Updated July 2025–If you’ve ever wondered where to get the best breakfast in Ireland, you might want to turn first to the results of the annual Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Awards.
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The awards are judged by independent assessors who travel incognito to various places around Ireland where they evaluate breakfast offerings.
According to the organizers, “the goal is to promote excellence in Irish breakfast, highlighting both the food itself and the overall dining experience.”
In this blog post, I list the Best Breakfast winners, from 2020 through 2024, as well as nearby attractions worth seeing.
Winners include hotels, country houses, B&Bs, and guesthouses.
Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick City (2020 Winner)
The culinary team at this city center hotel use as many local producers as possible to create a delicious Irish breakfast.
Their signature breakfast items include McCarren Irish bacon, pork sausages from Flesk Meats, Leah’s traditional Irish black & white pudding, and Croom scrambled free range eggs.
The hotel has stunning views of the River Shannon and other historical attractions in the city.
Nearby Attraction: King John’s Castle
King John’s Castle located in the King’s Island section of the city is considered one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Europe.
Archaeological excavations conducted in 1900 revealed that the Vikings once lived on the site where the castle now stands.
Construction of the castle was completed in 1210 on the orders of King John, who wanted to protect Limerick from surrounding Gaelic clans.
The castle’s visitor center includes state-of-the-art interpretive activities, as well as 21st-century touch screen technology, 3D models, and more, bringing to life 800 years of local history.
You can even try on costumes and converse with costumed actors.
In the courtyard, you’ll discover a medieval campaign tent, together with a blacksmith’s forge and scenes similar to what the castle and its residents might have experienced during the city’s troubled times.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer months and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the winter.
Avalon House Hotel, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny (2020 Winner)
Established in the spring of 2019 as a 4-star accommodation, the Avalon House Hotel is not only beautiful, its first-floor restaurant called Lil’s has earned a great reputation locally and regionally.
The judges noted the many unusual touches that go into creating the perfect breakfast for guests, including homemade baked beans, as well as brunch-style dishes like the restaurant’s Mexican omelet, with avocado/jalapeño, scallions, chorizo, and cheese.
Nearby Attraction: Castlecomer Discovery Park & Visitor Centre
The Castlecomer Discovery Park & Visitor Centre is an 80-acre park set in what was once the home of the Wandesforde family, who came to Ireland from Yorkshire in the 17th century having been granted land from the Crown.
Indeed, much of Castlecomer and the surrounding area was owned by members of the Wandesforde family until the 21st century.
The visitor center contains an interesting coal mining exhibition that speaks to the area’s rich history of coal mining since the 17th century. The building was once located in what was originally the farmyard and the estate’s kitchen gardens.
There is a lot to explore at the Castlecomer Discovery Park, including its mixed woodlands that contain 6 kilometers (3 miles) of themed walks and a number of wooden sculptures.
For the adventure-seeker, there’s much to enjoy here too, including the daring Leap of Faith, as well as ziplining, raft and catapult building, ax throwing, and much more.
For younger kids, there’s a whole world of discovery to explore that includes a junior woodlands course, and an elf and fairy village, among other fun activities.
A full price list can be found on the park’s website.
Don’t leave the park without visiting the nearby Castlecomer Craft Yard, a community of skilled independent fine artists, craft makers, and shops that showcase the best in Irish artisanship.
The Mariner Hotel, Westport, County Mayo (2021 Winner)
The Bistro@The Mariner serves very good evening and daytime fare, but it is the hotel’s excellent breakfast and brunch menus that judges were particularly impressed with.
The policy of the hotel restaurant is to support local producers Kelly’s of Newport, mentioned below, who are also known for their sausages and Kelly’s Putóg, a black pudding that is created from a family recipe.
Kelly’s Kitchen, Newport, County Mayo (2022 Winner)
Located beside Kelly’s Butchers, this popular café in Newport offers a traditional mixed grill, a full Irish and the house specialty, Kelly’s Black Goat, which is a hot open baguette sandwich with black pudding.
St. Tola’s goat cheese, a specialty from County Clare, is used in many of its breakfast dishes.
Nearby Attractions: Westport House & Gardens and the Great Western Greenway
One of the popular attractions close to the town of Westport is Westport House, a historic estate that includes gardens and an adventure park.
Guided tours of the 300-year mansion are available.
Hear the tale of its 18th-century castle foundations, which belonged to the family of the Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley, as well as exploring its dungeons, and more.
The Great Western Greenway
Rent a bike in Newport and take this popular greenway to Achill Island.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Clew Bay and its numerous islands.
The total length of the greenway is 42 kilometers (27 miles).
The Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, County Clare (2021 Winner)
Situated on the outskirts of Lisdoonvarna, where the famous Matchmaking Festival is held every September, you’ll find the Michelin-grade restaurant the Wild Honey Inn, where breakfast has been described by judges as “simple, super-fresh and delicious.”
Nearby Attraction: The Burren National Park
Lisdoonvarna is located in an area known as The Burren National Park, one of six national parks in Ireland.
If you’re a fan of the outdoors, there is a lot to explore, with 1,500 hectacres of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands and forests.
There are underground caves, lakes, and nature in the Burren, but don’t miss the Poulnabrone Dolmen.
This huge grave marker held special significance in ancient times.
Nearby, the Caherconnell Stone Fort is another ancient site to explore, alongside evidence of an earlier structure, dating the site back to the Neolithic or Bronze Age.
You can learn all about it when you book a tour at the Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations.
The Bervie Guesthouse, Achill Island, County Mayo (2021 Winner)
This delightful guesthouse was once a coast guard station that today welcomes guests from around the world, offering direct access to the nearby beach as well as home-cooked dinners and a beautiful breakfast.
You can enjoy your breakfast — and dinner if you wish — from the large dining room and conservatory, which overlooks Keem Bay.
The owners of the Bervie Guesthouse, John and Elizabeth Barrett, also won the coveted “Host of the Year” award in 2023.
Nearby Attraction: Explore Achill Island
Lots to see on Ireland’s largest offshore island, including driving on a beautiful stretch of roadway known as the Atlantic Drive.
Keem Bay is a popular stop for swimmers who want a dip into the North Atlantic.
Shoals of bottle-nosed dolphins and passive basking sharks are frequent visitors in its waters.
The Deserted Village, located near Slievemore, the second-highest peak in Achill, contains the remains of between 80 and 800 stone cottages that were abandoned during The Great Famine.
Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny (2022 Winner)
Located in the heart of Kilkenny, this 4-star boutique hotel serves up wonderful meals that showcase the region’s local produce, which is also reflected in its award-winning breakfast.
Guests can enjoy homemade granola, smoked salmon, Smoked Trout Kedgeree, a selection of breakfast meats as well as organic farm vegetables.
Nearby Attraction: Kilkenny Castle
The main draw for many visitors to Kilkenny, otherwise known as the Marble City, is Kilkenny Castle, which was founded shortly after the Norman conquest of Ireland in 1169.
The castle, the stronghold of the powerful Butler family, has been rebuilt, extended and expanded since then.
Today, it has the look of a 19th-century castellated baronial residence, although it certainly retains traces of its medieval roots.
The focal point of the castle tour is the Long Gallery, an impressive hall showcasing portraits of Butler family members, as well as the Butler Gallery in the castle basement.
The exterior of the castle is public parkland and is free to walk around.
Danny Minnies Country House, Annagry, County Donegal (2020 Winner)
Located in the West Donegal Gaeltacht, Danny Minnies Country House includes an award-winning restaurant and bar.
The restaurant was once a sibín, where illegal whiskey was brewed. In the early 1900s, it served as a pub and shop.
Additional modernizations were done in later years, making it the popular bar and restaurant that it has become today for both locals and visitors.
Judges were impressed with the breakfast offerings and other meals at Danny Minnies that largely come from locally sourced ingredients along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Nearby Attraction: Glenveagh National Park
Glenveagh National Park is Ireland’s largest national park, covering a total of 40,000 square miles of mountains, lakes, and natural woodlands.
It can be found in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains.
The park includes Glenveagh Castle, a castellated 19th-century mansion, as well as the castle’s Victorian gardens.
Modeled after Balmoral Castle in Scotland (the British royal family’s summer residence), it once served as a summer retreat for John George Adair and his wife, Cornelia.
Adair was infamous for evicting 244 of his own tenants in what later became known as the “Derryveagh Evictions.”
The interior of the house is beautiful, decorated in a flamboyant style. Greta Garbo once visited the castle and requested to be put up in its pink candy-striped room.
To get to the castle, you will need to take a minibus from the visitor center.
Entry to the park is free but you cannot see the interior of the castle unless you pay for a guided tour. Tickets can be purchased at the center.
You might want to take a self-guided cycling tour of the park while you’re there.
By car, the park is best appreciated by driving around the lakes on the R251 and R254.
Ballymaloe House, Ballycotton, County Cork (2022 Winner)
This is undoubtedly Ireland’s most famous country house and not exactly a budget accommodation.
However, if you’re a foodie, you’ll love this place that is surrounded by a working farm and woodland walks.
Breakfast is rather simple at Ballymaloe House and includes eggs, Irish bacon, sausages, homemade breads and freshly roasted Golden Bean coffee.
Fish dishes on the menu come from the nearby Ballycotton Harbour and Frank Hederman’s Smokehouse.
Nearby Attraction: Ballycotton Lighthouse
Located on Ballycotton Island, this historic lighthouse is the perfect attraction to explore while in the East Cork region.
Local company Ballycotton Sea Adventures offers tours of the lighthouse, as well as charters around Ballycotton Bay from April through October.
During the 90-minute lighthouse tour, you will discover what life as a lighthouse keeper was like on this windswept little rustic island.
In addition to visiting the lighthouse, make sure to check out the island’s rich wildlife, including cormorants, peregrine falcon, seals, and dolphins.
Stauntons on the Green, Dublin (2020 Winner)
A warm welcome and its central location are two of the major attractions associated with this well-located small Dublin hotel, which has period reception rooms and enjoys views over St Stephen’s Green.
The hotel’s convenient city center location along with its wealth of history make it one of Dublin’s best-kept secrets.
Judges were pleased with the breakfast offerings at Staunton’s on the Green.
The menu includes a full Irish as well as a continental selection. The hotel’s specialty is its Irish tea brack soaked in Earl Grey tea, cranberries, and orange zest.
Even if you are not a guest at the hotel, you can still enjoy breakfast at Staunton’s for €19.50 per person.
Breakfast for guests is included in the nightly hotel rate.
Nearby Attraction: Museum of Literature Ireland
Dublin’s Museum of Literature ia located in the Newman House, which is close to the hotel.
Locally known as MoLI, it celebrates Ireland’s literary culture and heritage and in particular, its favorite literary son, James Joyce, among Ireland’s most famous writers.
You’ll find a host of treasures on display at MoLI, including the first copy of Joyce’s “Ulysses,” as well as handwritten notebooks that he used as he was writing the novel, in addition to historical letters, like the one from Joyce to William Butler Yeats.
The Killeen House Hotel & Rozzers Restaurant, Killarney, County Kerry (2020 Winner)
This Killarney area hotel is a mere 10 minutes from town.
What used to be a 19th-century rectory is now a top choice for tourists and others.
The hotel’s drawing room is a popular place for guests to hang out. The open fire and the relaxed furniture give it a homey feel.
The judges were particularly impressed with Rozzers Restaurant, where you can also avail of a delicious breakfast.
Nearby Attraction: Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms
No visit to Killarney is complete without visiting Muckross House Gardens & Traditional Farms, a 19th-century Victorian mansion that is part of the stunning Killarney National Park.
The construction of Muckross House, which was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the watercolorist Mary Balfour Herbert, began in 1839. It was completed in 1843.
When you visit Muckross House, you’ll see the principal rooms furnished in the Victorian period style that reflect the life of Ireland’s landowning classes as well as the estate’s extensive gardens, which include the Sunken Garden, the Rock Garden, and the Stream Garden.
They were all created for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861.
Muxnaw Lodge, Kenmare, Co. Kerry (2022 Winner)
This lovely accommodation, circa 1801, is within easy walking distance of the town of Kenmare.
While dinner is not offered at Muxnaw Lodge, the award-winning breakfast is a special treat. Freshly baked breads are a highlight as well as the hot dishes.
Nearby Attraction: Kenmare Stone Circle
This the largest stone circle in this part of Ireland and is composed of 15 heavy boulders.
At the center of the circle is an impressive boulder-dolmen with a giant capstone measuring 2 meters/6.5 feet by 1.8 meters/5.9 feet.
Experts believe that this Bronze Age dolmen is unique to this region of Ireland.
Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, County Clare (2024 Winner)
Enjoy warming turf fires and views across the Burren landscape at this popular County Clare hotel.
The judges described breakfast as a “short, carefully considered menu” offering hot dishes that contain ingredients from several local suppliers.
Nearby Attraction: Ailwee Burren Experience
Abut seven minutes away by car you’ll find the Ailwee Caves, a cave system that consists of over a kilometer of passages leading into the heart of the mountain.
Take a 35-minute guided tour of the caves, and see the beautiful frozen waterfall and areas that were once used by brown bears to hibernate, as well as some large stalactites and stalagmites.
Castlewood House, Dingle, County Kerry (2024 Winner)
For many repeat guests, the breakfast at this popular Dingle hotel keeps them coming back.
It typically includes a varied buffet display, with generous offering of fruits, juices, cheeses and charcuteries.
The hotel’s Baileys or Irish Mist porridge is legendary, as are the pancakes, Dingle kippers, smoked salmon and scrambled egg and omelets and more.
Nearby Attraction: The Slea Head Drive
Most visitors who come to Dingle won’t leave without taking the Slea Head Drive, a spectacular 30-mile (48-km) drive that is known for its stunning coastal views, along with historic sites and fabulous scenery.
Some of the attractions that you can expect to see along the looped drive include the Dunbeg Fort, the Fahan Beehive Huts, the Gallarus Oratory, and more.
POTA Café, Inverin, County Galway (2024 Winner)
This vibrant bi-lingual café has been billed as “the last stop before the Aran Islands” and the perfect place to grab a hearty breakfast before heading out to explore one of Ireland’s most popular places.
Local suppliers are used extensively at POTA, with a printed map on each table showing their locations around the county. Menus are printed in the Irish language, with staff on hand to assist customers.
The café offers delicious breakfast plates with meats from the famed McGeoughs of Oughterard (Connemara Fine Foods) and sourdough toasties, as well as cheese and honey mustard mayo from Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese.
Nearby Attraction: Aer Arran to the Aran Islands
Aer Arran is located in Inverin and is the choice for many who don’t want to do the boat journey to the Aran Islands.
The flight takes only eight minutes. Daily flights are available to the three islands, Inishmor, Inishmean and Inisheer.
Have you eaten a traditional Irish breakfast in a B&B, hotel, or guesthouse in Ireland that is worth sharing? If so, let me know in the comments section below.
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