There are two important things to know about Cork. First off, it is a great city; secondly, the locals are mental – but in the best possible way! Friendly, down-to-earth and always ready for a good time, Corkonians really relish the craic.

The traveller’s bible, Lonely Planet, describes Cork as “sophisticated, vibrant and diverse” – and it is. The city itself hosts an incredible array of top international music, arts, culture and theatre events, including the world-renowned Guinness Jazz Festival, Live at the Marquee and the Midsummer Festival. Add to that award-winning restaurants – including the likes of Jacques (Phoenix Street), Oyster’s (Lapps Quay), Greene’s @ Isaac’s Hotel and Denis Cotter’s vegetarian Cafe Paradiso – a range of excellent spots to sink a pint in and a diverse local music scene, and you’ll always find more than enough to keep you entertained.
No visit to Cork is complete without a trip to the English Market on Princes St. Trading since 1788, it’s one of the oldest markets in Europe and something of a food lover’s paradise with organic vegetables, fish, meat and cheese on tap. History buffs should also visit the charming Jewish quarter, the Cork City Gaol and the old Butter Market.
Just beyond the city there are beautiful beaches, national parks and forests, as well as the popular Fota Wildlife Park, Blarney Castle and Bantry House and Gardens, making Cork a great choice for family holidays. For international tourists, Cork is a must-see destination.
With so much to enjoy, you’d be hard-pressed to fit everything in. Luckily HP can help. Here’s our selection of some of the best of the city.

ARTS & CULTURE
Cork Opera House
Emmett PLace
If you’ve never seen the Buena Vista Social Club live, you’re missing out. The 14-piece orquesta will be performing at the Cork Opera House on July 1 and their exuberant, polyrhythmic show is not to be missed. There’s lots more happening at the Cork Opera House over the summer. The Irish premiere of Piazzola’s Tango Opera Maria de Buenos Aires runs from June 19–23 and ‘The Cave’ returns between July 19 and 21. This is a unique experience – a series of performances from six of Ireland’s most distinctive acts in the magical setting of Mitchelstown Caves. This year’s programme features Róisín Ó, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Declan O’Rourke, SOAK, The West Cork Ukulele Orchestra and The Henry Girls.
For booking and information, see corkoperahouse.ie or telephone 021 427 0022.

Cork Midsummer Festival
This year’s Cork Midsummer Festival takes place between June 21 and 30. As always, there is a huge range of music, theatre, visual arts and special events. Highlights include Mick Flannery, Best Man, a darkly comic play and ‘Eat The Streets’ – a social experiment allowing children to visit Cork’s restaurants and give their opinions! See corkmidsummer.com for details.

FOOD & DRINK
Sober Lane
5 Sulllivan’s Quay
If you fancy experiencing some Cork whimsy at its finest, Sober Lane is the answer. There’s crazy stuff happening every day of the week, including ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ on Wednesdays and ‘Coin Toss’ on Sundays. Manager Terry O’Sullivan explains: “On Wednesday you buy a pint of Carlsberg, then play ‘rock, paper, scissors’ with whoever served you. If you win, your next pint is free!”
“The coin toss is bedlam!” laughs Terry. “You pay for your drinks, even a whole round. We then toss a coin, heads or tails, and if you win, you get the exact same round free. It gets competitive!” Daily food and drink specials are available, including an excellent pizza deal – any pizza with a pitcher of beer, a bottle of house wine or two cocktails for €20. For more details see soberlane.com

Bodega
St. Peter’s Market, Cornmarket St.
The Bodega @ St Peter’s Market is one of Ireland’s most beautiful bars. Once home to St. Peter’s Food Market, this historic building in the heart of the city has been turned into one of Cork’s most elegant spots for eating, drinking and dancing the night away. The Bodega is modelled on Europe’s finest cafe bars with high ceilings, unique furniture and walls decorated by talented Irish artists, including JB Yeats and Jim McCarthy. The definition of a timelesss haunt, it is an immensely popular meeting spot at any time of the day. The Bodega is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is an extensive wine-list and a large selection of craft beers including the popular MiDaza stout and Sunbeam pilsner, brewed in-house by the Seven Windows Brewing Company. If you fancy keeping the party going late into the evening, you can’t go wrong with The Bodega Night Club, famous for its fantastic live DJ sets. The Bodega is part of the Cork Heritage pub trail, which is an excellent excuse for a pub-crawl – it’s a cultural learning experience after all! Other pubs on the trail include Sin É, the Mutton Lane Inn, the Vicarstown, the Oval, the Crane Lane Theatre, BDSM, Arthur Maynes Pharmacy and the Seven Windows Brewing Company. See bodegacork.ie for more information.

Farmgate Cafe
Princes St.
Farmgate Café is a busy eatery in the vibrant English Market. The menu is based on classic Irish dishes using the freshest ingredients. Customer favourites include shepherd’s pie, Irish lamb stew, corned beef and fresh fish served with lemon. The idea of eating local produce has caught on recently and Farmgate takes this philosophy seriously. The corned beef is cured by their butcher downstairs; freshly shucked oysters are brought to the table from O’Connell’s fish stall in the English Market; Cork cheese-makers deliver directly to the café; and Farmgate uses locally reared meat from trusted family butchers. Farmgate Café is open for breakfast and lunch. See farmgate.ie.

LIVE MUSIC & CLUBBING
Coughlan’s Bar
7 Douglas St.
Coughlan’s is Cork’s newest, intimate, live music venue. Their aim is to create a ‘listening room’ that gives local acts a chance to showcase their material and established bands the opportunity to perform up close and personal for fans. Catching your favourite artist in a small space is a uniquely enjoyable experience – Coughlan’s has a capacity of 65 seated guests or around 90 standing. There is a session every Monday where some of Cork’s finest gather to play in a variety of genres. On Saturdays there’s free live music from bands like The Calvinists, Jukebox Gypsy and The Lynch Mob. Past performers have included Mick Flannery, Mundy, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Interference and Declan O’Rourke. See coughlans.ie.

CRANE LANE
PHOENIX ST.
An intimate 350-capacity theatre located on the remains of an old gentleman’s club, Cork’s fresh new venue is filled with real character. Formerly Club One, Crane Lane is now kitted out in ‘20s and ‘30s decor, taking inspiration from the music of Tom Waits. Part country pub, part ballroom and part burlesque caberet, it boasts three bars and a beautiful beer garden. Open from 2pm to 2am seven days a week, there is live music every single night, making it a reliably excellent spot if you’re looking for entertainment in the People’s Republic. Head on over to cranelanetheatre.ie for more.

Oliver Plunkett
116 Oliver Plunkett St.
A local favourite, the Oliver Plunkett features live blues, jazz, rock and soul seven nights a week. Popular events include the Lee Sessions (a series of free traditional Irish music sessions) and the ‘Midnight Rambles Jamming Sessions’ led by Hank Wedel and Edel Curtin. Midnight Rambles features local musicians and guests from all over world: everyone is welcome! The Oliver Plunektt supports talented young musicians from Cork. These include singer-songwriter Elly O’Keefe and Tommy McNulty – the Voice Of Ireland star is Oliver Plunkett’s resident singer-songwriter, performing every Sunday from 9pm. They also serve breakfast, deli and carvery lunch and evening bites for the peckish. For upcoming shows, see theoliverplunkett.com.

The South County
WEst Village, Douglas
The South County is a traditional pub – the building has been a licensed premise since 1802 – with traditional music four nights a week. The sessions are particularly popular over the summer and attract Irish musicians from around the country. It is not unusual for talented customers to bring along their instruments and join in. The South County also serves breakfast, lunch (seven days a week) and dinner (Monday to Friday). There are daily specials and home made desserts from the head chef, Ali. In June The South County will be accepting old Irish money. This is not only an opportunity to get rid of your hoarded pounds, it’s for good cause – 10 percent will be donated to Suicide Aware.
See thesouthcounty.com.

The Savoy Theatre
Patrick St.
After a state of the art refurbishment last year, the Savoy is now one of Cork’s most popular clubs and live music venues hosting superstar DJs like Ministry of Sound as well as music from the likes of Villagers and Richard Hawley. Popular evenings include Electric Circus (Thursdays) – Cork’s biggest weekly student night has DJs in two rooms, playing a mix of dance, electronic and chart favourites in the main club and hip hop and R&B in the front lounge. There are also live drummers, fire-breathers, dancers and amazing audio-visuals for just €6 with student card. The Savoy is split over four floors with private booths, tables and a VIP balcony area. For details see
savoytheatre.ie.

SHOPPING
Simply Suits
UNit 4, (NEXT TO SMYTH’S TOYS) Kinsale road commercial centre
Simply Suits is Cork’s newest men’s clothing store. Opened in December 2012 by Conor Mullane and Andrew Rea, Simply Suits is tackling the recession one stitch at a time. Conor and Andrew felt that the downturn presented an opportunity to play their part by supporting Irish companies, treating suppliers fairly, paying bills on time and looking after their customers’ needs. One smart idea is that they allow customers to buy a second pair of trousers with their suit. As the jacket generally lasts longer than the pants, this prolongs the life of your suit. Simply Suits also stock shirts, ties, shoes, casual shirts, knitwear and accessories. They offer a made-to-measure service and clothing for special events such as weddings, debs, and confirmations. For details call (021) 464 9023.

Opera Lane
Opera Lane is something of a one-stop shopping paradise for fashion-lovers with a mix of popular high-street stores – H&M, Gap, Topshop and River Island – as well as Tommy Hilfiger, Therapie and the Kuyichi organic denim jeans store. If maxing out your credit card isn’t on the agenda, Opera Lane also has art galleries, restaurants, theatres and cinemas.

ACCOMMODATION
Cork International
Airport Hotel
Cork International Airport Hotel may be beside the airport, but it’s only ten minutes away from the city-centre, making it a terrific choice for both business and leisure travellers. There are special offers aplenty, including an excellent family deal of two nights, bed and breakfast and one evening meal.
The Couple’s Night In, a great romantic getaway – one night’s accommodation, a three-course evening meal in the New Yorker Bar & Bistro as well as breakfast is also a great value.
The ‘Wine & Dine Stay’ is excellent value for a weekend – two nights’ accommodation, breakfast both mornings and a main course from the selected menu at the New Yorker Bar with a complimentary glass of wine. The New Yorker is newly refurbished with both cavery and full dinner menu options, as well as a wide selection of wines, beers and spirits. Live music and children’s entertainment often feature, while the adjacent large decking area is perfect for BBQs this summer.
With a fantastic “aviation” theme running throughout the hotel, a children’s playroom facitility was recently opened.
The Aviators Club includes toys and equipment for all ages, and is complimentary for all residents. For the adults, a private meeting in the wine vault, which accomodates dining for eight, is not to be missed. Meanwhile, the Strata Restaurant is an intimate yet unique experience with part of a real aeroplane running through the centre and a delicious menu of locally sourced fresh food. The Cork International Airport Hotel is also the perfect place for a business conference, meeting or a social occasion with 10 meeting rooms and a spectacular ballroom for up to 350 guests. See corkinternationalairporthotel.com.

Clarion Hotel
Lapp’s Quay
Situated on the banks of the River Lee, the Clarion Hotel is popular with the international musicians who visit Cork. Of course, you don’t have to be a pop star to stay there – the prices are very reasonable! Summer offers include dinner, bed and breakfast for just €69 per person sharing, which is a fantastic way to enjoy Cork’s many summer festivals.
There’s a penthouse suite for those who really want to live in style as well as six meeting rooms for business guests. The dining room serves a delicious full buffet Irish breakfast daily; the superb, award-winning Oysters seafood restaurant is open for dinner (Tuesday to Saturday); and Kudos Bar faces the Boardwalk. Finally, you can relax with coffee and snacks in the lovely Atrium Lounge or hit the Essence Spa for some truly indulgent treatments... See clarionhotelcorkcity.com for availability.