Quay Co-op is a Workers' Co-operative since 1982 founded on radical roots fighting for equality for all genders and for sustainable living. Home to Cork's first Vegetarian restaurant, which also heavily features vegan cuisine - today the restaurant is known as 'Upstairs at The Co-op' and offers table service dine in . A 'Downstairs Deli/Cafe' is open from 8am for takeaway and dine-in veggie sandwiches, salads & snacks. The health and wholefood store features Cork's biggest range of vegetarian food, much of which is made in house in. Open Mon-Fri 08:30-18:00, Sat 08:00-18:00. Shop opens at 8am Mon-Sat. Restaurant opens from 12-9 pm Wed-Sat.
76 Reviews
First Review by Stevie
livinlavidavegan
Points +2296
Great vegetarian and vegan restaurant - Edit
I've been here both as a vegetarian and a vegan and it's been great as both! Most recently, for the first time as a vegan, I got the vegan antipasti board to share which had a selection of bread, humous, pesto, olives and sun-dried tomatoes which was good (although a bit greasy). The best though was the vegan cheesecake which I was very pleasantly surprised to love!
Read morePros: Delicious vegan and vegetarian food, Nice old building with view of river
Cons: Not many vegan options
Guest
SheilaMosley
Points +96
Vegan cheesecake munching - Edit
This is a great place to go for vegan groceries and food. The cheesecake and wedges were worth the trip :)
Read morePros: Tasty vegan options , Well-signed menu
Guest
libgoddess
Points +78
Home from home - Edit
A beautiful, cosy, homely place with sublime food. Huge, filling vegan antipasti board with really tasty pesto and hummous. The tofu green curry was amazing! Lovely, genuinely friendly staff, and I really like how they keep carafes of tap water in the fridge for customers to help themselves to. My non-VG mum absolutely loved her salad. This will be my go-to lunch stop in Cork.
Read morePros: Warm welcome, Gorgeous food, Great view
Guest
Attentionerknox
Points +114
My go-to place for Lunch in Cork - Edit
I visit this place 2 or 3 times a week for lunch and to buy Oat Milk and bread in the store! There are plenty vegan options upstairs in the sit down restaurant and downstairs in the deli but I prefer the deli downstairs which is in the shop entrance. Here they have more of a sandwich and salad selection. Like a smoked tofu and roasted pepper baguette with pesto and organic leaves - my FAVE lunch eat for €5.50. Delicious and fills me up all afternoon. They also have a wicked smushed chickpea salad baguette with avocado and tomatoes, my 2nd fave. The deli offers salad pots with most of the salads being vegan - potatoe salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, chickpea etc.
Read moreThey serve coffee down here but I prefer to get a take-away coffee from the restaurant upstairs - I guess I've been here so much that I kinda know who makes a good coffee and the staff upstairs are winning!
In the downstairs deli/shop they sell booja-booja dairy free chocolates as well as other sweat treats made locally. Individually packaged slices of vegan brownie or cake to take away.
The shop here is great, I get oat milk, rye bread, organic salads. Yesterday I picked up a jar of homemade vegan daal on sale for €2. Had it for dinner and it was divine!
What would I do without the Key Co-Op?
Pros: Creative Vegan Sandwich Selection, Vegan potatoe Salad, Oat Milk
Cons: Upstairs restaurant doesn't sell sandwiches
Guest
Lionesskeeper
Points +73
Highly Overrated - Edit
Had been at Vegfest in Cork and made my way down to the restaurant for something to eat at 6pm.. I went up a very grubby front up the stairs. The Vegan options were extremely limited. The falafel burger I got was barely edible owing to the fact the bun made the burger inaccessible because I couldn't bite into it. I couldn't even cut it in half. I just managed to eat the falafel bit. The only nice thing was the cold salad.Was willing to overlook that for a nice Chai tea and a nice dessert. I got a Vegan millionaire slice and said Chai. I had to leave the Chai behind because it wasn't even mixed correctly. The millionaire slice was nice. Also felt as if I was being forced out the door by servers. Avoid this place, there are nicer spots for Vegans in Cork than this.
Read morePros: The Vegan millionaire square was nice, The cold salad was nice and Vegan friendly
Cons: Dirty, Felt as if I was being rushed out the door, Vegan dining options extremely limited
Guest
ThomasVegano
Points +2760
Just Ok - Edit
Not so many vegan option.
Read moreGuest
harlekwin42
Points +355
good for vegans - Edit
there is plenty of choice here. Lots of salads including, for example, coleslaw with vegan mayonnaise, and most dishes are either vegan or can be made vegan. Portions are huge - too big for me! Food feels a little tired, but I would certainly go back. Very reasonably priced.
Read morePros: plenty of choice, very good value, huge portions
Guest
Frochan
Points +115
Great place but food patchy - Edit
I so support the aims of this co-op that it really pains me to say that I don't rate their food very highly.
Read moreThey really need to work on their recipes to get a bit more flavour and refinement into their food.
The upstairs restaurant is a gorgeous space.
Pros: Lovely people, Beautiful space
Cons: Food not the most creative
Guest
attackoftge5ft6woman
Points +16
Delicious food and lovely staff - Edit
I am on a 6 food elimination diet for medical reasons (no dairy, fish, eggs, soy, gluten or nuts) and it's really hard to find a restaurant I can eat in. The staff here were so sweet and helped me find a few things I could eat and everything was absolutely delicious! They even offered to go to their other branch to get a slice of cake that fit the bill for my laundry list of allergens. Highly recommend!
Read moreGuest
DanSarkozi
Points +267
Good for basics - Edit
Nice little eco/whole foods super market that stocks all the basics; detergents, health and beauty products, organic food and vegan options.
Read morePros: Vegan options , Nice little cafe , Welcome addition to the city
Guest
FionaBrutscher
Points +96
Great food, good value - Edit
As a cafe within an organis supermarket, this isn't the best atmosphere for a meal, but great for a quick lunch. The food is always fab, fresh and reasonably priced.
Read moreGuest
ManuelB
Points +382
Tasty vegan food and fair prices - Edit
It is a comfortable vegetarian restaurant with vegan options and a daily changing offer. The food was tasty with fair prices.
Read morePros: fair prices
Guest
KerstinL
Points +225
so nice - Edit
Buffet style Café, some vegan options, good portions for a good price
Read moreGuest
rach1789
Points +52
Top drawer - Edit
A feast of vegan options and lots of things I’d not come across before.
Read morePros: Lots and lots of vegan stuff, Great range, Friendly staff
Cons: Quite expensive
Guest
AOB78
Points +53
Favourite place in Cork - Edit
Food is excellent and high quality for small price. All is freshly cooked and taste absolutely delicious. Vegan options available just ask ! It's hearty and keeps you full all day for a small budget, good and nutritious food doesn't have to be a luxury, everybody can access it, eat well and be healthy for an excellent price thanks to Quay Co-Op Restaurant!
Read moreI also love the decor and the ambiance of the eating area, it's cosy, relax, friendly and you just feel like home. It's my favourite place in Cork and I recommend it to everybody who feels like a nice and cosy dinner.
Staff is so nice and friendly! It's simply perfect!
Pros: Delicious food, Good value, Friendly
Guest
fullyplantedandy
Points +24
wow - Edit
What great place , one of the best whole foods stores I've ever been to .. worth going to Cork just to visit .
Read moreGuest
lisbonlondoncork
Points +51
What not to like! YUM - Edit
I LOVE the Quay Co-op! I would move in and eat there three times a day if I could. Really.
Read moreThere is a coffee/sandwich place too inside the shop that is nice but you must find the upstairs restaurant/canteen in the blue building. Lovely meals for vegetarians and vegan, staff is accommodating, space is warm and full of good vibes, second floor has a bookshelf with good reads, walls have hanging exhibitions of local artists, occasional concerts upstairs too. My favourites are the veg burger (I ask for no cheese and onion), the red lentil patties with coconut sauce, their salad dressing on the leaves, the potato wedges, the fresh orange and carrot juice, the turmeric latte with almond milk, ... (Shepherd's pie is the only thing I've tried there that did not capture my heart). Plus it is right in the city centre and you can overlook the river and the city from both the first and second floor windows. Everyone I took there loved it.
Pros: Good vibes that will make you want to go back, Amazing heart(h)y food, Sustainably-minded
Cons: Not wheelchair accessible (but coffee shop is)
Guest
amy.brady
Points +24
quay co op - Edit
Great amazing food
Read moreQuite expensive- mid range I'd say
Restaurant upstairs with ok decor
Cafe downstairs both with seating
Nice staff
Great shop fantastic vegan range - again quite expensive
Guest
Sas
Points +84
Great lunch spot in the city centre - Edit
After exploring the city of Dublin, this was a great place to stop for some lunch. As always in Ireland, the staff are super nice and helpful. I had the tofu curry - amazing! And banoffee pie sundae for dessert - also amazing! Really reasonably priced as well, and they had lots of gluten free options.
Read morePros: Great food, Lovely staff, City centre location
Guest
StevieSurf
Points +1957
Fantastic atmosphere and food - Edit
Wonderful staff - all Cork patriots!! Loved them. A great variety of small and large meals, soups, salads and cakes. I ate here twice in the same day. Great shop down below too.
Read morePros: Staff!, Variety of food, The cakes!
Guest
louisevgbg
Points +22
Best Vegan in Cork - Edit
I have tried the lasagna, the quich and the hummus. I loved it. I will always think of Quay Co-op if I want healthy food.
Read morePros: Great choice of food
Cons: Seating tight due to furniture
Guest
CorkVegans
Points +83
The fulchrum of Cork - Edit
Indeed the Quay Coop is the first place that comes to mind for Vegans and Vegetarians.
Read moreI love the place and I go there often but I really, really wish they would implement more vegan options.
The food is, to my opinion, very good, although some option are not as good as others, that might be where the bad reviews are coming from.
Someone was talking about non-vegan Cabdury hot chocolate, but as far as I know the Cabdury hot chocolate is actually just cocoa powder and sugar, I saw it in supermarkets and was surprised there was no dairy in it. Can anybody confirm?
Pros: The oldest and biggest space for vegans, Great customer service, Good food, good value
Guest
HeyJudeOregon
Points +126
Delicious Choices for Vegans - Edit
Large variety of foods and desserts. Has sit down restaurant, bakery, as well as an onsite excellent grocery store.We were able to get sandwich ingredients for tour lunch stops.
Read morePros: Local, organic, Vegan dishes all marked clearly, Knowledgeable staff
Cons: Seating tight due to furniture
Guest
nojvegan
Points +82
Priceles - Edit
Four of us ate at the cafe, Everyone happy with their food. Service is excellent and staff are friendly, helpful , nice people. The whole place has a nice feel, bright and airy and relaxed.
Read moreVegan options , even deserts. The place has been remodelled and is very nice overlooking the river , plenty of extra seating upstairs.
The shop downstairs is big with a large range of goods. Many items not priced , made shopping difficult.
Guest
Vitxo
Points +608
Good place - Edit
Good place to eat, with a very nice staff and many vegan options.
Read morePros: friendly staff, vegan options
Cons: low protein
Guest
VeganFamilyTravels
Points +2254
Nice and central - Edit
We ate here twice during our weekend visit to Cork. On both occasions we had nice meals and they adapted portion sizes to suit our daughter. The staff were friendly and the café itself was very relaxed and had a nice view overlooking the river. Would definitely go back if we visit Cork again.
Read morePros: Vegan Options, Friendly staff, Nice atmosphere
Guest
ClareMacro
Points +60
Great to be able to eat vegan macro! - Edit
The Cork Quay Co-op is a great place where vegan macros can eat & where the staff are friendly & will to go through list of ingredients of dishes. Lovely atmosphere & moderately priced! Oh and the fun of having the treat of a Yannoh Cappuchino made with soya milk!
Read morePros: Vegan Macro options available, Sugar free desserts, Nice location
Guest
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