The Farmgate Café

Greenes, Cork for fancy dining

Cask is an intimate bar located in the heart of downtown San Francisco. They offer a wide variety of craft beers, including local favorites like Anchor Steam Beer and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Their menu features classic cocktails, like Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, along with specialty drinks such as the "Corked," which combines vodka and champagne. For those who want something stronger, there are many options for whiskey, bourbon and scotch. Arthur Maynes Pharmacy, Cork – for a bar with a twist This place is a real hidden Gem in Cork City Centre. Located just off Patrick Street, it’s a little out of the way but well worth the trip. You won’t find many places like Arthur Mayne’s around. With a great selection of beer on offer including local brew, you’ll definitely want to stop here. They serve delicious cocktails and food too. Try one of their signature drinks such as the Irish Coffee or the Bailey’s and Coke. Or go for something different and try one of their amazing mocktails. If you’re looking for a good meal, why not treat yourself to some tasty pub grub. Their menu includes traditional dishes such as burgers and steaks alongside lighter options like salads and wraps. So what are you waiting for? Grab a friend and head over to Arthur Maynes Pharmacy now!

Cask, Cork for expertly crafted cocktails

The world’s most famous vegetarian restaurant Café Paradiso opened in Cork City in 1992. Over the course of 20 years, it has become one of Ireland’s best known restaurants. Today, the restaurant serves up classic French cuisine prepared without meat or dairy. Chef Denis Cotter has been cooking since he was just 14 years old. He trained under Michelin star chef Jean-Pierre Moullé in Paris before returning home to open his own restaurant. His passion for vegetarianism began at age 15, when he read about the benefits of a plant-based diet in a magazine. He soon became obsessed with finding out how to make delicious meals without meat or dairy. In 1992, he opened Cafe Paradiso in Cork city centre. Since opening, Café Paradiso has won numerous awards including Best Restaurant in Ireland and Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Ireland. They are now ranked among the Top 50 Restaurants in the World according to TripAdvisor.

Cafe Paradiso, Cork for legendary vegetarian food

Ireland’s food culture is one of the most distinctive in the world. From traditional Irish cuisine to modern Irish restaurants, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it. One way to experience it is to head to the English Market in Cork city centre. Here you’ll find everything from fresh fish and seafood to artisanal cheeses and meats. There’s even a butcher selling offcuts and trimmings. And don’t miss the chance to sample some of the best beers brewed in Ireland. Grab a sandwich and a pint before setting off into the surrounding countryside. A few miles away is Ballymaloe House, where you can eat like royalty while enjoying views over rolling green fields. Or take a trip to nearby Kinsale, home to a thriving wine scene. You could spend days here sampling the region’s finest vintages. For something completely different, try the Farmgate Café. This little cafe serves up tasty sandwiches and snacks made with locally sourced ingredients. They do a mean chicken salad too. Jacques, Cork – for a lunch pit stop Jacques is a buzzing place in the heart of Dublin city centre, serving large, delicious sandwiches. You can choose from a variety of fillings and toppings, such as avocado, smoked salmon, chicken salad, egg, cheese, bacon, mushrooms and many others. There are also a range of different drinks, including craft beer, wine and cocktails, served in their bar area.

The English Market, Cork for exploring Ireland's larder

The English Market, Cork for exploring Ireland's larder

A cheese factory isn’t usually where you’d expect to find a dairy farming operation. But that’s exactly what Toon’s Bridge Dairy Farm does. Located just outside the town of Macroom in County Cork, Ireland, it produces award winning artisanal cheeses, olive oil and pizzas. And it’s doing well enough to expand into a second location. The original Toon’s bridge opened in 2016 in the small village of Ballyvourney, about 12 miles away from Macroom. In addition to selling its products directly to restaurants and retailers, the company also offers tours of the facility. Visitors are able to see how the milk gets transformed into cheese and how the finished product is packaged. They can even sample some of the cheeses produced there. Toon’s Bridge Dairy is owned by Andrew O'Brien and his wife, Caroline. He says he got the idea for the business while working as a chef in London. "I wanted to do something different," he explains. "I came across a cheese maker in France who had a similar setup to what I was looking at." O'Brien found a supplier willing to sell him equipment and began producing cheese. Then one day, he saw a sign advertising a cheese shop opening up near his home. "That was the spark," he recalls. "I thought, 'Why don't we start our own?'" In 2017, O'Brien and his family moved to Macroom and set up shop. They bought land next door and built a larger facility capable of producing twice as much cheese as the previous space. Today, the pair grows their own grassfed cows and milks them twice daily. From there, the milk goes through three stages of production. First, it's pasteurized and homogenized. Next, it undergoes fermentation and ripening. Finally, the curds are cut and pressed into wheels. Once the process is complete, the wheels go through aging and drying. During this stage, the cheese develops flavor and texture. Once dry, the cheese is packed and shipped off to customers. As part of the expansion, O'Brien plans to add a retail store to the property. Customers will be able to buy cheese straight from the source and take it home.

Toons Bridge Dairy, Macroom for Italian cheeses, olives and pizza

The Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland is one of the most popular culinary destinations in the world. With over 300 students enrolled each week, it offers classes in everything from bread baking to chocolate making. And now you can experience the magic yourself without having to spend thousands of dollars on lessons. In partnership with the hotel, we offer a four-course meal for £29 per person. This includes a starter, main course, dessert and coffee or tea. You don't even need to book ahead - just turn up at the restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal. We recommend booking well in advance though, especially during peak season. If you're planning a trip to Ireland, why not make sure you know what you're getting into? Booking online gives you access to our exclusive member discounts.

Toons Bridge Dairy, Macroom for Italian cheeses, olives and pizza
Ballymaloe Country Hotel House and Restaurant, Ballycotton 
Ballymaloe Country Hotel House and Restaurant, Ballycotton 

Kinsale is famous for its fresh fish. And it’s no wonder why. Located just off Cork’s southern coast, Kinsale is home to some of Ireland’s finest restaurants serving up freshly caught seafood. But how do you know whether or not the fish you are eating is really fresh? Well, here’s a list of things to look out for. 1. Look for bright eyes. Fresh fish always have clear eyes. If the eyes are cloudy or milky, then the fish isn’t very fresh. 2. Check the smell. When buying fish, check the smell. If there’s a strong smell, don’t buy it. A fishy smell is usually a sign of poor quality. 3. Look for slime. Slime is another good indicator of freshness. Don’t buy fish with lots of slime. 4. Look for firm flesh. Firm flesh indicates that the fish hasn’t been frozen. Frozen fish is often tasteless and rubbery. 5. Look for red gills. Red gills indicate that the fish has been alive for less than 24 hours. Green gills mean that the fish has been dead for longer than 24 hours. 6. Look for a shiny exterior. Shiny skin is a sign that the fish has been properly cleaned.

Fishy Fishy, Kinsale best for fresh seafood

Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man. Archaeologists believe it originated somewhere along the Silk Road in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). It was brought to Ireland by the Romans. In fact, there are many kinds of meads around the world, including Honey Wine, Apple Wine, Spiced Wine, Barley Wine and Cider. Mead is produced by fermenting honey with water and yeast. Kinsale Mead Company makes mead from local honey. They call it "the original fermented honey drink." The Kinsale Mead Company offers tours where you can sample different types of mead. You can try the traditional style, flavored varieties, or even a special blend called "Taste of History." The tour guides explain how the process works and what each flavor tastes like. Then, you take home some samples to enjoy later. Sage, Midleton The owner of this Irish restaurant says he wants his customers to feel like part of the family. He serves traditional dishes such as shepherd’s pie, steak and kidney pudding and chicken pot pie. But he also offers something different — a menu full of vegetarian options. And it works. Customers say they love the food and the atmosphere. They even come back again and again. This is an allvegetarain restaurant in Cork city centre that offers three courses for €25. The menu includes dishes such as lentil soup, mushroom risotto, vegetable lasagne, sweet potato gnocchi and beetroot salad. Bookings are recommended.

Fishy Fishy, Kinsale best for fresh seafood

The best way to prepare food is to put it in containers and freeze it. When you're ready to reheat, just thaw the container and microwave it for 2 minutes.