24 Hours in Cork City: A Foodie’s Guide
I spent 24 hours in Cork City before embarking on a road trip around County Cork. While it was my first visit to Ireland’s second city, my familiarity with the Emerald Isle extends from West Cork to Kerry, Wexford, and Dublin. Despite Dublin often stealing the spotlight, I discovered that laid-back Cork City contentedly exists in its shadow.
From the fresh produce at the famed English Market to hearty pub grub, both visitors and locals can revel in the city’s reputation as the foodie capital of Ireland. I was drawn here for traditional music, Guinness, local craft beer, and fresh seafood—and Cork City thoroughly delivered.
Pre-trip Spending
Flights: The return flights cost £79, with additional baggage fees of £17 each with Ryanair. While we’ve booked flights for less out of season, this June-July trip was naturally a bit pricier.
Accommodation: With only one night to spare, we chose a cozy room within a flat booked through Airbnb for just £25 each. This ideal central location was equidistant from the Victorian Quarter and St Luke’s Cross, making it convenient for our nighttime pub crawling and daytime exploring.
Total: £121
On the Ground
Friday
Total: £23.75
6pm: As a fairly organized duo, it was shocking to realize we left a backpack on the train to the airport. (As a side note, we managed to retrieve it in London weeks later, thankfully.) With a lack of toiletries, we resorted to buying pricey miniature travel essentials at Stansted’s Boots (£3.66 each). To make matters worse, our flight appeared delayed by almost two hours, forcing us to forgo a nice evening meal in Cork and settle for disappointing airport Meal Deal sandwiches and chips (£3.99 each).
10pm: Upon finally checking into our Airbnb, our friendly host graciously welcomed us, assuming we would want to head straight to bed. However, we were determined to dive into Cork’s live music and pub scene, so we set off!
Saturday
Total: £27.62
10am: After a welcome lie-in, we set out to explore the city. We walked past pastel-washed houses up steep hills, enjoyed riverside paths, and encountered numerous cute cafes. We stumbled upon Mother Jones Flea Market, where vintage treasures tempted us. Despite a growling stomach, I couldn’t resist buying a charming pendant for just £4.50.
11am: Knowledge of Cork Coffee Roasters had reached us, so we sought out their famous coffee. Sitting in a plant-laden cafe with a latte (£2.50) and a flat white, we enjoyed the city waking up around us. Eager for more local flavors, we eventually meandered to the bustling English Market, filled with vibrant sights and smells. I treated myself to a vegan black pudding, called Vpud, priced at £2.70, which is astonishingly close to the real thing.
