Cork city is quite the gastronomical capital of the South. With a host of restaurants to pick from you really are spoilt for choice! There’s everything from the humble sandwich to fine dining. Read on for more…

(1) What makes Cork city attractive for eating out? Well for a start there’s an abundance of fresh local produce. Many of the Cork eateries will stock farm fresh meat and vegetables, and wild salmon (although a protected species) is fresh form the rivers. There’s also home made cheese for example, durrus an award winning unpasteurised washed-rind cheese. Pork by-products such as sausages, smoked salami and chorizo are available as well.

(2) Cork restaurants are dotted around the city, but for a few restaurants in the one spot why not take a trip down Oliver Plunket Street, Princess Street, Marlborough Street, Cook Street or Carey’s Lane.

(3) Some of Cork city’s restaurants are housed in marvellous old buildings adding to the ambience of your dining experience. You have old brick buildings, listed buildings, Victorian commercial buildings, 18th century warehouses, Georgian houses and even Turkish baths turned into restaurants.

(4) The price range can vary from approximately €10.00 (main course) to €55.00 (2 to 3 course meal - top of the range). Not bad prices for a city.

(5) Culinary delights: savour the taste of lambs tongue with mustard and breadcrumbs, Ballycotton mussels in tomato broth, monkfish topped with creamed potatoes and roasted breadcrumbs, beetroot mousse with orange scented yoghurt, traditional dishes of tripe and drisheen, or corned beef and champ or really reward your taste buds with
luxurious roast loin of venison with poached pear. Are you hungry yet?

(6) Variety is the spice of life: eateries to choose from in Cork city range from Chinese, Japanese, European, French cuisine, Italian, Thai, Indian, pub grub and traditional Irish to name but a few.

(7) Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have found a restaurant which takes in views of City Hall, St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, the National Monument or some of the city’s other stunning buildings and monuments.

(8) Stay a couple of days to ensure you get to sample all the local delicacies!

(9) Calorie counting/health and fitness: no need to worry too much about the calories as even a small walk around the heights and hollows of Cork city will burn off quite a bit of that sumptuous meal you have just had.

(10) Homeward bound: No visit to Cork city would be complete without sussing out one or two of its markets, especially the English Market. Some of the restaurant produce will have come from here and you can take some of it home with you.

So that’s it, I hope we have convinced you that dining out in Cork is an experience not to be missed. There’s no doubt about it, it really is the gastronomical capital of the South.

Fancy staying a night or two in Cork? Check out our Cork hotels page.

What’s your favourite place to eat out in Cork? We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line in the comment box below.