Ireland Guide
Cork
Pubs and bars
1 An Brog Oliver Plunkett St Opening time: Till around 2am every night, live bands Wed, DJs Thurs– SunDark, grungy, sprawling and packed with students, who come for the late bar and the music.
2 An Spailpín Fánac 28 South Main St Rambling, scruffy bar with live music every night, mostly traditional sessions but also bluegrass and singer-songwriters.
3 Bierhaus Pope's Quay Opening time: Live music Fri nightSmall, lively bar with comfy leather sofas and dozens of German and other world beers on tap or in bottles, including regular guest beers; sample trays of those on draught available until 8pm.
4 Charlie's Union Quay Dimly lit, grungy pub with frequent live music, mostly blues but including a popular traditional session on Sun at 3pm.
5 The Corner House Coburg St Spacious, and hung with postcards from all over the world. Traditional sessions two or three nights a week, with folk, blues or bluegrass just about every other night.
6 Counihan's Pembroke St, by the GPO Two styles under one large roof: welcoming, old-fashioned, tile-floored pub downstairs – where a string quartet and a group mixing Irish traditional music with Andean rhythms currently plays on Sun evenings – and a bright, trendy bar upstairs with comfy sofas.
7 Franciscan Well 12A North Mall Opening time: Trad sessions Mon nightsOn the site of a medieval monastery, this microbrewery-bar knocks out great stout, lager, ale and wheat beer, which can be enjoyed out the back in the sunny beer-yard in summer. Popular weekend beer festival every year in late Oct ( 
www.franciscanwellbrewery.com
8 The Gables 32 Douglas St Very popular bar offering varied lunches and dinners (Mon– Fri), and traditional music on Wed and Sun, bluegrass on Thurs.
9 The Long Valley Winthrop St Opening time: Mon– Sat lunchFine traditional bar, sporting a large snug at the front and decorated with plants, old views of Cork and a mishmash of old wooden furniture, some of it rescued from an old cruise-liner. Famous for its tasty doorstep sandwiches.
10 The Roundy 1 Castle St Attractive bar that gets its name from its position on the rounded corner of Grand Parade. Big picture-windows, leather banquettes and heated outdoor tables make the most of this location, and there's a decent range of beers; pay-in gigs upstairs feature everything from jazz to singer-songwriters.
11 
Sin É Coburg St Dark and cosy pub, hung with all sorts of bric-a-brac and memorabilia and offering a wide range of beers. Frequent live music, including traditional twice a week.
12 Sláinte Market Lane, off Patrick St near the English Market Friendly, unpretentious bar, with a good selection of beers, a cosy snug and tables out on the alley. The varied roster of entertainment includes traditional music with The Ceili All-Stars on Wed, comedy on Sun and something called musical bingo on Mon.