From cosy pubs to award-winning restaurants, here are the top spots in Ireland serving up this timeless dish.
Irish stew is one of the most symbolic dishes of Ireland. The taste of hometown country comfort dates back to the early 1800s and possibly earlier than that period. Instead of lamb, people paired mutton and vegetables (potatoes, carrots, and onions) stewed in their own juices.
People didn’t use lamb meat as much back then because sheep were utilized for wool and milk. Older sheep were eventually killed off to be used as meat for dishes. The simple dish fed working farm families on a budget.
Irish stew continues to be a worldwide staple. Exploring the best restaurants in Ireland serving up Irish stew will reveal to tourists the most authentic ways to cook and serve the popular dish.
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1. Old Mill Restaurant – a taste of two classics
Try the best of both worlds with two different types of Irish stew at Old Mill Restaurant. The traditional Irish lamb stew is reminiscent of the tastes of the old country. The Guinness beef casserole is a more adventurous take on the classic. The Guinness’s sweetness balances the stew’s savory flavors.
Address: 3 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 CX67, Ireland
2. The Old Storehouse Bar and Restaurant – hearty food with live music
The Old Storehouse Bar and Restaurant serves a delightfully crafted Irish stew. They play live music for a more enjoyable dining experience. The meat and vegetables meld together for perfect flavor balance. The fresh parsley and thyme atop the finished stew are the beautiful finishing pieces. A pint of Guinness will pair well with this hearty meal.
Address: 14, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02, V970, Ireland
3. Gallagher’s Boxty House – tradition meets creativity
Gallagher’s Irish stew is Gallagher’s Boxty House’s unique take on the traditional classic. The lamb stew paired with root vegetables and barley integrates an explosive pop of flavor in every bite. Choose from the restaurant’s selection of pillowy breads to dip in the stew for a delightful textural contrast. Their beef and stout stew has the same tasty ingredients as in-house Irish stew except with stout braised beef.
Address: 20-21, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 ET66, Ireland
4. The Brazen Head
The Brazen Head is a pub rooted in Ireland’s history originating in 1198. The rustic brick infrastructure takes you back to medieval Ireland, teaching a historical lesson about Dublin to its visitors.
Their locally-sourced beef is 100% Irish for that authentic taste. The mushroom and thyme broth simmers with Prime Irish beef and the freshest root vegetables for the Traditional Braised Beef Stew. Choosing to pair mushrooms and thyme in the broth offers earthy notes for a more dynamic taste.
Address: 20 Bridge St. Lower, Usher’s Quay, Dublin, D08 WC64, Ireland
5. The Quays Dublin – award-winning and lively
The Quays won the Tourist Bar of the Year award for 2024 to 2025. Step into the whimsical atmosphere this bar has to offer in the heart of Ireland’s Temple Bar District with live music every day from 12:30 pm until last call. The Wicklow lamb and root vegetables create this classic one-pot meal. It’s topped with fresh parsley and thyme for that crisp bite complementing the whole dish.
Address: 10-12 Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 EW63, Ireland
Irish stew‘s delightful taste will live on for many years to come. Every bowl of this special dish carries the warmth and tradition from hundreds of years of preparation. Once you’ve gone out and tried the top restaurant options, why not check out our Irish stew recipe and give it a go at home. Its legacy will live on as more restaurants and food enthusiasts prepare it time after time.
