Blackrock CottageSalthill Promenade, Galway, Co Galway; 091-399280, blackrockcottage.ieChef Michael McManus has taken over the kitchen in this charming spot, where his goal is to steer clear of overcomplicating food and to create memories. The original stone cottage has been significantly extended inside and out, and it opens all week for breakfast, lunch and early dinner. With two terraces, it’s a popular spot with walkers and swimmers who come for the ham hock benny, crispy hake tacos or the Blackrock poke bowl. JCCafe LógrUnit 2, Main Street, Adare, Co Limerick; 061-513133. cafelogradare.com Cafe Lógr: Petra and David Hayes The outdoor tables don’t stay free for long on sunny days at David and Petra Hayes’ daytime cafe. Celebrating six years in business, it has become part of the rhythm of Adare and is especially popular for weekend brunch. Regulars return for Turkish eggs, wild mushroom ragout with poached egg on sourdough, and brioche French toast tiramisu. CHFarmgate 17 Main Street, Lismore, Co Waterford; 087-8656231, farmgate.ieFarmgate, Lismore. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand in February this year, owner Sally O’Brien serves food that draws on local suppliers in this cosy restaurant with a long counter for walk-ins, a smaller room at the back and seating in the garden. On the menu, Castletownbere fresh crab salad sits alongside Ardsallagh goats cheese with beetroot, medallions of pork fillet with Madeira mushroom sauce, and Mediterranean fish stew. CHGood Day DeliNano Nagle Place, Douglas Street, Cork, Co Cork; 021-4322107, gooddaydeli.ie Good Day Deli, Cork The menu here bursts with summer, pairing hyperlocal ingredients with south Pacific and New Zealand influences – the Kai Moana Fish Tacos exemplify the approach. Picture-perfect brunch-style plates and bakes taste even better thanks to the setting: the cafe is tucked into the tranquil gardens of Nano Nagle Place, with plenty of outdoor benches. A true city sanctuary. ADGrangecon KitchenMain Street, Grangecon, Co Wicklow; 045-494023, grangeconkitchen.ie Grangecon Kitchen: Stephanie Myerscough and Laura McEvoy. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw In a world of cookie-cutter brunches, this Co Wicklow cafe is always ahead of the game. Familiar favourites come with fresh takes – think Japanese milk bread French toast, eggs on fried Guinness and walnut bread and always impressive bakes. It gets even better in the summer when diners can spill out from the tent to the garden. AD[ Great beer gardens: Our pick of pubs for a relaxing outdoor pint around IrelandOpens in new window ]Helen’s BarKilmackilogue Pier, Tuoist, Co Kerry; 064-6683104, helensbarkilmacalougue.weebly.comIt’s a good sign when local gardaí pull up to eat their lunch alongside you. Helen’s Bar is just that kind of place, a traditional pub/B&B perched on the edge of Kenmare Bay, with ample outdoor seating for summer months. The rugged mountains of the Beara Peninsula and the sparkling sea form a magnificent backdrop to a pint of the black stuff and some classic seafood. JCLa Cocina CuevasRath Great, Naul, Co Dublin; lacocinacuevas.comCrab Tacos at La Cocina Cuevas Dublin’s take on a California taco truck sits at Fingers Crossed Farm in the north of the county. Here, chef Jeremy Cuevas serves California-style Mexican food inspired by his grandmother, spotlighting Irish produce and local farm crops. Smoky slow-cooked meats and zingy toppings feature on the street food menu, alongside weekend brunch, a Saturday tasting menu and a sometimes available secret menu, all enjoyed on ample outdoor seating. ADManning’s EmporiumBallylickey, Bantry, Co Cork; 027-50456, manningsemporium.ie Manning's Emporium. Photograph: Instagram Since the 1970s, Manning’s has been central to west Cork food producers, specialising in farmhouse cheeses, charcuterie, gourmet food items and fine wines. It’s practically a mandatory stop when driving to Bantry or Glengarriff and only those possessed of iron resolution will leave empty handed. During the day, the cafe offers coffee from Kenmare’s Babor Beans as well as fresh sandwiches and treats, transitioning to a tapas menu on weekend evenings. JCMisunderstood Heron Campbell’s at the Reek, Murrisk, Co. Mayo; misunderstoodheron.comMisunderstood Heron. Photograph: Ger Duffy Media After a slight setback last year, one of Ireland’s most revered food trucks has relocated out the back of Campbell’s at the Reek pub, in the foothills of Croagh Patrick. The views have changed, but the unique west of Ireland street food hasn’t. Killary Fjord mussels and native clams in broths, decadent roast cabbage, barbecued meats and fresh oysters. There is plenty of outdoor seating for summer days. AD[ Ten of the best Dublin pubs in sunny weather: from beer gardens to pints by the seaOpens in new window ]PotaAn Tualch, Baile na hAbhann, Co na Gaillimhe; 085-7566963, pota.ieAran Islands Potted Crab with Goatsbridge Trout Caviar and Cucumber Pickle from Pota It’s full steam ahead at Diarmuid Ó Mathúna’s cafe, where the installation of solar panels over the outdoor terrace has reduced grid demand by 20 per cent and nearly all food waste is going into a biodigester to create compost and biomethane. This is the forward thinking so typical of the all-day cafe , where the dishes are creatively named “as Gaeilge” including the grá-nola, the new buama beacáin (a mushroom brunch dish) and of course, the epic tóstaí. JCThe Roundwood StoresMain Street, Roundwood, Co Wicklow; 01-2336010, thecoachhouse.ie Roundwood Stores This remains my favourite restaurant in Wicklow, though you’ll be lucky to get a seat. It has a wonderful bakery with sweet and savoury items, stunning focaccia served with soup and an impressive selection of salads, from honey-roasted carrot and giant couscous to roast beetroot and goats cheese, and purple sprouting broccoli and feta. You’re unlikely to leave empty-handed – as well as baked treats, you can pick up organic vegetables, gourmet supplies and low-intervention wine while you’re there. The Coach House next door is equally good for something more substantial. CHScéal Bakery82 South Circular Road, Dublin 8; scealbakery.comScéal Bakery: Toasted walnut and purple wheat sourdough In 2017 Charlotte Leonard-Kane and Shane Palmer started selling sourdough and pastries from a little market stall in Dublin 8 before finding a permanent home for their bakery and cafe in Greystones Marina. Now they’ve returned to where it all started, opening a second location on the South Circular Road. Such is the demand from locals that bread and goodies are now delivered multiple times a day from Greystones to this cosy cafe with covered outdoor seating. JCTang 2 Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2; 01-5310661, tang.ie Lunchtime queues snake year-round at Tang’s four Dublin locations as diners seek stuffed flatbreads, piled-high salads, coffee and kombucha. Dinners in the summer shift to the Cumberland Place courtyard, with Middle Eastern-inspired plates of dips, slow-cooked meats and smoked-spiced veg. Spritzes and wines top it off. AD