This is not a distillery tour. It is an education in Irish whiskey -- and a genuinely memorable…read moreone. The Midleton Distillery Experience is home to seven iconic Irish whiskey brands: Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, and Knappogue Castle. The site itself is the original Old Midleton Distillery, and walking through it means moving through restored 19th-century warehouse buildings where whiskey has been aged in oak casks for generations. The history is embedded in the walls, and the experience is designed to make sure you actually feel it rather than just walk past it. We booked the private premium tasting tour, and the decision to go private changed the entire dynamic of the visit. Our tour guide -- French by birth, now based in Ireland having moved to learn English -- was exceptional. His enthusiasm for Irish whiskey was completely genuine, his knowledge was deep, and his ability to translate that knowledge into something both accessible and fascinating made the experience far better than any standard group tour could have. The kind of guide who makes you leave knowing things you did not expect to know when you arrived. The premium tasting takes you through four prestige whiskeys from the distillery's range, each contextualised properly rather than just poured and moved on from. The difference between what's available here and what you find on a standard shelf is immediately apparent. The highlight, and the moment that made the visit stick: I purchased a cask strength expression at 61% and bottled it myself directly from the cask. That is a singular experience -- standing in a working distillery, filling your own bottle from a numbered cask, corking it by hand. It is not a gimmick. It is exactly what it sounds like, and it earns every penny. If you are in the Cork area, include this in your itinerary without hesitation. The experience here is more thorough and personal than anything the Dublin distillery offers. Go private if you can, and stay long enough to bottle something. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Yes

Daniel gave us a wonderful and very informative tour of the whiskey distillery. There was a…read moretasting afterwards, complimentary drink and a wonderful little cafe to sit. The gift shop is full of options for yourself or others. You won't leave empty handed!

Hands down the best breakfast we had in Ireland. We had the Huevos Rancheros and French Toast…read more The presentation was beautiful, but I only wish you could taste how fresh all the ingredients were. The interior is clean and quaint with fresh flowers on each table and a carafe of water infused with fresh cut oranges and limes. It was very refreshing. The coffee was superb. My Americano was served with a beautiful heavy cream. The service was friendly and quick. If you are staying in Kinsale, take the time to drive here for breakfast. It is on the way to Old Head, which is also worth the drive.

Had the Reuben, it was fantastic. The better half had the fish tacos and was equally impressed.read more

THE BALLYMALOE SHOP Let me put you straight here. There is…read morejust one Ballymaloe café. There are two Ballymaloe shops and the one I'm talking about here is, like the café, adjacent to Ballymaloe House (which has its own entrance). The Ballymaloe Cookery School and Gardens are about a mile away, entrance from Shanagarry village. There is no café here but they do have a farm shop attached. The shop at Ballymaloe House sells crafts (including knitwear and pottery) and some food (mainly in jars and bottles, such as jam and honey). Perhaps its most impressive area is the kitchen room which must have every small and not so small tool you'll ever need. We certainly helped ourselves to a few handy items on today's visit. Food items purchased here included Ballymaloe Jalapeno Pepper Relish (€2.95), Gourmet Handmade Plum Jam by Helen Gee from Laois (€3.50) and Deise Irish Honey (expensive at €6.95). We didn't need any help today but the staff were very pleasant and we saw them help out some English visitors in a courteous and friendly fashion and their exchanges with us were along the same lines. I know some people are worried about declining standards of courtesy but I find the opposite is true in the food and drinks industry, in the Cork area at least. There is plenty of parking by the shop and you may also call to the Café) at the back of the shop) and also to the Grain Store (which sometimes hosts art exhibitions). http://www.ballymaloe.ie/ballymaloeshop/index.html Phone: +353 (0) 21 4652032

Excellent spot with a great ambiance, amazing locally roasted coffees and teas , delicious baked…read moregoods and a creative menu. The town surrounding is adorable and worth a quick walk about.

Adorable setting in Clonakilty, bright and open space in the bakery. There are many pastries…read moredisplayed that smell amazing. They have many selections for coffee, including iced beverages-- which is not common in my experience. I had an iced latte and scrambled eggs with toast. It was great fresh bread and delicious buttery eggs. A large serving for the price! Staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. It is always nice to find a place that has water available to anyone whenever they want it! I loved sitting there and observing the locals in this quaint little town, I would definitely recommend it!!

Step into a eclectic vintage dream, at Café Townhouse in the heart of Doneraile, North Co. Cork…read more It really is a treat for all the senses. Warm and kind staff, delicious food, all set in the glamour of a bygone Parisian salon, yet with the cosiness and relaxed atmosphere of home. We sank into lush armchairs and never wanted to leave! Will be back for midday catch ups and have my eye on the stunning events parlor for a special occasion. A real find! Thank you so much for treating us so well, we felt truely spoilt! Highly recommend!

Stopped off here for some lunch. Amazing setting, food and staff…read more The café was like something from Downton Abbey, cozy and relaxing. Worth the journey and will definitely be back again.

Absolutely lovely! We had such a wonderful time stopping in here for a pot of tea and a sandwich…read more The bakery was recommended to us by a tour guide named Susan. The bread here is absolutely divine! The bakery is known to use a scotch brick oven (and trust me, their end product is one of the best). I am regretful that I did not bring a loaf of bread with us. Until our next trip to Ireland! We really enjoyed the pesto chicken and cheese open-faced sandwich. It was such a nice place to stop, have a pastry, warm pot of tea to gather ourselves for our next trip while on the road. We were visiting from America and on a road trip throughout the entire south before visiting family up north. It was very helpful to be able to have some wifi to help us plan our next steps.

Great bakery in a charming town. Outstanding croissants and…read morewonderful hot chocolate. The scones are delicious and the small Irish breakfast was great. Black pudding? Friendly service. I highly recommend this bakery!

Came by on a Monday at around 2:30 AM, excited to try some food. Unfortunately, everything seemed…read morepretty basic and overpriced, and there didn't seem to be too many options. Instead, the stalls mainly sell produce, meat, cheese, and seafood, which would be great if you were a local, but we were just visiting. There are a few stalls selling things like candies/honey/jams, that were reasonably priced, so we bought a few of those to bring home as souvenirs. We spent probably about half an hour walking around and made it through the entire market. It was fun to walk around and see all the local goods/products, but don't expect a lot of options for good food if you're hungry.

I was expecting more from this English Market. The selections were not that big (pretty basic…read morestuff), but everything seemed to be very pricey. Not impressed at all