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Privacy policyIreland might be more closely associated with Guinness and whiskey, but Champagne has a natural place alongside the country’s food scene. Fresh seafood, oysters, smoked salmon, farmhouse cheeses and excellent local produce give you plenty of reasons to open a bottle, whether you’re having a casual afternoon drink or sitting down for dinner.
The strongest choice of Champagne spots is likely to be in Dublin, Cork and other larger cities, but good food and drink experiences are spread well beyond the urban centres too. Ireland’s food culture is increasingly focused on local ingredients and producers, so even outside the cities you can come across some seriously good places to eat and drink.
Ireland isn’t a wine-growing destination, so you won’t be travelling here to explore local grape varieties. What it does have is an impressive food and drinks culture built around the landscape and the Atlantic.
Seafood is an obvious example. Oysters, mussels, smoked salmon and other fresh fish are found across the country, while Irish farmhouse cheese has developed into a particularly interesting local tradition.
And then there’s the drinks side. Irish whiskey and craft beer are deeply rooted in the country’s drinking culture, with distilleries and breweries found throughout the island. If you’re spending a few days here, it’s worth making space for something local between your Champagne stops.
You don’t have to stay in Dublin. Cork, Galway, Kinsale and the Wild Atlantic Way are all interesting if food is part of your trip, with strong connections to seafood, local producers and regional ingredients. Cork in particular has a reputation as one of Ireland’s major food destinations, while Kinsale has a long-standing restaurant scene and a number of wine-focused spots.
Ireland’s food culture also works well for a road trip. You can move from a city restaurant to a coastal seafood stop, a farmers’ market or a small producer without having to follow a formal food route.
If you’re visiting Ireland for Champagne, pair it with the things Ireland actually does exceptionally well. Oysters and Champagne are an obvious combination, but smoked salmon, Irish farmhouse cheeses and even rich seafood dishes are worth trying too.
And don’t overlook the local drinks just because you came for bubbles. An Irish whiskey tasting or a good local craft beer can be just as much a part of understanding where you are.
If you discover a Champagne spot along the way, add it to the Champagne Hunters map or comment on an existing listing. Your find might be exactly what another traveller needs when planning their trip.
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Cathair na Gaillimhe, Ireland
The Municipal District of Kilkenny City, Ireland
Waterford City Metropolitan District, Ireland
Cathair na Gaillimhe, Ireland
Cork, Ireland
Cork, Ireland
Waterford City Metropolitan District, Ireland
West Cork, Ireland
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Add a spotChampagne has a place in Ireland’s restaurant, hotel and bar scene, particularly in larger cities. It’s also a natural match for the country’s excellent seafood and local produce.
Dublin and Cork are good starting points, but don’t limit yourself to the larger cities. Ireland has a strong food culture outside the urban centres too, particularly in coastal areas and places known for local producers.
The Champagne Hunters map can help you see what’s around you, and if you find a good spot that isn’t listed, add it to the map so the next person can find it too.
Oysters, smoked salmon, mussels, scallops and other seafood are obvious pairings. Irish farmhouse cheeses can also be excellent with Champagne, particularly if you want something beyond the usual seafood combinations.
Ireland has a strong tradition of seafood, grass-fed beef and lamb, farmhouse cheese, smoked salmon, soda bread and black pudding. Modern Irish cooking often puts these local ingredients front and centre rather than trying to hide where they come from.
Ireland isn’t a conventional wine-growing country, so local wine isn’t really what you come here to explore. The more interesting local drinks are Irish whiskey, beer and cider, alongside the excellent food and produce that Ireland has become known for.
Irish whiskey and craft beer are obvious choices. Whiskey has a particularly long history here, while Ireland’s modern craft brewing scene has added plenty of new options to the traditional pub culture.
Dublin and Cork are obvious choices, but Galway, Kinsale and several coastal destinations are also worth looking at. Kinsale, for example, has a long-standing reputation for restaurants and a particularly interesting wine scene.
