15 Amazing Restaurants and Places to Eat in Waterford

Choosing where to eat should be one of the most enjoyable parts of planning a trip. That said, it can quickly become rather a serious matter when everyone is hungry, nobody can agree on what they want, and you are attempting to compare restaurant menus on a phone that is swiftly running out of battery.

Luckily, there are plenty of fabulous restaurants and places to eat in Waterford. You can settle in for a carefully prepared tasting menu, grab fish and chips beside the harbour, stop for lunch on the Copper Coast, or spend an evening sharing good food and a bottle of wine in the city.

To make the decision a little easier, we have gathered 15 places worth adding to your plans. This is not a formal ranking — each offers something different, so where you choose will depend on where you’re staying, what sort of meal you have in mind, and most importantly, what you’re in the mood for.

Restaurants in Waterford City

Everett’s

You will find Everett’s on High Street, tucked inside a building that dates back to the 15th century. The historic setting provides plenty of atmosphere, but the food is very much rooted in the present.

Waterford native Peter Everett leads the kitchen, producing modern Irish dishes using carefully sourced ingredients. In 2026, Everett’s was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, recognising restaurants that offer high-quality cooking at particularly good value.

Everett’s is a lovely choice when you want dinner to feel like an occasion without becoming overly formal. Its location also makes it particularly handy after an afternoon exploring the Viking Triangle or before a show at the theatre.

Mara

With just six tables, Mara offers one of the most intimate dining experiences in Waterford City. Chef-owner Luis Martin combines Irish ingredients with ideas and flavours drawn from his Spanish background, creating food that is inventive, carefully considered and occasionally a little unexpected.

You can choose from an à la carte menu or make an evening of it with the tasting menu. Either way, this is somewhere to take your time. Mara is particularly well suited to a date night, celebration or the sort of dinner you plan your day around rather than squeeze in between activities.

As there are so few tables, booking ahead is wise.

Momo

Momo is a relaxed and welcoming restaurant on Patrick Street, within easy walking distance of Waterford City’s main attractions. The menu is not tied to one particular style of cooking, which means you may find familiar Irish ingredients sitting comfortably alongside flavours and influences from further afield.

The restaurant works closely with local suppliers and its varied menus make it a useful option when everyone at the table fancies something different. It works equally well for a relaxed lunch, dinner with friends or a family meal in the city.

Do leave room for dessert, though. It is very easy to say you are too full before changing your mind when the menu arrives!

Bodega Restaurant and Wine Bar

Bodega sits on John Street at the edge of Waterford’s lively Apple Market area. Inside, low lighting, colourful details, and cosy tables create a warm setting for a long lunch or an evening meal.

The restaurant champions local food, with Irish meat, seafood, and seasonal produce appearing throughout its menu. There is also a carefully chosen wine list, along with cocktails, craft beers, and plenty of non-alcoholic options.

Bodega is a particularly good choice when you want somewhere central but do not want dinner to feel rushed. Book a table, order a drink, and give yourself time to properly settle in.

Burzza

The name gives you a fairly good clue about what to expect here: burgers and pizza, with fresh pasta, wings and other bites joining them on the menu.

Burzza makes its dishes from scratch using Irish ingredients and Italian influences. The pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven, while the burgers arrive flame-grilled and generously filled. It is casual, central, and an easy option for families or groups who want to relax with some good food.

It is also a wonderful choice after a busy day of sightseeing, when a substantial burger or hot pizza is exactly what is required.

The Reg

Located beside Reginald’s Tower in the Viking Triangle, The Reg places you right in the middle of Waterford’s oldest streets. Parts of the city’s ancient walls run through the building, so you can enjoy lunch or dinner with a rather substantial piece of local history nearby.

The food menu covers pub favourites, seafood, burgers, and larger main courses, making it a flexible option for lunch, an evening meal or food before heading out in the city.

It’s a convenient stop after visiting Waterford Treasures, House of Waterford or Christ Church Cathedral, all of which are just a short walk away.

O’Sullivan’s Vintage Social

O’Sullivan’s Vintage Social sits at 3 and 4 The Mall, within a carefully restored building that was once home to O’Sullivan’s Apothecary. Original brickwork, salvaged stone and sections of Waterford’s old city walls have been incorporated into the space, giving it plenty of character without making it feel overly formal.

The menu brings Mediterranean-inspired flavours together with classic, hearty Irish dishes, while the bar serves cocktails, wine and beer. It works well for a relaxed lunch, dinner with friends or a drink later in the evening, particularly if you enjoy places with a little history behind them.

GROW HQ & Larder

GROW HQ does things a little differently. Located on the Dunmore Road, it brings together a café, organic kitchen garden, working farm, and food education centre.

Much of the produce grown outside makes the short journey into the kitchen, where vegetables are treated as the main event rather than a reluctant side dish. The menus change with the garden and the seasons, with breakfast and lunch giving visitors plenty of opportunities to stop by.

Take a look around the garden while you are there. Seeing what is currently growing adds another layer to the meal and may leave you feeling inspired to plant a few things when you get home.

Places to Eat in Tramore and Along the Copper Coast

Mezze

Mezze brings the bold, fresh flavours of the Middle East to Tramore. Run by Irish-Israeli couple Nicola and Dvir, this colourful deli and café serves handmade breads, falafel, salads, dips, and small plates designed for mixing, matching, and sharing.

It is a great lunch option, particularly when you want something full of flavour that will not leave you needing a lie-down afterwards. Pick a selection for the table, add a coffee or something sweet and allow everyone to work out which dip they are unwilling to share.

You can also browse the shelves for crackers, spice blends, sauces, and other treats to take home — we particularly recommend the Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies!

One the Waterfront

As the name suggests, the view plays a fairly important role at One the Waterfront. The restaurant sits above Tramore Bay, with full-length windows and outdoor terraces making the most of its seaside setting.

It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, lighter bites, and coffee, so it can fit into almost any stage of your day. Stop in after a walk along the promenade, settle down for lunch overlooking the water or book an evening table and watch the sun set across the bay.

The Engine House

The Engine House is located in Bunmahon, close to the Copper Coast Geopark and some of the county’s most dramatic coastal scenery. Its name and setting draw on the village’s mining heritage, giving the restaurant a strong sense of place.

The relaxed bar and restaurant is an ideal stopping point while travelling the Copper Coast. Call in for lunch before visiting the Geopark, or save it for dinner after a day spent exploring beaches, cliffside viewpoints, and the old mining landscape around Bunmahon.

It is the sort of place that works especially well on a road trip: warm, comfortable, and ready with a hearty meal when you have worked up an appetite outdoors.

Restaurants and Places to Eat in Dungarvan

360 Cookhouse

Set in the heart of Dungarvan, 360 Cookhouse is a restaurant and cocktail bar with a broad menu covering seafood, grilled dishes, pizza, tapas, and plenty more besides.

With plenty of cosy corners, the restaurant feels comfortable enough for a casual meal but still special enough for an evening out. There is also a dedicated children’s menu, making it a wonderful option for families.

Its central location means you can walk here from the harbour, Dungarvan Castle or most accommodation in the town centre. If your plans involve cocktails afterwards, that becomes even more useful.

The Local

The Local has been serving food in Grattan Square since 2000, and owners Helena and Donnchadh remain very much part of daily life at the pub. You may find them welcoming guests, working behind the bar, preparing food or joining one of the traditional music sessions.

The menu focuses on fresh, homemade dishes, with local sourcing at the heart of the kitchen. It is a great place for lunch or a relaxed evening meal, particularly when you want to experience some of Dungarvan’s traditional pub atmosphere along the way.

Check the music schedule before your visit. A good meal followed by a lively trad session is a very pleasant way to spend an evening in town.

AndChips

Sometimes the only thing that will do is fish and chips, preferably eaten in the salty air of the sea nearby. AndChips, created by chef and caterer Eunice Power, offers a contemporary take on the classic chipper from its location on Dungarvan’s quays.

Fresh seafood is the main attraction, but the menu also includes burgers, steak sandwiches, falafel flatbreads and other options. You can sit in or take your food away, depending on the weather and how quickly you want to make your way towards the harbour.

For a simple Waterford pleasure, collect your order and find a spot overlooking the water. Just keep an eye on any particularly cheeky seagulls nearby!

A Special Dining Experience in Ardmore

HOUSE Restaurant at Cliff House Hotel

HOUSE Restaurant sits within Cliff House Hotel, high above Ardmore Bay. Its glass-fronted dining room looks out across the water, giving you a front-row view of the coastline while you work your way through the menu.

The restaurant holds a Michelin star and serves refined tasting and seasonal menus built around Irish produce, coastal ingredients and carefully sourced local food. This is somewhere to book for a celebration, a romantic evening or simply because you would like to treat yourself to a particularly special meal during your trip.

Non-residents are welcome, although advance booking is strongly recommended. Arrive early enough to enjoy the view before dinner. Ardmore Bay has a habit of making people pause for longer than they expected — give yourself plenty of time to enjoy it.

Where Will You Eat First?

This list is only a starting point. Waterford’s food scene stretches across the city, lively coastal towns, harbour villages, and the quieter roads of the west, with each part of the county offering its own reasons to stop for lunch or stay for dinner.

Opening times and menus can change throughout the year, particularly at seasonal coastal venues, so it’s always worth checking directly before you travel. For weekend dinners and smaller restaurants, booking ahead will save you from having to make an important decision while hungry.

Once the practical details are sorted, the only difficult part is deciding where to begin!