Tripadvisor rates West Cork cafe in top 10% of restaurants worldwide

The cafe is run by chef Áine Hourihane, who took over the business in 2021 when her sister-in-law, Eleanor Hourihane, passed away.

Eleanor was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and died just seven weeks later.

"I'm a chef by trade, so I said I'd try and keep it going, which is what I've done. 

"I've built on what Eleanor started, she did a great job," Ms Hourihane said.

She said she knew "absolutely nothing" about the award until she received an email from Tripadvisor last week, an email which she believed to be a joke at first.

I can’t even put it into words what this award means, and I’m not one for being stuck for words!

"But I am in shock that we did this," she said.

According to Ms Hourihane, Sugarloaf Cafe is "very small" and can only seat 16 customers inside at a time. 

The cafe does have a larger outdoor area but it is seasonal and very weather dependent.

But now, on the back of the award, Ms Hourihane has her sights set on expansion.

Expansion plans

"A lot of people are coming in telling me that I need to expand now, take over and get a bigger premises. This is going to be big for us," she added.

The cafe, which employs seven members of staff, prides itself on its homemade cakes and all-day breakfasts, but Ms Hourihane also treasures the relationship she has built with her customers.

"I feel like they are coming in to my front room. I just smile, and I just talk to them, and we just have a great rapport going immediately.

"If you talk to one table, then another table will join in, then another, and a lot of the time we are all just talking to each other as if we are sitting in our front room," she said.

During the summertime, the cafe plays host to plenty of West Cork tourists, but in the wintertime "locals take over and we just have a fantastic laugh".

On the back of her win, Ms Hourihane took the opportunity to call out the Government for failing to reduce the rate of Vat for the hospitality and tourism sectors in Budget 2025.

"This is my chance to get in and say: Listen Government, stop getting us all closed down. Take the Vat back down and we might have a chance of hanging on," she said.

The cafe's certificate and plaque are currently en route from Tripadvisor and Ms Hourihane is "counting down the days" until they arrive.

Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards are based on reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period. 

They are given to accommodations, attractions, and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews.

One of the cafe's most recent reviews reads: "One of the best spots for a hearty breakfast. And always a welcome spot for a chat and a warm cuppa on a cold day. The staff are very friendly."

While another says: "Beautiful herbal teas and cakes. Áine is a brilliant hostess with amazing home bakes. Definitely try the delicious chocolate orange cheesecake, not to be missed."

The Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards began in 2002.