Unique Cork bars

Stugots

A friend (well as much of a friendship as is allowed between dubs and rebels) is planning a boozy weekend in Cork towards the end of November and is looking for recommendations for non-run-of-the-mill bars in Cork. I've been living out of da city for a few years, but I presume the Hi-B is still the most obvious choice in this category.

Any other suggestions??? (stories to back up your recommendation are welcome!)

namaimo

As far as unique cork pubs go my vote would have to go to the Franciscan Well as its the only bar in the city that sells its own brews.
Nothing beats their pear cider!

damien

namaimo wrote:

Nothing beats their pear cider!

Which is made in Sweden and is sold in a few bars in Cork.

dudara

The well is a bit of a hole in my opinion, with overrated beers.

Try Tom Barry's on barrack Street, or the Tower Bar, above Barrack Street. The Oval is still a good place.

MidnightQueen

Well there are alot of places down Careys Lane*. Restaurants, niteclubs, and i'm pretty sure there are a few pubs down there too, i just never got time to explore it.


*Funny how that place reminds me of a friend of mine though!

jArgHA

The Quin Ryan opposite (and a bit further up from) Tom Barry's has character. Buy your 20p's from behind the bar for the pool table and follow it up with a game of darts or rings. Cheapest pint of larger I've seen in Cork also, Carlsberg €3.10 (was €2.90 just 2 months ago).

greglo23

you could also try the National Tavern near Dillons Cross . an old mans pub but the best pints of stout anywhere !!!!

ClareBear

Costigans! On Washington Street. Where everybody knows your name....

simu

The Wine Vault is unique...

ClareBear

I have to agree on the Franciscan Well arlight though....I always bring non Corkonians there.

sixpack's little hat

Callanans next to parliament bridge

Tiriel

The Mutton Lane Inn.. oh how I miss it!!! Great spot.. lovely range of beers.. have all the Fran Well beers too! It's just off Patrick St. (very handy ).. look out for the class new mural.. on left hand side just after Oasis Clothes shop..

solice

have to say, the oval is the best and most unique pub in cork pub in cork

7mountpleasant

The tower bar on Tower street. Definitely the best beer garden of any pub I have ever seen, with a cool medieval tower smack bang in the middle of it. You can see out over the city and the pints are only 3 yo yo,s. Its an old mans pub on the inside but the beer garden is definitely the best in Cork beating the Fionn Bharra (another very quality place)on douglas street into second.

Nukem

Cork_girl wrote:

The Mutton Lane Inn..

YEAH!!!! Brilliant pub - also a nice pub was in the other night was Preachers
Class decor and everyone in there was nice

markyboy

Having spent years trying to find the ultimate "old mans pub" in Cork, my recent best contender is Coughlans on Douglas Street. Just beside the Cruiscin, it boasts a unique experience, that of off duty bus drivers in their natural environment. Try starting a sing song featuring "the wheels on the bus" and see how far you get. A definite 10 out of 10 (and I've been to the Tower as well and it also gets 10 out of 10)

Fysh

If its an old man pub you want, the Abbey round the corner from St Finbarre's Cathedral takes some beating. Decent prices, cosy seating, and (God, I love this because it's so damn rare in pubs these days) no background music at annoying volumes.

The Well can be annoying when it's busy, but on quiet nights its a great place to go.

Squall

Dennehys on the coalquay is a nice spot for a chat and a few quiet pints. Gets a nice mixed crowd and prices are good (not that I pay much when I go there )

Chad ghostal

Squall wrote:

Dennehys on the coalquay is a nice spot for a chat and a few quiet pints. Gets a nice mixed crowd and prices are good (not that I pay much when I go there )

i like dennehys, its nice and .. cosy? or something..
very comfortable..

Where is the hi-b?, i looked far and wide and havent spotted it,
if anyone has any info on the place id also appreciate it..

DublinWriter

I'm not ashamed to admit I like poser bars - I am a Dub after all.

When I Cork I frequently endorse The Long Island on Washington Street - the best cocktail bar in Ireland.

The bar in the Imperial (Souths) is good too, as is Scott's (live music at weekends).

The Brogue and Bodhran are both over hyped and nothing special. The Old Oak is good for a young(ish) meat-market type of place.

Going downmarket, there are some great places around Coburg St, including the Long Hall.

Give me Cork over Dublin anyday.

7mountpleasant

Long Island and Scotts very controversial.

Tiriel

Chad ghostal wrote:

Where is the hi-b?, i looked far and wide and havent spotted it,
if anyone has any info on the place id also appreciate it..

it's on Oliver Plunkett St.
opposite the GPO.. upstairs ..
oh how could I have forgotten the Hi-B.. as a unique Cork bar it probably wins!!
NB. DO NOT HAVE YOUR MOBILE VOLUME ON!!!
My friends thought it'd be hilarious to ring me inside.. my first time in there and didn't realise the big deal..
I was escorted out!!!


Oh and another unique pub.. The Castle Inn on North Main St. is a class act to try and follow!! Again.. no mobiles allowed.. and Mary is an absolute pet! A great spot for a fine pint of Murphy's and a game of cards

Nukem

Cork_girl wrote:

it's on Oliver Plunkett St.
opposite the GPO.. upstairs ..
oh how could I have forgotten the Hi-B.. a

That has to be the most unique bar in Cork by far. Brought a buddy in there and he wasnt from Cork and he was terrified goin up the stairs.
Nice place but very weird sometimes

Chad ghostal

Thanks For the reply Cork_Girl will give that place a try ..(without mobile )

The everyman palace late bar, is moderatly unique, nice place with a nice atmosphere ..and on occasion having some very decent music..

all

bit late on this one but a good pub crawl starting at Tower st (turn right up small lane next to Nancy Spains, look for the tower) to the Tower bar then to Bradleys (barracks St the cheapest pint 2.50 for Beamish). Next Barrys then the Gateway (oldest pub in Cork) and kinda groovy both on Barracks St. Down to Callanans on Georges quay, over the bridge to lebowskis/oval/castle inn/hi-be/long valley or towards the northside the corner house and sin e (over Patricks bridge up bridge st and turn left)

iceman_2001_ie

7mountpleasant wrote:

Long Island and Scotts very controversial.

Why?

The Long Island - the best BAR in Cork.

The Bróg - the best PUB in Cork.

dudara

The Bróg is absolutely terrible since it got renovated and changed into a late night bar. It's dire!

I used to like going there before for a few pints on a Saturday evening, Not a chance now.

^whitey^

Squall wrote:

Dennehys on the coalquay is a nice spot for a chat and a few quiet pints. Gets a nice mixed crowd and prices are good (not that I pay much when I go there )

Dennehys is definitely the best pub in cork city. Followed by The Castle Inn. Cissie youngs is also good.
Bar and Pub ... Different things in my opinion ... Long island is a really nice bar of the few that ive been in (I Tend to stick to the same bars/pubs).

7mountpleasant

Impossible to get a drink in either (especially long island) because of the q's and and they both lack any type of charector.

^whitey^

7mountpleasant wrote:

Impossible to get a drink in either (especially long island) because of the q's and and they both lack any type of charector.

Go there during quiet nights (not weekends and thurs)

Blitzkrieger

dudara wrote:

The Bróg is absolutely terrible since it got renovated and changed into a late night bar. It's dire!

The drink is terrible. It's a good night if it doesn't actually make you sick and everybody looks at you funny if you drink bottles. Other than that it's a great pub.

Tiriel

all wrote:

bit late on this one but a good pub crawl starting at Tower st (turn right up small lane next to Nancy Spains, look for the tower) to the Tower bar then to Bradleys (barracks St the cheapest pint 2.50 for Beamish). Next Barrys then the Gateway (oldest pub in Cork) and kinda groovy both on Barracks St. Down to Callanans on Georges quay, over the bridge to lebowskis/oval/castle inn/hi-be/long valley or towards the northside the corner house and sin e (over Patricks bridge up bridge st and turn left)

Lebowski's is closed down now though... isn't it?!

nesf

dudara wrote:

The Bróg is absolutely terrible since it got renovated and changed into a late night bar. It's dire!

I used to like going there before for a few pints on a Saturday evening, Not a chance now.

I agree completely, I hate the place since it was renovated and is basically packed to the rafters whenever I'm in there, and it's music is varied but too loud.

Personally I'm fond of Fred Zepplins on Parliment Street off the South Mall, but then again I like a bit of metal now and then

The quad can be nice for a quiet pint and a chat sometimes.

reic

Is Pa Johnson's across from the opera house still going?

Balmed Out

Most unique is definately the Hi-B although its not quite the same as it once was
Others
The Oval - my fav
Preachers - Welcome back
Sin e and its next door neighbour whos name i cant think of
The vineyard
Mutton Lane Inn
For smokers Fionn Barras and tom barrys
An Spailpin Faineacht forgive the spelling or lack of it
Keep away from
The Brogue terrible terrible terrible