Liberty Grill

Casey's of Baltimore Hotel

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.

Greenes, Cork for fancy dining

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.

Cask, Cork for expertly crafted cocktails

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.

Cafe Paradiso, Cork for legendary vegetarian food

Cafe Paradiso, Cork for legendary vegetarian food

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.

The English Market, Cork for exploring Ireland's larder

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.

The English Market, Cork for exploring Ireland's larder
Toons Bridge Dairy, Macroom for Italian cheeses, olives and pizza
Toons Bridge Dairy, Macroom for Italian cheeses, olives and pizza

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.

Ballymaloe Country Hotel House and Restaurant, Ballycotton 

Cork has long been known as one of Ireland’s most beautiful cities. But did you know that there are over 50 Michelin star rated restaurants in Cork alone? And that Cork has some of the best food in Ireland? We asked our resident expert, chef John Mullins, to tell us about five reasons why Cork tastes amazing. 1. Cork City is home to the second largest urban park in Europe – Phoenix Park. This green space covers 730 acres and includes the city’s zoo, botanic gardens, museums and art galleries. 2. In recent years, Cork has become renowned for its innovative chefs. Some of the world’s most famous names hail from Cork including Seamus Heaney, Paul Hollywood, Anthony Bourdain and Nuala O'Connor. 3. Cork is home to the oldest working brewery in Ireland - Jameson Distillery. Established in 1780, Jameson is still family owned today. 4. If you love seafood, you’ll love the variety of fish found off the coast of Cork. From cod to salmon, mackerel to mussels, there’s something for everyone. 5. Cork is just 30 minutes away from Dublin Airport, making it easy to access. So whether youre planning a weekend break or heading out for a week, Cork is the perfect base.

Ballymaloe Country Hotel House and Restaurant, Ballycotton 

Jack Daniel's whiskey gets its name from Jack Daniel, the founder of the company. He named his distillery after himself.