Balance work and play by the sea, with tasteful treats in Kinsale

Barbara Nealon at St. Francis Provisions, Short Quay, Kinsale, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Kinsale really does have something to suit every taste when it comes to food, fun and entertainment.

Digital Nomads

If your 9-5 allows for working from home, then Kinsale might just be the ideal place to balance work and play.

Stunning short-term rentals via Airbnb offer funky coastal cabins to beach side retreats, downtown boltholes and glass-fronted harbourside apartments for memorable workdays.

K-Works on Short Quay offer very flexible spaces and hours in a co-working environment which means that digital nomads can connect while cutting down the To Do list.

K-Works on Short Quay, an attractive, professional co-working space in the heart of Kinsale.

Grab lunch on the go with a choice of morning coffee and pastries from Seeds Bakery, great daily fresh bakes, soups and salads from Gourmet Pantry, or linger in the sunny courtyard of the Lemon Leaf café.

When it's time to down tools, head to St Francis Provisions for an early doors glass of something natty and some small plates.

Food Truckin’

Lángos in Cork: Lángos are fried Hungarian flatbreads loaded with savoury toppings. Lángos in Cork operates from Garretstown Beach on Sundays throughout the summer serving loaded flatbreads and bowls of warming beef goulash. Perfect for a post dip and steam refuel. 

Spice Genie: Serving up dishes full of flavour and heart, the always-smiling Christopher Braganza’s Spice Genie food truck operates from Kinsale Farmer’s Market weekly with dishes inspired by his Goan roots. Always popular; always delicious.

Shirley’s Fish @ The Fort:  Serving the kind of fresh off the boat fish supper dreams are made of Shirley’s Fish @ The Fort has a loyal following for crisp golden fillets that make you say, Oooh!

With the family in the fishing business, daily catch is landed and handed straight to Shirley - it couldn’t be fresher! Located adjacent to Charles Fort.

After Dark: Where to find the best sips after dark that only the locals know about.

All Apologies x Post House:  After dark, The Post House morphs into a cool hang out pouring class wines by the glass. All Apologies is the cocktail whirlwind that has been taking Kinsale by storm with its rip-roaring fun cocktail pop-ups.

Together, they are teaming up for a one-off evening of great cocktails, nibbles and music for “Midsummer’s Day Dream” at the Post House’s secret garden on July 20th from 12pm-8pm. Billed as a fundraiser for Gaza, the event will feature a summer spritz and aperitivo menu, flower crown making with Daisy Chain flowers, facepainting for kids (big and small), treats and snacks, and a DJ set from Stevie G, 6-8pm.

Everyone is completely welcome, including your fur babies. 

Prim's Bookshop, Kinsale. Picture: Dan Linehan

Prim’s Bookstore: A bookstore by day and uber cool candle-lit natural wine and sherry bar by night, Prim’s has a cult following that’s rightly deserved.

Spending an evening surrounded by books sipping natty wines and nibbling on salted olives, roasted Andalucian almonds and sherry infused chocolate truffles made by Koko Kinsale, and a penchant for hosting excellent and intimate gigs and you have perfection, served.

July’s aural pleasures include All Seeing Eyes (2nd), Trad Sessions (3rd and 16th), and Natalya Beylis & Eimear Reidy (21st).

In August, Prim’s hosts Caoilian Sherlock & Tessa Roche (11th), and Ger Wolfe & Rua Rí (25th). 

The Collector, Kinsale, the innovative coffee concept store.

The Collector:  Kinsale unique Coffee-ish and Concept Store, The Collector, is gearing up for a great summer of late night low and no sips every weekend from now until the end of August. Fridays are for leisurely exploring the ins and outs of sake, sparklers, new classics, zero-proof, and more.

Saturday evenings, you can immerse yourself in a transformative theme that takes shape through featured cocktails, “lite bites” and sounds.

Sunday afternoons are for rosé sangria and spritzes served with gratis signature snacks. 

Teasing summer events coming include:

• 21st June, MacCurtain Wine Cellar is hosting a Collector takeover pouring their excellent wines by the glass. This is a preview to an exciting ongoing partnership for the summer with a MacCurtain Wine Cellar curated wine list.
•  In July, themed cocktail nights include Stars & Stripes (5th), Tapas and Vermouth (19th) and a special pop-up with Wexford-based Bean & Goose Chocolate on 26th.
•  Into August, discover a world of Saké & Snacks (2nd), collector co-founder Shannon’s homage to her favourite cocktails of all with Tiki Time (9th), test out your Pop Culture Trivia (16th), and finally a focus on honey wines with Kinsale Mead (23rd). 

A cheese board at Lemon Leaf Bar Café & Townhouse, Kinsale.

Late at The Leaf:  Kinsale’s much-loved Lemon Leaf Café is back with their Late at The Leaf evening service of gourmet dishes, cracking cocktails, DJs and vibes to see you right.

The courtyard space is the place to be on a gorgeous summers’ evening with a menu focused on nibbles, pintxos and small plates perfect for sharing or simply your own indulgence. Cocktails, such as Negroni Sbagliato, tickle the tastebuds.