Seaside Log Cabin, Carna

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

Located inside the grand 18C Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and surrounded by a particularly picturesque part of the Wild Atlantic Way, there are few more impressive locations to dine than here. Spectacular views of the grounds and river accompany well-versed service and modern, precisely executed dishes. The West Coast larder is used to great effect and features the likes of delicious mussels and clams from Killary Fjord. Be sure to fit in a walk around the grounds or spend time on the peaceful terrace before you leave.

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.

In the rural heart of The Burren, with views out towards the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll find this well-frequented restaurant with a clean, modern interior. The menu offers an appealing choice of dishes crafted using top-notch produce, which is treated with care and skill by the kitchen team. A few ambitious, adventurous flavour combinations might appear too, like mango with salmon. The friendly service and simply furnished bedrooms complete a rather charming picture.

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.