Ask A Local: Insider Tips & Hidden Gems For West Cork

222At Sim Local, our team is lucky enough to be spread out across the globe giving us a truly local lens on so many destinations. That’s why we’ve launched the Ask A Local series: to bring you the hotspots and hidden gems straight from our team’s favourite corners of the world. This time, the spotlight is on West Cork, Ireland. A wild and wonderful stretch of coastline at the very edge of Europe. It’s home to rugged scenery, colourful towns, and some of the best food you’ll find anywhere on the island of Ireland. And who better to guide us than our very own Senior Paid Media Manager, Niamh, who’s based in the vibrant harbour town of Kinsale and knows the area like the back of her hand. Over to you Niamh...

West Cork is the most southerly point of Ireland and is the starting point (or end point, depending on your perspective) of the famous Wild Atlantic Way.  It covers around 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 sq miles) and is known for its rugged coastline, picturesque towns, and vibrant artisan food scene.  

Top Tip: Apart from all the tips below, by far my top tip is to make sure you pack what I call the “Irish uniform” i.e. rain-ja

Kinsale is the original gourmet capital in Ireland, establishing the Good Food Circle in the 1970s and making Kinsale a famous spot for the best food in the country. To this day, Kinsale prides itself on the best restaurants and you’ll find everything from Michelin Star restaurants to food trucks in this bustling, colourful town – and trust me, the food is delicious no matter where you eat. 

Breakfast: The Lemon Leaf they have a huge range on the menu covering anything you might be craving or any dietary requirement you might have. A busy spot, but you always get a table quickly, even if there’s a queue. I personally can’t get enough of their Rustic Hash 

Lunch: O’Herlihy’s Kinsale Definitely worth making a reservation as it’s not huge, and is always busy – but their flatbreads are yum! A quirky little spot right in the middle of town, if you can’t make it for food, their coffee is also great and you can order right from the hatch in the wall 

Dinner: The Bulman Again, definitely worth your while making a reservation here as, like most restaurants in Kinsale, it’s a busy spot. A few minute’s drive outside the town, you can enjoy your dinner looking across at the town of Kinsale in this beautiful setting. The pub downstairs is a traditional Irish pub, where you can enjoy a drink before or after your dinner. Bonus point: it’s a dog friendly pub, so you might meet some canine friends along the way 

Pastries: Seeds Bakery a relatively new addition to the town, any weekend morning I don’t make to Seeds feels like a weekend wasted! As a French bakery, their pastries are second to none. Their offerings can differ week to week but I have yet to regret a single choice (and trust me there has been a lot of sampling done!). Pair with their delicious coffee and watch the world go by 

Coffee: Wild and Tame Kinsale is bustling with coffee shops but Wild and Tame is my favourite coffee. Using locally roasted coffee beans, their coffee has never let me down. The store is lovely, the staff are helpful and efficient and even my dog loves going in her as she’s always given a freebie treat!