Best Places for Breakfast & Lunch in Tralee - local picks
Places to Eat in Tralee During the Day
I often get asked by my Airbnb Experience Guests where to get breakfast in Tralee before their Experience starts in the morning — and once it’s over, the same question about lunch. It was something that never really occurred to me to research beforehand, so I’ve been caught out unprepared a few times. No longer though, I’m finally putting together this blog post so I have a proper answer ready.
If you’d like a bit of local knowledge, please read on. As someone who regularly hosts Airbnb Experience Guests and woodturning students, I get these questions all the time — and now I’m finally prepared to answer properly. This post is pulled together from my own experiences, along with a few trusted recommendations from locals.
If you're planning a longer stay in town, you might also find my guides to Evening Dining in Tralee, Best Pubs in Tralee for a Night Out, and Things to Do in Tralee When It Rains helpful while you're here.
Whether you're in town for a course, a short break, or just passing through, I hope this helps you find a great place to eat during the day in Tralee.
Looking for something a little different to do while you're here? You can also try one of my indoor woodturning experiences on my main website, here visitors can spend a few hours learning the basics of woodturning in my workshop or just doing a fun woodturning activity.
Places to Eat Breakfast in Tralee
Hotels are nearly always a safe bet as they serve breakfast for their guests and can easily accommodate additional diners. That said, local knowledge is often better than the rehashed business blurbs you’ll find online, so I’ll start with a few places I know personally to have good food and a reliable breakfast.
Tralee has plenty of places to eat during the day, from full Irish breakfasts and café lunches to pub grub, toasted sandwiches and lighter options, so don’t be afraid to explore a little yourself.
I’m not adding images to this post as I’ve linked directly to each business website or page where you can see their own photos and menus.
The following are listed randomly, in no particular order.
Der's Delicatessen - The Mall Tavern - The Mall Tralee
Der's Delicatessen and The Mall Tavern Bar (all one place) is situated right in the middle of the town and has been operating for nearly 50 years with the bar being a younger addition to the business. Opening from 09:30 to 17:00 with the bar remaining open until late.
You can eat your breakfast, scone & coffee, sandwiches, lunch, hot food or whatever you order in the Delicatessen seating area or in the bar. They also sell wine, savoury sauces, scones, buns, cakes & all sorts of Deli meats behind the counter in their shop which is at the front of the building. We have been coming to this Deli since I was a small child and continue to visit at least once a week every week. I could add loads more images of lovely food but you are better off going there and ordering some yourself!
Visit Der's Delicatessen Website Here
Like what you're reading? You can buy me a coffee — sure it’s cheaper than a pint!
Alfie's Lounge in The Ashe Hotel Tralee
Alfie’s Lounge offers a variety of indoor and outdoor casual dining spaces and starts with a Brunch between the hours of 09:00 and 12:00, Lunch from 12:00 to 17:00 and Dinner from 17:00 to 21:00. There is also an alfresco area if you'd like to take your coffee hopefully in sunshine outside and not rain. The Hotel is very well laid out and decorated to a very high standard. I have been there once recently and was well looked after. There is a multi story car park nearby for parking, payment required. There are adjacent roadside parking areas which require a paid ticket also.
Visit the Ashe Hotel Website Here
The Pikeman Bar - The Grand Hotel Tralee
Admittedly, it has been a little while since I've eaten in the Pikeman but the food was excellent during that occasion. The Bar is very comfortable with plenty of seating at the bar counter or at tables around the bar. Breakfast is offered from 8:00 am to 09:30 pm daily. The Grand features an in-house French Pastry Chef making fresh scones, Brown Bread, Pastries and more.
The Pikeman Bar is very popular with both the Tralee and North and West Kerry locals as well as guests from further afield. In keeping with the ambiance of the Grand Hotel itself, The Pikeman Bar is a traditional style Pub and is in keeping with the look of the Grand Hotel itself. There is a great Bar Menu serving Bar food, Pub food and Pub Grub?
Visit The Grand Hotel Website Here
Benners Hotel Cafe - Castle Street Tralee
Serving Breakfast from 7.30am - 10am Monday to Friday, 8am – 10am on Saturdays & Sundays. Benners offers a Continental Breakfast Buffet & also a cooked breakfast menu. The Continental Breakfast Buffet has a selection of Fresh Juices, Cereals, Fresh Fruit Salad, Yogurt, Pastries & Our Famous Der’s Homemade Brown Bread. Benners is part of the same family business as Der's Delicatessen and The Mall Tavern so you are benefiting from decades of experience when eating here. I haven't had the pleasure of having breakfast here but I have eaten in the Hotel Restaurant and the food was fantastic. Knowing this family for decades, I expect the breakfast is just as good. You can find paid parking up the street next to Dom O'Donnells furniture Shop.
Visit Benners Hotel Website Here
Yummy Cafe Market - Dominic Street Tralee
My own experience with this cafe is a bit limited. I ordered a takeout coffee and sandwich when I operated a Christmas Stall in Dominic Street a few years back. Both were delicious, by the way. I hear great things from people who frequent Yummy Cafe and often see posts online with images of the food served that make me want to call in myself. Open 09:00 to 17:00 daily, closed Sunday. There are a number of paid car parks in the vicinity so you shouldn't have to walk too far.
Unfortunately, Yummy Cafe announced its closure on the 4th Nov 2024 due to continued high business costs and resultant operational difficulties. They will be missed. I will leave this here as a reminder that running a business is very hard work with lots of pitfalls and heartache.
Visit Yummy Cafe Market : Unfortunately no longer available.
The Brogue Inn - Rock Street Tralee
While not originally added to my my Blog Post, several Students and Guests have found their way into the Brogue and had a very satisfying lunch after attending my Workshop. Situated very close to Paid Parking at Supervalu Car Park in the centre of Tralee Town, about 2 to 3 minutes walk away at most. I have taken a description from Tripadvisor below.
Kirby's Brogue Inn is a landmark in Tralee, the capital town of County Kerry and it's only 30 minutes from two tourism strongholds, Killarney and Dingle. At Kirby's we believe in local and that inspires everything we do. We know that using fresh, local ingredients makes a difference to our customers. Whether you are enjoying an evening out with friends and family, or having a quick lunch when you're too busy to cook, experience Kirby's. Kirby's Brogue Inn invites you to enjoy the best night-time music entertainment in Tralee in a comfortable setting. If you're mad for trad, we have only the best Traditional Irish Music in the bar and the most established local talent perform live on Saturday nights.
Visit The Brogue Inn Website Here
Parking Facilities while you visit
Tralee has plenty of car parks around the town and before 11am should have plenty of empty spaces. After 11am they tend to start filling up so if you are going for lunch find a spot close to where you want to go as early as you can. Most are paid parking with cash meters. Google maps has them all marked out clearly so I won't mention them here specifically. Most hotels would have free parking facilities onsite or arrangements for parking with an off site car park. Always check out their information on their website first or contact them and ask. Paid parking ends at 6pm so you should be ok to park for free after that and go and enjoy an evening meal in the town without worry.
Additional Places to Eat
I would love to keep adding more but I don't have enough information to provide details. Some Hotels may not have a public breakfast menu but have bar food throughout the day. To my knowledge, every hotel serves breakfast to non staying guests but if I don't know for sure I don't want to lead you astray.
In Conclusion
I hope I’ve given you a few good recommendations here. It’s my intention to keep this guide updated over time, but I don’t plan to go beyond about ten places as too much information can sometimes make things harder rather than easier.
I hope you enjoy your time visiting Tralee and maybe even come back again.
Please note: The annual Rose of Tralee Festival usually runs from 18th–22nd August, so the town will be busier than normal during that period. Allow a little extra time for meals and activities as restaurants and cafés can get very busy.
Like many seasonal towns, businesses also see a large increase in visitors during the festival, which can sometimes make staffing a challenge. If possible, try to eat a little earlier and avoid peak times.
If you're looking for a small handmade souvenir from your visit to Kerry, you might also like to browse the Irish woodcraft hub page on my main website where I showcase a range of pieces made from Irish hardwood.
Thanks for reading, David
💬 Got thoughts or feedback? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know how you got on!
If you are looking for something to do in Tralee while you are here check out this Experience Blog.
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About the Author
I’m David Condon, a writer and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Most of my working life revolves around woodcraft and teaching woodturning, but this blog is where I share thoughts and discoveries from beyond the workshop — from everyday experiences to product reviews and tech finds that make life a little easier.
If you’d like to know more, there’s a link in the Note from the Author section below.
💬 Note from the Author
This post was written specially for David Condon Finds. If you enjoyed it, you might also like my other projects:
Phoenix DVD Blog – where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and life as a collector
David Condon Woodcraft – my main site focused on woodturning and handmade Irish pieces
If you’d like to support my writing, you can do so through the Buy Me a Coffee button below. It helps keep these side projects going — thank you!
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Original content © David Condon Finds — Written by David Condon. Please credit and link if shared.
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