Joe's Place, Central Location West Cork near Clonakilty

There's a relaxed yet professional feel to this sweet, intimate restaurant where the shelves are laden with wine, mead and all manner of jars full of produce marinating, curing or fermenting. Skeaghanore duck is among the County Cork produce championed on the constantly evolving tasting menu, where skilfully prepared dishes show a great understanding of textures and tastes, and are pleasingly understated in their pure, natural flavours. Smaller growers are present in the wine pairings, while they make their own juices and cordials for the non-alcoholic option.

Set in the very centre of town, Bastion is a contemporary restaurant owned and run by a talented couple: Paul McDonald cooks, while his wife Helen looks after the service. A large bar splits the room in two and twinkling candles add a welcoming touch. Paul is Scottish born but his cooking has a strong Irish base. Natural flavours are kept to the fore and local seafood is a highlight. The skilfully prepared, exacting dishes take on a modern style and often exhibit a playful, innovative element, while at the same time showing depth in their flavours and textures.

With a name meaning ‘Baby Dede’, this second Baltimore venture from Chef Ahmet Dede is an ode to his family and comes with all the homespun charm you’d expect. Located mere feet away from his acclaimed flagship restaurant, this is a more relaxed affair but the great value sharing plates retain the older sibling’s ethos of Turkish flavours married with Irish produce. Each dish – from a unique take on oyster chowder to Ahmet’s signature ‘içli köfte’ – is bright, fresh and wholly satisfying.

There's just something so loveable about this laid-back little restaurant in the centre of a colourful coastal town. That's largely down to the friendly and genuine service team, along with a wonderful buzz inside the small dining room that holds just 15 seats – the heated terrace is also a great place to sit. The concise, daily changing menu offers a range of Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates such as cod with confit red pepper; top local produce is an underlying theme, as are punchy flavours and a welcome simplicity. An all-natural wine list completes the picture.

Run by the fourth generation of the owners’ family, this restaurant is set in an enviable position on the ground floor of the Dunmore House Hotel with views out over Clonakilty Bay. As you'd expect in such a location, fish and shellfish – such as Galley Head lobster – play a large role in the menu, as does other locally sourced produce and ingredients from their own organic kitchen garden. This is all fashioned into bright, fresh-tasting dishes that have an appealing lack of fuss and deliver on flavour.

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.

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.