Neighbourhood grocers and delis have been one of the good things to come out of the pandemic – we’re always looking for a silver lining here – with restaurants adapting to include them as part of their business, and many opening in the suburbs, doing their own part to bring us closer to the 15-minute city where everything is on our doorstep.
So we've put together this guide to new and long-established grocers and delis where you can browse, shop and buy great food. (In many cases these businesses also sell online, so it is well worth checking out their websites.) We previously explored food shops in south Dublin and north Dublin, now we move on to Cork. In the days ahead we'll reveal our favourites in the rest of Ireland.
Manning's Emporium
Ballylickey, Bantry, Co Cork; manningsemporium.ie
You're in for a treat, as you drive the coastal road from Bantry towards Glengarriff, when you get to this gourmet food store, deli and cafe, which has been in the Mannings family for more than 70 years. It's a good place to stock up on local cheeses, charcuterie and a good selection of wines. There is also plenty on the cafe and takeaway menu, from cheese toasties made with Arbutus bread to sausage rolls, salads, prepared meals and wood-fired pizza.
Urru Culinary Store
The Mill, McSwiney Quay, Bandon, Co Cork; urru.ie
Ruth Healy, who opened her culinary store in 2003, says that people describe it as unexpected, abundant and beautiful; a food lover's dream. It's a cafe and shop that stocks foods from more than 100 producers, including Gubbeen, Ummera and On the Pigs Back. With the exception of Parmesan, all of the cheese is Irish, including the lesser-known Dart Mountain and Lost Valley. Fresh produce comes primarily from Garryhankard, Innishannon, and Food for Humans, Ballinhassig. You will also find Valentia Vermouth, made by Anna and Orla Snook O'Carroll.
The Stuffed Olive
2a Bridge Street, Carrignagat, Bantry, Co Cork; wordpress.com
This food, bakery and wine store is run by Patricia Messom with the help of her daughters. With an extensive range of ready meals, soups, quiches, salads, cakes and desserts, you can pick up everything you need for lunch, dinner or even, in finer weather, a picnic.
Iago
9 Princes Street, Cork city; the English Market, Cork city; iago.ie
This is the place to come for fresh pasta and ravioli, with fillings such as roast butternut squash and sage. It's a treasure trove, with all of the produce and ingredients you'll need for a special dinner. Salami, chorizo, 'nduja, saucisson sec, prosciutto and Serrano ham are among the cured meats you'll get, as well as a good selection of Ortiz tinned fish, Valencia smoked almonds, tapenade, olives, cheeses, anchovies and jars of Spanish white asparagus.
Fields of Skibbereen
Main Street, Gortnaclohy, Skibbereen, Co Cork; fieldsofskibbereen.ie
This is not your usual SuperValu. Yes, you will get the usual stock-cupboard items, but when it comes to meat, suppliers include Caherbeg free-range pork and Skeaghanore duck, and fish is from Glenmar and Shellfish de la Mer. Owner John Field makes a point of supporting local producers, so as well as Gubbeen cheese and charcuterie, you'll find Union Hall smoked fish and pâté, smoked fish from Woodcock Smokery, the Ummera Smokehouse Range, and pies and soups from Blue Haven.
Organico
2 Glengarriff Road, Bantry, Co Cork; organico.ie
Run by sisters Rachel and Hannah Dare, this is a sizeable health-food shop with a deli and bakery. There is an impressive set-up for dispensing dry goods such as lentils, chickpeas, nuts and seeds, which are sold loose, a greengrocer section is well stocked with produce, and there are freezers filled with prepared meals. A long wooden counter has a tempting array from the bakery, as well as sandwiches, vegetarian sausage rolls, dhal, salad bowls and pastries. The cafe is currently closed, so seating is outdoor only.
On the Pigs Back
Stall 11, English Market, Cork city; Unit 26, St Patrick's Mills, Douglas West; onthepigsback.ie
Isabelle Sheridan started selling farmhouse cheeses, charcuterie, fresh breads and Irish artisan food in the English Market in 1972 and now has a thriving business that also includes a cafe in Douglas. She has won awards for her Pig's Back pâtés and terrines, which are also stocked by a number of retailers around the country.
O'Keeffe's
2-3 Wellington Road, St Luke's Cross, Cork city; okeeffes-shop.ie
Donal O'Keeffe, the owner of this long-established shop, has a commitment to supporting small and local producers, which include Arbutus breads, Gubbeen, Durrus and Gortnamona cheeses, Belvelly Smokehouse fish, Ummera smoked chicken and bacon, shellfish from De la Mer, Caherbeg free-range pork and Murphy's ice cream.
Farmgate Restaurant and Country Store
Broderick Street, Coolbawn, Midleton, Co Cork; farmgate.ie
Máróg O'Brien first opened her small farm shop, just a 25-minute drive east of Cork city, in 1983. A few years later she expanded it into a restaurant and bakery. The shop is stocked with local organic produce, dried pasta and speciality goods, cheese, soda bread, cakes and prepared soups and meals.
Hudson's Wholefoods – Deli & Café
18 Main Street, Ballydehob, Co Cork; hudsonswholefoods.com
Free-standing wire shelves are filled with tahini, ras el hanout, vinegars, oils, sauces and speciality ingredients; wooden shelves are filled with pulses and grains; and the origin of the organic vegetables is chalked up on a blackboard. The cafe, with a large communal table, has a vegetarian focus, including a number of vegan options.
Gourmet Pantry
Market Street, Kinsale, Co Cork; gourmetpantry.ie
Padraig O'Sullivan and chef Sabrina Levis Morley opened this deli at the end of 2016. It is now a haven for grab-and-go meals, offering a selection of soups, salads, fresh and frozen meals, baked goods and cakes.
Jump to:
25 of the best places to go food shopping in south Dublin
16 of the best places to go food shopping in north Dublin
10 of the best places to go food shopping in Galway, Clare and Sligo
