My family and I have visited Ireland on two occasions, each time setting up camp on the Ring of…read moreKerry. On our first visit to the quaint, beautiful town of Kenmare, we stumbled on the Purple Heather Bistro. On our second visit, we made a point of returning.
The Purple Heather is Irish pub at its best. The ambiance is cozy, with dark woods, low lighting, intimate booths and tables, and Irish memorabilia tucked into corners and stored on fireplace mantles. As in most pubs, a peat fire crackles away with its sweet, smoky aroma.
The food is delicious at Purple Heather. We love their soups, especially, which are all homemade and served with the usual Irish brown bread. Purple Heather's brown bread is wonderful: dense, moist, nutty, chewy. Everything you want from brown bread! It makes a perfect soup sopper -- the vegetable soup is a savory, salty puree of a number of veggies. The Irish stew is thick and loaded with cubes of tender lamb, potatoes and carrots. Everything comes "Ireland hot," as we've dubbed it: piping, steaming hot! I happen to love it that way. Sandwiches are also great, with a better variety than you'll find at most pubs. Having a nice sandwich half to dunk in your soup or stew is a great bonus.
Tucked away on a side street, you could almost miss the Bistro. But making the effort to locate it will be well worth your time!