New Park Hotel Athenry

'Aniar' means 'from the west' and indeed the local area is a key inspiration for both the 'back-to-nature' cooking and the chic, moody décor here. The micro-seasonal menus are finalised based on the day's locally sourced produce, which is showcased in pure, delicate and well-balanced dishes such as exceptional raw beef dressed with top-notch nasturtium oil. The cooking cleverly blends traditional and modern techniques, while contrasts in texture, temperature and acidity are also a feature. Many courses are served by the chefs themselves, some with accompanying poems.

A pair of lovingly restored Orient Express carriages dating back nearly 100 years are the impossibly elegant setting for Chef Angelo Vagiotis’ exquisite cooking. Settled on the Glenlo Abbey Estate, the views over the golf course and Lough Corrib cement this as a memory-making experience. Playing just as important a role is the food, showcasing the best Irish produce in beautifully balanced dishes like wild turbot with Oscietra caviar and a champagne and vanilla sauce. The service is equally delightful, as unstuffy as it is attentive. For an intimate celebration, book the individual 'Agatha Chr

There’s a huge amount of passion channelled into this welcoming little wine bar. Hungarian-born Zsolt Lukács has an infectious enthusiasm for wine, which comes across in his carefully curated list that gravitates towards small artisan producers using organic and biodynamic methods. Accompanying the wine is a selection of sharing plates – like kingfish crudo – that are exactingly executed, deliver on flavour and provide good value for money. The regularly changing artwork from local artists is on sale and is curated by co-owner Edel.

This long-standing, rustically charming restaurant is really two places in one. At lunch, they take walk-ins only and serve one course followed by homemade cakes and pastries (they also have their own bakery). Things ramp up a gear at dinner, with a three-course à la carte heavily guided by the seasons and the local area. Dishes are often understated in appearance, with just a handful of ingredients needed for plentiful flavour. The concise wine list pushes lesser-known producers to the fore and features on-trend natural and orange wines.

On the first floor of the personally run The Twelve Hotel, named after the nearby Twelve Bens mountain peaks, Blackthorn is a bright, airy spot with a Nordic influence. The dining room provides the ideal backdrop to a menu focused on grilling seasonal ingredients over charcoal, filling the air with wonderful smoky aromas. Whether it’s lamb with herb salsa, pheasant with cavolo nero or whole black sole with brown butter and capers, the ingredients are given a lick of fire in generous, carefully executed dishes.

An attractive country house nestled in The Burren, Gregan’s Castle is an enviable location for a restaurant. It’s a luxuriously appointed place, with open fires, cosy sitting rooms and a charming bar. The equally impressive dining room is the stage for a menu based on produce from their own gardens and the surrounding area, such as some of the finest lamb in Ireland. The quality ingredients are expertly cooked and showed off in well-balanced dishes. Ask for a seat by the window to make the most of the fabulous views.

Wood-panelling and Waterford Crystal chandeliers set the tone at this sophisticated dining room within the Ashford Castle hotel. It was built in 1905 to honour the visit of the Prince of Wales, who later became King George V, and retains an impressively grand feel. Classic French flavours are to the fore, but are delivered with a modern flourishes, and warm Irish hospitality completes the picture.