Savour the Gourmet Tastes of Ireland
Ireland is one of Europe’s most beautiful countries and surprisingly, one of its up and coming gourmet destinations. Well known for its castles, dramatic coastal scenery, misty lakes, and soothing landscapes, Ireland is less known for its gastronomic treasures. So, it will be a pleasant revelation to discover that West Cork, for example, is a culinary Mecca of sorts, and apart from some of the most spectacular scenery in Ireland, it is also home to many passionate artisan food producers like Ummera (organic smokehouse) and Gubbeen (superb cheese and charcuterie producer). Dublin, Ireland’s lively capital, boasts some fabulous Michelin starred chefs whose restaurants we enthusiastically feature in our tours. These include Chapter One, Thornton’s, Guilbaud’s and L´Ecrivain. And the entire country, with its abundance of ports and quaint fishing towns, is known for great fish and seafood.
You will find ultra fresh crab claws from Castletownbere; Dublin Bay prawns; Dundrum bay mussels; Galway oysters; king scallops from West Cork; and plenty of Irish salmon smoked at small, high end smokehouses like Frank Hederman’s Belvelly in Cobh (the last port the Titanic stopped in), the Woodcock Smokery in darling Castletownsend and of course Anthony Creswell’s aforementioned Ummera. Fantastic Irish seafood hotspots you can look forward to on this tour include Fishy Fishy in Kinsale and Cavistons in Sandycove (Dublin). For cheese lovers, Ireland offers a tantalizing array of excellent farmhouse cheeses like Milleens Cheese from the striking Beara Peninsula, Ardrahan from Kanturk in County Cork, Durrus from the absolutely gorgeous same-named hamlet in West Cork, Gubbeen’s mouthwatering smoked cheeses, St. Tola Goats cheese from Inagh (near the unusual Burren region in County Claire) and the delicious Cashel Blue cheeses from Tipperary.
We have designed this gourmet tour of Ireland for our discerning private clients, and as always on our tours, you will have your own private driver (which will be much appreciated on the hair-bend turns and winding roads of West Cork and Kerry!) and a comfortable Mercedes for the duration of the tour. You will stay in very charming and luxurious hotels, including a stylishly converted mansion in Dublin; epicurean goddess Darina Allen’s family owned Ballymaloe House in East Cork; the delightful Bantry House in West Cork with its captivating waterfront location and gardens; and a historic manor in Kenmare. Your last night will be at a sumptuous hotel on the historic Powerscourt estate and gardens, where you will enjoy dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s swanky restaurant.
Experiences you can look forward to on this tour include: your own private cooking class with a very charming and sophisticated chef at his private restored Irish cottage; a private whiskey connoisseurs tasting in Midleton; a VIP wine tasting of top wines from around the world (Australia, France, Spain to name a few) by descendants of the Irish “wine geese”; and dining at some of Ireland’s most cherished restaurants such as the mythical Café Paradiso. If you are looking for a relaxing and luxurious vacation in Ireland, with some unforgettable culinary adventures, then contact us for more information on this tour.
Gourmet Tour of Ireland Highlights:
- Private Chauffeur & Luxury Mercedes
- Artisan Cheese Tasting & Organic Smokehouse Visit
- Wine Tasting of “Irish Geese” Producers
- Visit Dublin, Cashel, Lismore, Kinsale, Schull, Durrus, Kenmare, Killarney Lakes District & more
Below is a suggested Itinerary for your private Gourmet Tour of Ireland
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Dublin
Private Tour of Dublin- Gourmet Dining at l´Ecrivain
River Liffey, Dublin - 5* Luxury Hotel, Dublin
- Michelin starred gourmet dinner with wine pairings
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
In the afternoon, your thoroughly charming local guide will meet you in reception of your hotel and you will discover Dublin on foot. On a three hour private tour you will see some of the most interesting sites in Dublin such as eerie mummies in the crypt of a Viking church, the Celtic Book of Kells, medieval abbeys, the bustling Temple Bar quarter and the historic “Ha´Penny Bridge” (pedestrians used to have to pay half a penny to use the bridge). This is a relaxing way to spend your first afternoon. In the early evening, return to your hotel for free time. Tonight you can expect a stellar gastronomic experience- your welcome dinner will be at Derry Clarke’s outstanding L´Ecrivain restaurant. Clarke is one of the gurus of modern Irish cooking and you will revel in the spectacular tasting menu expertly paired with wines per course. Fáilte!
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Dublin - Sandycove- Dalkey- Dublin
Wine Tasting of Irish Wine Geese Producers
Sorrento Terrace, Killiney - 5* Luxury Hotel, Dublin
- Full breakfast, seafood lunch with wine
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
Sleep in this morning and enjoy a leisurely and long breakfast at your beautiful hotel. In the late morning, your driver will take you to a cozy wine bar downtown where you have a wine tasting in store. The theme is “Irish Wine Geese”, a title given to Irish entrepreneurs and gentry who were forced to emigrate in the 17th-18th centuries due to political instability and religious intolerance. Many of these “Irish wild geese” became involved in the wine trade, in countries around the world including France, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, and even Mexico.
Thomas Jefferson for example, one of the great wine lovers, noticed how many Irish families were involved in the Bordeaux wine business when he was the US ambassador to France. Names like Lynch (of modern-day Château Lynch-Bages), Barton (now Château Léoville-Barton), Phelan, Dillon, and MacCarthy were just a few of the top wines of his day in Bordeaux. You will enjoy an entertaining private wine tasting with a charismatic sommelier, tasting wines from the descendants of Irish wine geese from six top estates. Sláinte!
Lunch today will be outside of the center, near the seaside in pretty Sandycove at a friendly seafood restaurant. Your lunch might include dishes like pan-fried Castletownbere crab & sweet corn cakes; char-grilled swordfish steak, with mango, melon and chili chutney; all topped off with an Irish artisan cheese plate. After lunch, take in a digestive coast walk into Dalkey, a historic and prosperous neighborhood home to many celebrities and high society. “Sorrento Terrace”, is one of the prettiest roads with great sea views. You will have the afternoon to yourself, with your driver on hand, to pop into the village main street, go for a long walk or visit Dalkey’s castle. In the late afternoon, return to downtown Dublin and the rest of the evening is at leisure. We highly suggest Thornton’s for dinner tonight for high-end gourmet. For informal and quaint, try Margaret and Akim’s romantic French wine bar, La Cave on South Ann street.
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Dublin- Glendalough- Kilmacanogue - Dublin
Visit Glendalough & Horsedrawn carriage
Monastic Settlement at Glendalough - 5* Luxury Hotel, Dublin
- Full breakfast, Michelin starred dinner with wine pairings
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you will head south, to the beautiful Wicklow region. Today is all about scenery and you will visit Glendalough, an ancient monastic settlement spread over two lakes amid a picturesque glen. On your own private horse-drawn carriage, admire the historic round tower, the ruins of the Saint Keiran and Saint Kevin’s churches, and the atmospheric lake shrouded in mist. Enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty. On your way back to Dublin, stop into Avoca. There is an informal café serving high-quality easy food (the Avoca Café has a best-selling cookbook of their recipes), and you can grab a bite to eat on your own. Check out the gardens and handweavers shop where you can pick up quality Irish souvenirs like exquisite woolens and artisan local ceramics.
Your driver will drop you back off at your hotel in the early afternoon and the rest of the day is free. You could visit the Guinness brewery (the museum is very well laid out and a “must” for Guinness lovers), take a cruise on the River Liffey, or stroll through the small and very pretty manicured Iveagh gardens. Tonight, you will have a magnificent dinner at our favorite restaurant in Dublin, Chapter One. Chef-patron Ross Lewis runs this atmospheric Michelin starred restaurant, located in a pretty arched cellar underneath the Irish Writers Museum.
The cuisine is elegant with some creative flourishes, and artisan Irish produce is the protagonist. Savor the tasting menu organized for you with dishes like Langoustine, smoked bacon and basil spring roll; Ardsallagh goats cheese with an eggplant puree, roast artichoke and black olive oil; Atlantic hake and roast fennel, accompanied by braised squid, and a tomato shellfish sauce; slow-cooked spring lamb with a garlic and onion puree and mint jus; warm chocolate mousse, with orange and Campari jelly; and buttermilk pannacotta with a chilled passion fruit and orange soup. After a relaxing, gourmet dinner, head back to your luxurious hotel for your last night in Dublin. Perhaps enjoy a digestif en route to your hotel!
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Dublin- Cashel- Lismore- Shanagarry
Rock of Cashel & Lismore Castle
Lismore castle - Historic Manor House, East Cork
- Full breakfast, Dinner with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
Check out of your stylish hotel and your driver will get you settled and comfy in the car. Tonight you will be staying in East Cork, at the cherished Ballymaloe House. On the way, you will visit the Rock of Cashel and the fairytale castle and gardens in Lismore. From Dublin, travel southwest to Cashel first, about a two-hour drive. From a few miles away, you will see the dramatic “Rock” of Cashel rising majestically on a limestone outcropping. First up is lunch at a popular, informal local café. Order a la carte and when you finish, your driver will take you up to see the mystical Rock of Cashel up close.
With your own private art guide, you will explore the Romanesque church, the castle tower house, 11th century round tower and ancient Hall of Vicars. Your guide will bring local legends to life, telling you about how it’s said the “Rock” was created by the Devil who while flying overhead with a stone in his mouth, spotted Saint Patrick founding a church and dropped the rock! This is also the site where Saint Patrick is said to have picked a shamrock in order to explain the holy trinity as three beings on the same stem- and ever since the shamrock has been Ireland’s unofficial emblem (the harp is the official one).
On the way to your elegant manor house, you will make one last stop today to the utterly delightful gardens and castle in Lismore. Despite having one of the most picture-perfect castles in Ireland, this town is thankfully off the main tourist trail, and you will love the romantic castle which overlooks the Blackwater River, known for its wild salmon fishing. Enjoy an hour or two in Lismore, taking in the gorgeous castle estate with its vast gardens, and the 7th century Saint Carthage Cathedral (restored in the 17th century). In the early evening carry on to your hotel for the next few nights, a scenic one hour drive. A glass of champagne will be served upon arrival while you check in and relax in front of the roaring fire. Tonight you have a welcome dinner at Ballymaloe, with deliciously simple and perfectly executed dishes made with all local ingredients, many of them from their own farm.
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Shanagarry
Private Gourmet Cooking Class
Chef Rory O’Connell - Historic Manor House, East Cork
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines, Dinner with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
Today is one of the major highlights of this gourmet tour of Ireland and you will spend the day with your own private chef, Rory O’Connell. Rory’s house is fabulous, on a historic estate complete with gardens and distant views of the sea. Today you are going to learn all about Irish cooking, but first sit down in Rory’s lovely kitchen overlooking his garden, nibbling on a freshly made scone and homemade jams. After tea and scones, put your aprons on! You will spend the day cooking, sipping wine and relaxing in this quaint Irish cottage with Rory.
You will learn how to prepare both a lunch and dinner menu, all based on seasonal and local ingredients. You will also have the chance to visit an artisan smokehouse and the tremendous herb gardens at Ballymaloe’s Cookery School, which was co-founded by Rory, along with his sister Darina Allen (the culinary goddess of Ireland). After dinner, your driver will take you back to your refined countryside hotel, where you can enjoy a glass of wine or cognac by the fire.
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Shanagarry- Kinsale- Clonakilty- Bantry
Visit Kinsale- Gourmet lunch and Bantry Bay
Kinsale harbor - Historic Manor House, Bantry
- Full breakfast
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
West Cork, our favorite region in Ireland, is on your itinerary today! From pretty Ballymaloe, you will first visit Kinsale, a colorful yachting village south of Cork city. This wealthy little town has some gorgeous walks, sea views and cute pubs. Kinsale has a long maritime tradition and in the 17th century, it was one of the most important harbors in Europe, trading in wine and salt. Kinsale is probably most famous for the historic “Battle of Kinsale in 1601. Spanish forces fought alongside the Irish (under the leadership of O´Donnell and O´Neill) against the English, and suffered heavy losses. You can see many references to this battle in Kinsale such as the local pubs “The Spaniard”, the “1601”, and a commemorative plaque sent over from Spain near the fort. Spend the morning in Kinsale, visiting the alluring seafront remains of the 17th century Charles Fort, having a drink in the Bulman pub, popping into the tiny wine museum in Desmond Castle (dedicated to the Irish Wine Geese).
Lunch today is at the seafood hotspot Fishy Fishy. No reservations are taken, payment is only by cash, and despite all of this, it’s the most popular restaurant to open up for years and is an absolute foodie “must” while visiting Ireland. All of the fish and shellfish is delivered daily from local fisherman, and the quality is world class. Order a la carte on your own, and after lunch, head west. You will be staying tonight at the aristocratic Bantry House, set on spectacular gardens overlooking the bay. Stop into Clonakilty on the way there, and have a pint at a quaint, traditional pub like the An Teach Beag. Clonakilty is home to the famous Clonakilty black pudding, delicious when paired with potato and apple dishes. Edward Twomey is the most famous producer and you can pick some up in his tiny shop. In the early evening, drive on to Bantry and arrive by sunset. The evening is yours to dine in the village.
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Bantry- Schull- Crookhaven- Mizen Head- Bantry
Gubbeen Cheese Tasting – Crookhaven and Mizen head
Gubbeen cheese - Historic Manor House, Bantry
- Full breakfast, Farmhouse lunch with wines- seafood dinner with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
An exceptional day of great food and stunning landscapes is in store for you today! Begin the day with a short drive to the little hamlet of Schull in West Cork. First stop: Gubbeen. Giana and Tom Ferguson, along with their adult children Fingal and Clovisse, run the phenomenal Gubbeen estate, making fantastic cheeses (some of them smoked in their onsite smokehouse), top quality salami, hams, and gourmet sausages, and they have a massive herb garden that supplies local restaurants. This family is without a doubt, epicurean pioneers in Ireland, and also extremely personable and friendly. Giana runs the Slow Food chapter in West Cork and is a passionate voice for the numerous small, artisan food producers in this beautiful corner of the world. You will enjoy a tour of the lush estate followed by a charming, sit down lunch in the family dining room, of their cheeses and charcuterie, paired with wines from Piedmont, home of the Slow Food movement.
After a supremely entertaining morning, discover the captivating coastline, stopping into Crookhaven or Goleen for a pint of Murphy’s (the famed local stout) or a coffee. Crookhaven’s harbor is darling, and the village has an intriguing past. It was a major port of call for America-bound ships, as well as the location that Marconi (the Italian physicist who is credited controversially with inventing the radio and for developing a system that transmitted Morse code across the Atlantic) came here while attempting to get his first radio message across the Atlantic.
Next up is a visit to Mizen Head, Ireland’s most south-westerly location. The scenery is breathtaking with rugged cliffs and offshore lighthouse. On the path between the Mizen Head visitors center and the Signal Station, you might see some of the many local dolphins and basking sharks, as well as the sea caves that house the remains of L’Impatiente (a French frigate from Wolfe Tone’s fleet!). Visit the lighthouse museum and enjoy the views. Arrive back to Bantry in the early evening and relax at leisure. Go for a walk around the extensive grounds, don’t forget your camera! Tonight, you have a fantastic seafood dinner in the elegant dining room at O’Connor’s, in Bantry’s colorful main square. A convivial dinner will be organized for you featuring specialties like Bantry Bay mussels steamed in Murphy’s Irish Stout and cream, Ummera Organic Smoked Salmon, John Dory in a sesame-seed crust, and roasted monkfish with cherry tomatoes and basil. After dinner, enjoy a pint at one of the local pubs and your driver will take you back to the hotel, set in its lovely private grounds.
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Bantry-Baltimore- Durrus- Glengarrif- Garinish Island- Kenmare
Baltimore- Good Things Café in Durrus- Garinish Island
Garinish Island - 5* Historic Hotel, Kenmare
- Full breakfast, Lunch, Michelin starred dinner with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
After a satisfying breakfast of local cheeses, hams, fresh exotic fruits and made to order eggs in the historic dining room, you will head to Baltimore this morning. Located a few miles down the road from Skibbereen, this cute and tiny fishing town is famous for the famous raid by Algerian pirates in the early 1600’s, called “the sack of Baltimore”. Over a hundred local residents were kidnapped by the pirates and taken to the Barbary Coast, never to be heard from again! These days, Baltimore is a thriving fishing village with authentic sailor’s pubs. Have a coffee or aperitif at the aptly named Algiers Inn and take in the views. If time permits before lunch, stop into Castletownsend for a walk around or another pint. You will see a small castle (still inhabited), colorful boats moored, and some pretty, narrow streets.
After a morning of sightseeing, lunch is in order and you have a huge treat today- lunch at the Good Things Café in Durrus. More of a bistro than a café, this much-loved country restaurant is well known for its fantastic chef Carmel Somers and her simple, unpretentious but ultra fresh cooking. You will love the healthy light lunch, using all local ingredients like Durrus cheese and West Cork seafood. For dessert try the lemon, rosemary and olive oil cake with a cardamom-spiced citrus fruit compote. Carry on to pretty Glengarrif harbor, where you will hop on a boat to get to Garnish Island. This bewitching little island was landscaped into beautiful gardens in the early 20th century, with Italian and Japanese influences. There is a warm, balmy microclimate in this little area and you will find totally different flora than in other parts of the country and even West Cork.
Enjoy a tour around the island, and head back into Glengarriff for a coffee or an aperitif. Then make your way for Kenmare in Kerry, your base for the next few nights. You will be staying at the romantic Park Hotel, one of Ireland’s most beautiful, historic hotels. Overlooking the bay and the Caha mountains, this is a simply wonderful location. Check into the hotel and freshen up. Tonight you have a welcome dinner at their Michelin starred fine restaurant. Soak up the fantastic atmosphere!
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Kerry Touring
Touring the Lakes of Kerry
Lakes of Killarney - 5* Historic Hotel, Kenmare
- Full breakfast, Dinner with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
Today you will explore the magnificent lakes and national parks in Kerry, beginning with a visit to Muckross. The ivy-clad Muckross House, built in the early 1800s, faces the misty Muckross lake and the vast estate is extremely atmospheric. Horse-drawn carriages are on offer, although the walks here are just as beautiful and highly recommended. Visit the Middle Lake and the “meeting of the waters”, with its sub-tropical plant flora and the impressive 60 foot Torc waterfall.
After a morning of walking and scenery, head into the nearby town of Killarney for lunch. Killarney is a touristy town, with numerous restaurants, cafes and pubs here to choose from like Treyvaud’s. After lunch carry on to Killarney’s Lower Lake where you will board your own private boat to tour this gorgeous area. You will see the 15th century Ross Castle, which looks like a scene out of Excalibur. There are terrific views here of the Purple Mountain and Innisfallen Island. Today you must absolutely bring the camera! In the late afternoon, carry on back to your luxurious hotel. You will have some free time to use their spa if you wish; it’s one of the premier spas in Ireland and highly recommended! Dinner tonight is at the friendly Packie’s restaurant in colorful Kenmare. Award-winning chef Martin Hallissey makes some great quality comfort food here in this cozy restaurant with its stone walls and a roaring fire. You might try his crab cakes, followed by rack of Kerry lamb and finished with homemade praline ice cream. Check out some local Irish music in one of Kenmare’s charming pubs after dinner.
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Kenmare- Blarney- Cork city
Lunch at Café Paradiso- Visit Cork’s English Market
- 5* Historic Hotel, Cork
- Full breakfast, Lunch with wines
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you will have a late start, giving you time to sleep in, go for a walk in the gardens or enjoy the superb spa. In the later morning, your driver will take you to Cork city, stopping off first at Blarney castle. While firmly on the tourist map and certainly no secret, we still love Blarney for its quaint legend about “kissing the Blarney Stone”, which is said to give you the gift of the gab. Enjoy a walk around the grounds, climb up the castle and kiss the stone if you dare. Travel into Cork next, heading straight for lunch at the phenomenal Café Paradiso. This informal and extremely popular restaurant has a bestselling cookbook of their vegetarian recipes. Chef Denis Cotter is one of the most talented chefs in Ireland, if not in Europe, and you will love his creative and healthy dishes.
A tasting menu of Cotter’s flagship dishes will be organized for you and you will taste an array of dishes like chickpea & rosemary soup with roast peppers; deep-fried celeriac fritters in brioche crumbs with caper aioli; warm beetroot mousse orange scented yogurt with fennel crispbread; butter pan-fried black kale gnocchi with sage, walnuts, sweet pepper and Gabriel cheese ; risotto of roasted celeriac, Italian parsley & shallots with lemon thyme oil and mature Oisin goats cheese; roast pumpkin & leek gratin with herbed hazelnut & Gabriel cheese crust, lemon cream and braised fennel; and seared Romanesco with red onion & coriander seeds. Finish off with rosehip & orange cake with yogurt ice cream and apple & quince crumble with cinnamon ice cream. Tantalizing!
This afternoon, you will enjoy a private guided walking tour of Cork city with a charming, local guide. Visit the historic English Market, where you can see a wide variety of artisan products on offer including farmhouse cheeses; homemade terrines and pâtés, Irish chocolates (Aine’s chocolates, Darina Allen’s chocolates, and Flair confectionery, all make excellent handmade chocolates); just baked bread from Slow Food producers like Arbutus Bread; imported wines and gourmet oils, and of course fresh veggies, fruits, seafood, smoked products. Explore Cork’s other highlights with your guide like St. Finbarr’s Cathedral and Huguenot Quarter. Tonight, you will sleep in a refined country house, just outside of the city.
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Cork- Midleton- Ardmore- Enniscorthy- Enniskerry
Whiskey Tasting & Dinner at Gordon Ramsey's
Powerscourt estate - 5* Historic Hotel, Powerscourt
- Full breakfast, Gourmet dinner tasting menu with wine pairings
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
You can’t leave Ireland without tasting the Emerald Isle’s fine whiskeys and today you have a VIP whiskey connoisseurs tasting to look forward to. Begin your day with a splendid, hearty breakfast at your luxurious hotel. You will drive into Midleton next, home to two fantastic Irish gems- the Jameson Distillery and The Farmgate. Begin with a private tour, not mixed with other guests, of the distinguished property spread out over 11 acres and dating back to 1867. You will learn all about how whiskey is made (with barley, malted barley, and water) and about what the differences are between Irish Whiskey, Scotch and Bourbon. And finish your tour of the distillery with a private VIP tasting of Jameson’s top whiskeys including Midleton Very Rare and Jameson Distillery Reserve, both aged over 12 years in oak.
Lunch is next and your driver will take you to The Farmgate, a cheery little restaurant cum gourmet shop owned by sisters Maróg O´Brien and Kay Harte (who run their Farmgate Café in Cork’s English Market). Order on your own a la carte, and don’t miss the fabulous homemade desserts here! Tonight, you will be sleeping at the sumptuous Ritz Carlton resort at Powerscourt, and your last stop before will be to Ardmore. Located in County Waterford, this darling little heritage town is set overlooking the sea. You will visit the round tower and remains of the medieval cathedral which rests on Saint Declan’s original monastic foundation (founded more than thirty years before Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland). Have a drink on the terrace overlooking the sea at a stylish new hotel, and then hit the road. The drive is three hours and you will break it up with a coffee or glass of ale in Enniscorthy.
In the evening arrive at the stunning Powerscourt estate, south of Dublin. Check into your luxurious hotel and freshen up. Dinner is at Hell’s Kitchen celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey’s gourmet restaurant. A chef’s tasting menu paired with fine wines will tickle your taste buds on this farewell dinner.
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Enniskerry- Dublin
End of Tour
Safe journey home. - None
- Full breakfast
- Privately Chauffeured Mercedes
This morning you will visit the tremendous Powerscourt Gardens. One of the loveliest spots in Ireland, you can’t leave without visiting. Spend an hour exploring the grounds, taking in the Italian garden, the Japanese gardens, Triton lake, the dolphin pond, walled gardens and aristocratic manor house (now a café and shop). At your preferred time, your driver will drop you off in Dublin or Dublin’s international airport, depending on your travel plans.
And this concludes your truly unforgettable gourmet tour of Ireland! Slán go fóill!