The Boathouse Bistro

Amazing seafood. Up with the best across Ireland. Black sole, scallops, potted crab all amazing. But the star of the show is the chowder. I've tried a lot of chowder across West Cork, Clare, Galway and Connemara and to me this is the best chowder I've ever had. It has more lemon to it than others I've had before but was beautifully balanced and loaded with seafood. Had to go back a 2nd time to have it again, when in the area. Top notch.

Wow! So we came here on a whim. Too much rain to golf. So off the beaten path I almost turned around. So glad I didn’t! From the second Vlad, from Ukraine said hello it was fabulous! He told me about the chowder. Said it was 6th best in Ireland. If you find a better please email me ASAP and I will be there! Fish fabulous✅ Ribeye fabulous ✅ Only go here if you want a great meal, great service and amazing view and ambience 🤷‍♂️

We stopped here for lunch today, and were absolutely wowed by every aspect. The fish chowder was the best either of us has ever had, so we weren't surprised to hear they'd won an award for it. Other dishes were also great, especially the bang-bang broccoli -- but the chowder was the star. Definitely worth the short drive from Kenmare.

Dining was an amazing experience. I ordered the Halibut with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables, while my fiancé ordered the Beet Wellington with a house salad. My fish was perfectly cooked and delicious. Her Beet Wellington was crispy, delicious and VEGAN!!!. The service was great, and the attention to detail was admirable. Additionally, our table had a great view of the bay, and the sunset was gorgeous. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Omg, so happy to have found this place! The Boathouse was absolutely gorgeous and well worth the short drive out of the centre of Kenmare. The scenery here is stunning but more than that, so is the food. I had scallops over risotto and I’m not exaggerating that it was one of the best meals of my life, cooked to perfection, beautiful sauce… I’ll be thinking about this meal for awhile! Both of my friends loved theirs as well (the halibut and the cod and chips). Could not recommend this place enough!

OK - let’s not beat around the bush on this place - it’s amazing - first time here and it’s a must if you like fabulous food in one of the most tranquil serene locations. As you pull off the main route from Kenmare or Sneem depending on which direction you’ve traveled from, you enter a tree lined road that winds its way through mature ground. ( look out for the speed bump signs - so funny- I’ll leave these for you to read). The road opens up to ample parking outside the bistro on the waters edge. You are greeted with a friendly welcome and offered a choice to dine inside or alfresco. We opted for alfresco, as you are protected by raised glass - so no wind and you enjoy the views of the sea. Now the best thing - the menu - this chef has done it perfectly. Vegetarian fully catered for with also an excellent choice of fish dishes, and meats. The starters as so imaginative. This is a high end choice of restaurant- simply emerge yourself in the ambiance of the surrounding , with food that pops your taste buds with naughty flavours. Think you get the picture- I loved this place. I’ve added a few pics to provide an insight of the main course and sweets. Only one last thing to say - BOOK don’t be disappointed.

Passed The Boathouse Bistro on a very stormy October afternoon. The restaurant is located in the grounds of Dromquinna Manor, right by the sea at a small harbor onto Kenmare Bay. The views are great, out across the bay and over along the Beara peninsula. The food was excellent, really good. My wife had a pot of prawns and chorizo and described it as a "pot of joy" 😂 Soup and Chowder were great, I had pulled pork squares which were delicious. Will be back!!! Just off the Ring of Kerry so very handy location. ⭐

The bang bang broccoli was absolutely delicious! I also really liked the chicken Milanese and side of whipped potatoes. The fried ice cream was the perfect end to the meal.

There's several separate places within this estate, the Manor House itself is not open to the public but can be booked for events such as weddings. The Boathouse Bistro is a high quality restaurant about 250m from the Manor House on the seafront and is open from 12:30pm to 9pm, 7 days a week during the March-October tourist season. They have a Michelin rosette for 2017 and the menu is mostly seafood and the foot is top class and offers great value for money compared with what's available in Kenmare town.

Wow! Lovely spot, idyllic setting looking out onto kenmare bay! The boathouse is set on the grounds of Dromquinna Manor and is set in the erm...boathouse! It has a real Martha's Vineyard feel about it the restaurant is all whites and blues! The staff are excellent and so they should this place has a Michelin rosette! If you like fish this place is top notch and if you don't like fish it's still top notch. My six year old plumped for a fillet steak (she's got her mothers expensive taste). I jest, great value at 12:50. The missus had a monkfish and prawn curry and it was fabulous! I had a burger, it was nice to be fair but a burger is a burger! While bill with drinks came to €75 for a family of 2.2 so not bad! If you're in kenmare definitely check it out! Call ahead first though. Only thing I could fault was all the patio furniture stacked in full view of the front door. Otherwise top class

Definitely worth a visit. Casual dining but beautifully designed. The menu is an all day menu so you can have a snack or dinner at any time. The setting on Kenmare Bay is wonderful and the grounds of Dromquinna Manor are a great place for a stroll after eating. It's not cheap but the food is of high standard and really worth it. The staff are very pleasant and helpful. Look out for the signs as you leave Kenmare and start on the Ring of Kerry. It isn't far and worth the search

We had an excellent dinner at the Boathouse. We were staying in town, but it took less then five minutes to drive to the restaurant. It's a beautiful location right next to the water, with indoors and outdoors seating. Yes, it is possible to sit outside in Ireland. The restaurant has a small food menu, but a large beer, wine and gin list. I ordered the grilled salmon. In Ireland, you have to be able to fix salmon correctly, and they did. The salmon was seasoned perfectly and the skin was nice and crispy. It was served with couscous and a trio of cabbage, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The entire dish was great. My son had the fish cakes and chips. Both were very good. My wife had the fish and chips. These were her favorite fish and chip during our vacation in Ireland. I think that says it all. I didn't order the curry, but I saw it delivered to the table next to us. It looked incredible. So, I'm recommending the curry on looks alone. I hope I can read a review about the curry soon. This is a great location for a casual or romantic lunch or dinner. Enjoy.

If you visit Kenmare, you must go to the Boathouse Bistro ... the location by the harbor is fabulous for a complete fun experience with excellent food. The scampi is the best in Ireland and the famous potted crab mayonnaise is a must try. Go here now !!

Best meal we had in two weeks in Ireland. Beautifully presented food by smiling efficient staff was quite exceptional, the fact that most of the clientele was well-heeled locals - we knew were on to something special; Well worth the detour from the hubbub of Kenmare.

Best view in Kenmare. This is how dining should be. We loved it so much we came back again. The fish tacos are the best thing on the menu and everything was great. The staff is very nice and the restaurant is kid friendly. Be sure to call ahead, they fill up fast!