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21st Aug 2019

The Ultimate Food And Drink Guide To Bray Seafront

Alan Fisher

If you’re heading to Bray, you are more than likely going to find yourself along the pier.

It’s scenic and contains some of the best places to eat and drink not only just in Bray, but in the county. From steak to stout, it has it all.

Being the amazing tour guide I am, I’m going to let you know where you should stop along the way, starting at the north side of the pier, down by the harbour and working south to the famous Bray Head.

Here they are:

Dockyard 8

This is the perfect place to stop first thing in the morning for their amazing breakfast menu and delicious coffee. I traditionally go for the steak & eggs but the granola is a different class.

Of course, they have a great lunch and dinner menu as well and it’s located in the harbour so you can pop out and feed the swans with any leftovers.

Harbour Bar

Next, take a step out of Dockyard and pop in next door to the Harbour Bar. Arguably one of the best establishments Bray has to offer and for a good reason.

Whether you’re going for the regular live music they host, the trad sessions they have in a separate room or just to get cosy on a couch beside the fire upstairs, it’s worth the visit.

Not to mention they’ve the best stout in the country.

Platform Pizza

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Heading further south, just behind the Dart station, you will find the trio of Platform, Box Burger and Cowfish – but let’s start with Platform as it was the first of these three to open.

Not only are the pizzas to die for, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret – the lasagne. It comes in a ceramic bowl and the entire thing, bowl and all, is wrapped in garlic bread.

So basically, your lasagne comes in a garlic bread house and it’s as good as it sounds.

You can thank me later.

Boxburger

Next up in this trio, which shares its walls with Platform, is the glorious Box Burger.

They have some of the best cocktails you’ll ever taste (get the Drumstick, it tastes exactly like the lollipop) and some pretty different burgers alongside the regular ones.

For instance I got a peanut butter & jelly one the last time and it was unreal.

Cowfish

Last but definitely not least is the newest addition Cowfish, which sits on top of the other two and shares a spectacular view of the sea.

It is definitely more high end than the others but the food does the talking. I had sweet potato gnocchi and prawn pil pil, which were both gorgeous.

Butler & Barry’s

A relatively new addition to Bray’s seafront is Butler & Barry’s and it’s holding its own considering the stiff competition that surrounds it.

Sitting basically on the pier, it has a beautiful view straight onto the beach. They also have a great vegan menu which is a big seller for them. Try the vegan chicken wings or the falafel burger.

Gino’s Gelato

At the back of Butler & Barry’s you have the famous Gino’s Gelato where you can pop in and get some of the incredible flavours like my favourite, Ferrero Rocher, or you can opt for one of their crepes that are to die for.

The Strand Hotel

The Strand hotel has struggled for a long time but it recently got a revamp and it looks great.

Caffe Vergnano and Wilde’s bar are two welcomed spots that have come with the renovation. Caffe Vergnano is a great place to grab a coffee and watch the world go by.

Ice Cream Shops

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After The Strand, at the south end of the beach, there are plenty of places like the Esplanade and Star amusements but the big seller here is the number of ice cream shops.

Pick one of them, grab a 99 and start your walk up Bray Head to try work off everything you’ve just eaten.

Pick your spots and hop on the Dart.

Next stop is Bray, Bré.

READ MORE: 11 ESSENTIAL TOWNS AND CITIES TO VISIT ON A TOUR OF SOUTH AMERICA

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