It should come as no surprise that the specialty of most restaurants in the town of Dingle is seafood. The town is the main center on the gorgeous, rugged landscape of the Dingle Peninsula and the surrounding ocean yields a bounty of prawns, oysters, mussels, shrimp, lobsters, crabs and fish. Due to Dingle’s status as a tourist destination, you will be hard-pressed to find eateries that can be considered “off” the tourist track. Fortunately for the hungry visitor, many of the restaurants that do cater to tourists are excellent. 

Basic Dining Rules in Dingle

There are some basic facts and customs about Dingle restaurants that are helpful to know in advance. Many restaurants in the town close on Monday nights. This is more common in the winter season than in the summer, but call ahead to check schedules. Dingle is not a large city; many restaurants are housed in historic buildings rather than newly constructed ones meaning that the dining rooms are quite small. For most restaurants, especially the ones listed here, you will need to make reservations. If you will be in Dingle on a weekend during the summer, consider making reservations prior to your arrival in Dingle. Some diners have noted that reservations in Dingle are more secure if they are made on the phone than they are if one goes to the restaurant in person. Some restaurants offer multi-course early bird prix-fixe menus.  

The Best Eateries

The food, service and atmosphere at Fenton’s on Green Street receives rave reviews from visitors. If the weather is nice enough, the outdoor patio is a lovely place for a drink. Ashe’s Seafood Bar on Dingle’s Main Street has a pub-like atmosphere but the  simple menu takes full advantage of the peninsula’s fresh ingredients. For guests that do not like fish (or those who don’t feel like fish), Ashe’s beef menu items also come highly recommended. Don’t be fooled by the shack-like exterior of Out of the Blue Seafood, the interior dining room is romantic and charming. This is a more expensive establishment, but many swear that Out of the Blue is the best seafood restaurant Ireland. This is not a “fish n’ chips” sort of joint; in fact, the menu touts the owners’ credo “No frozen fish. No chips.”

If you’ve tired of seafood altogether or are just looking for something sweet, consider visiting the Creperie Ti Koz on John Street. The place is run by an ex-patriot couple from Brittany so you can be sure that the crepes and cider are authentic!