We love a mini-break, a cheeky over-nighter, an escape from life for the weekend, but why does hotel food have to be notoriously pants! We find ourselves routinely searching for the best places to eat withing taxi distance of everywhere we stay, and on the rare occasions we do eat in the hotel we tend to regret it, BUT there are some hotels and guest houses around the country where food as much of a draw as the spa or the rooms, even if they're in the minority...

The five-star ones with spas
Fresh from their Michelin win last year, The Cashel Palace Hotel's Bishop's Buttery restaurant is as much of a headline grabber as its five-star surroundings, with diners frequently taking Air BnB's nearby so they can go for dinner in Cashel without the overnight five-star price tag. Similarly two Michelin-starred Terre, in Castlemartyr Resort in Cork draws gastrotrippers from around the globe, and there are cottages on the grounds that work out much more affordable than the hotel's rooms, especially if you have a group.

In Galway, the Pullman restaurant at Glenlo Abbey has been reinvented by chef Angelo Vagiotis, who previously worked with Vincent Crepel at Terre, shooting the former Orient Express carriages high up the food lovers experience list. While in Kilkenny, chef John Kelly in the Lady Helen restaurant in Mount Juliet, is a bit of a hospitality legend, with chefs from around the country frequently travelling to eat there,

In Kildare, Adam Nevin returned from working in some of London's best fine dining restaurants in summer 2023 to take up the head chef role at The Morrison Room in Carton House, and it's safe to say they're now firmly on the food map, hotel or no hotel attached. Down south at The Park Hotel in Kenmare, Kerry, you can eat in the grand dining room that's home to Landline, their restaurant filled with Sean Scully paintings and the best of the local bounty, from chef James O'Sullivan (read the Irish Independent review here).

Money no object? You'll be heading to Adare Manor in Limerick to eat Mike Tweedy's signature tasting menu (€160) at The Oak Room, or to Ballyfin in Laois, where former Michelin-starred chef Richard Picard-Edwards uses all the local produce and plenty from the estate's walled garden.

The boutique hotels
Head for Cork and you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food-focused hotel stays. The Blue Haven Hotel is home to Rare, from Chef Meeran Manzoor, whose explorative, creative menu never seems to miss. Head west towards Clonakilty and you'll find Dunmore House, with its spectacular views and Michelin-recommended restaurant Adrift.

In the east of the county, Ballyvolane House (the birthplace of Bertha's Revenge gin) has long been thought of as one of Ireland's best country house experiences, using ingredients from their walled garden and rearing their own rare breed pigs. Thirty minutes south you've got the iconic Ballymaloe House, with its 100 acre organic farm and internationally famous dessert trolley. If you're lucky you might spot Darina, Rachel or Rory in the flesh.
In Connemara, Danni Barry, who won a Michelin star at Eipic in Belfast, took over as Executive Head Chef of The Owenmore in Ballynahinch Castle at the end of 2022, and is making better use of the local larder and produce from the walled garden than ever before. Neighbours  Renvyle House Hotel's Rusheenduff restaurant, renouned for its local seafood, was named "Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant" in Connacht for 2023 at the Restaurant Association of Ireland awards.

Pockets not deep enough for Adare Manor? Limerick is also home to the less assuming Mustard Seed, a four-star country retreat with its own orchard, serving unpretentious, very lovely food in the evenings. At Gregan's Castle in Clare, former Bastible chef Jonathan Farrell has brought new, excited eyes on the restaurant, showing everyone just how good hotel food can be.

In Brooklodge & Macreddin Village, Co. Wicklow, The Strawberry Tree is Ireland's first fully-organic restaurant, and has a supplier's list to make any food lover's head spin, while just south in Wexford, Kelly's Resort has long been a family favourite, but since the opening of The Sea Rooms, with chef Chris Fullam in the kitchen and the freshest of ingredients served in front of sea views, it's now drawing all kinds of gastro tourists too.

And in Kildare, chef Sean Smith (formerly of The Cliff Townhouse) is filling the Aimsir-sized hole left at Cliff at Lyons, and doing a good job of it by all accounts - when we asked readers recently where they'd had really good hotel food The Mill came up repeatedly.
The restaurants with rooms
A gauntlet must be run to get a booking in MacNean House, with the restaurant and rooms frequently booked out a year in advance. The general advice is "take the next available date, then try to forget about it. When it eventually comes around it'll be a happy surprise".

Relatively easier to get a table in is Kildare's Alumni Kitchen Table, who are clearly hoping Michelin will recognise their "immersive culinary experience", feeding a four hour tasting menu to just eight guests a night. Paul and Márie Flynn's The Tannery is still going strong, with cookery classes an optional add on if you pick your dates right, and in Donegal, former Forest & Marcy head chef Ciaran McSweeney has put the Olde Glen Bar on the gastronome map, with rooms available in Clara's Cots.

The very special guesthouses
"Headland hideaway" Breac House is an eco-friendly, adults-only dream, with up to date luxury, Atlantic views, and a breakfast tray delivered to your room that you'll be thinking about months later. The converted bungalow opened in 2017 and has been featured in the New York Times and CN Traveller to name a few, and while they don't serve dinner year round, The Olde Glen Bar, Fisk and The Rusty Oven are within 30 minutes.

At the other end of the country, Pax House in Dingle was named ‘Ireland’s Best Small Stay' in the Irish Independent's Reader Travel Awards 2024. They don't serve dinner but guests say it's worth the trip for the breakfast alone - just look at this line up - and those stunning views. Back in the west, Connemara country house Currarevagh House have "food and feasting" an integral part of what they do (as well as a boathouse sauna), with chef Lucy Hodgson cooking every element of her nightly four-course menu from scratch, and this is not your average Irish country cooking.

At Georgian country house Blairscove in West Cork, the starter seafood buffet is the big draw of their (currently €85) set dinner - you can only take one plate so pile it high, and in Carlingford, another Georgian property, Ghan House serves local lamb and beef that graze nearby, as well as making their own bread, stock, ice-cream and sauces. Enjoy homegrown veg, shellfish from the Lough, and views out the windows of the Mourne Mountains.
Where did we miss? Let us know by emailing info@allthefood.ie