Food & Beverage

Food the Waterford Way claim that “There’s something special about how food tastes in Waterford”. The Food the Waterford Way movement is about promoting Waterford’s food and drinks artisan producers, and about telling the story of where our food comes from. They also run foodie trails throughout the City and County and they are a wealth of information about where to shop, eat, stay and visit in order to experience the best of Waterford food.

Also featured are Waterford’s many breweries & distilleries, such as Metalman Brewing, Dungarvan Brewing Company, Blackwater Distillery, to name but a few! For more information, please visit the Food the Waterford Way website.

Waterford’s Food festivals are a large part of Waterford life, and are the highlight of the festival calendar throughout the City and County. Larger festivals such as West Waterford Festival of Food are a celebration of the delicious food and drinks made locally, while Harvest Festival in September attracts large crowds hoping to sample the best of Waterford’s culinary scene. Dunmore East Festival of Food, Fish & Fun, set in the picturesque village of Waterford focuses on the award-winning cafes, restaurants and gastro-bars located there as well as locally produced artisan fare.

There are numerous smaller festivals, food trails and ‘Meet the Maker’ events happening throughout the County, and are a great way to get to know the stories behind Waterford food.

Waterford’s award-winning food scene contains a broad range of local and international cuisine. In the city centre, there is a huge variety of establishments, whether you prefer fine-dining or something casual. Waterford caters for all tastes and preferences including a growing appetite towards vegetarian, vegan and street-food options. With the mountains, the rivers and the sea being so local to us, seafood features greatly on menus, meaning that you can dine on fish caught locally that morning.

For working lunches, there are some great options in the City centre for ‘grab and go’ if you need to rush back to the office. Most local cafés also cater for lunch meetings and will deliver to your workplace. There are many award-winning cafés and restaurants throughout the City and County so with plenty of choice – lunch needn’t be boring!

Farmers markets are a big part of the fresh food scene in Waterford, and you can find them dotted throughout the City & County.

Producers in Waterford City, Dungarvan, Lismore and Ardmore hold regular farmers markets, offering a diverse range of local food, drinks and craft produce, from passionate creators. Usually held in the mornings and early afternoons, the markets animate the streets and bring people together. Fresh local produce is the highlight of these markets, and getting to meet the makers adds to the experience.

In addition, other upcoming markets such as Phoenix Yard Market (held on weekends) in Waterford Cultural Quarter feature an unrivalled street-food offering, just minutes from the City’s main shopping streets.