Whether it’s dinner with friends, a family feast or a work get-together, this is the ultimate Christmas dining guide to celebrate the silly season in style …
Rare, Kinsale
With recent news that Rare in Kinsale has been honoured by the mystery men and women of the Michelin Guide, securing a reservation this festive season could be quite the challenge. Enjoy the nine-course tasting menu with a choice of pairings including signature wine, prestige wine, cocktail pairing,non-alcoholic or simple enjoy on its own with no adornments needed. www.rare1784.ie
The Oak Room at Adare Manor, Limerick
Christmas is the perfect excuse to indulge and there is no better place than Limerick’s first Michelin star restaurant. The Oak Room is a lesson in many things; timeless elegance, discreet service and, of course, the food which head chef Michael Tweedie and his team execute with creativity and flair. Don’t miss the Royal Belgian caviar or stunning cheese selection, served tableside from the exquisite handmade trolley. Formal dining at its finest. www.adaremanor.com
Locks, Dublin 8
This Christmas is your last chance to dine at Locks with news breaking that the restaurant, in its current incarnation, will not re-open next year. With a pivot on the cards for the New Year, a farewell lunch is the perfect way to bid adieu to this Dublin institution. Of course, choosing between dishes such as spiced beef carpaccio with celeriac, Friarielli, pickled mushrooms and Gorgonzola or seabass Crudo with white radish, gooseberry, Togarashi and Shiso will be no easy task, but rest assured that whatever you choose will be delectable. www.locksrestaurant.ie
Thyme, Athlone
Ask any food writer where to eat in Athlone and they will likely direct you to chef-proprietor John Coffey’s waterside restaurant. Hidden away beside Athlone’s Dead Centre Brewing, expect your meal to kick off with freshly baked sourdough accompanied by a regularly changing compound butter from roast chicken and thyme, wild garlic or walnut butter. The menu at Thyme is filled with seasonal, Irish ingredients cooked by a very skilled chef. What more could you want? www.thymerestaurant.ie
FX Buckley at Ryan’s Parkgate Street, Dublin 7
A beautifully restored Victorian Bar, Ryan’s of Parkgate Street is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin. Pulling pints since 1886, the bar is polished and authentic without a hint of twee. On the menu, you will find a selection of excellent FX Buckley steaks, but a bowl of creamy chowder or a chicken pie with smooth mash is one of life’s simple pleasures. For a longer lunch or dinner, book a table upstairs in the newly refurbished restaurant where you can enjoy even more FX Buckley delights. www.thebuckleycollection.ie
Sole Seafood & Grill, Dublin 2
Sick of the thought of turkey and ham already? For a festive feast, Sole Seafood & Grill on Dublin’s South William Street has a Christmas menu jam-packed with seafood dishes to satisfy any crustacean craving. Christmas menus start at €55 for three courses of oysters, mussels, salmon and sole, with the option to upgrade to the Captain’s Seafood Tower with Howth smoked organic salmon, shrimp, Dublin Bay prawns, rock oysters, and traditional accompaniments served over ice and grilled Irish lobster, Irish brown crab toes, steamed West Cork mussels with white wine, garlic cream and fries. The true definition of soul food. www.sole.ie
Arundels by the Pier, Ahakista, Cork
There’s also breaking news from West Cork with the announcement that the kitchen at Arundels will fire up again for a limited run this Christmas. Bookings are now open for lunch service from December 21-23 with a new menu on offer. Expect a feast of fresh seafood, burgers and an even better selection of wines and drinks. On Christmas Eve, Arundels will open from 12-5pm for festive drinks and mince pies. www.arundelsbythepier.com
Neighbourhood, Naas
There is a lot to love about Neighbourhood. For a start, the interior is a visual treat that feels somewhat luxe while also being a little Zen-like, and the menus are filled with seasonal dishes that keep patrons coming back. Festive menus start at €38 for early bird and €58 for dinner, but don’t miss pre-dinner cocktails and nibbles at the all-new Neighbourhood Bar upstairs from the restaurant. www.neighbourhoodnaas.com
Vaughans Anchor Inn, Liscannor, Co Clare
Welcoming guests for over 45 years through three generations, this family-run pub recognised by the Michelin Guide is famous for its impressive panoramic fish tank, Champagne flights, scallops and scampi. Their fresh fish and chips with authentic 20-year-old batter recipe is also truly special. The dining room is a warm and welcoming space on a cold evening, and if you aren’t steaming your potatoes before frying them in beef dripping, you are doing it wrong! www.vaughans.ie
Peploe’s, Dublin 2
A mood-enhancing basement restaurant in a former bank vault that dates from the 1760s, Peploe’s is something of a Dublin institution. The comfortable room has a welcoming, jazz club feel with red leather banquettes, dim lighting and striking artwork. The menu is awash with classic Mediterranean brasserie fare, albeit with some interesting twists. The Dublin Bay Prawn scampi is a staple and the chicken Milanese with garlic and herb butter, rocket and parmesan salad and fried capers, served with duck fat roasted potatoes, is my go-to comfort food dish of dreams. www.peploes.com
Beach House, Tramore, Co. Waterford
While the restaurant at Beach House is closed for its seasonal hiatus, the café will remain open over the festive season. Choose from a selection of fish cooked to order with daily special, crab, mussels and oysters also on the menu. There is also a full bar and selection of organic/biodynamic wines available by the glass, carafe or bottle. Tis the season! www.beachhousetramore.ie
Caribou, Dublin 2
Caribou is the restaurant du jour among food critics and the place to be this December. With dishes from the Andal Farm pork schnitzel with chillichurri, fried hen’s egg and gribiche sauce to the spectacular Sunday roast, it’s easy to see why Caribou is such a hit with professional and amateur diners alike. With a no-reservations policy, get there early to secure your space. @caribou_dublin
Ballyfin Demesne, Laois
If an overnight stay in beautiful Ballyfin is not on the cards this Christmas, a candlelit dinner in the dining room is a very close second when considering what to enter on a festive wishlist. Chef Richard Picard Edwards has elevated the menu and food at Ballyfin, ably assisted by head gardener and procurer of all things delicious, Kayleigh Keenan. The State Dining Room and the Van Der Hagen Room by candlelight is as magical as Christmas outings get. Non-resident dining is available, but be patient (and persistent) to secure your table. www.ballyfin.com
Rosa Madre, Dublin 2
Stepping in from the precarious cobblestones of Crow Street, the dining room at Rosa Madre is a welcome respite from the city proper. A warm room suffused with ambient lighting, it’s as appealing as a Roman trattoria thanks in part to the effusive host, Roman native Luca Di Marzio. Those in the know request table no. 1 at the back of the room with its views over the kitchen and the entire restaurant. Menus over the festive season start at €57 for two courses. www.rosamadre.ie
Reggie’s Pizzeria, Dublin 6
It’s been a long time coming, but Reggie’s is finally opening its doors. Reggie White previously brought us Pi Pizza in Dublin and his new venture is located on the premises that once housed Sprezzatura in Rathmines (RIP). The new pizzeria offers a small but concise menu of snacks, salads and all-important tasty pizza. If ricotta meatballs followed by creamed corn and nduja pizza with Toonsbridge fior de latte, Grana Padano and oregano sound good, then you’re going to love this. www.reggies.ie
The Coach House, Roundwood, Wicklow
The aptly named Coach House is a beautifully restored 18th-century coaching house that epitomises all that great Christmas gatherings should entail. There are both á la carte and set menus available in December with each menu filled with produce from local suppliers including Top of the Hill Flower Farm, Ashford Mushrooms, Wicklow venison and vegetables from Ballincarey Farm. Set group menus start at €45. www.thecoachhouse.ie
51 Cornmarket, Cork
For those in the Cork region, dinner in 51 Cornmarket is a treat that should be indulged in at least once over the Christmas period. Seasonal dishes such as cauliflower cheese and mustard croquettes with summer’s end tomato relish, or whole roasted quail with roasted artichoke and sausage, prune and sage stuffing, make this menu stand out from the crowd. @51cornmarket
Ox, Belfast
A beautiful room, the décor at Ox, courtesy of Belfast creative studio Oscar and Oscar, is pared back with warm wood, painted brick and splashes of blue to add some colour. From the window seats, the views over the River Lagan are mesmerising. The menu is rooted in ‘seasonal creativity’ and, if you pair this with an envious dose of artistry and an infinite amount of skill, Ox is one of the most memorable dining experiences in Ireland. The three-course lunch with snacks and petit fours is astounding value at £55, with not one supplement in sight. Post-dinner drinks in the adjacent Ox Cave are a must. www.oxbelfast.com
Cava Bodega, Galway
Dinner in Cava Bodega is about as convivial as it gets with an ambiance that somehow manages to combine winter cosiness and fiesta flair. The space is cheerful and welcoming, while the food is exciting and bright. The combination of excellent Irish produce with the sunny flavours of Spain is an unbeatable blend and the reasonable prices make an evening here a no-brainer for Christmas. Daily specials keep the menu interesting and a selection of wines by the carafe is something I would love to see in more restaurants. www.cavarestaurant.ie
Floritz, Dublin 2
Christmas lunch for €35 might sound like a bargain, but this is the year-round offering at one of Dublin’s most flamboyant dining rooms. The menus at Floritz remain the same over the festive season, which means that the great value lunch menu remains in place. The daily menu includes yakitori, tempura and bao, which make a pleasant change from some of the bland Christmas menus on offer at this time of year. There is a nice selection of cocktails and four Champagnes available by the glass, making it the perfect choice for a festive toast. www.floritz.ie