The Long Valley Bar
- ★ 4.5
- €
- City Centre
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
20 places
Sin E
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
- €€
- City Centre
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.
Cocktail tastings, classes and tours in Cork
The Mutton Lane Inn
- ★ 4.4
- €
- City Centre
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
- €
- City Centre
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
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
- €
- City Centre
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
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
- €
- City Centre
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
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.
Where to stay in Cork
A sample of Cork hotels from our booking partner, who list 99 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
REZz Cork
A stay at REZz Cork places you in the heart of Cork, steps from Everyman Palace Theatre and 4 minutes by fo...
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Cork City Centre Self Catering Apartment
With a stay at Cork City Centre Self Catering Apartment in Cork, you'll be within a 5-minute walk of City L...
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Comfort Cork Center
With a stay at Comfort Cork Center in Cork (Cork City Centre), you'll be steps from Paul Street and Saint P...
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Rose Lodge Guest House
With a stay at Rose Lodge Guest House in Cork, you'll be within a 5-minute walk of Donovan's Bridge and Gra...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Cork from USD 71/night · Booking.com in Cork
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Rising Sons Brewery Bar
- ★ 4.3
- €€
- City Centre
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
- €€
- Shandon and North Mall
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
- €
- City Centre
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
- €
- City Centre
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
- €€
- City Centre
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
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
- €€
- City Centre
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
- €€€
- Union Quay and Ballintemple
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
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
- €€
- City Centre
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.
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