Butlers Chocolate Experience, Coolock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Butlers Chocolate Experience

If you are planning a trip to the chocolate factory, book the tickets for the morning tour between Monday - Friday. If you are considering touring the facility on a weekend, save your self some money and skip it. During my planning, the first thing I did was to buy Butler Chocolate Experience tickets. Being a chocolate enthusiast, and traveling with young kids, this was my first choice of things to do in Dublin. As I was trying to squeeze in a lot of activities, I had to schedule the tour on a weekend and it was a disappointment. Tour started right on time. All the guests were supplied with a white coat and hairnet. On weekends, tours would be along with a bunch of kids celebrating birthday parties. 

Decorated Elephants

The tour started with a short introduction video to chocolate. Kids enjoyed the samples before and after the video. The tour group was divided into half. One half visited the factory while the other half spent time in the museum. Museum had information about chocolate, and Butler's history and some fun things for kids. The major disappointment was the factory tour itself. There was absolutely no production on weekends. So you won't find even a single person on the factory floor and all the machinery was completely shut off. All you can see is videos of chocolate manufacturing on an average-sized TV screen. When our tour guide, who was otherwise amazing, asked us to use our imagination and understand how the factory works, I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry! Maybe that is why it is called Butlers Chocolate Experience instead of Butlers Chocolate Factory Tour.

Chocolate Samples From The Tour

Our tour ended with decorating hollow elephant-shaped chocolate. Guide gave a brief demonstration of how it was made. All guests, get to decorate their hollow elephant (Easter bunny, Santa for Christmas, bear, etc based on the time you visit). Nice packaging was provided along with the chocolate. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. However, It would have been ideal to visit the factory while it was operational. If you like to buy more chocolate, the ćafe has an exceptional collection.

Chocolate History

All About English Market, Cork City, Ireland

The English market is one of the highly recommended places to visit in Cork City. It has 7 entry/exit points and is tucked perfectly between Oliver Plunkett Street and St. Patric Street. The only trick is to find a parking spot nearby. The market is accessible for buggies but maneuvering a buggy in the jam-packed narrow aisle is a tough task.  This market is full of stalls with fresh fish, poultry, meat and produce. Stall with a variety of olives is my personal favorite.  

If you are passing through the busy streets of St Patrick's, stop by for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or a quick bite. The Farmgate Cafe upstairs has a variety of food options to choose from but it is always jam-packed. There are few cafés, bakeries, delis, and stores for Irish trinkets too. Ironically this place is always crawling with tourists although there is nothing much for tourists to buy. But worth a quick visit if you happen to be in this area. 

Chocolates always have a special place in my heart and tummy. The chocolate shop in the market has a good assortment of locally made chocolate. Click the link for the list of shops and the location layout.