Northern Ireland and Eire South East
Ballymaloe House (Nr. Castlemartyr)
Ireland's most famous country house, Ballymaloe was one of the first to open its doors to guests when The Yeats Room restaurant was opened in 1964. The restaurant is in a series of domestic-sized dining rooms and guests are called to their tables from the conservatory or drawing room, where aperitifs are served. A food philosophy centred on using only the highest quality ingredients is central to everything done at Ballymaloe, where much of the produce comes from their own farm and gardens, and the rest comes from leading local producers. Daily 7-course dinner menus offer more sophisticated dishes including vegetarian options, but there is still a refreshing homeliness to the tone which, despite very professional cooking and service, is perhaps more like a dinner party than a smart restaurant experience.