Divine decor

BRABAZON

Brabazon restaurant is in one of the prettiest rooms around, and set in the splendid Tankardstown demesne. Excellent food, including veg from the walled garden. Price: Dinner menu, €7.50-€29.50 Try: Confit pork belly, pearl barley emulsion, poached pears, barley crackling, €19.50. Drinks: Extensive gin menu Tankardstown, Slane, Co. Meath. Tel: (041) 982-4621 tankardstown.ie

MAPAS

Mapas is a chic new restaurant in this popular southside castle hotel, serving contemporary casual food. Price: Dinner menu, €6.90-€29 Try: Seafood mixed grill — salmon, prawn, cod, monkfish and scallop, citrus salsa, €25. Drinks: Great cocktails Fitzpatrick Castle, Killiney, Co Dublin. Tel: (01) 230-5400 fitzpatrickcastle.com

HARPERS

Plush Belle Epoque decor and excellent casual food. Choices range from bavarois of Boilie goat’s cheese to sea bass to steak. Price: €6.50-€28.95 Try: Canon of Kilkenny lamb, wild garlic, five-spice & star anise jus, €25.95. Drinks: The works Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel 1 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny. Tel: (056) 777-1888 kilkennyhibernianhotel.com