Cork’s food culture attributes to the city’s imperative maritime port. 

Since the 13th century, Cork’s harbor has been the focal point of major exports – a trading hub of meats, seafood, wheats, oats, malts and wines. Beyond fish and potatoes, Irish food has recently shifted to a modern take enhanced with international influences. Chefs have returned after training in different parts of the world, integrating their global skills with local produce and ingredients while respecting the ethos of sustainability. Here are some of the best restaurants in Cork City Centre where you can taste the best flavors of the region.

 

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Led by celebrated chef Aishling Moore, Goldie is arguably one of the best seafood restaurants in Cork. Situated on the city’s main hub Oliver Plunkett Street, Goldie is proof of a successful partnership between Moore and Stephen Kehoe executive chef of Market Lane Group, who is the former at Elbow Lane, making the two trendy hotspots “sister restaurants.”

Despite its popularity, Goldie has remained humble and down to earth. Hungry foodies come here for flavorful food, beautiful presentation, and fresh catches of the day, like: Pan Fried Turbot (with roast celeriac, chicken & miso butter sauce,) Pan Roast Hake (with beluga lentil and squid ink dhal, beetroot achar, lime pickle,) and Pan Fried John Dory (with caramelized chicory chutney, café de Paris butter.)

Elbow Lane is, by far, the perfect combination of fantastic meat and brew, both beautifully executed. Goldie’s sister restaurant is a smokehouse and a nano brewery. The meat is prepared in a wood-fire oven, in an open kitchen. Each is meticulously prepared, to explicit precision. From the wood grilled ribeye to T-bone, both are juicy and delightful, accompanied by smoked cascade butter. The Slow Smoked Baby Back Ribs with house sauce was heavenly, every strip was devoured to the bone.

Elbow Lane’s house beers highlight’s Cork’s craft beer scene, from the Elbow Lager, Wisdom Ale to Angel Stout. Each is made with zero additives, created according to the German purity law. Defined by beers produced with solely four ingredients: malted barley, yeast, hops and water.

Since 1788, English Market has been the heart of the city’s major indoor food market. For the best quality of produce, ingredients and prepared Irish dishes, there isn’t a better place that offers a wide selection that is both fresh and local. The English Market has been woven into the fabric of the city’s history and suffered through various hardships, including: wars, floods, and even the Great Famine. It’s become such an institution that even Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit here.

The SpitJack is famous for its rotisserie fabulousness! In 2017, husband and wife, Richard and Laura, opened this delightful eatery after moving to Cork. With both of their backgrounds in luxury hospitality industry, the couple now are the masterminds behind a restaurant with locally-sourced produce, especially the Irish chicken. From the menu, the rotisserie chicken arrives in various forms: New West Cork, Rotisserie Pulled Chicken, the Rotisserie Roasted Chicken Burger and the Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Salad.

Right above JJ Walsh pub is Kelly’s Restaurant, serving up traditional Irish fare like bacon and cabbage, roasted turkey and stuffed chicken. With a giant Irish flag draped across the restaurant, Kelly’s has become a staple for elderly folks, making this beloved eatery a truly authentic experience for travelers. Since 1989, Kelly’s has been a family business started by Martin Daly and his brother, who gathered their savings and bought the former Turner’s Hotel. Before Martin passed away in December 2021, he gave the restaurant to his son Neil, who worked side-by-side with his father until his passing. Today, Neil works the kitchen while his wife Olivia manages the front end of the restaurant. Kelly’s isn’t fancy, but it sure is one of the best meals in Cork!