Limerick’s food scene is thriving, with Michelin-starred The Oak Room and Bib Gourmand winner 1826 Adare leading fine dining. Casual venues like Cornstore and Coqbull offer vibrant, accessible dining, while budget spots like The Locke Bar and Canteen emphasise hearty, affordable fare. The city’s proximity to the Shannon River and Golden Vale drives seafood and meat-focused menus.
Restaurants like The Oak Room and 1826 Adare prioritise local, sustainable ingredients with new foraged or zero-waste dishes, as seen in broader Irish trends.
Fine Dining
- The Oak Room at Adare Manor (Adare, Co Limerick). Limerick’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, The Oak Room, led by Head Chef Michael Tweedie, offers a luxurious fine dining experience in the historic oak-paneled dining room of Adare Manor, overlooking the River Maigue. The seasonal tasting menus (€175-€225) showcase Ireland’s finest produce, sourced from a 3,000km supplier road trip, in a polished yet relaxed setting. Ideal for special occasions, with sumptuous leather seats and fine bone china enhancing the ambiance. Duck liver terrine with brioche, pollock in bouillabaisse with razor clams, and Wicklow sika deer with salsify and venison jus are highlights, noted for their refined flavors. The Oak Room will introduce new tasting menu elements featuring foraged estate ingredients, like honey from Adare Manor’s bees, or host exclusive chef collaborations, building on its 2019 Michelin star.
- The French Table (Limerick City, Steamboat Quay). A Michelin Guide-listed restaurant on the River Shannon, The French Table offers an authentic French fine dining experience since 2008. The elegant setting with leather booths, dark wood tables, and lit candles creates a haute cuisine aesthetic, perfect for romantic dinners or special occasions. The menu emphasises local ingredients with French techniques, served with attentive service. Garlicky escargots and boeuf bourguignon are standouts, paired with Crémant d’Alsace or Kir Royale for a classic French experience. The French Table will expand its wine list or introduce new seasonal French specials, leveraging its consistent critical acclaim.
- East Room at Plassey House (Castletroy, Co Limerick). Located at the University of Limerick’s historic Plassey House, the East Room, led by Chef Derek Fitzpatrick since 2017, offers fine dining in an exquisite 18th-century setting. The menu highlights seasonal local produce, served in a refined yet approachable atmosphere, ideal for a sophisticated meal. Previously a private dining room, it’s now a public gem. Expect dishes like pan-seared Shannon River salmon or Golden Vale beef, reflecting Limerick’s larder. The East Room will introduce new tasting menus or host culinary events tied to the university, enhancing its reputation as a fine dining destination.
- 1826 Adare (Adare, Co Limerick). A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, 1826 Adare, run by Chef Wade Murphy and wife Elaine, offers fine dining with a casual, modern Irish twist in a charming village setting. The menu showcases locally sourced produce, presented creatively without pretension, perfect for foodies seeking a high-end yet relaxed meal. Rxpect offerings like Dingle Bay crab or Golden Vale lamb, emphasizing local ingredients. 1826 Adare will introduce new seasonal specials or expand its vegetarian options, building on its Bib Gourmand status.
- The Carriage House at Adare Manor (Adare, Co Limerick). A newer addition to Adare Manor’s estate, The Carriage House offers an elegant fine dining experience for residents and non-residents, with a focus on local produce. The sophisticated setting, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is ideal for a luxurious meal in a historic yet modern ambiance. Expect dishes like Shannon River seafood or Golden Vale beef, reflecting Adare’s culinary heritage. The Carriage House will expand its menu with new estate-sourced specials or host exclusive dining events, leveraging Adare Manor’s prestige.
- The Maigue Restaurant at Dunraven Arms Hotel (Adare, Co Limerick). A renowned fine dining venue listed in the 1911 Michelin Guide, The Maigue Restaurant offers an elegant, old-world experience with white linen tables and long-aproned waiters. The nightly carving of roast rib of beef from a trolley, led by proprietor Louis Murphy, creates a bygone-era charm, perfect for special occasions. Prime roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding and trimmings, carved tableside, is a spectacular signature dish. The Maigue will introduce new Sunday carvery specials (€45) or expand its wine pairings, maintaining its classic appeal.
Casual Dining
- Cornstore (Limerick City, Thomas Street). A Michelin Guide-listed gastropub with a Manhattan-style vibe, Cornstore offers casual dining with distressed leather seating, chunky tables, and fine-stemmed glasses. Known for premium steaks and seafood, the buzzy atmosphere is ideal for low-key celebrations with friends or family. A Munster Kids Size Me award winner, it’s great for all ages. Cauliflower wings with chipotle mayo, baked cannelloni, and confit duck leg are highlights, alongside dry-aged steaks and cocktails. Cornstore will expand its cocktail menu or introduce new family-friendly specials, reflecting its popularity and vibrant setting.
- Coqbull (Castletroy, Co Limerick). A lively rotisserie brasserie with locations in Limerick and Cork, Coqbull offers casual dining with exposed brickwork and moss-green velvet seats. The menu focuses on locally sourced rotisserie chicken and gourmet beef burgers, paired with craft beers and cocktails, perfect for a fun night out or group meals. Raging Bull burger with jalapeño, spicy red onion marmalade, and habanero mayo, plus dirty fries with cheese and garlic, are standouts. Coqbull will introduce new burger specials or expand its vegan options, aligning with its cool, edgy vibe.
- Freddy’s Restaurant (Limerick City, Post Office Lane). Formerly Freddy’s Bistro, this restaurant in a restored 19th-century building offers a casual yet refined dining experience, voted Limerick’s Best Restaurant by the Epicurean World Master Chefs Society. The warm ambiance and locally sourced menu make it ideal for romantic dinners or relaxed evenings, with excellent service. Expect modern Irish dishes like Golden Vale beef or Shannon seafood, reflecting high standards. Freddy’s will introduce new seasonal menus or host special dining events, building on its Bridgestone Guide recognition.
- Hamptons Grill (Limerick City, Bedford Row). A modern New York-style restaurant in Limerick’s city center, Hamptons Grill offers casual dining with booth seating and a wood-fired Josper grill. The menu emphasises signature steaks and diverse dishes, served in a relaxed yet inviting atmosphere, perfect for groups or date nights. Josper-grilled steaks are the highlight, with unmatched flavor and succulence, alongside starters like chili and lime-salted calamari. Hamptons Grill will expand its grill menu or introduce new cocktail offerings, enhancing its premier dining status.
- Sash Restaurant at No. 1 Pery Square (Limerick City, Georgian Quarter). Located in a boutique hotel overlooking People’s Park, Sash offers a casual yet elegant experience in Limerick’s Georgian Quarter. The innovative, locally sourced menu, recommended by Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Guide, is perfect for dinner after exploring the city, with a relaxed luxury vibe ideal for couples or small groups. Expect dishes like Shannon River salmon or Golden Vale lamb, showcasing local produce. Sash opened The Long Room in 2019, and will introduce new seasonal dishes or al fresco dining options, tied to Limerick’s regeneration efforts.
Budget Dining
- The Locke Bar (Limerick City, George’s Quay). A beloved riverside pub with live Irish music seven nights a week, The Locke Bar offers budget-friendly seafood and traditional dishes in a lively, traditional setting. The outdoor patio with Shannon River views is perfect for a hearty lunch or casual dinner, appealing to tourists and locals seeking authentic Irish fare. Beer-battered fish and chips with mushy peas and fisherman’s pie with smoked and fresh fish in pastry are highlights. The Locke Bar will introduce new music nights or budget-friendly lunch specials, enhancing its status as a Limerick staple.
- Canteen (Limerick City, Mungret Street). A firm favorite in John and Sally McKenna’s Best in Ireland’ Guides, Canteen serves budget-friendly, unpretentious food in a bright, buzzy café near Limerick University. The wide-ranging menu, offering breakfast, lunch, coffee, or cake, makes it perfect for quick, affordable meals, with a classy yet casual vibe. Expect reliable options like homemade scones or hearty sandwiches, noted for value.
- What’s New for for 2026: Canteen will expand its lunch specials or introduce new seasonal baked goods, maintaining its reputation for inexpensive, quality dining.
- Da Vincenzo Food & Wine Hall (Limerick City, Shannon Street). Located inside The George Limerick Hotel, Da Vincenzo offers budget-friendly Italian dining with a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Known for its thin-crust pizzas and pasta, it’s a great spot for affordable meals, perfect for travelers seeking quality Italian food without fuss. Eroe pizza with prosciutto, salami, red bell peppers, and fresh mozzarella, and lasagna with slow-cooked beef ragù are standouts.
- What’s New for for 2026: Da Vincenzo will introduce new pizza specials or family-friendly deals, catering to its tourist crowd.
- Texas Steakout (Limerick City, O’Connell Street). A country-western-themed restaurant with a lively vibe, Texas Steakout offers budget-friendly dining with generous portions of steaks, ribs, alongside Tex-Mex and veggie options. The casual, meat-heavy atmosphere is ideal for groups or families, with cocktails adding fun. Prime steaks and ribs are the highlights, with Tex-Mex fajitas and Thai veggie curry as popular alternatives. Texas Steakout will expand its budget-friendly combo meals or introduce new cocktail specials, reflecting its popularity.
Dining in Ireland
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Award winning restaurants
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow – Overall – County winners – Georgina Campbell – Good Food Ireland – Michelin Star
County Limerick:
Ireland’s county Limerick combines historic landmarks with riverside charm, with Limerick City’s King John’s Castle offering insights into medieval history along the Shannon. The Hunt Museum showcases an eclectic art collection, while Adare’s thatched cottages and historic manor add picturesque appeal. Other attractions include the nearby Ballyhoura Mountains’ cycling trails. Limerick is Ireland’s tenth largest county by size (2,686 sq km), and ninth largest by population (209,536). Population peaked at 330,029 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 133,339 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Limerick is Ireland’s seventh most visited tourist county with around 420,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
