Michelin Moments & More On The Culinary Coast: Kinsale to Kenmare
A Giant Slice of Heaven for Michelin Lovers & Adventurous Foodies
If you are a lover of quality food, West Cork & Kenmare is a GIANT slice of heaven. From traditional pubs to Michelin star restaurants, quirky brunch cafés, long-established food festivals, pioneering chefs and Ireland’s greatest concentration of award-winning artisan producers, the area is leading a culinary revolution and has become a destination for foodies.
Day 1
Just 30 minutes from Cork city and located at the start/finish of the Wild Atlantic Way, Kinsale is one of Ireland’s most picturesque harbour towns. You’ll be spoilt for choice here with Michelin stars and Michelin recommendations as well as some great gastro pubs and quirky cafés.
Kick off the day with breakfast or brunch at OHK (O’ Herlihys Kinsale). A buzzy little breakfast bar in a former pub. The sisters have combined their art school background with their experiences from working at farmers markets around Ireland to create a unique atmosphere where simple fare is presented in a delightful way.
Stop by Kokos of Kinsale for an amazing hot chocolate. This little artisan chocolate shop is a real gem. Produced with an assortment of local ingredients, Frank Keane expertly creates and flavours the most beautiful and delicious artisan chocolates from this shop. They do great coffees too.
Fine Dining
If you’re looking for an exquisite fine dining experience, there’s two wonderful options to choose from in Kinsale
Rare at The Blue Haven Hotel (pictured) is an exciting
dining experience recommended by the Michelin Guide - hours of creative time
has been poured into the conception of all dishes and menus to offer an unforgettable dining experience.
Chef Meeran Manzoor marries French cooking
techniques with flavours of India using local produce. His hyper-seasonal approach pushes him
to constantly update and elevate the menu, so no two experiences at Rare are ever
the same.
Set in the very centre of town, MIchelin star awarded Bastion is a contemporary restaurant owned and run by a talented couple: Paul McDonald cooks, while his wife Helen looks after the service. The skilfully prepared, exacting dishes take on a modern style and often exhibit a playful, innovative element, while at the same time showing depth in their flavours and textures.
Insider Tips
1. Saint Francis Provisions (pictured) which holds a Michelin guide Bib Gourmand distinction is an endearing laid-back
restaurant that has just 13 seats inside, with a heated terrace out front. The
concise, daily changing menu offers a range of Mediterranean-inspired small
plates created from the best local ingredients.
2. If you’re planning a
picnic as you venture on, fill your basket with artisan delights at the The Gourmet Pantry
3. Grab a coffee or a sherry at Prim’s
Bookshop & Sherry Bar
4. Kinsale
Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday
morning in the town centre car park.
5. Take a tour of Blacks of Kinsale,
Ireland’s first co-located Brewery and Distillery and try their array of craft
beers and boutique spirits.
6. Kinsale Sea Safari offer fun and exciting
boat trips for the more adventurous
visitor. A wonderful way to explore Kinsale harbour, the old head of Kinsale
and the magic of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Day 2
Head for Courtmacsherry, referred to as “Courtmac”
by Corkonians, this is a charming seaside village with some fine eateries.
The Lifeboat Inn
is a waterfront gastropub - Irish produce takes centre stage in a wholesome
menu which includes locally caught seafood, as well as some of the finest meat
and poultry, which is also sourced from local butchers.
Less than 10 minutes from Courtmacsherry is
Timoleague, a beautiful sleepy village on the Wild Atlantic Way. Monk’s Lane
is a vibrant food and wine destination run by
couple Michelle O’Mahony and Gavin Moore (pictured).
Located in the heart of the village
in the shadow of an historic abbey, they focus on serving the best of fresh,
local, artisan produce.
The atmosphere
is intimate and cosy, the staff are extremely friendly, and their gin cocktails
are a treat.
Insider Tips
1.
Experience the excitement of whale and dolphin watching with Atlantic Whale & Wildlife Tours from Courtmacsherry
Pier, winner of Best West Cork Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Business 2025
2. The Courtmacsherry Hotel (pictured) is a great spot for alfresco dining on a fine day.
3. Work up an appetite
by taking in a section of the Seven Heads Walk.
Day 3
Next up is Clonakilty,
famous for its hand-painted shop fronts and Ireland’s favourite black pudding. Adrift Restaurant at Dunmore House Hotel
approx 10 minutes from Clonakilty town centre, offers spectacular views of
Clonakilty Bay and has been included in the MICHELIN Guide for Great Britain
and Ireland 2024.
The restaurant showcases tasty, modern dishes using locally
sourced produce, including some from their own organic kitchen garden. Across
the bay is Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, located on the famous Inchydoney
beach.
Celebrate the strong history and culture of great food production in
West Cork with lunch in Dunes Pub & Bistro or Fine Dining in The
Gulfstream Restaurant where the ethos is one of
fresh, locally sourced produce from the best local artisan producers and
suppliers. Scannells, the small bar with
the big garden, serve hearty lunches Tuesday to Saturday 12-4pm.
Insider Tips
1. Visit Michael
Collins House,
a museum in the centre of town dedicated to the Irish Patriot and Revolutionary
Hero
2. Enjoy a self-guided interactive tour at Clonakilty Black Pudding Visitor Centre
3. Stop by The Olive Branch and pick up some organic fruit & veg
and fresh bread – the owners here work with over fifty friends and producers to
bring what they deem to be the finest expression of what West Cork can
provide them.
4. The Recovery Pod Sauna at Inchydoney strand every Saturday and
Sunday is a wonderful place to relax and unwind after a day of exploring.
Day 4
Continue your culinary
adventure to the idyllic villages of Glandore and Union Hall. Hayes Bar & Kitchen
is great spot for the best of local seafood.
In front of the establishment is a stunning vista from Glandore harbour
across the bay to Union Hall.
Chef David
Wine has over 30 years’ experience pleasing the palates of guests everywhere he
has cooked. Time permitting, head across the bay to Union Hall where you’ll be
spoiled for choice there too.
The
Dock Wall offers a stylish and cozy interior and a
spacious terrace on the water with a great menu of locally sourced dishes.
Nearby, Dintys bar also guarantees a warm welcome and a great pint.
1. Turn up the heat at West Cork Sauna at Red Strand a short drive from Clonakilty.
2. The Fish Basket right next to Long Strand Beach is a buzzing spot for the freshest fish & chips and also great coffee
3. Check out Gormú Eco Adventures – Swim, Hike & E-Bike and enjoy some hearty artisan treats along the way accompanied by captivating storytelling.
4. Stop by Drombeg Stone Circle which dates back to the bronze age (1100 - 800 BC).
Day 5
Less than 30 minutes away in Baltimore you’ll find Michelin star restaurant DEDE @ Custom House (pictured). Chef Ahmet Dede’s warm, inviting restaurant in this West Cork coastal village is a masterful marriage between his Irish surroundings and his Turkish heritage. They combine the warmth and comfort of Turkish flavours and the very best of Irish seasonal produce. They offer a Lunch & Dinner Tasting Menu.
Their sister restaurant, Baba’de which earned its first bib gourmand in 2025 after just five months in business serves Turkish dishes in a beautiful newly renovated Mews old stone building. They serve brunch at weekends and it’s a real joy. With a name meaning ‘Baby Dede’, this second Baltimore venture from Chef Ahmet Dede is an ode to his family and comes with all the homespun charm you’d expect. Located mere feet away from his acclaimed flagship restaurant, this is a more relaxed affair but the great value sharing plates retain the older sibling’s ethos of Turkish flavours married with Irish produce.
The Algiers Inn is a much-loved spot by locals and tourists. They take the finest of West Cork’s local ingredients and infuse them with Californian to Mexican flavours, telling the stories of their travels through your tastebuds.
Insider Tips
1. Jacob's at The Waterfront (pictured) in Baltimore is a gem for lunch al fresco on a fine day.
2. Catch a ferry to Cape Clear taking in the iconic fastnet lighthouse and enjoy a delicious bowl of chowder or a local beer at Sean Rua’s Restaurant, just a two-minute stroll from where the ferry arrives. The nearby Cotters Pub is a traditional pub that offers similar levels of homespun West Cork charm.
3. Watch the sun set over Baltimore Harbour and Sherkin Island outside Bushe's Bar is One of the oldest Pubs in the charming village of Baltimore.
Day 6
Eat your way through Ballydehob, a laid-back haven for foodies. Michelin Star restaurant Chestnut in an intimate restaurant with only 18 seats, led by award-winning chef Rob Krowczyk. Make sure to check out Levis pub next door for great music and great local brewed drinks. Pick up a coffee and some delightful, sweet treats at Béal Blásta, a hive of easy-going activity.
1. On route to Mizen Head Signal Station stock up at Schull’s Sunday Farmer’s Market.
2. Blairscove House is situated on the picturesque inlet of Dunmanus Bay in West Cork’s gateway to Mizen Peninsula and Sheeps Head Peninsula, appealing to those who want to get ‘far from the madding crowd’.
Day 7
The charming town of Kenmare, nestled between the famous Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula isn't just a scenic stop – it's a destination for foodies with an array of cafés, bars and restaurants.
Rookery Lane (pictured) a little off the beaten path is a real gem for both breakfast and lunch.
For an elevated Irish dining experience, head to Landline Restaurant at the five-star Park Hotel Kenmare which has a coveted spot in the Michelin Guide and won Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant of the Year, 2025 in the Georgina Campbell Irish Food & Hospitality Awards.
The kitchen showcases a bounty of Irish produce presented with a contemporary touch and offers an experience that feels both timeless and forward-thinking.
No. 35 Restaurant in Kenmare town centre is a family-run, characterful and confident local dining room. They cook with the best of what’s around them in Kenmare, using ingredients in season. On their farm, just a mile up the road from the restaurant, the breed their own pedigree rare breed Saddleback pigs for the delicious free-range pork that they serve.
Tom Crean Brewery, located in the heart of Kenmare town is an enthralling experience for fans of both Tom Crean, Antarctic explorer and local craft beers. They produce many different styles of beer which can be sampled in the brewery Taproom, or you can join on one of the tours and find out how we brew beer in Kenmare.
Insider Tips
1. Lorge Chocolatier, owned and run by Benoit Lorge, creates luxury, hand-made, high-end confectionery using top quality ingredients.
Chocolate courses are also available for professionals & enthusiasts.
2. Stroll through the streets of Kenmare with Kenmare Foodie Tours while absorbing the lively atmosphere of this bustling scenic town.
Enjoy meeting food artisans and tasting produce including beer, cheese, bread, charcuterie and much more that can only be found locally.
3. Maison Gourmet is a fantastic and authentic French bakery in the town centre with a great brunch menu.
