Top 5 Ballycotton Restaurants to Try in Ireland
Ballycotton is a lovely coastal village in Cork known for its beaches, cliff walks, and boat trips to the lighthouse. Being a fishing village, Ballycotton restaurants don’t only serve good food—it also offers the best view.
In this article, we’ll take you on a food tour to five Ballycotton restaurants. We’ll give you a fair and comprehensive review of their food and their service so you’ll have an idea what to expect.
Let’s get on with it!
Average Cost of Dining in Ballycotton Restaurants
The following table shows the average price range of eating in Ballycotton restaurants. The actual prices may be higher or lower depending on the restaurant.
We have various sources for the range, but please check out the restaurants’ websites for exact prices:
Best Ballycotton Restaurants in Ireland
We’re evaluating the top food spots in Ballycotton using the following criteria:
1. Cush

Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Price range | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Freshness and taste | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Variety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Location and ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cleanliness and hygiene | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service and communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Cork is Ireland’s food capital and Ballycotton is in Cork, so it’s not surprising that it has a Michelin star restaurant. Cush is known all around Ireland because of this reputation, and we think it lives up to its ratings!
For one, the food is top-notch—always well-seasoned and served fresh or warm. We love that you’ll instantly know the restaurant’s using fresh ingredients just on one bite because of the texture and the flavours.
In addition to this, Cush has a great wine selection. According to its loyal customers whom we talked to, they love the wine-food combination—there’s always a good wine perfect for every dish!
And then there’s the lovely view of the sea—we can’t even stop talking about this! Imagine eating the perfect food while looking at the perfect view—this is everyone’s idea of an amazing vacation!
The staff are attentive as well! We like that it’s easy to call for their attention when you need assistance.
In fact, Cush offers accommodations as well—breakfast included. The rooms are stylish and clean, and have a relaxing ambience similar to the restaurant.
The only thing some of you might not appreciate is the small servings, so we think this might not be ideal for big eaters. However, we still recommend trying it for experience and the foodgasm—you won’t regret it!
Pros
- Michelin star restaurant
- Plenty of choices for food
- Lovely view
- Friendly and attentive staff
- Great wine list
- Relaxing ambience
- Offers accommodations with breakfast included
- Stylish interior
- Spotless and clean
Cons
- Small servings
- Items not ordered sometimes get added on the bill
Customer Reviews
Food is always well-seasoned and cooked to perfection
Review is for dining (lunch). First time at Cush, great experience. the 3 course lunch menu had plenty of variety and choice. We started with the Agnolotti/mushroom soup which was superb, seasoned well, light and airy soup. Lamb and cod mains were both seasoned and cooked to perfection, sides of fries, potatoes and carrots were excellent. Deserts were light and a great end to the meal. Great wine menu, extensive selection of beers on tap. Great service. Will be back!— Mike H, Google Reviews
Plenty of wine and food choices
The restaurant itself is a lovely spot with a great view. The staff are charming and provide excellent service. The food is exquisite and the drinks menu gives plenty of choices. I’ve been to lunch a couple of times for lunch now and absolutely love it.—Michele Neylon, Facebook Reviews
2. Sea Church

Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Price range | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Freshness and taste | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Variety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Location and ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cleanliness and hygiene | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service and communication | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Sea Church is more than just a restaurant with good food—it’s also known for its amazing view. In fact, if you ask customers why they keep coming back, the picturesque and relaxing view is the first reason on their long list to love about this restaurant!
According to them, whether you’ll stay inside or outdoors, you’ll still have the full experience of eating with a good view. The restaurant has a lovely interior (if you’re vying for cosy) and the outdoor seating makes you feel like you’re eating in paradise!
It also has live music during the weekends. This adds to a more relaxing ambience of the place.
Speaking of food, we think you’ll enjoy the wide range of menu choices. Sea Church also has gluten-free and vegan options for those with specific diets they can’t break.
Just in case you need help in choosing food or the perfect drink to go with it, the staff are always there to assist. We love that they know their food and how to best eat them so you can trust their recommendations!
We think Sea Church is also perfect for big eaters. The portions are so large you would need to take a break once in a while to finish your food—just be careful of getting into a food coma!
The only complaint we learned about Sea Church has something to do with time. First, it closes early at times. And second, there’s a time limit so customers get annoyed because they’re always reminded about it, causing them to hurry up eating.
But other than those minor glitches in services, Sea Church is the place to go for food in Ballycotton. Perfect view, perfect food, and an almost-perfect service—you don’t want to NOT try this.
Pros
- Has outdoor seating
- Serves amazing cocktails
- Wide range of menu choices
- Has vegan and gluten-free options
- Relaxing and picturesque view
- Very attentive staff
- Lovely interior
- Warm and cosy
- Spotless clean
- Large portions
Cons
- Closes earlier than scheduled
- Time limit in the booking
Customer Reviews
Lovely view of the sea
First time here. Beautiful restaurant with a lovely view of the sea. Wide menu choice with specials as well. Kids menu was also varied and lots to choose from. Service was excellent. Food was excellent. Can’t fault it at all. Have booked it for my son’s confirmation for something special for our guests. Looking forward to a return visit.— LMR610, Trip Advisor
Has live music during the weekends
Great location of converted Church with modern café restaurant extended around stone church yard. Easily accessible from a public car park across from cliff walk and stoney beach. Great food , excellent service and very dog friendly. We sat outside under the canopy as the weather was letting us down again. Not busy for lunch period-very quiet. Live music at weekends including Lucan band RipTideMovement and also AC/DC tribute band. Worth a revisit very soon— Niall McElwee, Google Reviews
3. The Schooner Bar

Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Price range | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Freshness and taste | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Variety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Location and ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cleanliness and hygiene | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service and communication | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
There are a lot of good restaurants in Ballycotton, but what makes The Schooner Bar special to us is because it serves Irish comfort food. If you’re a fan of lovely scenery with a touch of nostalgia, The Schooner Bar is perfect for you!
It’s in a good location so it’s hard to miss. It’s also a short drive to other good spots in the area so we think it’s the ideal place to have your meal if you’re roaming around the area.
There’s also plenty of parking space around. You won’t have a hard time looking for a spot if you brought a car.
Also, The Schooner Bar has a bed and breakfast for accommodations. The rooms are spotless clean and you’ll have the most scrumptious Irish food for breakfast!
Another thing we love is that the bar has a very cosy atmosphere, making you feel relaxed when you eat there. The menu is simple—mostly Irish traditional food and pints—but it gives you a taste of Ireland.
The inside of the restaurant is always filled with talks and good-hearted banters. If you prefer a quieter way to enjoy your meal, you can always go outside—there’s outdoor seating!
We think you should know though that The Schooner Bar has a disorganised queuing system which can be a bit irksome at times. This might also cause delay in seating most especially during peak hours.
Pros
- Has live music
- Serves good cocktails
- Has seats outdoor
- Welcoming and cosy atmosphere
- Serves Irish comfort food
- Short drive to other spots
- Has decent street parking
- Clean rooms for accommodations
- Free breakfast for guests
Cons
- Disorganised queuing system
- Long wait for seating
Customer Reviews
Prime location
Cosy, welcoming bar/restaurant and accommodation. Very friendly owners. Great food and very good value for Ireland. Nice accommodation at a good price. In the middle of the village and a short drive to lots of places. Highly recommend and would stay and eat again no hesitation. Dinner and breakfast very good.— Kelly Davis, Google Reviews
Has warm rooms for accommodation that includes free breakfast
Ballycotton is an amazing place… Totally chilled. The Schooner Bar and B&B is right in the centre of the village. It’s very friendly and the food is great, fresh fish and great value. We stayed in the rooms above the pub and it was perfect. Very clean and warm and the breakfast set us up for the day.— Rhona O’Connor, Google Reviews
4. Bayview Hotel Ballycotton Restaurant

Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Price range | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Freshness and taste | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Variety | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Location and ambience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Cleanliness and hygiene | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service and communication | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Bayview Hotel Ballycotton Restaurant is a small restaurant in Bayview Hotel. When it comes to service, you’ll receive top-notch assistance, and when it comes to food—let’s say you’ll get your money’s worth!
The thing about this restaurant though is that it has limited options for food, unlike if you go to local restaurants. However, despite this, the food the hotel has on their menu are of high-quality, and they’re often served fresh and warm as well.
In fact, some customers we’ve chatted with are obsessed with the hotel’s desserts! They told us we should try most of the desserts on the menu and pair it with coffee, which, by the way, is arguably the best coffee in Ballycotton!
When it comes to ambience, you’ll feel relaxed dining in the restaurant. You can have access to its lovely sea view if you sit outdoors to enjoy your food, or soak in the cosy ambience of its elegant interior setting.
We also want to commend the staff because they’re very accommodating. No matter how small your request is, they’ll make sure to do everything to do it for you.
Just don’t expect the food to be super affordable—while the restaurant has budget-friendly items on the menu, it mostly has pricey food. However, we still recommend trying it for the overall experience—definitely worth it!
Pros
- Accommodating staff
- Food is served fresh and warm
- Lovely sea view
- Relaxing ambience
- Elegant setting
- Clean accommodations
- Has arguably the best coffee in town
- Dog-friendly
- Has outdoor seating
- Serves the best desserts
Cons
- A little pricey
- Limited food menu
Customer Reviews
Perfect sea view
Saturday lunch was perfect. Had lunch in the dining room (food also served in the bar), and we had a table facing the sea – beautiful. Service was great and food – outstanding. Lunch menu is a la carte and offers a main course and dessert. Photo of the menu we were offered is attached!— Bryan Conlon, Google Reviews
Very accommodating staff
Excellent. Lovely late lunch. Served by Anna and Courtney mainly, who we discovered were just about to finish their shifts. Would never have guessed as no sense of being rushed. Indeed all the staff were very friendly, without being too forward. Perfect afternoon. No doubt helped by the gorgeous weather and setting.— Mags Sullivan, Google Reviews
5. McGrath’s Pub

Menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Price range | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Freshness and taste | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Variety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Location and ambience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Cleanliness and hygiene | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Service and communication | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
If you’re looking for an Irish pub experience with all the jolly atmosphere and camaraderie, we recommend trying McGrath’s Pub. It’s a traditional pub that gives you a glimpse of Old Ireland and how a simple place can be fun and warm!
According to some patrons (which includes a few tourists), the moment they entered McGrath’s Pub, they already felt welcomed. From the staff to the local patrons, they’ll all smile at you warmly and greet you as if they’ve known you all their lives!
We love that you can just sit there and enjoy traditional Irish food and beer while listening to locals banter and exchange stories. There’s also singing sometimes, and we think that adds to the experience!
If you want a quieter atmosphere while enjoying your meal, we think you’ll want to try eating outdoors. McGrath’s has outdoor seating because the restaurant also wants you to take advantage of the lovely view outside.
The pub, by the way, also has the best pints in Ballycotton, that’s another thing. Just a little warning about the bartender though—we think he needs to smile more!
Food is amazing! Very flavourful, and you can also tell with the texture and the taste that the ingredients are all fresh.
Just a warning though—McGrath’s can get really crowded and also stops serving alcoholic drinks at an early time. So we recommend coming earlier to avoid inconveniences.
Pros
- Fun and warm atmosphere
- Has the best pints in town
- Plenty of parking space
- Has friendly patrons with lots of local stories
- Friendly owners
- Traditional pub
- Lovely view
- Has outdoor seating
Cons
- Stops serving drinks early
- Bartender needs to be more welcoming
- Can get really crowded
Customer Reviews
Best pints in town
If you want a pint in a traditional Irish bar with the locals, then this pub is for you, best pints of lager or stout in the village.—Mark Maguire, Google Reviews
Friendly and welcoming local patrons
Whereas they say in TV adverts carlsberg is probably the best lager in the world, were they go say this pub had probably the best banter in Ireland I would say definitely, I had tears listening to endless tales from various regulars tonight…— Angel Damour, Google Reviews