short trip
Weekend in Cork: Feasting by the river
© susanne2688 / Adobe Stock
Cork is fast becoming the gourmet destination for travelers to Ireland. But that’s not the only reason to come here: there are also the amazingly friendly people. 13 tips for a weekend in Cork.
Spend the night
1 The Imperial Hotel: Built in 1813, the hotel captivates with its pomp and chandeliers, but above all with its service-minded staff. A number of illustrious guests have already been here, for example Prince Rainier and his wife Gracia Patricia von Monaco. DR/F from 175 euros (South Mall 76, Tel. 003 53/21/427 40 40, imperialhotelcork.com).
2 Blarney Stone Guest House: Elegant B&B in the university district. Owner Angela attaches great importance to a sumptuous breakfast, from full Irish with bacon and black pudding to vegan options. DR/F from 145 euros (Blarney Stone Western Road 21a, Tel. 003 53/21/427 00 83, blarneystoneguesthouse.com).
3 Isaacs: Located in the Victorian Quarter, the hotel is a classic building with modern decor. In the lobby, a huge oil ham of the Titanic keeps watch behind the leather sofa. In the covered courtyard, the chic “Greens” restaurant is one of the top addresses. DR/F from 154 euros (48 Mac Curtain Street. Tel. 003 53/21/450 00 11, hotelisaacscork.com).
Enjoy
4 clancys: Café, pub, restaurant and pizzeria – the “Clancys” is an institution. You can while away hours here, transitioning from tea to pint. The rib steak burger is available for 16.50 euros, a vegan red curry for 14 euros. Live music on Mondays (15-16 Princess Street, clancyscork.ie).
5 Quinlan’s Seafood Bar: Famous for the fish cuisine. When you’ve had enough of fried food, the Spanish-style shrimps in bubbling chilli oil taste great (19.50 euros). Plenty of alfresco tables, eager service, and as smashingly friendly as anywhere in Cork (14 Princes St, tel 003 53/21/241 82 22).
6 Nash19: Owner Claire Nash puts out a new dinner menu every day. She prefers to shop right next door – in the English Market. at noon e.g. B. Organic salmon with avocado for 14 euros (19 Princes Street 19, Tel. 003 53/21/427 08 80, nash19.com).
7 Market Lane: Modern restaurant, cozy and without chichi. I particularly liked the seafood salad with shrimp croquettes, squid rings and marinated salmon for 18.90 euros. The producers are local, or at least Irish (5/6 Oliver Plunkett Street, Tel. 003 53/21/427 47 10, marketlane.ie).
8 Alchemy: In the café there are used books, delicious coffee and small pastries. Don’t be fooled by the small sticks that look like nut croissants: they’re black pudding rolls (3.30 euros), i.e. blood sausage rolls (123 Barrack Street).
Shopping
9 J Joyce & Co: Birthday cards, wrapping paper, everything a bit unusual, delicately colored and beautiful. You’ll be happy about that at home for a long time (Princes Street 30).
10 vibes and scribes: Above all, everything for handicrafts is offered, for knitting and crocheting, as well as fabrics and bases for quilts (Bridge Street 3). Used books are available from a branch at 21 Lavitt’s Quay (vibesandscribes.ie).
11 Olori: Between the bargain shops on Oliver Plunkett Street, Lisa Grainger and her sister run this small boutique. Her fashion comes from Scandinavian and Irish designers (Oliver Plunkett Street 131, olori.ie).
Experience
12 Crawford Municipal Art Gallery: The art museum in the old customs house offers a lot of modern art and some historical pieces. The heart of the permanent exhibition: a series of Greco-Roman plaster figures modeled after sculptures from the Vatican. Nice cafe (Emmet Place, crawfordartgallery.ie).
13 The Butter Museum: How important butter-making was to Ireland, how butter was preserved and why it tastes so good: you can find out all about this in this small museum (O’Connell Square, thebuttermuseum.com).
extra tips
The goods are presented particularly nicely in the market halls of the “English Market”.
The hydrangeas in the courtyard of the university are gigantic (ucc.ie).
More info at purecork.ie