Waterville Restaurants: 8 Top Spots For A Bite Tonight

There are a handful of excellent restaurants in Waterville in Kerry.

This charming seaside town, a favourite holiday resort of Charlie Chaplin, has no shortage of great eateries.

From cosy cafes to tables that overlook the sea, you’ll find some mighty places to eat in Waterville below!

Our favourite Waterville restaurants

The first section of our guide is packed with our favourite Waterville restaurants – these are places that one or more of the team have eaten in and loved.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from An Corcan and Charlies to some very popular places to eat in Waterville. 

1. An Corcan Restaurant

An Corcan Resturant has been feeding locals and tourists alike for many-a-year. The restaurant is located on a handy 3 minute walk from Waterville Beach.

An Corcan serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Owned and operated by Waterville natives, owners Fiona and Dan Fitzpatrick take pride in serving good local homemade food in a casual and relaxed environment.

If you don’t have time to sit in and enjoy the atmosphere while you eat your food, call ahead and order from their take out menu which includes delicious sandwiches and burgers.

We’ve been visiting this place for many years at this stage (usually at lunchtime) and it never fails to disappoint!

2. Charlies Restaurant

Charlie’s Restaurant is located in the Butler Arms Hotel and is named after the hotel’s most famous guest, Charlie Chaplain. The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner as well as Sunday Lunch.

They specialise in local seafood with one of their most popular dishes being the Seafood Symphony which is a dish that changes depending on what seafood is available locally so you know it is fresh.

The restaurant is located on the Ring of Kerry (N70) just across from Waterville Beach. Enjoy your meal while taking in stunning panoramic views of Ballinskelligs Bay and Bolus Head.

This is one of the more popular restaurants in Waterville for good reason!

Related read: Check out our guide to 13 of the best things to do in Waterville in 2022.

3. The Smugglers Inn

The Smugglers Inn is a gourmet restaurant located just south of Waterville Golf Links making it the perfect place to sit down to a delicious meal after a day on the fairways.

The restaurant proudly serves local seafood and 100% Irish beef. All of the produce is sourced locally and the restaurant bakes all of their bread, pastries and desserts in house.

When visiting, you have the option to dine in outdoor domes which offer panoramic views of Ballinskellig Bay and the surrounding mountains.

If you decide to dine inside you won’t miss out as the dining room offers stunning views of the bay as well.

4. Dooley’s Seafood & Steak House 

Dooley’s Seafood & Steak House is located right on the waterfront in Waterville with incredible views of Ballinskelligs Bay and Hogs Head.

The family run restaurant receives fresh seafood deliveries daily making sure that everything on your plate was very recently in the ocean.

All of the meat on the menu is 100% Irish and the rack of Kerry lamb is highly recommended. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating so that you can make the most of fine weather.

Grab a drink outside at Dooley’s Deck before enjoying delicious fresh seafood or a juicy steak. If you’re looking for Waterville restaurants with magnificent views, look no further.

More great places to eat in Waterville

Now that we have our favourite Waterville restaurants out of the way, it’s time to see what else is on offer!

Below, you’ll find everywhere from O’Dwyer’s and the Lobster to some often missed places to eat in Waterville.

1. The Lobster Bar & Restaurant

The Lobster Bar & Restaurant is a gastro pub located on the waterfront in Waterville that specialises in seafood.

This tends to be one of the Waterville restaurants you cop pretty quickly when you enter the town, thanks to the giant lobster on the front of a building holding a Guinness.

This family run restaurant has been operating for over 60 years. Their menu includes vegetarian and vegan options and they have a separate kids menu making this restaurant a perfect place for a family night out.

2. FiveSpice Restaurant

FiveSpice is an Asian fusion restaurant on Top Cross in the centre of Waterville. The restaurant draws inspiration from Thai, Malaysian and Japanese cuisine so there is something for everyone on their menu including vegetarian and gluten free options.

Sit down in their cosy dining room and enjoy your meal or call ahead and order takeaway. FiveSpice offers regular deals and specials so make sure to talk to your waiter about what’s on the menu today.

We recommend the duck pancakes and crispy pork belly but if you are in the mood for a classic, their Pad Thai is excellent.

Related read: Check out our guide to 8 of the best Waterville accommodation options in 2022.

3. Beachcove Café

The Beachcove Café is a great spot for breakfast or lunch right on the shorefront in the centre of Waterville.

Just a few minutes walk from the beach, the café serves homemade pastries, sandwiches and salads that you can enjoy at the café or takeaway for a beach picnic.

The menu is vegan friendly, vegetarian friendly and even dog friendly with a special menu with tasty treats for your four legged friend.

This café is a great spot for a quick bite and a takeaway coffee to enjoy as you walk along the promenade.

4. O’Dwyers

O’Dwyers is named after the legendary Kerry footballer and Waterville native, Mick O’Dwyer.

This lively pub serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and keeps their breakfast menu available all day long in case you have a hankering for breakfast food later in the day.

This pub is a part of The Villa Hotel on Main St and is just a short walk from the beach.

This is the place to go if you are looking to watch the match or listen to live music while enjoying a tasty meal and a local craft beer in an atmospheric setting.

Where to eat in Waterville: What have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Waterville restaurants from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

Waterville restaurants FAQs

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where’s good for a fancy meal?’ to ‘What’s a good lunch option?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.