brownesonthegreen.ie
Bowe’s Café, Durrow, Co Laois: Coffee and treats come highly recommended from Bowe’s Foodhall, but unlike many similar establishments Bowe’s goes the extra mile. Operated by Sarah and Shane Bowe, much of the produce on the menu is sourced from the on-site kitchen garden, which also offers charming outdoor seating. Lunch is a casual affair with falafel bowls, katsu chicken Caesar, soups, sandwiches and freshly baked sausage rolls. Roadside dining has never felt so peaceful and you’re only an hour from Waterford. www.bowescafe.ie
Bowes & Co, Cashel, Co Tipperary: A great choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner, whatever time of the day. The full Irish would feed two, although you might need to order extra sausages considering they are from local rockstar butcher Una Dwyer, while the cakes are freshly made in-house. It’s a bustling, friendly spot filled with locals and visitors alike. Don’t skip the scones and a walk to The Rock of Cashel for a picture before getting back on the road. www.bowesandco.com
O’Mahony’s of Watergrasshill, Co Cork: The problem with driving to West Cork is that it can be deceiving. The signs for Cork city ignite a brief spark of hope before the realisation that you still have two hours to go. A good idea for a short respite before powering on is Máire O’Mahony’s. Just ten minutes from the Dunkettle interchange, the menu is filled with the best fresh, seasonal ingredients from local producers, butchers and fishmongers. Fresh cod with Kilbrack spinach, mussels and beurre blanc is reason enough to break the journey. www.omahonysofwatergrasshill.com