Not quite breakfast, not quite lunch, brunch is the ultimate creation from the generation who want it all.
The freedom to eat three meals before 2pm? YES PLZ. While it may have first taken off in the Big Schmoke, the rest of Ireland ain't doing too bad on the brunch front.
And by not too bad we actually mean
killing it. One county that's getting it right on this heavenly brekkie-lunch hybrid is Cork. Local ingredients, heaps of colour on your plate and a healthy dose of great craic served with every bite.
Here's our top spots in the Rebel county to check out for brunch:
1. Good Day Deli, Nano Nagle Centre
Hidden at the back of a newly converted convent, you'll find the beaut oasis that is
Good Day Deli. Sustainable food and produce from local community gardens means you'll get an extra feel-good kick from eating here.
Brunch is served daily until 12.30pm and includes poached pear pancakes with coconut mascarpone and a grilled halloumi stack with poached eggs on sourdough toast.
Oh, and they make a serious oat milk flat white. Haven't tried it? You NEED to. Grab a seat outside and take a moment to soak in all the goodness.
2. Liberty Grill, Washington Street
Probs the most iconic brunch sport in Cork city,
Liberty Grill has a New England influenced all-day brunch menu that runs until 5pm.
Yep - you could be brunchin' every evening if you like.
Treats include quinoa and sweet potato fritters with guacamole and poached eggs, smoked salmon and potato cakes and classics like eggs Benedict and French toast.
3. The Castle Cafe, Blackrock Castle
Located in Blackrock Castle, aka the oldest surviving structure still in use in the city of Cork,
this Mediterranean inspired cafe provides a hearty feed.
Grab brunch from 9.30am-12pm daily, and prepare to struggle over picking just one thing from the menu.
Must-eats include their Cork producer’s breakfast of Rosscarbery bacon, black
pudding and sausage with poached eggs, grilled tomatoes and toasted sourdough or the ricotta pancakes with burnt pineapple, toasted almonds and crème fraiche. Actually, get them both.
4. Brick Lane, Main Street
The current owners paid homage to Mr Brock Lane, who opened the bar in 1867 that became known as
Brick Lane after a sign writer misread his brief and inadvertently swapped an O for an I.
Cool story, even cooler food. The menu has all the brunch faves such as eggs Florentine as well as raisin toast, Belgian waffles with cinnamon and maple, fancy beans on toast with pancetta on sourdough and a breakfast pizza with bacon, sausage, pudding, mushrooms, mozzarella and fried egg.
A funky interior of unicycle bar stools and a cocktail menu that will cure the worst hangover makes this a top shout.
5. Ali's Kitchen, Paul Street
Come for the brunch, but please,
please, stay for the cakes.
Ali's Kitchen is like sitting in your Granny's country kitchen as she whips up treat after treat. The philosophy at Ali's Kitchen is to "respect locally sourced ingredients and seasonality", something which it seems Cork does better than anywhere else.
They only do brunch on the weekends with a smaller menu, but with options such as mushrooms Florentine with spinach and a Hanley's black pudding hash you won't need much else.
A homemade cake is the only way to finish off a visit here, so make sure you save some room or get one to go.
6. The Sextant, Albert Street
Warning: you will have to wait for a table on weekends, but it's SO worth it.
The Sextant is half-bar, half-cafe that only serves brunch on Sundays (11am-3.30pm) so plan your weekend around it. The menu has everything you'd ever want and more: Poached free-range eggs with chorizo, avocado, & hollandaise, served on a freshly toasted bap, Shakshuka baked eggs and homemade pancakes.
Steaming pots of tea and brunch cocktails will wash it all down.
7. Farmgate Cafe, The English Market
Okay, okay,
this cafe in the English Market is famously a breakfast spot but hey, we're more than happy to have brunch at 10am when it's this good.
Located in the heart of Ireland’s oldest and most historic food market, with an industrious exciting view overlooking stalls and fellow traders, Farmgate is loved by locals and tourists alike.
Things are classic here, so think breakfast baps with Market bacon or sausage, a full fry-up, homebaked scones and omlettes with organic smoked salmon.
8. Goldberg's, Albert Quay
Goldberg'sis a ‘New York Meatpacking’ style bar located in the historic Jewish quarter of Cork City.
The decor is something you wouldn't expect to find in the Wesht - think exposed brick, subway tiles and a series of differently designed rooms. Sink into an armchair in this perfect Sunday spot.
Their brunch menu has a Full Irish with O’Mahoneys pork sausage, Clonakilty
black & white pudding, crispy bacon, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomato & artisan toast with two fried eggs and an Avo and Chilli dish for the spice lovers.
9. Bobo, The Glucksman Gallery
Bobo Café Restaurant is an independent artisan café in the Glucksman Gallery at Cork University so you can chow down and feed your creative soul in the gallery afterwards.
They serve up the usual suspects of speciality teas, coffee from the Golden Bean, craft beer, fine wines, pastries and sweet treats as well as a brunch menu that has a few different options.
What's different, you say? Try the Tostada Andaluz: Jamon Serrano, Tomato & Garlic on toasted baguette or their Chilli Tempeh with beans, patatas bravas & beets. Yum.
10. Salt, Victoria Street
A charming little wine bar with a lively atmosphere and tapas at night time,
Salt also does brunch every weekend from 10am-3pm.
They've put their own spin on brunch classics that's a welcome change from the usual brunch fatigue. Their 'My Eggs Benedict' is with poached free range eggs, smoked bacon, onion marmalade, homemade citrus hollandaise on a muffin brioche and the 'My Eggs Royale' is with poached eggs, artisanal smoked salmon, hollandaise orange segment, asparagus on parmesan pancake.
The truly starving should order one thing and one thing only: the Kiwi Brunch. Poached eggs, smoked bacon or artisanal smoked salmon, pickle onions, guacamole on toasted biggie bread served with Cole slaw and garlic & parsley wedges.
We're getting hungry just reading this...
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