An appealing daytime spot in the centre of Kinsale, Tracy Keoghan’s lovely Lemon Leaf Café is an oasis of calm in an already cool enough town. It’s casual and relaxing, with lots of comfortable seating to choose from and a bright glass-roofed courtyard area that’s very popular - your small one could end up with his or her own table here, next to yours, and a fistful of crayons to while away the time.
The day starts early and there’s a great choice for breakfast - oatmeal porridge with berry compote and Irish honey, the complete Kinsale breakfast (with a vegetarian option) and classic brunch favourites like omelettes, or eggs Benedict - and the suppliers are all local too.
Lunch brings all kinds of light bites including grilled Halloumi wrap and gourmet sandwiches (priced to eat in or take away), also attractive more substantial platters such as Irish ploughman’s lunch platter with home-cooked ham, smoked Carrigaline cheddar, Ballymaloe relish, wholegrain mustard, hard-boiled egg and brown soda bread; Wild Atlantic Way platter with Thai fish cakes with Asian dipping sauce, seafood cocktail, smoked salmon and horseradish crème fraiche on a beetroot blini. Hot dishes include the Viking Wharf burger, an 8z home-made burger with crispy Irish smoked bacon, jalapenos, Carrigaline cheese, avocado and sliced tomato.
While not licensed, the drinks list goes way beyond the usual, offering apple juice, fresh squeezed orange and herbal teas among a long list of options - when was the last time you saw hot water with lemon on a menu? (If you’re coming down with a cold they have just the thing, the traditional remedy being the version with honey.)
And the Lemon Leaf is just the place for an afternoon treat. Along with lots of excellent teas and coffees you’ll all kinds of sweet things - cheesecakes, carrot cake, lemon drizzle slices, chocolate biscuit bar - including some gluten free options. And if you bring a small person with you, well he or she will be well treated, maybe even get his or her own seat, certainly his or her own treat from the friendly and efficient staff.
And if you don’t have time to linger, then just go to the in-house store and buy to enjoy later.
