Cork
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Cork is the second largest city in Ireland and is known as the country’s culinary capital. In stunning Southern Ireland, Southwestern Ireland, and within County Cork, there are many farms that produce fresh produce and free-range meat. Cork capitalizes on this, attracting talented chefs and food connoisseurs from all over the globe. The city is also the beginning of the Wild Atlantic Way road trip, making it a popular destination for adventurous travelers.
Travel tip #1: Two to three days is ample time to explore Cork City. From Cork, you can take a day trip to colorful Kinsale, historic Blarney Castle, as well as Clonakilty and Inchydoney Beaches.
Places of Interest
Victorian Quarter: The Victorian Quarter is a hub of 19th-century buildings that sits just north of the River Lee. Here you will find Saint Patrick’s Church as well as Collins Barracks, which features a museum dedicated to the Irish Civil War. You can also discover various clothing shops, bars, and music venues.
Oliver Plunkett Street: This is one of the main shopping streets in Cork that is lined with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and more. You’ll find many a people enjoying themselves as they window shop, meet with friends, and take in the lively atmosphere.
Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral: The medieval Cathedral which was demolished in 1785 which was followed by the building of a classical cathedral where the tower and spire of the old cathedral were retained. William Burges was appointed architect for a new cathedral in 1862. This is the current building that is built of Cork limestone and red Cork marble. Some of the best stained glass in Ireland can be seen inside Saint Finn Barre’s Cathedral.
The English Market: If you’re at a loss of where to start in Cork, the English Market is a great place to begin your day. This covered market is known as a food hall where you can find traders selling organic and locally produced food in an 18th-century building. There are various stalls to choose from, like O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, as well as purchase tasty souvenirs.
Marina Market: The Marina Market is Cork’s largest indoor and outdoor food and retail market with more than 30 food vendors. It is very pet-friendly and is a nice place to sample different small business’ culinary creations while supporting the local community.
Travel tip #2: Many places to visit within Cork operate on a standard schedule of 9 am – 5 pm. Even if a place says it’s open later, such as 7 pm, business owners generally start closing for the day before that. It is common to find “closed” signs throughout the city, so be sure to plan around business hours.
Food & Drink
The Grumpy Bakers: Stop by this local artisan sourdough bakery that uses local, seasonal, and organic ingredients to create their tasty breads, pastries, and more. Everything is baked fresh on a daily basis, so be sure to get in early if there is something in particular you like.
SOMA Coffee Company: With a few different locations scattered about the city, SOMA is well-known for being a speciality coffee roaster that focuses on high quality single origin coffee. The dark ambience is great for those who prefer a subdued cafe atmosphere.
Alchemy Coffee & Books: A lovely little spot for coffee-lovers and book-lovers alike. Quaint and quirky, this is a great place to meet a friend for a catch-up or grab a cup of joe and peruse the reading selection. As of 2022, Alchemy can also be found at Marina Market.
Quinlan’s Seafood Bar: This family-run seafood bar and restaurant is known for their fresh, quality seafood. Their motto of serving food “tide to table” is backed by their trawler and fish factory in South Kerry, enabling them to provide top-notch food to all who dine. I recommend booking in advance for weekends, especially in the summer months.
The SpitJack Cork: Open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, this rotisserie-centric dining establishment melds quality meats and produce to create tantalizing plates of all kinds. Portions are on the larger side, so it is nice to choose a few and share with several friends.
Miyazaki: Miyazaki is a Japanese take-away owned by the Japanese chef Takashi Miyazaki that serves favorites like soba, oyakodon, and onigiri as well as fresh sushi and sashimi. If you want to try the sushi, go early as there is a set number of servings available every day. The wait time can be quite long and seating is limited, but the food is definitely worthwhile.
Ichigo Ichie: While Miyazaki is putting out more casual options, Ichigo Ichie offers an elevated dining experience revolving around the concept of “omakase,” which means “I leave it up to you.” The menu changes with each month of the year, highlighting Ireland’s culinary seasonality through a Japanese-lens. Book in advance, as there are limited tables with set times.
Nua Asador: Nua Asador is an Argentinian food stall that was created as a partnership between Brazilian chef Victor Franca and Tom Durkan, a butcher from Cork. The stall can be found in Marina Market, where patrons can sample parilla-style grilled meats, seafoods, and veggies that are cooked over Irish-sourced woods.
Pubs
- Mutton Lane Inn
- Gallagher’s Pub
- Sin E
- The Crane Lane Theatre
- Long Valley Bar
- The Oliver Plunkett
- Kelly’s Bar & Irish Music Pub
Travel tip #3: Many of the more well-known restaurants and eateries in Cork become quite crowded on weekends and holidays. It is best to reserve in advance if you would like to eat at certain establishments to avoid disappointment or long wait times.
Transportation & Accommodation
Cork is very walkable, with most places of interest and eateries being within a 20-30 minute stroll. Local buses connect city outskirts to the center. If you’re arriving to or departing from Cork via train, Kent Station will more than likely be your stop. For those journeying by bus, the Air Coach is a great way to connect to and from other major cities on the Emerald Isle. The 704x, for example, will get you to and from Dublin within 3 hours. Cork Airport is the second-largest of Ireland’s three international airports (Dublin being the first and Shannon the third largest), and is located 6.5 kilometers south of the city center in an area known as Farmers Cross.
The city has a number of hotels dotted throughout the city center that are ideally located for travelers. The Maldron Hotel South is central and fairly priced while places like the Metropole Hotel and Imperial Hotel & Spa being a bit more upscale. Anywhere, really, within the city center is a safe choice. For those with a car, staying outside of Cork City in a more countryside area would be a lovely option.
Travel tip #4: From Cork, you can easily travel to Kilkenny, Dublin, and Galway via bus (Bus Éireann) or train (Irish Rail). Cork is also a main gateway to West Cork and its numerous scenic peninsulas, such as the Dingle Peninsula.
Climate
It is generally accepted that Cork is rainier and colder than Dublin, but the average amount of sunshine per day in each city is similar. Regardless, the weather is similar to the rest of the country in that Cork experiences semi-warm summers and mild winters. The yearly temperature rarely exceeds 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and doesn’t usually dip below 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) thanks to the Gulf Stream. July being the hottest month while January is typically the coldest, it is a lovely place in Europe to visit in summer if you’re trying to escape hot Mediterranean climates. Late spring is a beautiful time of the year in Cork while summer and early autumn have a rich abundance of local veggies, fruits, and seafoods to enjoy.
