Ballymaloe Cookery School sits on a 100 acre organic farm at Shanagarry in East Cork, where a small herd of Kerry and Jersey cows is milked every morning in the dairy behind the school.
Shanagarry, P25 R274, County Cork, Ireland
Garden Shop open 9.30am to 5.30pm, closed Sundays.
4.5
From 243 reviews
We had a wonderful afternoon exploring the gardens at Ballymaloe Cookery School. We wandered around and even got to taste a few things along the way with permission, of course! The maze was surprisingly challenging and really made us work to find our way out. We finished with an improvised high tea on the terrace, took home some delicious bread, and left with lots of inspiration. Definitely worth a visit!
A lovely place where you can freely explore the gardens, animals, greenhouses, various crops, some artwork, and a shop selling local products. The only downside is the price; I'm not sure if the visit is worth €8.50 per person, but I find it expensive for what is ultimately a rather short outing.
Worth the visit for the café alone. Very nice toasty in the sunny garden. Perfect with kids.
Really enjoyed the farm walk. €17 for 2 people was reasonable. Could easily spend a few hours walking around.
Rebuilding the food system, from the farm up
Ballymaloe Cookery School: A Feast for All the Senses! Visiting Ballymaloe Cookery School is so much more than just a culinary experience; it's an immersion into a philosophy of incredible food and sustainable living. From the moment you arrive, the passion for produce is evident, starting with their **incredible gardens, truly bursting with edible food.** Wandering through the grounds feels like stepping into a living pantry. Every plant, herb, and vegetable is meticulously cared for, and you can see, smell, and almost taste the freshness. It's inspiring to see where the food comes from, especially knowing that so much of what's used in their kitchens is grown right there. The dedication to freshness extends to their **own dairy, providing truly fresh milk** – a simple pleasure that speaks volumes about their commitment to quality. Before you leave, make sure to visit the **great gift shop**. It's a treasure trove of culinary delights, from their famous cookbooks to a fantastic selection of **homemade cooking** items and local produce. It's the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or a delicious treat to take a piece of the Ballymaloe magic home with you. Ballymaloe Cookery School is a truly special place that champions the journey of food from garden to plate. Highly recommended for anyone passionate about food, sustainability, and authentic Irish hospitality!
Delighted with my gift of a half day cookery class at Ballymaloe, didn’t know what to expect but it’s been on my bucket list for years. Fantastic class, learned so much in a lovely environment. The course starts with a live presentation of a section from that evening f menu, it was a lot of fun and the presenter Pam was so engaging and made for a knowledgeable afternoon. Then you’re assigned into smaller groups to cook in the live kitchen, each team takes a number of items from the menu, not all of which have been covered in the demo. The chefs teaching in the school are happy to help everyone at their own pace and made the course really enjoyable. We made bread, desserts, biscuits and smoked fish, vegetarian and meat courses. Looking forward to getting back down again.
The farm and gardens are very nice, but the visitor experience can be a bit weird. You never really know where you should or shouldn't be. The farm staff were nice and happy to answer questions. The outdoor food trailer is also a bit weird. Staff seem generally confused and service is slow. In their defense, they were understaffed for a lunch rush. The sandwiches were excellent and featured ingredients from the farm.
Beautiful gardens. The herb garden, maze and grounds were well cared for. Healthy free roaming chicken running around the hen house. Great to see where their food comes from! The "Shell house", decorated with 20, 000 shells was exquisite. At €6 a ticket bought in the shop at the parking, it is worth a visit on a Saturday when they open to the public.
