Ireland Celebrates its Cuisine

March 1, 2026

ODonohues-Fanore-Restaurant-The-Burren-Co-Clare

In 2026, Ireland is dedicating the entire month of August to celebrating Irish cuisine, and that is great news for visitors who want to taste the very best food, no matter what your preference!

Ireland has become one of the world’s most talked-about food destinations, and with good reason! Ireland certainly has a natural advantage for producing amazing food, with fertile green fields, clean air, wild coastlines and miles of ocean. Thanks to its abundance of home-grown produce, dairy products, meats and fish, all native to the island, and new generations of creative and innovative chefs, Ireland’s culinary scene is more robust than ever.

Tripadviser wrote that Ireland’s food scene “caters to every taste, from Michelin-starred dining to classic pub fare and friendly, down-to-earth charm.”

The prestigious Michelin star restaurant award is an internationally recognized pinnacle of excellence, bestowed with great acclaim. Ireland currently has 5 Two-Star Michelin restaurants and 20 One-Star restaurants across the island, an extraordinary number for an island its size. Warning: make your reservations early because these restaurants are often booked out months in advance!

For more casual fare, sample the island’s famed Irish breakfast at most any hotel, B&B, inn or restaurant, and don’t forget the classic fish & chips you can grab on the go, or a hearty Irish stew with brown bread and butter, available wherever you are.

Another way to access fresh Irish food is at Farmers’ Markets across the island, including the acclaimed English Market in Cork, St George’s Market in Belfast and Temple Bar Food Market in Dublin. You’ll have the best choice of artisan cheeses, local charcuterie, beech smoked Irish salmon, soda breads still warm from the oven, grass fed beef, mountain lamb and small batch preserves and honey.

Ireland’s food trails and guided tours also offer insider access to producers, chefs and hidden gems from coastal foraging walks to whiskey and cheese pairings, oyster shucking, farmhouse visits, and hands on baking experiences.