Guidebook for Kinsale
Restaurants Kinsale
Our favourite places to eat...
Fabulous! Small plates, great wine, relaxed vibe.
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5.30 pm.
Booking in advance essential. This is a really popular place, book as far in advance as possible (weeks!) online booking system.
33 locals recommend
The Black Pig
66 Lower O'Connell StreetFabulous! Small plates, great wine, relaxed vibe.
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5.30 pm.
Booking in advance essential. This is a really popular place, book as far in advance as possible (weeks!) online booking system.
Fresh... local... friendly... interesting food and great service. Small funky place, book in advance. Open Wednesday-Saturday from
5.30pm. Online booking system
Saint Francis Provisions
Fresh... local... friendly... interesting food and great service. Small funky place, book in advance. Open Wednesday-Saturday from
5.30pm. Online booking system
Kinsale’s first Michelin star restaurant! Fabulous tasting menu and wine pairing.
Thursday-Sunday, from 5:30pm till late.
Booking ahead essential, online booking system
11 locals recommend
Bastion
Kinsale’s first Michelin star restaurant! Fabulous tasting menu and wine pairing.
Thursday-Sunday, from 5:30pm till late.
Booking ahead essential, online booking system
The restaurant that started Kinsale on the food map! Fabulous food, classy, stylish and great service without being stuffy. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Online booking system.
35 locals recommend
Fishy Fishy Kinsale
The restaurant that started Kinsale on the food map! Fabulous food, classy, stylish and great service without being stuffy. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Online booking system.
Upstairs part of Fishy Fishy... small plates, relaxed atmosphere. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Online booking system
The Blue Room
Upstairs part of Fishy Fishy... small plates, relaxed atmosphere. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Online booking system
Absolutely brilliant, fresh ingredients and cooked to order. Take away or eat in. Alcohol not sold here. Open weds-sun
Malay Kitchen Kinsale
Absolutely brilliant, fresh ingredients and cooked to order. Take away or eat in. Alcohol not sold here. Open weds-sun
Just a minutes walk from here it’s a super handy restaurant! Open Tuesday to Saturday. Online booking system
21 locals recommend
Man Friday
Just a minutes walk from here it’s a super handy restaurant! Open Tuesday to Saturday. Online booking system
A quick drive from Kinsale takes you to Ballinspittle village and to this fabulous restaurant! It’s absolutely our favourite place to eat… relaxed, friendly vibe and great food. We’d share a starter as they’re substantial!
Cracking food, reasonable pricing, local produce.
Open Wednesday to Sunday
Wild Restaurant Cork
Main StreetA quick drive from Kinsale takes you to Ballinspittle village and to this fabulous restaurant! It’s absolutely our favourite place to eat… relaxed, friendly vibe and great food. We’d share a starter as they’re substantial!
Cracking food, reasonable pricing, local produce.
Open Wednesday to Sunday
The best fish and chips in town! Find Shirleys up at Charles Fort on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Her family have one of the local fisahing boats here so her fish is as fresh as you can get. And she's absolutely lovely!
Shirley's - Fish & Chips, Kinsale
The best fish and chips in town! Find Shirleys up at Charles Fort on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Her family have one of the local fisahing boats here so her fish is as fresh as you can get. And she's absolutely lovely!
The Spaniard is our closest pub and also serves good pub grub! Nothing fancy, nice and relaxed, friendly service.
24 locals recommend
The Spaniard Inn
The Spaniard is our closest pub and also serves good pub grub! Nothing fancy, nice and relaxed, friendly service.
Entertainment & Activities
Kinsale Deep Sea Angling
Pier RoadSovereign Sailing Ltd
Occupying a stunning and unique headland reaching out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, the Old Head of Kinsale is home to the most spectacular world-class golf course.
The Club has developed into one of the most recognised and sought after golf experiences anywhere. It is a sanctuary for those seeking the finest in personalized service.
15 locals recommend
Old Head Golf Links
Occupying a stunning and unique headland reaching out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean, the Old Head of Kinsale is home to the most spectacular world-class golf course.
The Club has developed into one of the most recognised and sought after golf experiences anywhere. It is a sanctuary for those seeking the finest in personalized service.
Fabulous wooden barrel open sauna by the sea… Oysterhaven.
Book online myhaven .ie
My Haven Sauna, Oysterhaven
Fabulous wooden barrel open sauna by the sea… Oysterhaven.
Book online myhaven .ie
New for 2024!
Absolutely brilliant 2 hour rib trip to see all Kinsale and the surrounding area from the sea! Visit Old Head and The Soverign Islands, see seals and a whole variety of local wildlife! All weather gear and life jackets provided.
Meet in their reception opposite Kinsale Marina, next to Eoin O’Connors gallery. Book ahead if possible as they will be busy! We absolutely love this Sea Safari and wholeheartedly recommend it! Enjoy!
Kinsale Sea Safari
New for 2024!
Absolutely brilliant 2 hour rib trip to see all Kinsale and the surrounding area from the sea! Visit Old Head and The Soverign Islands, see seals and a whole variety of local wildlife! All weather gear and life jackets provided.
Meet in their reception opposite Kinsale Marina, next to Eoin O’Connors gallery. Book ahead if possible as they will be busy! We absolutely love this Sea Safari and wholeheartedly recommend it! Enjoy!
Visit the first distillery to open in almost 50 years in Cork City! Fabulous Maharani Gin and Absinthe. Great Tours and coctail classes availble! Absolutely beautiful unique Gin too (we can personally vouch for that!)
Rebel City Distillery
Visit the first distillery to open in almost 50 years in Cork City! Fabulous Maharani Gin and Absinthe. Great Tours and coctail classes availble! Absolutely beautiful unique Gin too (we can personally vouch for that!)
In 2015 Blacks expanded, adding a state-of-the-art distillery and became Ireland’s first co-located brewery & distillery.
A range of great tours available, tastings, a bar and shop!
Blacks Brewery and Distillery Kinsale
Farm LaneIn 2015 Blacks expanded, adding a state-of-the-art distillery and became Ireland’s first co-located brewery & distillery.
A range of great tours available, tastings, a bar and shop!
Check out Kinsale Mead, an entertaining fun tour at Ireland's first Meadery in 200 years.
They are open for tours Tue to Sun 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, and on Mondays from May to Sept.
Open for tastings of our award winning mead selection from 11 to 5pm each day.
Drop in if you are in the area for a real treat.
Kinsale Mead Co
Unit 5 Barracks LnCheck out Kinsale Mead, an entertaining fun tour at Ireland's first Meadery in 200 years.
They are open for tours Tue to Sun 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, and on Mondays from May to Sept.
Open for tastings of our award winning mead selection from 11 to 5pm each day.
Drop in if you are in the area for a real treat.
Sightseeing
Charles Fort
a great spot and a good place to take a guided tour
Walk to James Fort and drop into The Dock for a small Guinness on the way back!
22 locals recommend
James Fort
Walk to James Fort and drop into The Dock for a small Guinness on the way back!
Kinsale Harbour Cruises
Old Head of Kinsale
Old Head Signal Tower and Lusitania Museum
About an hour away from us is in Cobh (pronounced Cove!) the fabulous Titanic Experience. Immerse yourself and imagine what your life would have been like on the Titanic. Well worth a trip.
65 locals recommend
Titanic Experience Cobh
20 Casement SquareAbout an hour away from us is in Cobh (pronounced Cove!) the fabulous Titanic Experience. Immerse yourself and imagine what your life would have been like on the Titanic. Well worth a trip.
A 50 minute drive from us is the Jamesons Distillery at Midleton. A fabulour tour and tasting is highly recommended! Worth a trip out or put it on your list to do on the way here!
71 locals recommend
Jameson Distillery Midleton
Distillery WalkA 50 minute drive from us is the Jamesons Distillery at Midleton. A fabulour tour and tasting is highly recommended! Worth a trip out or put it on your list to do on the way here!
The English Market
Grand ParadeFabulous foodie destination in Cork.
Abour 40 minutes drive from us is the famous Blarney Castle. Kiss the Blarney Stone if you wish!
Blarney Castle & Gardens
Abour 40 minutes drive from us is the famous Blarney Castle. Kiss the Blarney Stone if you wish!
Great people to know!
A few of our favourite folk in Kinsale.
Fintan and his team are just great! Fintan is part of Kinsale’s fabric, and a fabulously creative soul... superstar hairstylist and guaranteed great music !
Fintan Lynch Hairdressing
61 Main StFintan and his team are just great! Fintan is part of Kinsale’s fabric, and a fabulously creative soul... superstar hairstylist and guaranteed great music !
Brilliant pharmacy really well run with great family behind it all.
Just opposite Market Place Surgery, also recommended if you need to see a GP on your trip.
Collins Kinsale Pharmacy
12 Market PlBrilliant pharmacy really well run with great family behind it all.
Just opposite Market Place Surgery, also recommended if you need to see a GP on your trip.
Great central GP surgery with a range of facilities should you need during your stay.
Pharmacy opposite.
Market Place Surgery
3 Market PlGreat central GP surgery with a range of facilities should you need during your stay.
Pharmacy opposite.
Drinks
Kinsales landmark pub! The Spaniard is a classic, open fire, low ceilings, warm welcome pub.
24 locals recommend
The Spaniard Inn
Kinsales landmark pub! The Spaniard is a classic, open fire, low ceilings, warm welcome pub.
One of our favourite pubs, the best Guinness in town! Family owned and run. Fantastic winter or summer sat outside. Friday and Saturday nights there is a fantastic food van outside called The Dock Pod serving restaurant style meals that they will bring to you in the pub!
The Dock Bar
One of our favourite pubs, the best Guinness in town! Family owned and run. Fantastic winter or summer sat outside. Friday and Saturday nights there is a fantastic food van outside called The Dock Pod serving restaurant style meals that they will bring to you in the pub!
City advice
Getting around
Transport from Dublin
If you’re heading down to Cork directly from Dublin Airport, the easiest way is by bus! There’s a non stop bus to Cork that leaves from the terminal. Look at Aircoach or GoBus to book. It’s 3.5 hours max direct. Book in advance online.
There are also buses directly from Dublin centre to Cork, again GoBus and Aircoach. You need to book in advance.
Alternatively get a train from Dublin centre to Cork. (Taxi or bus into Dublin train station from the terminal).
Book before you go
Sunday/Monday/Tuesday eating out is limited.
Kinsale is limited for places to eat out on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. These places below are open and worth booking in advance due to limited availability on these nights in town:
Open Sunday:
The Black Pig
Fishy Fishy
The Blue Haven
Jim Edwards
The Trident
Bastion
Open Mondays:
Bia
The Blue Haven
Jim Edwards
The Trident
Open Tuesdays:
Man Fridays
The Blue Haven
Jim Edwards
The Trident
Bia
The Bulman
Ways to save
Tax back
If you're travelling here from outside the EU and exporting your shopping, don't forget you can claim your tax back on any purchases over €75 (physical purchases, not eating or drinking). Some stores will complete the tax back forms for you for automatic refunds, otherwise save your receipts and claim back at the airport kiosk. Non EU residents (inc U.K.) can claim back tax.
What to pack
Useful items:
A waterproof coat is always handy here! Pack light, you can always pick up anything you need from our local supermarkets.
An adapter plug.
Euros in cash for restaurant tips.
Comfy shoes as you can walk easily from our place into town, so leave the car behind when you go out to dinner!