MacNean's House & Restaurant
Run by Neven Maguire, one of Ireland's top chefs, MacNean's is one of the best restaurants in the country; in fact, there's a waiting list of up to two years for weekends. The Menu Prestige, at €98 (€153, including wine), delivers a staggering selection of courses. Winning appetizers include partridge breast, quail, or Castletownbere sea scallop. Top mains include quail, strip loin of dry aged beef, or hake; for dessert, strawberry plate or chocolate crémeux will linger long on the palate. An eight-course vegetarian menu is also available for €98. Maguire also opened a cooking school featuring classes for all skill levels. Breakfast is served.
Given the remoteness of this Cavan town, consider reserving one of MacNean's 19 guest rooms as well as a table. The 65-km (40-mile) detour to Blacklion makes a lot more sense if you are heading from Dublin northwest to Sligo or Donegal.