It’s the summer of outdoor dining, and Corinna Hardgrave, Lisa Cope and Ali Dunworth have scoured Ireland to find the most exciting places to eat fabulous vegetarian and vegan food outside. They’ve focused on those special places where food is made with a bit of thought and carefully sourced ingredients, coffee is worth stopping for, and there’s something memorable about the conviviality of people who put hospitality at the centre of their business. Bear in mind that opening times change regularly, so check details online before you head out.
DUBLIN CITY
Eatyard
Crossguns Bridge, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, the-eatyard.com
Eatyard's proximity to the Royal Canal and its range of options make this a top street food market. You'll get an impressive selection of tasty vegan options from The Saucy Cow; rice bowls from Janet's; tacos from Orale; and cheese toasties from Griolladh; as well as burgers, pizzas, 3fe coffee and cocktails from the Bernard Shaw bar. Open Thursday to Sunday. Corinna Hardgrave
Glas Deli
15/16 Chatham Street, Dublin 2, glasrestaurant.ie
Glas will be serving fixed-price vegetarian and vegan menus at its outdoor seating area for the summer, from Monday to Sunday, and the new Glas Deli in Ranelagh has an impressive range of prepared dinners and takeaway options. CH
Nutbutter
2-3 Gallery Quay, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2, nutbutter.ie
At Nutbutter, the vegan favourites look va-va-voom good. But that's not all: care is taken in salad sourcing, which is refreshing to see, with seasonal leaves coming from Wicklow and Irish curly kale from north Co Dublin. They have some waterside outdoor seating with more to come, and plenty of the menu works well for picnics and takeaway. Ali Dunworth
CO DUBLIN
A Dó cafe
2 Ross Terrace, New Street, Malahide, Co Dublin, facebook.com
Krishna Padayachee and Anna Maria Brady are serving up their father's Indian recipes from a hatch in Malahide, and the seaside village is all the richer for it. Their potato curry (in a box or a sandwich) has layers of soft spice, parathas are soft and chewy, and chutneys are vibrant in colour and taste. Perfect for a picnic on the newly opened green at the marina or to take in to Malahide Castle. Coffee is from Ariosa, pastries from Tartine and vegan treats from Mammy Granola. Lisa Cope
CO CORK
Good Day Deli
Garden Cafe, Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street, Cork, gooddaydeli.ie
A meal at Good Day Deli, in the elevated gardens of Cork's Nano Nagle Place, should be prescribed as an antidote to the past year. Sheltered outdoor tables line the patio along the glass box containing the restaurant. Garden gazebos are covered and heated, and have some of the best views across the city. Everything on the menu is designed to spark (predominantly meat-free) joy, from the Bushy Berry Pancakes to the Big Kiwi Burger, the apple caramel choux to the raspberry and rose vegan opera cake. LC
Iyers
38 Pope's Quay, Cork, facebook.com
The perfect chaats and dosas from Iyers are worth a diversion whatever direction you're going in. Chef-owner Gautham Iyer's pancake-like dosas are light, crisp and incredibly good value, and the accompanying chutneys are the icing on the cake. Almost all of the home-made, wholesome southern Indian dishes are vegan, and get there early if you want to try his samosa chaat (you do). Takeaway only for now. LC
Marina Market
Marina Market, Centre Park Road, Ballintemple, Co Cork, instagram.com
Burnt Pizza, Vegan KO, Lekker, Young Plant, Wild Hogs, Taylors, Hansum Rotisserie, and Guji Coffee are just some of the vendors at the new Marina Market, where the emphasis is on community. Open daily, it features a farmers' market every weekend in June with Craft and more added food stalls in a relaxed open-space area with plenty of room for social distancing. CH
CO GALWAY
Sweet Nothings
Main Street, Ballyconneely, Co Galway, facebook.com
The tiny town of Ballyconneely in Connemara might not be where you would expect to find a buzzing vegetarian/vegan cafe, but locals have been queuing up for the barbecue jackfruit wraps, feta and mulberry couscous and sweet potato korma with coconut naans at Sweet Nothings cafe since it opened. The food writer and Connemara resident Aoife McElwain calls owner Justyna Janusiewicz "one of the best vegan bakers in the country"; with options like marmalade brownies with sourdough crumbs, and banana and toffee muffins, it's worth a diversion. Outdoor seating and takeaway. LC
CO LEITRIM
The Red Bank Restaurant
St Georges Terrace, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Leitrim, theredbankrestaurant.ie
With a terrace overlooking the River Shannon, the food might just match the view in this new restaurant in a former bank – if the produce list is anything to go by. Designed to have a broad appeal, there's a bites, children's and vegan menu. Open Tuesday to Sunday. CH
CO KERRY
The Hungry Donkey
Ross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry, instagram.com
The Hungry Donkey, a crowdfunded pandemic project from chef Chad Byrne, has been a welcome addition to the Killarney food scene. The "small menu with big flavours" features weekly tacos, a generous homemade spice box and scrumptious-sounding specials along with vegan and vegetarian options. All picnic perfect. AD
CO SLIGO
Pudding Row The Grocer
Easkey, Co Sligo, puddingrow.ie
We're totally in love with Dervla James and Johnny Conlon's amazing grocer, where the bread and bagels are baked fresh each morning and used to make astonishingly good sandwiches. Add some sausage rolls, cakes, vegan flapjacks, homemade lemonade and wine, and they will pack it up in a picnic basket with plates, cutlery, and glasses, which can be returned along with all packaging afterwards. Open daily, 9.30am to 5pm. CH
CO WICKLOW
Pok! Ramen
The Horse and Hound Car Park, Delgany, Co Wicklow, facebook.com
A horsebox serving homemade ramen from the car park of a pub (called the Horse and Hound ironically) in Wicklow. Chef Sean Farrell has kept it simple with two options – the vegetarian with pok choi and tofu, and the meat with chicken soup and pork chashu. Bowls are excellent value, and locals are loving it. LC
