The Best Restaurants in County Cork

Many of County Cork’s best restaurants are located along its south coast, including this MICHELIN-Starred spot in the picture-postcard town of Kinsale. Known for its colourful streets and acclaimed gastronomic scene, Kinsale is a must-visit for any foodie on a tour of the county. Bastion, as the jewel in its crown, invites great expectations and continuously delivers on them thanks to the skill and precision of the kitchen. Superb ingredients are the core of the cooking, with the chefs using them to extract impressive depth of flavour.

With its edge-of-civilisation peninsulas and breathtaking coastal views, West Cork is known as one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland. It’s also celebrated for its super produce, much of which is on show at this MICHELIN-Star restaurant in the coastal village of Ballydehob. It’s one of those places where the team – led by Chef-Owner Rob Krawczyk – have got every detail of the experience spot-on. The former pub premises have been turned into an inviting, cosy space; the service is superbly well run; and the cooking eschews showing off in favour of pure, unadulterated flavour.

Another West Cork gem, Ahmet Dede’s restaurant could scarcely be any further south without falling into the Celtic Sea. From its enviable location to its fusion of Turkish flavours with local ingredients, it’s a unique restaurant and one of Ireland’s very best. Turkey's broad range of culinary influences are included on the thrilling tasting menu, where you'll find technical skill, invention and a superb sense of balance throughout. The team never forget the importance of offering a friendly, personal approach, too. The restaurant's younger sibling, Baba'de, is just up the road and holds a Bib Gourmand for its excellent value for money.

One of two brilliant Bib Gourmands in Cork City itself, Goldie centres its menu around sensibly priced and thoroughly satisfying dishes that showcase a variety of seafood treated with a fin-to-scale approach and enhanced by a wide arsenal of techniques and flavours, from pickling and preserving to a range of Asian influences. The compact space creates a crackling atmosphere from the joyous, well-fed diners. It’s the kind of place you’d find in the Mediterranean, without having to leave the wonderful streets of Cork.  

The second of Cork City’s excellently priced eateries is this Japanese operation that has the pleasantly relaxed, buzzy vibe you’d expect from the ‘Bistro’ part of its name. Combine the fun atmosphere with a menu that lends itself to sharing and you’ve got a place that makes the ideal spot to come with friends. The Japanese dishes include donburi and soba selections and each one is founded on quality ingredients, with the likes of Skeaghanore duck ensuring the Irish heart keeps beating.

One of Bastion’s closest neighbours in beautiful Kinsale, Saint Francis Provisions is a rare gem of a restaurant. It’s not just got wonderful, generous food with big dollops of flavour, but it’s simply such an all-round lovely place to visit. The service is sweet, friendly and gives the impression that the team really care about you having a good time; the décor is eclectic and inviting; and, of course, the setting is marvellous, with a heated terrace available for you to enjoy the fresh sea air.

The second County Cork restaurant with Two MICHELIN Stars, Terre is one of the many attractions within the stunning Castlemartyr Resort. Holder of a MICHELIN Key, this grand country house estate features tennis courts, a golf club and a spa, among other luxury touches. Terre is a dining experience befitting of the location, with cooking that fuses superb culinary technique with dashes of originality, global influences and impeccable ingredients from around Ireland.

Discover more MICHELIN-Key hotels in Ireland, several of which come with MICHELIN-Star restaurants.