3 Best Restaurants in Dublin Environs, Ireland

This new sensation of Irish cuisine was awarded not one but two Michelin stars only months after it opened. It didn't come as a surprise to those in the know, with the husband-and-wife team of Jordan and Majken Bech Bailey both having worked in some of Europe's most feted eateries. The name, pronounced "imshur," is Irish for weather, and the focus here is Irish food and produce, played with and transformed in inventive new ways. The fifteen course (don't worry, many are petite little offerings) tasting menu includes wonders like Flaggy Shore oyster in roasted koji butter and Dublin Bay skate with leeks and chicken-skin butter sauce. Each course can be matched with either wine, beer, cider or some very inventive juice concoctions. The stark, modern dining room is in contrast to the lively cocktail bar when the inventions continue.

Claiming to be Ireland's first "certified organic restaurant," this idyllic spot is tucked away in a rural valley as part of the BrookLodge Hotel. Dunmore East cod with dillisk and wild woodruff, and wood pigeon with crispy coppa and white tomato foam are part of the feast. The glossy decor—midnight-blue walls, mirrored ceiling, and gleaming mahogany furniture—comes as a surprise, but cues you to the creative menu that awaits. The Big Table, which seats up to 40, is perfect for large parties or people who want to eat family-style. After dessert, check out the spectacular wine cellar.

Local produce and stunning views are the stars of this hotel restaurant, with the Wicklow lamb a thrilling house specialty in season. Low ceilings give the very formal dining room a slightly overbearing feel, but floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto the serene Sugar Loaf mountain. The food focuses on Wicklow produce with a twist, and a favorite starter is the pheasant consommé with fairy ring mushrooms (also known as Scotch bonnet mushroom). You can follow that with the pan-fried halibut with purple potato chips, mussel and mushroom puree, citrus hollandaise, and seaweed salad.