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Kenmare Restaurants Guide: The Best Restaurants In Kenmare For A Tasty Feed Tonight

Kenmare Restaurants Guide: The Best Restaurants In Kenmare For A Tasty Feed Tonight

In search of the best restaurants in Kenmare? Our Kenmare restaurants guide will make your belly happy!

Kenmare in County Kerry is a picturesque little town at the head of Kenmare Bay.

It’s in an ideal location for exploring both the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula (there’s also plenty of things to do in Kenmare!).

As well as being the perfect little country getaway, the town is also well known for its bustling culinary scene.

The best restaurants in Kenmare

Kenmare’s main streets, designed in a perfect triangle, are lined with award-winning restaurants and cosy bars.

Many of these restaurants highlight the incredible produce sourced locally from Kerry farmers and fishermen.

If you’re spending a night (or two!) in this little gem of a town, then here are the best places to eat in Kenmare where you’re guaranteed a fine feed.

1. No. 35 Kenmare

No. 35 Kenmare

Photo via No. 35 Kenmare on Facebook

No. 35 has earned its reputation as one of the best places to eat in Kenmare. The award-winning restaurant prides itself on serving high-quality, locally sourced fresh produce.

They even have their own farm just a mile up the road from where they breed their own Pedigree rare breed Saddleback pigs.

It’s a cosy spot with bare stone walls, exposed timber beams and candlelit tables. The modern European-style food is impeccably presented and it’s accompanied by an extensive wine list.

Their seasonal three-course meal at a set price is brilliant value for the perfect romantic night out.

2. The Lime Tree

The Lime Tree

Photos via The Lime Tree on Facebook

The Lime Tree has become an iconic Kenmare food experience. The dinner-only restaurant is housed inside a beautiful old building that dates back to 1832.

Inside the heritage cottage, you’ll find a rustic yet modern restaurant serving high-quality food. Open for dinner every night of the week, the menu is dominated by fish and lamb dishes meticulously crafted from locally sourced fresh ingredients.

The wine list is extensive, with bottles from all the best regions around the world. The interior is cosy, with exposed stone walls and an enchanting wood fire, 

3. Mulcahy’s (one of our favourite restaurants in Kenmare)

Mulcahys restaurant in Kenmare

Photos via Mulcahy’s on Facebook

This stylish bar and restaurant in Kenmare is featured in a seemingly endless number of tourist guides and handbooks, and for a good reason!

You’ll find Mulcahy’s on Main Street in Kenmare, where it serves up incredibly fresh ingredients with a mix of Mediterranean and traditional Irish flare.

The dimly lit interior with low-hanging lights give the restaurant a sophisticated atmosphere. It’s definitely the perfect place for a cosy dinner with friends or a romantic date with your partner.

The bar is also known for mixing up some quality cocktails. Enjoy a drink at the bar before sitting down for your meal. 

4. Tom Crean Base Camp

Tom Crean Base Camp restaurant, brewery and B&B in Kenmare

One of the most interesting restaurants in Kenmare: Photos via Tom Crean Base Camp on Facebook

This restaurant, brewery and B&B is owned by Chef Aileen Crean O’Brien, the granddaughter of the famous Irish explorer Tom Crean.

You’ll find plenty of family memorabilia around the walls, making it one of the most interesting places to eat in Kenmare.

You can’t miss the bright blue building right in the middle of town. This casual Kenmare restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and a light dinner with locally sourced organic ingredients.

Just last year, the family decided to open a brewery onsite. You can pay for an hour-long tour or you can just head into the restaurant for one of their pints along with homemade pizza.

5. Boka Restaurant

Boka Restaurant Kenamre

Photos via Boka Restaurant on Facebook

This friendly family-run restaurant is a great spot for a hearty meal. They’re especially popular for a filling brunch with their tables often full until mid-afternoon.

The extensive menu at Boka has a range of burgers, salads and cooked breakfasts. You won’t go hungry here with large portion sizes and affordable prices.

The trendy little place has window facing seats so you can watch the world go by in town, or even sit outside if the sun is shining.

6. Davitt’s Kenmare

Davitt's is one of our favourite kenmare restaurants

Photos via Davitt on Facebook

Davitt’s restaurant and bar is on the ground floor of the bed and breakfast accommodation of the same name in the middle of town.

It’s open for lunch and dinner with plenty of space, perfect for families and large groups. They also have an open beer garden out the back for a pint in the warmer summer months.

The affordable menu has plenty of old favourites with gourmet burgers, salads, fish and chips and steak. The bar also stocks plenty of beer, wine and spirits, with something for everyone.

Note from the editor: I had food in Davitt’s this summer (2020). It was incredible! Well worth booking into if you’re visiting Kenmare for a night.

7. The Park Hotel Kenmare

Park Hotel Kenmare

One of the fanciest restaurants in Kenmare:Photos via booking.com

For a fancy spot, the restaurant at the five-star Park Hotel, set just back from the main town is a real treat.

The kitchen team of this elegant Kenmare restaurant combine all of the best local and seasonal ingredients to create incredible dishes.

They have a five-course tasting menu as well as a more traditional lounge menu on offer. It’s won numerous awards including Best Hotel Restaurant in Ireland in 2018, so you can expect only the best here.

Looking for a place to stay in Kenmare? Check out our guide to the best Kenmare hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses. 

8. Con’s Bar and Seafood Restaurant

one of the best Restaurants in Kenmare for families

Photos via Con’s Bar and Seafood Restaurant on Facebook

Located just five minutes down the road from Kenmare town, this bar and restaurant overlooks the beautiful Kenmare bay.

The seafood on the menu is delivered fresh each day with scallops, fish and chips, seafood chowder and mussels’ all popular choices.

This Kenmare restaurant is known for its family-friendly vibe and there’s plenty of space for groups and an onsite playground for the kids.

The spacious outdoor seating allows you to sit back and enjoy the incredible view over the sea with a drink while you wait for your meal.

9. PF McCarthy’s

PF McCarthy's restaurant in kenmare

Photos via PF McCarthy’s on Facebook

You can never go wrong with a traditional Irish pub. PF McCarthy’s is one the oldest and most loved bars and restaurants in Kenmare.

It has a very friendly atmosphere with live music gigs ranging from traditional Irish to more contemporary music throughout the week (make sure to check what’s on in advance!).

The menu features old-time favourites like fish and chips, meatloaf and lamb stew, with good portion sizes at reasonable pub prices.

What tasty Kenmare restaurants have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some other great restaurants in Kenmare from the guide above.

If you have a favourite Kenmare restaurant that you’d like to recommend, drop a comment into the comments section below.

FAQs about the best restaurants in Kenmare

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from what are the best restaurants in Kenmare for a fancy feed to which Kenmare restaurants are nice and chilled.

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.

What are the best places to eat in Kenmare?

In my opinion, No. 35 Kenmare, The Lime Tree and Mulcahy’s are the best spots for a bite to eat in the town.

What Kenmare restaurants are good for a fancy meal?

If you’re looking for places to eat in Kenmare to mark a special occasion, you can’t go wrong with The Park Hotel, The Lime Tree and No. 35.

What are the best restaurants in Kenmare for something casual and tasty?

PF McCarthy’s and the brilliant Davitt’s are hard to beat (they’re also great for a pint and a yap with pals).

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