Bastion in Kinsale

It is rare to enjoy a truly memorable dinner in at least a 💮💮 Michelin for the price of an affordable 💮 Michelin. Bastion is one of those rare opportunities. Kinsale is far from all the main cities. The closest airports are Cork and Shannon, and then you have to drive. But Kinsale is a lovely Irish seaside village with genuine Irish warmth. At first, Bastion is a simple, cosy restaurant, bathed in this genuine warmth and the caring smiles of all the staff. But as the menu begins, you gradually realise you are tasting a stunning, unique, world-class gastronomy. The enchantment is in absolutely all the dishes, a symphony of creative yet well-balanced flavours. This symphony becomes almost divine if you choose their wine pairing, which is of great finesse, complementing the dishes in an expert way you rarely find. The only thing you might have a bit of back-and-forth about is the dessert, for being only a good dessert. Bastion looks like a normal, nice restaurant, not on any major route, which is probably why it has only one 💮. But gastronomically, my goodness, it is very close to the world very best. And, it matters, they are passionate and friendly. A lifetime experience!

Thanks to Paul, Helen and staff for a fine dining experience. Enjoyed

We have visited many Michelin star restaurants but Bastion was one of our best experiences. The food was exceptional but the relaxed atmosphere and friendly service sets it apart from its peer group. Helen manages front of house and presented our wine flight with expert knowledge and Chef Paul served all our dishes explaining the ingredients and construction of the exquisite dishes. We had a lovely evening and will definitely take advantage of Helen and Paul’s London restaurant favourites when we return from our trip.

Fantastic food. Spot on service. Highly recommend.

Best service we have had in a restaurant, food was spectacular also, highly recommend for a special occasion.

Fantastic meal. Friendly and relaxed but also professional. We had the discovery menu, order the cheese and the wine pairing.

I couldn't recommend the entire experience any higher. It is worthy of every cent you spend.

We had an amazing experience enjoying the tasting menu and honestly regret not going for the full menu — every bite of every dish was unforgettable. This isn’t our first time having a tasting menu, but this one was truly exceptional. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, carefully explaining each dish and making the whole experience even more special. We’d definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience!