Blarney isn’t just known for the Blarney Stone that grants one the gift of the gab, it’s also known for its irresistible cuisine. Hence, finding the top restaurants in Blarney is an easy feat—the village has them in spades!
We’ll be reviewing these food spots to give you a glimpse of their food, the quality, the overall customer service, and even their popularity among the locals and tourists.
And with that in mind—let’s get on with it!
The Average Cost of Eating at the Restaurants in Blarney
The cost of eating in Blarney restaurants isn’t that far from the cost of eating in other towns or cities in Ireland, perhaps except in Dublin.
These rates come from various sources such as forums and blogs, straight from travellers who just recently visited the village.
Please note that these rates are estimates, and it’s best to leave some room for adjustments in your budget just in case they change before you visit.
Top Restaurants in Blarney
We’re about to review the best restaurants you should visit in Blarney using the following criteria:
1. The Mill Restaurant
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and vicinity | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Food | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Price (higher score means high value for money) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Taste and quality | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety and availability | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
The first thing to note about The Mill Restaurant in Blarney is that it’s connected to a hotel, so you can expect top-notch customer service. From the food to the staff, the restaurant is raving with good reviews, and to us, it doesn’t disappoint.
First of all, we love that the food lives up to the reputation of the place. The Mill Restaurant has an extensive local food menu that’ll have you burping in satisfaction after you finish eating—if that’s not a good sign, we don’t know what is!
According to some of the customers we chatted with, the food items to try the most are seafood chowder and sandwiches. They’re freshly made (like all other food) and come to your table warm or fresh—just like how we all love our food to be!
In addition to this, we think you’ll also love the wide selection of drinks you can pair with the restaurant’s food. The Mill’s bar is a haven for those who want a good drink, and the bartender serves drinks fast.
In terms of cosiness, the restaurant’s well-maintained and clean. It also has a covered outdoor dining area if you want to eat with a view.
And lastly—it’s near Blarney Castle! So if you want a good drink after your tour, this is a good place to pass by!
Just make sure you go in at least an hour before its closing time because it sometimes closes earlier without prior notice. Also, most food on the menu becomes unavailable near the day’s end—so make sure you arrive earlier if you can.
Pros
- Serves a variety of local cuisine
- Vegetarian friendly
- Amazing sandwiches
- Clean and well-maintained
- Professional staff
- Large servings
- Has a covered outdoor dining area
- Near Blarney Castle
- Extensive bar menu
Cons
- Might close earlier than advertised
- Sometimes, a lot of items on the menu aren’t available
Customer Reviews
Near Blarney Castle
We came in for drinks after visiting the Blarney Castle. The bar was great, as well as the service. We had already paid when we decided to stay in Blarney, because of the fun we were having. Decided to taste their food and it was to die for!— Brenda Gil, Trip Advisor
Food is made and served fresh
Great choices! The best fish and chips I have had in Ireland so far. Cooked fresh to order. Lots of drinks to choose from. Sandwich’s made fresh to order also. Desserts aplenty. Free water. Blarney Woollen store right next door. Worth eating there. Also has food gift items. Fudges, candy and such.—Karen, Trip Advisor
2. Blarney Castle Hotel Restaurant
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and vicinity | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Food | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price (higher score means high value for money) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Taste and quality | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety and availability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
If you want to enjoy good and warm food right after touring Blarney Castle, then there’s no other place for you but the Blarney Castle Hotel Restaurant. The restaurant has good food that matches the rich history of the Blarney Castle itself!
We love that the restaurant’s menu has so many items available for everyone that even the pickiest eater will order something. The good thing about it according to some customers is that there are vegan and gluten-free options for those watching their diets!
In addition to this, said customers also recommend trying the salmon and the soup and sandwich combination. They taste like home-cooked food that will probably cause nostalgia to most.
There’s also a kids’ menu available! And we think you won’t be disappointed by the presentation—it’s obvious how the chefs put so much effort into making sure the food doesn’t only taste good but looks good as well.
Another thing we love about Blarney Castle Hotel Restaurant is that it’s always full of friendly locals. The welcoming atmosphere makes everyone feel relaxed enough to enjoy their food.
Just a little warning—sometimes even if you made reservations in advance, your table won’t be ready upon arrival. Also, some items on the menu are a little expensive, though worth the little splurge if you ask us.
Pros
- Has a kids’ menu
- Has vegan and gluten-free options
- Great menu choices
- Superb food presentation
- Full of friendly locals
- Consistent quality of food
- Food tastes like homestyle cooking
Cons
- Some staff are inattentive
- Sometimes table isn’t ready for the customer even when reserved
- A little pricey
Customer Reviews
Good sandwich and soup combination
Upon visiting the castle we called in here for a quick lunch before heading to Galway and eventually home. Service was very good and we were seated near the fire in the bar. The soup was delicious it was probably the nicest I have tasted besides my mother’s. It was tomato and basil and served with the nicest brown soda bread. We both had a sandwich special which was so tasty we almost licked the plate. It seems to be a busy place with local people. We both had a coffee which finished off our lunch perfectly.—Mark M, Trip Advisor
Food taste like homecooked meals
I was in Ireland for 2.5 weeks for my last visit and I made a point to eat here twice. The food here is comparable to none. It is all very reasonably priced and it absolutely incredible. Of all the places I ate while in Ireland, this place comes second only to my Nana’s homemade cooking—Margaret, Trip Advisor
3. Claddagh Restaurant
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and vicinity | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Food | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Price (higher score means high value for money) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Taste and quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety and availability | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If you find yourself having too much of the local cuisine and want to switch food for a bit to cleanse your palate, we recommend trying Claddagh Restaurant. It’s an Italian restaurant that serves the best pasta in town—arguably so!
Most of the customers we talked to boasted about how flavourful the pasta dishes were. They also loved the fact that they could taste the authentic Italian flavours, which, according to them, meant that the restaurant only ever used fresh ingredients!
Another thing we appreciate about Claddagh is the menu prices. They’re very reasonable, most especially because the serving is decent—not huge but not too little either.
The staff are generally friendly and accommodating as well. Though we’re a little disappointed by how slow orders arrive—this isn’t very appealing to hungry customers!
Also, there are times when the staff forget to list down orders. The good thing about this though is that they immediately take control of the situation and make sure the customers get their missed orders right away.
We also love the ambience, by the way. Claddagh has a lovely interior, and the tables and chairs are well-organised you won’t feel suffocated or limited with your actions.
Lastly, we also love that the restaurant is in a prime location. It’s just a walking distance to some conveniences in the area.
Pros
- Accommodates special diets
- Lovely interior
- Clean and well-organised
- Reasonable pricing
- Serves the best pasta dishes
- Friendly staff
- Relaxing ambience
- Walking distance to most conveniences
Cons
- Slow arrival of orders
- Some servers fail to list all orders
Customer Reviews
Serves top-quality pasta dishes
We were staying in Blarney for a couple of nights & wanted a quiet meal. We walked in on the off chance without booking & were offered a table straight away. Both had pasta dishes which were absolutely delicious & very filling! Lovely friendly service, spotlessly clean restaurant, great choice of dishes on the menu—Celtic Music, Trip Advisor
Great menu choices
An absolutely lovely meal with my husband and son. Such a great menu choice and excellent quality food at very reasonable prices. Friendly and efficient service too. None of us were disappointed! Can especially recommend the bread and butter pudding for dessert. This restaurant deserves its 5 stars.—Caroline, Trip Advisor
4. Muskerry Arms Bar and B&B Blarney
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and vicinity | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Food | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price (higher score means high value for money) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Taste and quality | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety and availability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
We’re not one to take things by chance, so we want to ask for recommendations straight from the customers. They told us that if you’re very particular with location and value for food, then Muskerry Arms Bar and B&B Blarney is the place to go!
First of all, the restaurant extends to a bed and breakfast, so you can also try the accommodation (which has superb service according to guests). It comes with the most sumptuous breakfast in the morning, which is a perfect way to start your day!
Speaking of food, Muskerry has a great selection of food so you have plenty of choices. We love that it also comes with a wide range of cocktails to pair with.
The staff are welcoming and friendly as well—typical Irish hospitality! However, we have to admit it’s a little difficult to get their attention sometimes when you need your glass of water filled or have questions about the food.
We also love the place itself—very clean and well-maintained. The outdoor seating is a favourite for some as well because it allows them to enjoy a good view.
And oh—have we mentioned it’s located right at the centre of Blarney so it’s easy to locate? And it’s also just five minutes away from the castle, which is definitely an advantage!
We just hope you’ll bring an extra dose of patience with you when you dine in. The orders are served a little slowly, which isn’t very friendly to the hungry!
Pros
- Has great cocktail selections
- Has outdoor seating
- Has live music
- Amazing interior
- Great value for food
- Wide menu options
- Clean
- Prime location
Cons
- Long wait for food
- Difficult to get staff’s attention at times
Customer Reviews
Great value for food
€6.50 for an Americano, latte and a fruit scone with jam, butter, fresh strawberries and cream. Brilliant value. Thought I’d been undercharged but was reassured by a staff member, that was the correct charge. The staff were pleasant and professional. Plus there was a lovely atmosphere and decent music playing. I’ll definitely be back.—Aileen, Google Reviews
Serves the best steak
Great atmosphere and loved the food. Best steak served I had in a while and would never thought I would get such an amazing vibe in such a small town!!— Jay de Haast, Google Reviews
5. Lantern House
| Location | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ambience and vicinity | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Food | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Price (higher score means high value for money) | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Taste and quality | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety and availability | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Craving for Chinese food? The first restaurant in Blarney that comes to mind is Lantern House—it’s this small restaurant in Blarney that arguably serves the most authentic Asian food in the area.
Must-try dishes according to regular customers—crispy king prawn Cantonese, chicken curry, chow mein, and crispy duck, Thai style. They said the flavours are authentic and would make you come back again!
We like that the restaurant also has a great Asian food selection if you want to try a different cuisine other than Chinese. In addition to this, it also has plenty of vegetarian dishes for those who have dietary restrictions.
The pricing is reasonable as well, even for takeaway. But just a little advice from us—make sure you double-check your bills because there are incidents of double-charging.
We also appreciate the lovely, elegant interior which adds to the cosy ambience of the restaurant. It’s also brimming with friendly and attentive staff who are readily available when you need them.
Lantern House also has desserts if you want to refresh your palate after the strong Asian flavours. However, please take note that there are only certain dishes where desserts are allowed, so you might want to double-check with your servers.
Pros
- Elegant interior
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Flavourful food
- Huge servings
- Relaxing atmosphere
- Friendly and attentive staff
- Great Asian food selection
Cons
- Serves desserts only with some dishes
- Accidentally charges twice (so check your bills)
Customer Reviews
Flavourful, authentic-tasting Asian food
The best Chinese/Thai/Asian food in town. Absolutely lovely meals, always super fresh and incredibly tasty. Very friendly staff as well. Traveling there 10 km just to get it as it is so worth it. Highly recommended—Zuzana, Google Reviews
Huge servings
Myself and my partner ate here while on holiday. The servings were huge and the food was fantastic! The staff were lovely, very welcoming and polite. Really enjoyed our meal and would highly recommend it to anyone in the area!—Anita P, Trip Advisor