For a memorable experience, combine unique food and drink experiences with exploration of Ireland’s gorgeous landscapes.
Ireland’s culinary culture is so much more than stews and soda bread (delicious though they are). Lovers of fine food can find superb restaurants, fabulous food trails, and experiences that celebrate the island’s world-class produce which is making a name for itself internationally.
Irish beef, for example, is well known for its quality. The island’s mild climate, long grazing season, and abundant rainfall create lush green pastures almost year-round, ideal for free-range farming. As a result, over 90% of Ireland’s beef and lamb is grass-fed. You can get up close to the process through farm visits, butchery classes, or sampling at a local smokehouse.
For a fun food experience head to the historic Brook Hall Estate & Gardens in Derry~Londonderry where you can take a BBQ class at Wild & Fired BBQ School. Focused on slow cooking, the class celebrates the ancient art of cooking with fire and the rich flavours of the region. And at Broughgammon, County Antrim, you can tour an award-winning, forward-thinking, family farm, which offers hands-on butchery courses as well as seasonally themed farm-to-fork supper clubs.
Being an island, it’s not surprising that Ireland also has great seafood. It is particularly known for its west coast oysters which are prized for their clean, briny flavour and firm texture shaped by the pristine, mineral-rich Atlantic waters and slow, natural growth in unspoiled bays. In the magnificent setting of the Wild Atlantic Way on the edge of Connemara National Park, you can see firsthand the oyster farming process on a tour of DK Connemara Oysters. Alternatively, master the art of shucking, then enjoy fresh oysters perfectly paired with a glass of organic wine at the Flaggy Shore Oyster Experience, County Clare.
Ireland’s excellent food is matched by the quality of its drinks. In recent years the island has seen the opening of multiple boutique distilleries and craft breweries which are producing an amazing range of spirits and beers with flavours that reflect the local landscape and heritage.
Achill Island Distillery is Ireland’s first distillery situated on an island. A visit to view the production process there is also a chance to be immersed in the rugged beauty of Ireland’s west coast. At Clare Island Whiskey, just off the coast of County Mayo, the single malt whiskey is uniquely aged at sea. The distillery offers a range of tours that take visitors into the historic stronghold of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Pirate Queen of Connacht. Here the guides share tales of Ireland’s ancient mythology and history and explore the enduring traditions of seafaring life and the story of Clare Island Whiskey.
If Dublin is your destination, you can have your pick of premium food and drink experiences. Among these is an intimate, exclusive guided tour of the historic and working parts of St James’s Gate Brewery, home of Guinness, including a visit to Brewhouse 4 and the famous underground tunnels. The original Guinness Storehouse self-guided tour and pint in the Gravity bar is part of this experience as is lunch in the onsite restaurant 1837.
Or why not indulge in the ultimate restaurant experience by booking a Chef’s Table at Michelin-starred Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen. The experience is a piece of culinary theatre where visitors get an up-close and personal view of the Chapter One kitchen. Seated at a table made of dramatic, glazed volcanic rock, guests enjoy a sublime tasting menu served by both front-of-house and chefs right in the heart of the action.
