Delahunt is a three-in-one venue based in a former off-license in a Victorian-listed building. Spend the day in its laid-back café before dining at the traditional restaurant, ending with a nightcap in hand at the exclusive cocktail bar. For a daytime boost or business meeting, head to Delahunt’s café for double-shot espressos, mint and lime ice tea, sandwiches stacked full of fresh ingredients and warming soups.
Marble-topped tables, stained glass windows and dark wooden panelling typify the interiors of the old-fashioned dining room. Colourful graphic artworks brighten up the navy blue walls but don’t distract from the room’s predominantly restored features.
The seasonal menu is limited to three options for each course, allowing chefs to truly hone in on the high-quality dishes crafted from local produce. Specialising in long-forgotten cooking techniques, the restaurant focuses on home-curing and slow-cooking while also producing pickles and preserves to complement their leading dishes. Starters span from venison tartares to smoked salmon served alongside the restaurant’s staple Guinness bread. Mains always include a fish, meat and vegetarian option while desserts are suitably traditional – look forward to bread and butter pudding with brown bread ice cream or a seasonal cheese plate selected by popular local cheese and wine bar Loose Canon. The wine menu promises Mediterranean and coastal whites alongside deeper reds and rich dessert wines fit for oenophiles.
The mid-century sitting room next door is a rustic backdrop for pre-dinner cocktails and nibbles – expect extravagant chandeliers dangling from vaulted ceilings, bay windows, antique fireplaces and a harmonious blend of retro furniture. With limited seating, ranging from high tables to comfier lounge-style areas, and no room for standing, this bar is a walk-in only hotspot. The bar’s spirits menu exclusively sells seasonal local labels and a local producer supplies vodka, gin and whisky to the restaurant - order a tropical Whiskey Punch or an energy-packed Caffeinated cocktail.