Sheep's Head Retreat

West Cork is renowned for the quality and range of its artisan foods.

The Bridgestone Irish Food Guide by John & Sally McKenna lists leading artisan food producers, the best food shops, the choicest restaurants, cafes and coffee shops and a list of markets.

The Slow Food Movement is run by the cookery writer Diane Cirtin. Consult website for information for events in the area. (visitors welcomed)

Take Away

Marie O'Mahony's Home Cooked Frozen Meals and Pasta Sauces
available at Kilcrohane Post Office/Shop.

Dining Out

Kilcrohane

The Telegraph Office
(restaurant above the Post Office) run by Marie O'Mahony. June/August (Tel: 027 67001)

The Grain Store
Bridgestone Guide
(attached to the Post Office, to the left) wine bar, food and music. Dinner. Snack lunches outside (and take aways) paninis, prawn salads etc. June/August (Tel: 027 67001)

Local Producers Market by O'Donovans Motors on left by bridge on entry to Kilcrohane.
Open daily 11.00 am - 5.00 pm.

Fresh fish for sale outside Fitzpatrick's pub every Wednesday about 1.00 pm.

Ahakista

The Heron Gallery
(follow signs from Durrus/Ahakista) Have delicious homemade cakes, hot or cold drinks in an 'escapist' large pretty garden with pond, or eat lunch/tea/evening meal inside the cottage surrounded by paintings, some by the owner Annabel Langrish.The second room is an art gallery and craft shop. Call for opening times. (Tel: 027 67278)

Arundel's on the Pier
Good pub food, mainly seafood, excellent chowder. Beautiful situation overlooking Ahakista Pier.
Occasional music gigs. Call for opening times. (Tel: 027 67033)

Durrus

Good Things Café & Cookery School
Georgina Campbell
Bridgestone Guide
Carmel Somers has a wide reputation for the originality of her cooking using seasonal local foods. Lunch: 12.30/3.00 pm Dinner: 7.00/8.30pm (Thurs/Sun) June/Sept. Open Easter and Bank Holiday weekends.
(Tel: 027 62913)

Blair's Cove Restaurant (Blairs Cove House)
Michelin & Bridgestone Guides
(under new management) Beautiful country house setting. Richard and Anthea Milnes.
(Tel: 027-62913)

The Gateway Cafe Brasserie
Receiving high praise for its delicious food - offshoot of Ryan's the award winning food store next door. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tea, coffee, and wine served all day. Free WiFi and Internet available.
10.00 am/9.00 pm (Six days a week) 9.30 am/9.30 pm (Saturday)
Claire Ryan (Tel: 027-61353) thegatewaycafe@gmail.com

The Longboat Pub
Substantial country food. Good value. (Tel: 027-61144)

Sheep’s Head Pub
Restaurant style pub food. (Tel: 027-62822)

Ryan's - The Village Grocer
Bridgestone Guide
Brilliant shop selling all the good produce of West Cork.
(Open: 7.00 am - 10.00 pm Mon/Sat and 8.30 am - 10.00 pm Sun) (Tel: 027-61184)

Durrus Farmhouse Cheese (Coomkeen, Durrus)
Mid-day visits can be arranged. (Tel: 027-61017)

Bantry

There are a number of good places to eat and the following are those that are highly recommended.

O'Connor's Seafood Restaurant (The Square)
Georgina Campbell Seafood Restaurant of the Year 2009
Michelin & Bridgestone Guides
Superbly professional, famous for its fish and seafood, they also have very good meat dishes.
Open: 12.15/3.00 pm Thurs/Fri and 6/9.00 pm Mon/Sat (Tel: 027-50221/510940)

The Fish Kitchen
Georgina Campbell
Bridgestone Guide
Casual Bistro style fish restaurant upstairs above Central Fish Market. Delicious and affordable.
Open: Tues/Sat Lunch noon/4 pm, Dinner 5.30 pm/9.00 pm (Tel: 027-56651)

Tractor's Family Restaurant (Main Street)
No frills family restaurant. Comfortable seating. Gourmet burgers, salads, yummy cakes, good coffee.
Open: Breakfast 9 am/noon, Lunch noon/4 pm, Coffee and Cakes 4 pm/6 pm, Supper 6 pm-Late (Tel: 027-55111)

Organico Café (2 Glengarrif Road)
Bridgestone Guide
Imaginative, creative, organic, vegetarian food and excellent shop.
Hannah and Rachel Dare. Open: 9.30 am/6.00 pm Mon/Sat (Tel: 027-55905)

The Snug (The Quay)
Bridgestone Guide
Delicious roast of the day, fresh fish etc. good tasty cooking.
Maurice and Colette O'Donovan. Open: noon/8.45 pm (Tel: 027-50073)

De Barra's (The Square - near Bank of Ireland)
Café, excellent homemade soups, casseroles, salads etc.
Open: 9.00 a.m./5.30 pm Mon/Sat. Sun: Breakfast 10.00 a.m. - close 3.00 pm

Ma Murphy's (New Street)
A real gem, an old Irish pub entered thru their shop. Traditional and other music gigs.
Outdoor area. Food Summer only.
Open: 1.00 pm - midnight Mon/Thurs. 12.30 pm/11.30 pm Fri/Sat (Tel: 027-50242)

FOR ALL RESTAURANTS BOOKING IS ADVISED.

Local Markets Selling Artisan Foods

Bantry (Largest market in Ireland)
(Fridays: approx. 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 pm)
Vegetables, home made foods, ethnic and second hand clothes, bric a brac. Excellent cheese and home made salami, olive stall with mediterranean salads. Livestock and poultry. Market on the first Friday of the month larger and more livestock.

Skibbereen
(Friday and Saturday 9.00 a.m. to lunchtime)
Country/Farmers Market, Abbytstrewery Parish Hall

Clonakilty
Farmer's Market (Thursday 9.00 a.m. - 2.30 pm)
O'Donovan's Hotel car park, Pearse Street.
Clonakilty Food Market (Friday 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 pm)
Bigger than the Farmer's Market.

Sheep and Horse Fairs

Bantry - Wolfe Tone Square
(September - check dates in the Southern Star newspaper)

Food Festivals

West Cork Food Festival, Skibbereen (3rd weekend in September)

Kinsale Food Festival
Kinsale renowned for the quality of its cuisine, especially fish. (see Southern Star for information)

Photographs: My thanks to E.J.Carr, Durrus Cheese, Martin Flynn, Gougane Barra Hotel, Nigel Lemon, West Cork Music