English Market, Cork

The market has existed on this site since 1610 but the present building dates back to 1786. Refurbished after a fire in 1980, it is a great place for the world gourmets, who will find here anything they can dream of, from exotic foreign foods, spices and luxury items to such Irish specialities as crubeen (pig's foot), tripe and drisheen, already prepared and not to be missed if you want to get to know the local cuisine. To get a bird's eye view of this special place, you can visit their 'Farmgate Restaurant' on the first floor.

What to pay: The prices can be a little higher than in the supermarkets or the local shops, but you are paying for the privilege of shopping here.

Love Joup - fresh soup & juice, fish to go, on the pigs back, olive stall, alternative bread company - forget restaurants during the day - hit the english market stock up and go to the park fabulous selection of food on offer everythingggggg

What to buy: Cheese, pizza, juice, seafood paella, bread olives where do I stop I love it allllllll

What to pay: 10 eur per person would give you a wonderful array of foods

The English Market is a covered market in the centre of the city, with an origin dating back to the 1600s. The original building dates from the late 18th century and was refurbished in 1980 following a fire.

The food here is great - local cheese and meat, the best-looking bread, fruit, veg - anything you could want for a really good feed. We bought some delicious min-quiches from a deli on the market for lunch, but my visit made me wish I was self-catering rather than staying at a b&b, as the place really made my mouth water!

The English Market is quite small, but has a great variety of fine foods. Look out for Hederman's smoked eel (if you only buy one item of food in the market), Gubbeen cheese, carrot cake at Coffee Express and many other delights.
Some things can be expensive, but there are bargains if you take the time to look around, a rewarding experience in itself.

The English market has a bit of everything from fresh squid to chocolate truffles. We dropped by the sandwich vendor for a baguette with feta, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive oil. It was one of the best places we found in Cork. It's definitely a must see if you like to cook or just enjoy food. They have other shops (books, etc), but food dominates this market.

What to buy: Sandwiches, fresh fruit, veggies.. and anything else that tickles your fancy. We would go through before lunch and fill our backpacks. It was always fresh, and I loved the sights and smells.

What makes this market so special is I think the atmosphere. You can get any fresh foods there, traditionally there is lots of meat, poultry, eggs, fish, etc.... but also vegetables and fruit, including exotic fruit and veg. there is also a good stall where you can get any spice or oriental food. There is a coffee shop and restaurant upstairs (good coffee)! In the lanes leading from Patrick street to the English market there are lots of little shops, one of them sells books.......
There is a lovely old fountain, very nice.

What to buy: When in Cork, I think there are the woolen mills, traditionally they sell Irish wool, woolen clothing, aran jumpers etc.... also Irish linnen which is beautiful.
Don't forget that if you are on a budget holiday and you run out of summer tops or light cotton clothing that you can get this stuff very cheaply in department store.

What to pay: Anything from four to six euro, or some of the Irish linnen can be in the 100 euros, it depends on what you want, there is lots of different prices, look around.

Some excellent shopping bargains in the English market in Cork.
I HAVE to go in there whenever I am in Cork. Basically, it sells local produce (meats, fish, cheeses, black pudding, veggies etc). There is an increase in the type of imported goods they sell there too. I remember seeing olives, French cheeses (Cork has traditionally had great links with France), Spanish chorizos.

It is probably safe to say it is more expensive than going to a local supermarket, but this is heaven for foodies and they're not going to care how much things cost as long as it tastes great!

What to buy: Lots of fresh & organic foods, fish and some cool artwork and vintage clothes.

This has to be one of the best sandwich shops I have ever seen in any market place. I purchased what looked like a sandwich straight out of a five * restaurant but inside the English Market. It was made with fresh french loaf and the filling was unbelievable. Chicken breast meat with rocket salad and feta cheese. This is just one of the many sandwiches that they offer, seeing and eating is believing. I washed it all down with earl grey tea (yes with lemon) and watched all the locals passing by with their shopping and kept an eye on the local fish stalls.

Excellent day to say the least.

What to buy: Any of the sandwiches from the Sandwich & Salad stall.

You have to try the Bodice (salted spare ribs) Tripe and Drisheen.

What to pay: Between €4 and €6

There are a few butcher shops in the English Market. You can buy half a cow, if you'd like, or half a pig's head for a pound (in 2000).