5 Irish supper clubs to try for a tasty meal with friends

Frequenting any of our favourite restaurants is, of course, always a treat but supper clubs take things to a whole new level. Often run on much smaller scales, they offer a sense of intimacy that a meal in a busy neighbourhood hotspot can’t generally match. Usually with ever-changing menus and a focus on supporting locally produced goods, they definitely appeal to the more adventurous eaters too. So be sure these places are on your radar next time you feel the urge to try something new.

Gursha, Poolbeg Street, Co Dublin 

First setting up shop in the homey surrounds of Cloud Café back in 2019, Gursha is an Ethiopian supper club on Poolbeg Street in Dublin 2. One of only a handful of restaurants specialising in African cuisine, it’s clear that the capital’s food scene had been crying out for such an establishment and the team has grown quite the following in the five years since they opened. In fact, pre-pandemic bookings were so coveted that getting one was like finding a free parking spot right in the centre of town… near impossible, in other words. 

Dishes are made for sharing and each ticket includes dinner and dessert followed by a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. You can find out more details over on their website. 

The Salt Project, Wickham Way, Co Limerick 

Set up by Kildare-based chef, Caomhán de Bri, you might look at The Salt Project and write it off as just another pandemic food truck… that would be a mistake though. Already with big plans in the pipeline, de Bri is taking a new approach to street food and is bringing the show on the road so as to introduce diners all across the country to his Irish-inspired plant-focused cooking. 

Putting vegetables front and centre in every meal, his debut menu, Blaisíní, comprised dishes such as steamed dumplings, buttermilk potato flatbread, Gubbeen chorizo croquettes, and even a few vegan-friendly options too. The food trailer is just the first of many elements to the overall vision though and it’s his supper clubs that have really piqued our interest. Set in unique and unusual locations for guests of up to 25 people night, each one comprises a hyper-local seven-course tasting menu (set indoors or out, depending on location and weather). Follow them on Instagram to keep up to date with all goings on.

Slemish Market Supper Club, Ballymena, Co Antrim 

A pop-up dining experience like no other, Slemish Market supper club is a “six-course extravaganza” that falls under the expert tutelage of chef Rob Curley (who has more than 20 years of experience in the industry). Inspired by the land, rivers, lakes, and sea – all of which are instrumental to our gastronomy – ingredients are picked from Slemish Market Garden to honour and pay tribute to the local environment. 

Based in various dining locations across Ballymena, the Glens of Antrim, and Northern Ireland, the ever-changing bespoke menu consists of a drink, wee bite, starter, fish course, meat course, and dessert. All events also include a special run-through of the suppliers used and how each course is prepped… so, you’ll leave with full bellies and full brains too. Their next event takes place tomorrow but they post about upcoming events on Instagram regularly.

Silk Road Supper Club, Co Down 

So-called after the historic silk road, this particular supper club is organised by ArtsEkta, producers of the award-winning Belfast Mela. Hoping to take guests on “a voyage of culinary discovery”, they team up with The Edible Flower (a seven-acre smallholding in Co Down) along with the local asylum seeker and refugee community to create recipes and cooking stories that bring together traditional flavours of Asia in an an “exciting contemporary fusion”. 

Picado Mexican Pantry, South Richmond Street, Co Dublin

Headed up by Ireland’s leading boutique Mexican grocer and cooking school, Picado Mexican Pantry is another Dublin 2 spot known to host regular supper clubs. Usually comprising a three-course Mexican meal, each event has a different theme… one which is only revealed a couple of days in advance. Oh, the suspense!

Run by husband and wife duo Alan Foran and Lily Ramirez-Foran, they combined their shared passion for good food, travel, and cooking to create something truly special and with Lily coming from three generations of tortilla makers in northern Mexico, you’re in very good hands. You can pre-book your spot at their next event over on their website. 

This image was originally published in 2022. Feature image via Gursha