Eating Out
Wherever you are in Kerry you will find excellent and varied restaurants and pubs offering delicious seafood & quality local produce. The convivial atmosphere of the Irish pub is legendary and the whole family can be assured of a very warm welcome. Kerry people are known for their friendliness and witty turn of phrase… you will be drawn into lively conversation with the locals, so make new friends and enjoy the ‘craic’ (fun) & stories! Don’t forget to join in a live ballad session at one of the pubs…There are always 2-3 very talented musicians playing – and singing – at our local pub, ‘The Blind Piper’ – on Thursday evenings, starting at about 9pm… but get there in good time as it does get very crowded! Below we have listed our visitors’ and our own favourite eating places in the locality. New ones keep ‘popping up’, so please let us know of any others you have tried and would recommend to our visitors.
Castlecove / Caherdaniel / Derrynane
An Siopa Dubh, which translates to The Black Shop is a family run pub in Castlecove popular with locals. An authentic Irish atmosphere where you may stumble on an impromptu traditional music session.
O’Carroll’s Cove +353 (0) 66 9475151 – Beach Bar/Restaurant – between here and Caherdaniel. Delicious gourmet meals as well as snacks all day.
The Bellows Café +353 (0) 87 398 2622 – Caherdaniel. Pizza, soup, sandwiches, cakes. Seasonal opening.
The Blind Piper +353 (0) 66 9475126 – Caherdaniel. Lunch and dinner – excellent pub food open all year throughout the day from 12.30 (please note last orders are generally taken at about 8pm) Brilliant live music – to suit all tastes – on Thursday evenings, starting about 9pm.
Pompeii Pizza – Wave Crest, between Westcove & Caherdaniel, seasonal opening. Woodfired pizza.
Keatings Bar (formally Bridie’s) +353 (0) 66 947 5115 – On the right, just before Derrynane harbour. Seasonal opening. Pizzas, Homemade soups, sandwiches. Occasional live music.
Waterville
Lots of possibilities for pub lunches and fine dining including:
The Lobster Bar +353 (0) 66 9474629 – A family run restaurant for over 60 years.
The Fishermen’s Bar (Butler Arms Hotel) +353 (0) 66 947 4144.
*The Smugglers Inn +353 (0) 66 49474330 – (by the sea, near the golf course) – a lovely setting known for its superb seafood (choose your own lobster!), open for both lunch and dinner – more expensive than some but well worth it.
*Dooley’s +353 (0) 66 947 48766 – opposite the Craft Centre, on the Caherciveen road – serving excellent food, seafood a speciality, at a reasonable price.
Beachcove Café +353 (0) 66 947 4733 – A friendly beachside café.
Caherciveen
The Point (O’Neills) +353 (0) 66 9472165 – A friendly seafood pub on the coast, just short of Caherciveen (by Valencia Ferry Pier). Open March to November. If you’d like to buy your own fish, we can highly recommend nearby Kerry Fish (Quinlans) +353 (0) 66 947 2177.
Sneen
Sacre Coeur +353 (0) 64 66 45186 – An excellent ‘family’ restaurant, always open for dinner, also lunch during the summer.
D O’Sheas +353 (0) 64 6645515 – Good pub grub all day – with lovely views over the Sneem Estuary.
Kenmare
The Purple Heather +353 (0) 64 6641016 – lunch only, and not open Sundays. A highly recommended gastro pub – try their ‘open’ crab sandwiches on home-made bread.
*‘No 35’ +353 (0) 64 664 1559 – Main Street, Kenmare – quaint and full of character with fabulous, reasonably priced food and very welcoming staff. Dinner only, closed Wed/Thu.
Maison Gourmet +353 (0)66 41857 – Café, patisserie, boulangerie..
*Mulcahys +353 (0)64 6642383 – one of the “100 best restaurants in Ireland”, seasonal and local produce. Tue to Sat, evenings only.
*It is advisable to book these restaurants in advance, especially for evening meals in high season