The Pier Head

The Pier Head Review

Once the village pub, the Pier Head is still a bar, but it sells more food than pints these days. The location is idyllic, at the top (head) of the village's pier. Lunch ($) is served in the bustling, wooden-floored mahogany bar (restaurant lunch Sundays only), with outdoor seating and modest sea views. At dinner you can choose between the bar and the more formal upstairs restaurant with unforgettable views across Kinvara Bay to Dunguaire Castle. Both have roaring open fires, and friendly staff. Fresh local seafood and locally reared meat (beef, lamb, pork, and duck) feature on the simple, unfussy menu. Start with crab claws in garlic butter, or steamed mussels mariniere, then consider fillet of local lamb on a bed of creamed spinach, or honey-roast half duck with five spice and ginger sauce. Desserts are all made in-house: chocolate and ginger torte with vanilla ice cream perhaps, or a hazelnut pavlova with fresh strawberries and berry coulis. Top it all off with an Irish coffee. Don't forget that in summer there will be enough daylight until around 10 pm to enjoy the view.