English Market, Cork

English Market, Cork (must see)

Step off the busy streets of Cork and into the English Market, and you鈥檒l swap the hum of traffic for the soft shuffle of footsteps and the clink of traders鈥� tools. Established in 1788 as the 鈥渘ew markets鈥� for meat, it has since evolved into a feast for the senses 鈥� and the appetite. The name 鈥淓nglish Market鈥� came later, in the 19th century, to set it apart from the Irish Market on St. Peter鈥檚. The present building, with its admired mid-19th-century architecture, greets visitors through the elegant tripartite fa莽ade on Princes Street or the bayed entrance from the Grand Parade. Inside, a gabled bay, central archways, and stained-glass lunette windows create an atmosphere that feels both vintage and alive.

This is not just a stroll-and-stare kind of place. It鈥檚 where locals pick up their spiced beef for Sunday, where chefs hunt for the best fish in town, and where self-catering travellers can stock up on top-quality Irish produce. You鈥檒l find fruit and vegetables from far-flung places, but the real pride lies in local specialities 鈥� blood sausage, buttered eggs, and a butcher鈥檚 counter that could stock half the city. The quality here is so consistent that many of Cork鈥檚 best restaurants take their cues (and their cuts) from these stalls.

The market鈥檚 reputation has outgrown the city, drawing praise from food lovers worldwide 鈥� including chef Rick Stein, who once called it the 鈥渂est covered market in the UK and Ireland.鈥� It鈥檚 also hosted royal visitors like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and even made appearances in The Young Offenders. The English Market delivers more than groceries: it鈥檚 a snapshot of Cork鈥檚 culinary identity, a clean and charming old-world marketplace where every counter has a story, and every merchant is willing to talk about it.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cork. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: English Market
Sight Location: Cork, Ireland (See walking tours in Cork)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Cork Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Cork, Ireland

Create Your Own Walk in Cork

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cork is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Cork Introduction Walking Tour

Cork鈥檚 story starts in the 6th century, when Saint Finn Barr decided that a patch of soggy ground was the perfect place for a monastery. The swampiness of the place was immortalized in its original Irish name Corcaigh or corcach, meaning 鈥渕arsh鈥�. It was a quiet, devout little community鈥� until the Vikings showed up between 915 and 922. They parked their longships, set up a trading port, and... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Cork Heritage Pub Trail

A truly fun way to explore Cork is by visiting the local heritage pubs, a cherished part of the city's cultural and social fabric. Situated in the heart of Cork, these establishments are not just places to grab a drink but living time capsules that take you back to a bygone era in a warm and welcoming setting. Let's take a look at some of Cork's notable 鈥渨atering holes鈥�.

Sin... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

黑料吃瓜网