In West Cork, Ireland’s natural larder is visible at every turn. From grass fed cattle grazing in fields to fishing boasts in harbours, It’s not uncommon for food to go from ‘farm to fork’ or tide to table within hours – if not minutes. Supplying the tasty treats on your plate are the artisan food producers and sustainable farmers whose fields dot the coast, and they have long-seated relationships with the hands that feed you. As you dine in West Cork you can meet the makers, stay on farms, take part in food festivals and learn traditional skills, like foraging and fishing.
It not a formal affair, ask in the bakery, at your table, on the quayside or at the bar about your food and how far it has travelled, to really get a sense of place.
Restaurants, gastro-pubs, cafes and markets are in abundance in West Cork. Indigenous Irish ingredients, expertly prepared means simply, unfussy food. It’s all about the simple pleasures, so forget the rigid itinerary and leave time to soak up the warm welcome and enjoy great food.
There are more artisan food producers in West Cork than anywhere else in Ireland. These artisans have become household names, regular fixtures on menus across the country, and staples in our kitchens. So whether it is just to pack a delicious picnic while on a day out or to stock your pantry while staying in West Cork be sure to pop in.
Specialist Food Shops
Why not Toast the Coast with the ‘Water of Life’ or visit Ireland’s only Meadery in Kinsale, or make a bottle of your own gin at one of only two gin schools in Ireland in Clonakilty? Get into the spirit of West Cork.
Breweries & Distilleries
Smells of freshly baked sour dough bread, seafood straight from bay and an abundance of farmhouse cheeses and local salamis– West Cork Farmers markets are the bedrock of local community life. This is where you can try authentic street food with an artisan twist as people picnic in the sunshine and snack on the go.
Visit a Market
West Cork with a vibrant culture, a land of green fields and pristine waters, a windswept coastline and a mild climate influenced by the Gulf stream gives us bountiful, sustainable and high quality food produce. And that before we take into account the warmest of welcomes and the legendary West Cork welcome which uniquely sets us apart. We invite you to meet some of the wonderful producers.
Meet the Makers
Food Tours are an excellent way to get to know the local food culture with an expert guide. So be it a Taste the Town offering or Foraging on the Coast these are experiences to nourish both the body and soul and really immerse you and let you savour the flavours of West Cork.
West Cork Food Tours
