Hi, Sorcha from The White & Gold Bridal Gallery here! I am so excited to be welcoming you to Kinsale! I opened the doors to my contemporary bridal loft in May 2019 and since opening we have welcomed thousands of brides and their girl gangs from all around Ireland. While a lot of our brides visit on a day trip, quite a few of our brides make a weekend of visiting The White & Gold and stay locally in Kinsale. Eitherway, both groups are always on the coffee/lunch/dinner hunt! I am forever giving tips to brides about where to book, eat, visit. I love Kinsale dearly and want all our guests to enjoy it as much as I do!
With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to start sharing my favourite places to hang out in Kinsale, a town I feel so lucky to be a part of. Renowned as the gastro capital of Ireland, Kinsale absolutely dazzles in the foodie department! We are beyond spoilt here with all the amazing restaurants and cafes on our doorstep. A lot of them are family ran businesses, full of warmth and original character. Read on for the insider low down…
Jos CAFE
This is where you come if you need help filling out your wedding dress! This is the local TW&G spot! If we ever have a second in between appointments one of us is always on a coffee and baking run to go see Jo & Jen ♥
Jo’s oven fires up early every morning and the warm scent of freshly baked buns and cakes sweetens the air around her buzzy cafe. This establishment is very much a local favourite and after a taste of her baking you will see why.
Jo’s opens from 8:30am and has a constant stream of locals popping in for the morning coffee and home-made croissant fix. There are usually some lovely vegetarian options available on the savoury pastry menu, as well as lots of gluten free options. Order the mozzarella pesto croissant and blame me for your new addiction!
OHK CAFE
If local, seasonal and homemade gets your tastebuds all rallied up then you are going to love OHK. Located on The Glen, it is the perfect brunch spot for a post bridal appointment debriefing. OHK has been passed down through generations of the family, from one girl boss to another. Sisters Carol & Sarah and brother Tim run the show now and the love for what they do is obvious in their cooking and natural, warm hospitality.
Beautiful, sustainable food, with just the right amount of hipster flair! This is where the beards, the boho babes and those in the know hang out in Kinsale. Weekend brunch is where it is at in OHK, if you are travelling down for the weekend do not be disappointed… book that table! Order the Ballyhoura mushrooms on toast and thank me later!
WILD + TAME
Coffee. Seriously good coffee! T+W serves up warm, mellow blends from Stone Valley Roasters and creamy flatties served at the perfect temperature. Hannah started Wild & Tame in a horse box on Kinsale bridge and, within weeks, early morning school runs saw hordes of under-slept and over caffeinated locals queueing up at her rainbow hued horse box. Hannah brings a beautiful energy to everything she touches and deserves all the love locals have showered her new business in. I am very proud of Hannah – she has just opened her 2nd spot in town, her first bricks and mortar spot in Kinsale and it is so worth a pre or post-bridal app coffee visit. I love the motto I saw on her feed recently “No risk – no magic.” I am 100% a believer in this – just get out there and give it a go!
KOKOS
Pop into Kokos for a post appointment sugar hit! Kokos is another family-ran business in Kinsale and a warm welcome will always await you! Whether you have a sweet tooth, or are looking for a thoughtful gift, Kokos is jam-packed full of delicious chocolate that is hand-crafted upstairs in the atelier. Order the dark chocolate mochas in winter and the dark choc cream eggs at Easter. Do not blame me for any new addictions!
MAN FRIDAY
100% delicious 100% of the time! Man Friday is a family run restaurant that boasts over 30 years of the best of Irish hospitality. Perched on the hill overlooking Kinsale, this is the only spot with a sea view that looks back on the town. Founders Philip and Joss have handed the reins over to their son, and head chef, Dan. I love that their beautiful imprint and passion for the restaurant is everywhere to be seen. Both talented artists, their striking paintings adorn every inch of the gallery walls. Philip is in every morning at the crack of dawn baking loaf after loaf of the infamous Man Friday bread and Joss is always at the end of the phone handling the crazy busy reservations! Dan returned from London with a decade of cooking in top London restaurants behind him and the menu is always exciting, seasonal and most importantly, delicious! My sister Gigi is not only an amazing bridal stylist in TW&G, she is also an interior designer and you can see some of her work in the beautiful MF renovation. MF is a magical place with an unparalleled reputation and always worth a visit. Order the cured salmon, the sole on the bone and do not even get me started on their deserts!
Saint Francis
Great decor and really great local produce is at the heart of Saint Francis. The kind of cooking I love – wonderful ingredients cooked simply… and well! The owners moved home from the food mecca that is San Francisco and the inspiration from their time there is evident in their tasty menu and stylish decor. Grab yourself a sunny spot outside and people watch with an Aperol spritz as the rest of Kinsale goes about their day.
The Black Pig
Meet my favourite spot! Before you even begin reading this book your table here! In fact, book your bridal appointment after securing a table here! The Black Pig is a beautiful wine bar tucked away on the back streets of Kinsale- conveniently located right across from the bridal loft! This spot has it all, a warm welcome, a buzzy atmosphere thanks to the perfect playlists, the most romantic ambient lighting and a packed restaurant. The decor is perfection. Gav, Siobhain and their team are so friendly and knowledgeable, they really know their menu and their food provenance and love to share tips with you. The wine list alone has won them numerous accolades. Allow them to recommend the perfect ruby red to accompany your cheese board, or a zingy white to pair with the crab ravioli… which should not be missed! The little garden out the back is like a mini urban jungle, beautiful for dining with your besties on a summer’s eve and equally as cozy on a winter’s night with candles and lights twinkling everywhere. It’s a tapas style feast here – A must are the iced Oysterhaven oysters, garlic prawns, any of the ravioli… and the chocolate mousse. Love love love ♥
The Greyhound
Time for drinks! The Greyhound is a gem of an old man’s pub nestled in the heart of Kinsale. Fires crackle away inside most of the year and there are no shortage of little snugs to cozy away in. The Guinness is delicious and the gin and tonic menu is definitely worth a mention. The perfect place to have a night cap after your day of fun in Kinsale. The Greyhound will always hold a special place in my heart – I drove down from Dublin and had my first Kinsale date with my now hubs in this pub. This image is by The Canvas Works in Kinsale, a wonderful place to pick up a souvenir you actually want to look at it your house!
Granny's bottom drawer
Time for some retail therapy! Grannies Bottom Drawer is a little treasure trove full of treats for where you call home. It is hygge to the max, everything is soft and cozy and difficult to put down! Clodagh has a great eye for quality and detail, from candles to Irish ceramics to sofas… you just never know what thing of beauty you will find in there! I especially adore the Fermoyle pottery pieces, I collect ceramics and love buying a special piece when I travel. On the rare weekends when I’m not flat out in the shop I love nothing more than setting a table and cooking lunch for our friends. We love that there are kids everywhere, the house will be a wild with noise and chaos… but at least my ceramics will look good 🙂
G O L D
If you are an accessory magpie like me then you are going to love Gold – our new accessories shop. Situated on the ground floor of The White & Gold, it is home to some of my favourite jewellery and accessory designers. We carry jewellery collections from Irish designer One Dame Lane, Shyla, Blue Meadow, Alighieri, Gas Bijoux, Christie Nicolaides and NYC designer Loeffler Randall to name a few.
