Our Story

Fern & Ember began with a simple idea: to create a place where the best of Irish produce could be celebrated through the elemental magic of fire. In the heart of Galway, we built a kitchen around a central wood-fired grill — not as a novelty, but as the beating heart of everything we do.

Every morning, we light the fire. As the embers glow and the grill comes to life, we think about the farmers, fishermen, and artisans who make our work possible. The scallops pulled from Galway Bay at dawn. The lamb raised on the windswept hills of Connemara. The vegetables grown in rich soil just miles from our door. These are the ingredients that inspire us, and we treat them with the respect they deserve.

Our menu changes with the seasons because that is how nature works, and we believe in working with nature, not against it. In spring, we celebrate wild garlic and new potatoes. Summer brings sweet tomatoes and tender courgettes. Autumn is for game and root vegetables, and winter calls for hearty greens and slow-cooked comfort. The wood-fired grill brings out the best in all of them — a char, a smokiness, a depth of flavour that cannot be replicated any other way.

But Fern & Ember is more than just a kitchen. It is a gathering place. A neighbourhood bistro where locals come to unwind after a long day, where visitors discover the warmth of Irish hospitality, and where every guest is welcomed like a friend. We have kept things simple: good food, good wine, and good company. That is all we have ever wanted to offer, and it is all we ever will.

Thank you for being part of our story. We look forward to welcoming you to our table.