Bhagya Barrett is the co-founder and marketing director of Rebel City Distillery, Cork’s first new distillery in almost 50 years.
Born and raised in the Indian state of Kerala, Bhagya relocated to Ireland in 2013 to pursue an MBA, subsequently building a thriving career in IT programme management before joining forces with her husband Robert Barrett to establish the distillery. Bhagya’s Indian heritage informs the award-winning Maharani Gin, a spirit that fuses Irish distilling traditions with spices sourced from a women’s cooperative in Kerala, celebrating cultural diversity, craftsmanship, and female empowerment.
In this piece, Bhagya reveals her favourite dining spots around Cork and explains why some of the finest meals can often be discovered in places you might not expect.
What are your top 3 favourite restaurants in Ireland?
My top three selections would be these:
- The Glass Curtain
- Jacques
- Elbow Lane
Each venue brings a distinct atmosphere, yet all consistently deliver superb cuisine and a dining experience that lingers in the memory.
View this post on Instagram
Aoife Brennan
I write about culture, gastronomy, and lifestyle with a deep interest in the places, people, and traditions that shape how we live. I am drawn to stories that feel thoughtful, vivid, and rooted in real experience, whether they begin in a gallery, around a table, or in the rhythm of everyday life.
