The Square townhouse Fermoy

In the centre of a lovely County Waterford town, this nicely converted former pub stands in the shadow of the mighty Lismore Castle. The sensibly priced menu comes with a prevailing ethos of fuss-free cooking and prime, locally sourced produce; look out for dishes with a certain comfort-food quality, such as liver and bacon, deep-fried calamari, or braised lamb shank. The knowledgeable service comes with such engaging charm that, combined with the terrific dishes, you’ll wish you could come here every week.

What a terrific, buzzing little place this is. The compact space is filled to bursting with happy diners delighting in Goldie's inviting combination of sensibly priced cooking, electric atmosphere and friendly service. The daily menu is based around the latest catch from the West Cork coastline, with the top-notch seafood used with a 'fin-to-gill' approach and often enlivened by an array of international influences. Cod tail schnitzel or pan-fried red mullet with chicory chutney are prime examples of the ethos, which yields delicious results.

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming, mirror-glazed façade; once you enter this popular Japanese bistro, you’ll be greeted by the almighty buzz of many contented diners. A relaxed, lively reimagining of the former Ichigo Ichie, the emphasis here is on fairly priced, unfussy dishes that use quality produce. You mustn’t leave without trying the matcha panna cotta with lychee ice cream, or sampling one of their carefully sourced natural wines. The friendly, well-orchestrated service team enhance the experience.

Located in the Cliff House Hotel – a modern, glass-fronted building which, unsurprisingly, hugs the cliffside – this restaurant benefits from a stunning view across Ardmore Bay. Fittingly, the cooking draws from the local surroundings by spotlighting high-quality produce such as Lismore lamb, in dishes that reflect the seasons and demonstrate impeccable balance. Classical French cuisine provides the basis for most of the dishes, with a few more creative touches weaved in. If you're in luck, you'll get to try the delicious strawberry and hibiscus dessert.

A vaulted ceiling and flagstone floors combine with sumptuous, colourful furnishings at this striking restaurant packed with both character and luxury. It helps, of course, that it’s located in the cellars of Cashel Palace, a magnificent Palladian manor house which was once home to the Archbishops of Cashel. The various sitting rooms are ideal for a pre-dinner drink, but it's hard to look past a pint of the black stuff in the intimate Guinness Bar. The cooking puts local suppliers to the fore, extracting superb natural flavours from the likes of beef fillet from the town butcher.

What was once the locally renowned Thompson's Bakery is now this compact brasserie with stylish monochrome décor and exposed pipework, run by a charming team. The menu is designed for sharing, with heartily sized main courses largely consisting of prime produce like lamb saddle, côte de boeuf or meaty monkfish. The kitchen's pared-back approach frequently pays dividends, thanks to the quality of the ingredients, including less eye-catching elements like the simply delicious beetroot packed with natural flavour.

Close to the harbour sits this characterful 19C stone tannery that also houses a cookery school. Sit downstairs for small plates at the counter or head upstairs to the bright restaurant. The classically based dishes are generously sized and use good seasonal ingredients – don't overlook the specials either. Stylish bedrooms are spread across two nearby townhouses.