Taking a trip to the food capital of Ireland? Here are some coffee, food, wine and great produce stops to visit in Cork city. Follow our guide …
The Cork on A Fork Festival (which took place August 14-18 this year), acts as a highlights reel for all the fabulous food spots, suppliers, events and food policies in Cork City. A trip to Cork reveals the sheer mastery behind all of the great food establishments in the city, and the food distributors’ dedication to being as sustainable as possible with their farm-to-fork journeys. It was made clear in near-all of the restaurants and food spots I visited that the ingredients were from local suppliers – one who you could often visit in the English Market. Here are some essential places to visit for those with an interest in good food and good people. This doesn’t even scratch the surface, but it will get you started on a foodie tour to Cork City:
To stay: The Montonette Hotel, Middle Glanmire Road
Book in at The Montonette Hotel, a ten-minute walk from the centre of Cork city. A former 18th-century merchant prince’s residence, the hotel is an elegant and inviting spot to spend a night or two. There is certainly something for everyone, from a beautiful Cameo cinema, the serene Bellevue spa, The Motion Health Club, the Panorama Bistro and Terrace and the Glasshouse which is separate from the hotel and a great spot overlooking the city and to have a cocktail. The location offers the perfect balance of being within walking distance of the city, but at a slight remove for ultimate relaxation and comfort. After all your eating on a trip to Cork, you need to know you’re returning to a comfortable bed for a post-feast kip.
The Montonette breakfast will get you warmed up for the day. The decadent buffet includes hot fry food – ingredients from local suppliers so you know it’s the best quality – to a yoghurt, fruit and granola station plus pastries, scones and cereals. From the table you can order the best of brunch with eggs Benedict, Florentine, Royal, omelettes, hot porridge, plus great coffee to start your day. I didn’t have dinner here in the end, but we hear that it is also worth booking in for. www.themontenottehotel.com
To start…
A real triumph was the opening night of the Cork to Fork Festival, with the Victorian Quarter Shared Table, or The VQ shared table sponsored by Birra Morretti. 400 guests lined the long table running down MacCurtain street and were served by the generous staff of the contributing restaurants and enjoyed a fantastic meal created by the chefs and owners of those restaurants.
The restaurants and bars included: The Glass Curtain, The Metropole, Paladar, Isaacs Restaurant, Eco Fish, Thompsons, Gabriel House, Gallaghers, The Dean, Cask, MacCurtain Wine Cellar, The Shelbourne Bar and Son of a Bun.
The culinary experts and teams behind each restaurant came together to create a very special sharing meal for guests – some of which included west coast lobster, Clonakilty black pudding tostadas, low-and-slow rare breed Glenbrook farm free-range pork, west coast strawberries with fig leaf infused sheep’s yoghurt, among other delicious dishes. It was truly remarkable to see how all the restaurants worked together to create such a special meal for all the guests. Plus – the rain held off which was a real win.
COFFEE
Cork Coffee Roasters, 2 Bridge Street and 2 French Church Street
Cork is oozing with great coffee spots, they warrant a tour in themselves but at the risk of a caffeine overload, we’ll have to stick with some select ones. Cork Coffee Roasters is a cult-classic and a great place to sit and plan your day – at both locations on Bridge Street and French Church Street. An epic flat white with a sweet-treat (pistachio cannolli) will set the tone for the day. Sit outside the French Church street spot in the sun and if it rains, the Bridge Street branch has a great perch indoors for people watching. @corkcoffeeroasters
Soma Coffee Company, 23 Tuckey Street
A perfect side-street coffee stop to sit and sip is Soma Coffee. On a rainy day sitting inside the cool rustic interior with exposed brick does the trick. Select your type of bean, coffee and again another cannolli (Cork loves canollis?) and enjoy. This coffee is good and strong. @somacoffeecompany
The Grumpy Bakers, 2 Washington Street
The Grumpy Bakers bakery on Washington Street does a GOOD pastry. As a devout member of the almond croissant fan club, I had to try one and it was simply delicious. The pastry chefs at The Grumpy Bakers know what they’re doing. Irish and organic ingredients are combined on site as much as possible to bake handmade breads and pastries each day. While you’re there, pick up a sourdough loaf to go. @the_grumpy_bakers
Here’s Health, Oliver Plunkett Street
This is the place to get a matcha if you are so inclined. Matcha hasn’t quite taken over Cork like it has Dublin, but if you are looking for your fix – Here’s Health has it nailed. Good looking pastries too. @hereshealth
BRUNCH
Good Day Deli, Nano Nagle Place, Douglas Street
Visiting the gardens of Nano Nagle Place alone is a beautiful and peaceful break away from the hustle and bustle of Cork city centre. A big plus is the Good Day Deli situated in the gardens, with floor to ceiling glass windows connecting you to the gardens surrounding you. What is good to eat? The brunch, which is served all day on the weekends. For a savoury flavour the Good Day Deli Turkish eggs tick all of the brunch boxes and the addition of the Toonsbridge halloumi is the cherry on top. The summer berry pancakes and kimchi fried eggs also looked really delicious. It all did, in all honesty. Also serving craft beers and special sodas if you are in the mood. @gooddaydeli
Joes + Bros, Winthrop Arcade, Oliver Plunkett Street
If you’re a sandwich fan, head to Joe + Bros situated at Winthrop Arcade. Winthrop arcade is a great spot for window shopping too, with The Best of Buds and Monreal in there. Joe + Bros has seating inside the arcade so you can step out of the street for a minute and enjoy a great coffee and one of their epic toasties or smoothie bowls. The Cluck Cluck is chicken with caramelised red onion, Monterey jack cheese and Sriracha mayo and it really is that good. Vegan and vegetarion options look great – with a spiced sweet potato, guacamole baby spinach, French dressing and hummus. @joesandbros_winthroparcade
FOOD MARKETS
English Market, Grand Parade
For an actual food tour: book one in! This is a great way to get local insight to all things food and food history in Cork. I joined a very insightful and lovely Cork Food History Walking Tour organised by Activities Days Ireland, lead by Maire. Following a visit to Shandon Bells and The Butter Museum we went to The English Market. 230 years old, this is a place where middle class and English people used to shop and now holds a multitude of brilliant artisan food suppliers. A brilliant place to pick up your weekly food supplies, not only because of the local suppliers’ delicious produce, but the sustainable premise on which they operate. You will notice their names on many restaurant menus around Cork city, as you start to piece together the farm-to-fork service that’s evident in the city. Great to see.
Must-visit stalls? Now K O’Connell fish merchants, formerly run by Kay’s father Paul, who famously made Queen Elizabeth laugh on her visit to Cork after he referred to a certain fish as a ‘mother-in-law’ fish. Amazingly fresh, large fish and a smooth operation makes for a perfect service. We tried oysters, smoked salmon, smoked trout and large prawns. @ko_connells_fishmonger
For great cheese and olives, The Real Olive Company in the English market sells a full range of Mediterranean products, including olives, extra virgin olive oil, aged balsamic vinegars, European cheeses, Iberico cured meats, delicious hummus and they stock the entire Toonsbridge dairy range. All Toonsbridge products are made in small productions at their dairy using fresh, local cow’s milk and Buffalo milk from their own herd of Buffalos in West Cork. The Buffalo mozzarella and smoked Scamorza are definitely something to write home about. @therealolivecompany
For good meat, Tom Durcan is the award-winning traditional spiced beef connoisseur to visit. Tom Durcan offers nationwide delivery. @tom_durcan_meats
The Chocolate Shop is the stand to go to for good chocolate, and gift-worthy boxes. Rosemary Daly has been trading in the English Market since 2000. Beginning with loose chocolates and gift boxes she quickly expanded into the developing bean-to-bar and craft chocolate world. An expert in all things chocolate and cocoa, Rosemary will happily chat to anyone about her craft. She does a great praline – a personal favourite. www.chocolate.ie
Also in the market is The Farmgate café which runs around the top level of the market. Serving speciality coffee and lovely food with menus that reflect the season. The café sources its fresh ingredients from the food stalls of the English Market and works closely with the trusted market gardeners, as well as the best artisan food and wine producers they can find. Our favourites were the Market fish chowder and Ardsallagh Goats cheese ciabatta. @farmgatecafe
Marina Market, Centre Park Road
The Marina Market is Cork’s largest indoor and outdoor food and retail market. It is open from 8am to 8pm and has approximately 30 food vendors and five retail units. There is a multitude of cuisines from sushi to burgers and especially great coffee in Guji coffee pink coffee box, to name one. There is always something happening with lots of special events so be sure to factor the market into your Cork city plans. @marinamarketcork
The Saucy Cow, Marina Market, Centre Park Road
For all things delicious, groovy and vegan, visit The Saucy Cow which has recently opened in The Marina Market. The Saucy Cow’s older sister lives in Crane Lane in Temple Bar, Dublin and it appears Cork knew what it was missing. This is THE place for a brilliant plant-based smash burger. You can’t beat The Classic – a melt-in-the-mouth creation for any time of the day, with the beyond meet patty smashed in two, vegan cheddar, lettuce, onions, vegan bacon, classic burger sauce on a toasted sesame bun. The mushroom burgers look delicious as well and as for sides, you can’t not get the salt and chilli hashbrowns – delicious. Enjoy your goods outside on a glorious summer evening by the water. There is a real sense of community surrounding the market and these girls, and it all adds to the great experience. @thesaucycow_
WINING AND DINING
L’Atitude 51 Wine Bar, 1 Union Quay
Time for wine? L’Atitude is the idyllic wine bar to pay a visit to, committed to sustainability in the food and wine they serve and using ingredients sourced as locally as possible from environmentally-conscious producers. On a sunny day it really doesn’t get better than enjoying a glass of organic or natural wine and sitting in the outside area across the road from the wine bar, which overlooks the river. The cave-a-manger style interior is also very special.
I had the real treat of enjoying the outdoor space with a glass of Italian red and a porchetta sandwich (focaccia, tomato, lettuce, chilli jam, succulent pork) as part of the Cork on A Fork festival. What a combination – can’t be topped. As well as cheese and charcuterie platters, other small plates available to order day-to-day include O’Mahony’s pork and fennel ragu with pappardelle, chicken liver pate, meatballs, haddock and mussel croquettes, James’ mussels and artisan sourdough with Glenstal butter. @latitudefiftyone
Nell’s Wine Bar, 39 MacCurtain Street, Victorian Quarter
Another wine bar worth a mention is Nell’s. This boutique Victorian-styled wine bar specialises in ‘old world’ wine and small plates in accordance with the season and Cork’s local produce. Small plates to mention are O’Mahony’s lamb tostada, a warm Sunview goat’s cheese and fried spuds with Hegarty’s fermented chilli and katsuobushi. It looks super cool inside and is another go-to for Cork residents. @nells_wine_bar
MacCurtain Wine Cellar, MacCurtain Street
More wine and great bites? MacCurtain street is a top-notch wine shop that you have to try when in Cork city. The charm of the family-run spot is hard to match. I was able to dip in and nab a window seat but it could be a bit tougher for bigger groups. One thing about Cork city though, is that everyone is ready and willing to sit outside. There is outdoor seating aplenty. MacCurtain Wine Cellar offers the best local produce of Cork with a menu of sharing plates and light snacks. Grab a couple of bottles to take home from the excellent wine selection while you’re there. @maccurtainwinecellar
Goldie, Oliver Plunkett Street
The locals will tell you that for a brilliant fish dinner, Goldie is the restaurant to book. Goldie is a small restaurant in the centre of Cork and is seen as a real pearl. With glowing reviews from all who have visited – I will throw my name on the list – it is something you have to try for yourself. Snacks and small plates to note are the Taiwanese fried fish nuggets (yum), Rossmore oysters and the cod tail schnitzel, and for mains you can’t go wrong with a sublimely seasoned pan roast Monkfish with bomba rice and chervil aioli. Also to note is the pan-fried John Dory with roast celeriac, and chicken and miso butter sauce. See the menu (with all of the local suppliers listed beside them) and book in here; @goldierestaurant.
Elbow Lane, Brew and Smokehouse, Oliver Plunkett Street
If you are looking for something other than fish – then the meat or vegetarian dishes at the ever popular Elbow Lane will cater to your needs. Deep fried pork belly with fish sauce caramel to start and a wood grilled ribeye with smoked cascade butter to follow sounds great. For vegetarians, the Lion’s mane mushroom, celeriac and lovage dumplings with black lentil bordelaise looks good. @elbowlanecork
Sin É, 8 Coburg Street, Victorian Quarter
For a traditional Irish pub vibe, with the music to match, this Cork heritage pub (around from 1889) is the perfect one to visit. Spread over two floors, it may be hard to get a seat, but the atmosphere is what you’re there for. Lots of little corners with candles stuck into old bottles, with old memorabilia on the wall – what more could you want? Get a Beamish for Cork’s sake. @sin_ebarcork
The Mutton Lane
Head on to The Mutton Lane for some lively ambiance, cool interior and great whiskey! This is very nice vibe for an after-dinner drink and for embracing the true atmosphere of Cork city. @muttonlane
Save the date for the next Cork on A Fork Festival and sample incredible food from the region’s talented chefs, farmers, and producers from 13-17 August 2025. www.corkcity.ie.
For more food favourites in Cork City see here.