Dine by the Water
Superb food and superb views
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| Ostan Gweedore at Bunbeg, Donegal |
I’ve
been very lucky this past few months to have dined in some well placed
restaurants, restaurants from Cork to Donegal that have a dining room with a
view over water. Sometimes over a river, maybe over an estuary, and then sometimes
over the ocean. I was lucky too to have brilliant weather in most of the
places.
Let
me start with river views. One of the best is from the newly opened Fish Bar inElectric. From the first floor of the South Mall building, you have fine views of
the southern channel of Lee to the west and to the east. But have you been to Indigo Brasserie on
Washington Street? Here too you have a fine view of a bend in the same river.
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| Bunnyconnellan's Myrtilville (Cork) |
And another
excellent river view is to be found at the Market Kitchen restaurant, above the
Murphy Brothers bar in Ballina. It wasn't quite warm enough to dine outside on
the balcony but the Moy looked very well from the inside.
Time
to move on now, nearer to the ocean, to the bays and estuaries and places such
as the Rising Tide and Marlogue Inn in East Cork and further east you have the WalterRaleigh Hotel. You have no shortage in Cobh where you’ll find The Quays and The
Titanic Bar. The Boathouse at Dromquinna, near Kenmare, is also well situated,
right on the northern flank of the bay.
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| The Boathouse, Kenmare Bay |
No shortage
of seaside restaurants in Donegal. One of the best is the Seaview Tavern in
Malin Head village but the view to the sea is somewhat interrupted by the cars parking
across the road. No such problems at the Rosapenna Golf Hotel, whose dining room
overlooks Sheephaven Bay and the beach at Downies. Further west along the same
bay, the bar at the Cove at Portnablagh, another top restaurant, overlooks a different part of the same bay.
Back
to Cork and to Baltimore and Le Jolie Brise where I’ve sometime enjoyed a dish of mussels as the
day drew to a close with the island of Sherkin out in front. Locally, perhaps the
best ocean view is that enjoyed from your table in Bunnyconnellan’s, a very
pleasant view and very enjoyable food here. Hard to top that. One view that comes close, maybe level, maybe even better, is from the restaurant of Ostan Gweedore where there is
the most fantastic view over the beaches and the waters of the Atlantic.
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| Rosapenna Hotel, Downies (Donegal) |
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| Views are pleasing but you need good food too, like this platter at the Seaview Tavern in Malin. |
Have you a personal favourite view over water while dining? If you'd like to share, please use the Comment facility below.
