Our reputation for good weather may be patchy, but good food and drink? That’s a sure thing. And let’s face it, most things taste better outside, along with a bit of sun – whether you’re on a terrace, in a beer garden, perched by the sea, or spread out in the park. From ice-creams and fish and chips to pints in the sun, seaside brunches and picnic-ready bites, we’ve pulled together some of the best places to enjoy those classic Irish summer treats, in all their al fresco glory.
An ice-cream by the seaside is a sure marker that it’s summertime. In Dublin, Teddy’s in Dún Laoghaire evokes summers past. Pick up one of their famous 99s from their Windsor Terrace HQ or at the end of the East Pier and enjoy it looking out at Dublin Bay. North of the city, Storm In A Teacup in Skerries is another staple stop for old-school 99s and all manner of seaside treats.
For made-from-scratch goodness and award-winning flavours, head to Morelli’s in Portstewart , Co Derry. Choose from an impressive sundae list or their rich, scooped ice-cream, and eat it on the seaside promenade. Sit outside Linnalla Cáfe in Clare , with the Burren hills and Galway Bay as the backdrop, and enjoy ice-cream made with their own dairy and plenty of local ingredients. In Sligo, Mammy Johnston’s Ice Cream Parlour is a perennial summer favourite thanks to its coastal setting and some of the best gelato on the west coast.
A classic summer lunch or dinner has to be a feed of fish and chips, doused in salt and vinegar, eaten outside. You’d expect top-class fish and chips in Ireland’s largest fishing port, Killybegs, and that’s exactly what Killybegs Seafood Shack delivers. Freshly landed fish – battered or breaded and fried to perfection. It tastes even better when eaten pierside. Don’t skip the famous Killybegs vinegar.
On Cork’s Long Strand beach, The Fish Basket serves excellent west Cork seafood on benches looking out at the sand. At The Fisherman’s Catch Fish Shop on the harbour in Clogherhead, Co Louth, they use fish from their own boats, served in a proper chipper style, along with fresh oysters and more, with benches outside looking over the water. Eunice Power’s And Chips in Dungarvan is the sort of takeaway every town should have: sustainable seasonal seafood, some of the best chips in the country, and plenty of harbourside spots at which to eat them.
Julia’s Lobster Truck is a much-loved pop-up that turns up in lovely spots around Ireland all summer, serving elevated food-truck seafood, local oysters, mussels in broth with chips, and lobster rolls. Keep an eye on Instagram for their pop-up locations.
A frosty pint, cider over clinking ice, a creamy stout or a crisp 0.0 – whatever your preference, it always tastes better outdoors in the sun. Ireland has no shortage of spots for a pint outside, some with very decent pub grub to match.
Coastal bars with sea views always feel summery, and they’re scattered all around our coastline. The Blue Light ’s big beer garden in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains gives punters wide views across the city and out to sea. Waves lap against the wall as you sit on the terrace at The Strand Inn in Dunmore East, Co Waterford. At Sweeney’s Strand Bar and Shop in Claddaghduff, Co Galway, you can watch the tidal road to Omey Island appear and disappear while sipping a creamy pint. Pierside benches overlooking Kilmacalogue Harbour are prized seats for a pint and a toastie at Helen’s Bar on the Beara Peninsula, Co Kerry. Likewise at Tigh…