This always comes up over the holidays when I gather with friends and the inevitable debate begins over who has the best Buffalo wings or where whatever food is best in Cork City. So, I kept notes.
I compared those notes to a couple very sad partial blog posts drafts from previous attempts to make a big list like this and compiled it all together. Once it was all in a list, I then added links to the restaurant/cafe/bar websites so you can find out more. After that, I went through my Flickr and Instagram photos to find three suitable images per section and embedded them to break up the list visually and give you examples of what I’m talking about. Needless to say, this took a long time. I started working on the post around Thanksgiving (late November) and finally completed it at New Year’s…then I slept and dreamed about all the good food in Cork.
Disclaimer: This isn’t official or vetted. It isn’t sponsored or related to compensation offered. It is not an advertisement. Most of them I go to myself, but a few are my friends’ nominations. I’m certain some amazing places were accidentally omitted from the list and because this is an idea list, comment with your favorites. All photos included are my own. If the photo is of your restaurant/food and you want to share it on your Facebook page, go for it, just link back here.
Best Breakfast – related Brunch in Cork blog post
Idaho Cafe
Fenn’s Quay
Nash 19
Tony’s
Amicus
Best Scone – related blog post
Fenn’s Quay
Idaho Cafe
Best Porridge
Idaho Cafe
Nash 19
Cafe Gusto
Fenn’s Quay
Your Mam’s Kitchen (seriously, homemade means eating in PJs)
Best Potato Cakes
Nash 19
Best Fluffy Pancakes – related blog post
Fenn’s Quay
Liberty Grill
Best Crêpe Pancakes – related Brunch in Cork blog post
Sugar Cube
Paradise Crépe Restaurant
Half Door Cafe
Best Brunch – related Brunch in Cork blog post
Liberty Grill (Weekdays & Saturdays)
Fenn’s Quay (Saturdays)
Crawford Gallery Cafe (Saturdays)
Brick Lane (Saturdays and Sundays)
Goldberg’s Bar (Sundays)
The Sextant (Sundays)
Tony’s
There was even nostalgic talk of the long gone brunch at Electric
Best Corned Beef or Spiced Beef Sandwiches
Long Valley (Corned Beef) – related blog post
Fenn’s Quay
Best Sandwiches
Bracken’s Bakery
Long Valley (Corned Beef)
The Workshop
Farmgate English Market
Liberty Grill
Best Soup/Sandwich Value Lunch – Mostly under €10
Market Lane – related blog post
Fenn’s Quay
Goldberg’s Bar
Electric
Wildways
Best Take-Away Sandwiches
Bracken’s Bakery (they’ll even prepare your school/work lunch for pick-up)
Long Valley (Corned Beef)
Wholy Grain
Bradley’s Off-Licence
KC & Son & Sons
The Sandwich Stall in The English Market
Wildways
Rocket Man
More Value Lunch Spots
Idaho Cafe
House Cafe
Perry Street Market Café
Cafe Gusto
Luigi Malone’s
Reardens Bar
Best Baked Potato
Wildways
Captain America’s
Best Afternoon Tea Vibe
Tara’s Tea Room
Hayfield Manor
Kingsley Hotel
Best Chicken Wings
Luigi Malone’s (My personal favourite for Buffalo-style wings)
CoqBull
SoHo
East Village
Bodega
Cornstore
Scoozi!
Best Chicken Goujons
Sober Lane
O’Connors Seafood Restaurant in Bantry
Best Place to Watch the Match – related blog post
SoHo
Brick Lane
Rising Sons Brewery
Woolshed
And so many fab little pubs on Oliver Plunkett
Best Nachos
Cafe Mexicana
Bodega
6ix
Best Tapas and Sharing Plates
Electric Bar
Arthur Maynes
6ix
Best Chips or Skinny French Fries
Chipsy Kings
Elbow Lane (they’re triple cooked!)
Luigi Malone’s
Charcoal Grill (neighbour to the Bierhaus)
Fenn’s Quay
Best Sweet Potato Fries
Brick Lane
Chipper / Fish & Chips
Jackie Lennox’s Chip Shop
The Fish Wife
Fishy Fishy
Fish Hatch
Best Steak
Electric Restaurant
Annie’s Gastropub
Fenn’s Quay
Star Anise
Huguenot French Bistro & Wine Bar
Jacob’s on the Mall
Isaac’s
Brick Lane (teriyaki steak sandwich FTW)
Best Hamburgers
CoqBull (Personally, I only eat burgers here, at Fenn’s Quay, or at home)
Gourmet Burger Bistro
KC & Son & Sons (menu)
Charcoal Grill (neighbour to the Bierhaus)
Scoozi!
Diva Boutique Bakery
Gallagher’s
Liberty Grill
Best Pizza
Sober Lane
Knockout Pizza
Novecento
Best Early Dinner or Pre-Theatre Prix Fixe Menu
Market Lane
Fenn’s Quay
Star Anise
Best Take Away Salads
Rocket Man
The Sandwich Stall in The English Market
Best Risotto
Sage Midleton
Fenn’s Quay
Castle Cafe
Serendipity Cafe
Best Fish
Eco Douglas
Fenn’s Quay
Fishy Fishy in Kinsale
O’Connors Seafood Restaurant in Bantry
Poacher’s Inn in Bandon
Best Crab Cakes
Fenn’s Quay
Electric
Liberty Grill
Fishy Fishy
Best Completely Vegetarian Restaurant
Iyers Cafe
Quay Co-op
Cafe Paradiso
Best Stir-fried Rice
Aroi (my post about their opening)
Best Dinners of 2014 – Check out CorkBilly’s post
Best Irish Chocolatier
Eve’s
The Chocolate Shop in The English Market
David in The English Market
O’Conaill’s
Best Macarons
Idaho Cafe
Best Milkshakes
Rockin’ Joe’s Diner
Best Gelato
Idaho Cafe
Gino’s
Best Dessert
Banoffee – Eco Douglas
Flourless Chocolate – Electric or Fenn’s Quay
Panna Cotta – Fenn’s Quay
Tarts & Cakes – Farmgate Midleton
Best Place to Party Like a Rock Star
Voodoo Rooms
Bodega
Wk End at The Roxy
Best Classic Pub for a Pint or a Whiskey
The Castle Inn
Dennehy’s Bar
Best Non-Alcoholic Mocktails
Luigi Malone’s
SoHo
Best Food When Tipsy
Hillbilly’s
Sober Lane
Chipsy Kings
Fast Al’s Pizza By The Slice
Now, if you’ll excuse me…writing this post has made me ravenously hungry!
What did I miss including in this list of lists?
Have you read my other listy posts? I’d link to them all here, but there are too many. But search for what interests you in the search field in the top right of the blog sidebar and it’ll show you whatever list I have on that topic. A few of the most popular linked to below:
Slainté 
Any suggestions for best kid friendly restaurant? Preferably with some good vegetarian as well. I’ll be in Cork in a few weeks, visiting a vegetarian friend, so a very important question 🙂
Though Fenn’s Quay isn’t teaming with kids, it is great for family dining. They have crayons for drawing, a couple little toy cars, and can do a kid-size portion of anything on the menu. If you’re dining with many noisy kids, an early dinner at Milano, Luigi Malone’s, or Scoozi is ideal so they can have their fun and you worry less about disturbing other diners. Hope this helps, Yvonne.
You should call into a little Malay Kitchen; Asian Street Food. It’s a takeaway but their standard are very high. Their vegetarian dishes are sublime! The foods there are absolutely delicious, authentic Asian Street Food.
They have the best Phad Thai in Cork! It’s a tofu heaven as well. Malay Kitchen. Paradise Place, Sth Main St., Cork City.
come on in!!!!! You obviously haven’t yet!
So right! I have only enjoyed your cooking once back at the Cork Gourmet Trail. Must make a plan to dine at yours sometime soon. What are you known for?
Brilliant, my brother is organising a Cork Stag (with an older group) so this would be a perfect for them as they are looking for somewhere to eat – very different from the usual stags you would see i know!
Glad to help!
great list,thanks for sharing!! But if you’re including places outside of the city for best fish like o’connors in bantry and fishy fishy you should include the poachers inn in Bandon,it’s amazing!
Will do. Thanks for nominating them for the list, PJ. I’ve actually never been to Bandon.
Hello! great list, posted it on facebook ‘Alone in Cork City’. Please contact me, we should meet !
You have to go to the Thady Inn for steak & chocolate cake. It’s in Farran but worth the trip. All they do is steak. & the cake!
I would have to say you have missed out an entry for the macaron category, Cloudberry Bakery based in Kerry but they retail their macarons solely through Brown Thomas in Cork, they sell a variety of flavours including Vanilla, salt caramel, pistachio, chocolate, white choc with vanilla and raspberry, guiness (limited edition) winter berry christmas spice chocolate, whiskey chocolate and lemon all made by hand and packaged in gorgeous little boxes they are a must
Looks like ya seriously rate
Fenn’s Quay – you might have given me the nudge I need to go there. For bread and cakes you should include Hassetts which opened in the English Market just before Christmas. Best millefeuilles amongst other things.
I saw the new stall, but haven’t been able to go. Now on my MUST list! Thanks for the recommendation. Fenn’s Quay has been our favourite for years. I think it comes down to the fact that half their menu is specials that are seasonal and local. So it’s never the same old dishes.
I think The Bookshelf Coffee House has the best scones by far! The expresso and americano are excellent too!
Pingback: UCC International Pre-Departure Blog Series: Counting Down | UCC International Students
Thanks for the list. I love the pizzas in all of the places mentioned but I was wondering why John Graces was not selected for chicken ? A Cork institution and the finest snack box this side of the Lee.
I’ve never been to John Graces. I can’t select what I’ve not tried. Sadly, seven years isn’t long enough to have gotten everywhere…yet. I remain hopeful.
The best pizza in Cork is found in La Dolce Vita and the sea food was amazing too.