Markets, Cork

2 more images

If you are looking for fresh local products or just an bustling experience, so head to the English Market to see, hear, smell, taste...but not touch till you have pay for it ;-)

Stroll among the stalls to discover butchers, fish merchants, fruit, veg, cheese, pasta, poultry, eggs, pork, bacon, pastries, cakes, coffee, wine... After putting on weight virtually of course or lightened your wallet, take a break at the upstairs Farmgate restaurant to enjoy the market activity and central fountain on the Princess street side.

In business since 1788, the Market is open from early morning till 5.30pm. Monday till Saturday. You can’t miss this building, which is acessible from Princess Street, Grand Parade and Oliver Plunkett Street.

2 more images

The indoor food market, known as the English Market is something of an institution in Cork. Gourmet and organic stalls trade side by side with family businesses that have been in the market for generations. This place has colour and atmosphere in spades, and children especially enjoy seeing the huge fresh-from-the-sea specimens on the fish stalls. The market is one of the places which reflects strongly the city's shifting population patterns. It used to be famous for the traditional Cork dishes of tripe and drisheen but now you can buy homemade pastas, French olives and a wide range of African and Asian food.

In Cornmarket Street on Saturdays is the equally famous Coal Quay (pronounced coal kay) outdoor market. There are some stalls here most weekdays but on Saturday there is a big influx of traders and clothes, CD's, plants, shoes, tools, reading glasses and crafts are on sale.

Upstairs in the English market is the Farmgate Restaurant. Sitting here you are comfortably overlooking all the hustle and bustle below and I would highly recommend it as an atmospheric and very Corkonian place for morning coffee or afternoon tea.

The English Market is open until 6.00 pm Monday Saturday. Closed Sundays.
The Coal Quay market stalls are open until 6.00 pm on Saturday.

.Take a stroll into the English Market which is a food hall selling most foods and fresh fish Bridgestone’s guide has been awarded to the biggest fish stall (the best fish to buy in Ireland here) there is also a cafe on the 2nd floor, its call the English market back in the old days you had to swear allegiance to the English throne to be able to open a stall here

Coal Quay:
(prononced Coal Kay by the locals)
usual type street stalls, veg, tapes and cds, plants, clothes, second hand gear, etc, anything really depending on the day.

English Market:
Meat, pultry, foeign foods - chinese, italian, herbs, spices, vegetarian, all culinary types, ingredients for all types of dishes, plus some other shops, tshirts, sex jokes etc.

Long Directions(will add shorter below later):
Coal Quay:
On the verge of Grand Parade and Patrick Street, its just around the corner towards the river, ask for directionsif you cant find it, the correct pronounciation with locals is "Coal Kay", but people will understand if you say Coal Quay :)

English Market:
It runs paralles, and in between Patrick Street and Oliver Plunkett Street from Princes Street to The Grand Parade. Entrances from Patrick Street (down by oh Pound City I think), and from Princes Street (to the left of Donovans Butchers)

As this wasnt on the drop down menu I thought id try to introduce it. This indoor market has long been a favourite wioth residents and visitors alike. there are many fine food and craft stalls and the whole place is a fantastic assault on the taste buds. There are many places to buy fresh fish and meats as well as spices vegetables and specialist chocolate, cakes and wines. In fact its so nice that its making me hungry and im going to go down to the fridge right now and eat a cake i bought there yesterday!