The Long Valley Bar ★ 4.5
Established in 1842 and run by the Moynihan family since 1927, the Long Valley is Cork's most storied bar. The counter is famously long, the decor unchanged.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Cork for grown-ups.
Where to drink
Sin E ★ 4.5
Translating as 'That's It' in Irish, Sin E has hosted live traditional sessions since 1889, making it one of Ireland's longest-running trad venues.
The Oliver Plunkett ★ 4.2
Cork's best-known live music pub on Oliver Plunkett Street with nightly live acts Wednesday to Sunday and a late licence until 01:30 on Friday and Saturday.
The Mutton Lane Inn ★ 4.4
Accessed down a narrow laneway off Patrick Street that leads into the English Market complex, Mutton Lane Inn is Cork's most photogenic traditional pub.
The Hi-B Bar ★ 4.3
Run by the O'Donnell family since 1924, the Hi-B is Cork's most determinedly traditional pub, with a strict no-mobile-phones policy that forces genuine.
The Shelbourne Bar ★ 4.5
Ireland's best whiskey bar for four consecutive years, the Shelbourne holds over 540 Irish whiskeys and treats the category with the seriousness it deserves.
Costigan's Pub ★ 4.2
Trading since 1827, Costigan's is one of Cork's oldest licensed premises. The long bar counter, snugs, parlour and open fire make it classic Cork pub.
Coughlan's Bar ★ 4.4
An award-winning live music venue on Douglas Street, one of Cork's best streets for character. Coughlan's hosts free gigs every week across trad, folk, jazz.
An Spailpin Fanach ★ 4.4
Open since 1779, An Spailpin Fanach is one of Ireland's oldest continuously trading pubs and Cork's foremost trad music destination. The Lee Sessions trail.
The Corner House ★ 4.1
A family-run pub at the Shandon end of Coburg Street since 1994, anchoring the Lee Sessions with spontaneous trad and blues in the back booth each week.
Rising Sons Brewery Bar ★ 4.3
Cork city's main craft brewery taproom, pouring Rising Sons' full tap range including Cork Pale Ale and Blackrock Stout direct from the tank on Cornmarket St.
Franciscan Well Brewpub ★ 4.2
Cork's original craft brewery founded in 1998 on North Mall beside the medieval city wall. The North Mall brewpub trades on under independent management.
The Castle Inn ★ 4.1
A no-frills South Main Street traditional bar that refuses to modernise, and is better for it. No music, no screens, no cocktail list. The focus is entirely.
The Oval ★ 4.0
Named for its elliptical 1900s architecture, The Oval is Cork's best-preserved Edwardian pub interior. The original mahogany bar, frosted glass and tiled.
Arthur Mayne's Pharmacy ★ 4.3
A pharmacy from the 1880s in a 1720 building, reopened as a wine and cocktail bar in 2012. The apothecary cabinets lining the walls still hold.
Cask ★ 4.5
Cork's award-winning boutique cocktail bar, operating without citrus for sustainability reasons and building its seasonal cocktail menu on foraged Irish wild.
The Bodega ★ 4.0
A Cornmarket Street bar popular with Cork students. DJs Thursday to Saturday; open until 02:30 Fri-Sun and housing Ireland's largest whiskey bar inside.
L'Atitude 51 ★ 4.6
Cork's most celebrated natural wine destination, trading from Union Quay with a 400-bottle list focused entirely on organic, biodynamic and natural producers.
MacCurtain Wine Cellar ★ 4.6
Star Wine List's top-rated Cork venue two years running. Run by sommelier-trained Trudy Ahern, it is a hybrid wine shop and evening bar with no kitchen.
The Raven Bar ★ 4.1
Established in 1862, The Raven is one of Cork's oldest bars with a strong contemporary food and wine programme. 'Screw It Mondays' discounts premium wines.