Cork: Food Capital of Ireland?

Cork city is the self-proclaimed food capital Ireland with a long-hailed reputation for top-quality food and drink produce. The vastness of Cork county, the proximity to the Atlantic ocean and in tandem having access to an abundant countryside of fresh produce, dairy and livestock has allowed Cork to retain its title as food capital. This trifecta alone has expedited Cork’s position as Ireland’s food hotspot. 

Stall in The English market

The English Market

The epicentre of Cork’s food scene has to be The English Market, located in the city centre since 1788 and brimming with butchers, fish mongers and green grocers, all serving locally-sourced produce. Fresh produce was the original unique selling point of the English Market when it first opened but since then, there has been a boom of eateries occupying the historic market. From artisan sandwiches, sushi, gourmet sausages and much more, The English Market is a foodie’s paradise. Cork has continued to champion food city-wide with a plethora of luscious restaurants, cafés and eateries, all proudly boasting their Cork-produce while offering an extensive selection of cuisines such as Japanese, Mexican, Italian, Thai and so much more. Cork’s dining-out scene is certainly teeming. 

Stall in The English Market

Food Festivities

In terms of festivities, Cork on a Fork festival began in 2022 and it is a week of celebrating Cork’s rich food heritage. This year, it will take place from 13th-18th August 2025 with over 100 events taking place all over, from cooking demonstrations, workshops and chef collabs. Cork on a Fork Festival acknowledges Cork’s multicultural food scene, allowing anyone to taste carefully curated food from all over. Celebrating its farm-to-fork ethos, The Cork on a Fork Festival places notable emphasis on sustainability, with priority paid to locally-sourced produce, reduced food waste and also the embracing of plant-based diets. This festival is a collaborative event between local restaurants and chefs, especially for the Shared Table event which will serve 450 people down the middle of Cork’s well-known MacCurtain street, offering a multi-course dining experience produced by the restaurants in the area. 

Cork Drinks

Ireland is famous for Guinness, arguably one of the most iconic drinks in the world, known for its tulip-shaped silhouette. Many non-Corkonians are unaware of Cork’s own iconic stouts, Beamish (1792) and Murphy’s (1856) and many Corkonians avoid Dublin’s stout as part of a long-forged rivalry. Both stouts are still brewed in Cork to this day and have paved the way for many Cork-based breweries such as Franciscan Well and 9 White Deer.