Cork city is not only known for its vibrant culture and rich history, but also its tremendous culinary scene.
And that stretches as far as its pubs with a plethora of city centre boozers also excelling in delivering top quality food.
We’ve picked out a selection of the very best places when you’re feeling peckish, whether it be a full big meal or just a toasted sandwich and soup you’re looking for.
And as always, let us know in the comments if there are any we’ve missed out on.
Dwyers – Washington Street
Dwyers on Washington Street has become a huge player in the pub food game since it reopened back in 2019 after extensive refurbishments.
The vintage style gastropub is lively by night but also buzzing during the day with a pub menu that covers pretty much everything.
They’ve tacos, fish and chips, juicy burgers, sandwiches, veggie and vegan options and plenty more on a menu that’s seen them become one of the city’s most popular food spots.
Brunch is also on the menu, as well as finger food such as loaded fries and pizza bites.
They’re open 7 days a week serving food from noon.
Clancys – Princes Street
Another gastropub that has reopened to much acclaim since the turn of the decade, Clancys has established itself as one of the city’s premier food spots in the years since 2019.
They have a huge food menu and serve breakfast lunch and dinner.
Grab a full-Irish or eggs benedict in the morning, a sandwich or full main like a burger at lunch, pasta or fish and chips for dinner and much, much more.
Their sandwich selection is particularly excellent if looking for a decent lunchtime bite before a few drinks – they also have pizza on their open-air top floor.
Le Chateau – Patrick Street
Very different from our above picks, not a gastropub per se, but instead a traditional spot with a nice outdoor seating area on the busy Patrick Street where they’ll throw you out a nice pub bite.
Get yourself soup, seafood chowder or one of about 10 sandwiches including obviously a ham and cheese toastie.
Nothing on the menu will cost you more than a tenner so if it’s a small bite and a relaxing pint you’re looking for, this is the place.
Oliver Plunkett – Plunkett Street
The Oliver Plunkett is one of the busier destinations when it comes to food in the city, here they offer a fine menu of traditional plates.
The interior is beautifully decorated and they have a menu that will please everyone – burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, soups, you name it.
A highly-rated destination, extremely popular with tourists.
The Thomond Bar – Oliver Plunkett Street
Another Oliver Plunkett Street pub with a very wide menu of meals that will suit everyone in the group.
They serve breakfast from 10:30am and offer up a very reasonably priced selection of food during the day including loaded fries, burgers, pizzas and some very traditional plates like beef and Guinness stew and cottage pie.
The Courtyard on Sober Lane – Gate Bridge Street
One of the best spots in Cork city for a pint and a bit of food on a sunny day – this massive beer garden/courtyard is top quality.
They have a wide menu of what you’d typically expect in a gastropub, chicken goujons, burgers, fish tacos, fish and chips, pizzas and the likes.
They also have plenty of indoor seating if it’s not quite sunny outside, which can often be the case in the Rebel county.
Gallaghers – MacCurtain Street
A slight walk from the rest of our entries here but Gallaghers pub on MacCurtain Street is well-known for having food of a terrific quality.
On weekends they do brunch but every other day it’s a menu of lunch and dinner – done to a standard that you’d expect in a fully-fledged restaurant rather than a gastropub.
Salmon, ravioli and their beef burger are the highlights of the evening menu while at lunchtime you can get toasties, wraps and soup.
The Irish Pub Guide 