Victorian Quarter

The Victorian Quarter is an area on the north side of Cork City. It extends from the N20 in the west to Kent Station in the east and from the Wellington Road in the North to the banks of the River Lee on the South. It is a largely commercial area that is bustling with music and entertainment and some amazing bars, restaurants and hotels. 

It is named after the fantastic victorian era buildings that are perserved from the area’s time as centre of trade and craft in the 19th century. 

Public Transport

Walking

The Victorian Quarter is right in the centre of Cork City. It is easily accessible on foot with numerous bridges allowing pedestrians to cross the River Lee.

Bus Routes

Bus services are provided by Bus Éireann within the city and to neighouring towns. Routes which pass through the Victorian Quarter include:

• 200 Cobh – Cork
• 205 Cork Institute of Technology – St Patrick Street – Kent Station
• 207 Donnybrook – Douglas – Ballyvolane – Glenheights
• 207a Glenthorn – Merchant’s Quay via Blackpool and Glen Avenue
• 208 Lotabeg – City Centre – Bishopstown/Curraheen
• 221 Cork City – Tivoli – Glanmire – Riverstown – Hazelwood – Knockrah
• 226 Cork Railway Station – Cork City Bus Station – Cork Airport – Kinsale
• 226a Cork Railway Station – Cork City Bus Station – Airport Business Park – Cork Airport
• 240 Cork – Cloyne – Ballycotton
• 241 Cork – Midleton – Whitegate – Trabolgan
• 245 Cork – Fermoy – Mitchelstown – Ballyporeen – Ardfinnan – Clonmel
• 260 Cork – Youghal – Ardmore
• 261 Cork – Midleton – Ballinacurra

Routes by Aircoach & GoBus operate from Patrick’s Quay. These travel to Dublin Airport and City Centre

Dublin Coach operates a route from Cork to Dublin via Waterford and Kilkenny also from Patrick’s Quay.

Taxis

There are many taxi services running in the area such as

Satellite Taxi – 021 480 80 80

Cork Taxi CoOp – 021 427 2222

Yellow Cabs – 021 487 4444

The area is also served by the FreeNow Taxi App.

Trains

Kent Station is located in the Victorian Quarter. There are regular commuter and intercity services from this station.

History & Heritage 

The area that is now the Victorian Quarter was originally outside the bounds of the walled city of Cork. It was only in the late 17th and 18th century that development begins. Up to this point the area was a swampy area of marshland islands like those that give Cork it’s name.

While development began after the Williamite war it was only when a bridge was built by Cork Corporation in the 1780’s that the area began to take the shape of what we see today. This combined with the building of the nearby Michael Collins Barracks (previously Victoria Barracks) at the start of the 19th century led to the area becoming a busy area of commerce and it was chosen as the terminus of the Cork to Dublin train line. It is the buildings that were built in this century that brought about the area’s name. 

It has been an area of commerce since then and while it has ebbed and flowed it is now once again a thriving area with many businesses surviving for hundreds of years.

Attractions

There is something to do for everyone in the familt in the Victorian Quarter. It could be catching a show at the Everyman Palace Theatre, Looking for bargains at hte Mother Jones Flea Market or knocking down some pins at the bowling alley at Leisureplex Cork. For those looking to try their luck there are also three casinos in the area; Gold Rush Card Club, Macua Sporting Club and Victoria Casino.  

Culture & Activity

Sport & Clubs

The Victorian Quarter is home to the Leeside Leisure Club, Grasshoppers Indoor Skate Park, Cork Chess Club and the 3rd Cork Scouts Lodge. 

Leeside Leisure club attached to the Metropole Hotel with gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room facilities is a perfect place to keep fit.

Grasshoppers Indoor Skate Park is a great place to practice your ollies and kick flicks even when the Irish weather isn’t cooperating! 

For those looking for a mental challenge check out the Cork Chess Club who hold regular meetings, training and tournaments from their base here!

Finally check out one of Cork’s oldest Scouts Lodges at the 3rd Cork company.

Eating & Drinking

In recent year’s the Victorian Quarter has established its self as one of the key food and drink areas in Cork City. 

There are some fantastic restaurants in the area serving all tastes and budgets. Check out some of our favourites, in no particular order; The Glass Curtain Restaurant, Greene’s Restaurant, Isaac’s Restaurant, The Met Restaurant, Gallagher’s Gastro Pub, Thomspson’s Restaurant & Microbrewery, White Rabbit Bar & BBQ, Sultan Cafe Restaurant & Shisha Lounge, Station View, Domi Dom,  Da Mirco Osteria Italian Restaurant, Son of a Bun and Novocentro.

The is also some amazing pubs and cocktail bars in the area such as; Brú Bar, the Abbot Ale House, Sin é, the Bridge, The Shelbourne Bar, Dan Lowery’s Tavern, Cask and the Cork Arms

For those looking for their caffiene kick or some amazing treats there are top notch cafés here too; Lab 82 Coffee, 143V, Cork Coffee Roasters, Expresso Cafe and Paddy Torinos.

Finally those looking for a quick bite to eat are spoiled for choice. There is sushi to pizza and everything in between on offer in the Victorian Quarter. For example; The Fishwife, Cafe Spresso, Lennoxs Chipper, Sakura Cuisine Japanese Takeaway, Gourmet Burger Bistro, Tandoori Lads, Crazy Kebab, Mizzoni’s Pizza, Brazil Taste Pastelaria, Spice Route, Hilbilly’s Takeaway, El Door Takeaway, Four Star Pizza.

Religion

The Victorian Quarter is a diverse area of religous practice. Some of the places of worship include; Cork Baptist Church, City Masjid Cork Mosque, Grace Christian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Education

There are three colleges in the Victorian Quarter who provide english classes as well as some other skills. These are the CEC – Cork English College, Access English Academy Cork and the Cork School of Business.