Shopping: Retail therapy in the southern capital.

Patrick St is your best bet for general clothes shopping, with its string of high street and department stores. The Paul St area also offers some possibilities. For designer labels, head to Brown Thomas (Patrick St); if you're looking for street gear try Prime Time (8 Washington St) or Store (4 French Church St).

Waterstones (69 Patrick St) and Easons (113 Patrick St) are the main bookshops, whilst Virgin (Daunt Square) and HMV (81 Patrick St) are the biggest record stores. For underground dance music, try Synthetic Records (2 Washington St); for tradtional Irish try FM Music Store (118 Patrick St). Second-hand books/CDs/vinyl can be found at Vibes & Scribes (3 Bridge St).

The English Market, with entrances off Patrick St and the Grand Parade, is Cork’s indoor food market, featuring a plethora of first-rate food stalls. Various knick-knacks are sold on the Coal Quay, an outdoor market. North Main St is home to some kitschy souvenir shops, while those in search of antiques should head up to McCurtain St. The Paul St area has some good craft shops, but the best of these are to be found in country towns such as Kinsale and Skibbereen.

Opening Hours

General opening hours are Monday–Saturday 9am–5.30 or 6pm, although these have become more flexible in recent years. Many shops now open on Sunday from 12 or 2pm–5.30/6pm and late night shopping has also become common, usually on Thursdays and Fridays. Supermarkets largely remain open until 8pm on weekdays. Additionally, some shops, particularly clothes stores, now don’t open until 10am on weekdays.

Late Night Shops

Spar (81–83 Grand Parade), open until 4am, except Mon 9pm
Centra (Coburg St), open until 4am Fri & Sat, otherwise 12am

Late Night Chemists (Drugstores)

Phelans Pharmacy (9 Patrick St), open until 10pm
Irwin’s Pharmacy (77 Shandon St), open until 10pm