Unfortunately for myself my birthday falls on the Worst Day of the Year. New Years Day. As regards birthday presents it was always the after thought. Lets get over Christmas and see what is under the couch for the young lads birthday a week later. So birthdays were never a big deal with me. Over the last few years I have chosen a weekend away than an actual birthday present. Having 2 kids in tow it costs a few pound and having done Kinsale last year and being in bed by 8pm with 2 small kids, we decided this year that they would go on a sleepover up to nannies. The destination is never revealed coming up to the weekend away but this year I think I knew I was going to Cork City. It's about an hour away so not too far and also it is a very nice City full of nice bars and pubs down side streets and just a general nice winter vibe off it. My sister also actually just purchased here and recommended alot of good spots that only the locals would know which was nice. Cork is a small city so you can make your way around it in a couple of hours. But we were down for the food and drink. There are not many hotels in the City Centre so the Maldron was the location we went to.
So the plan was to go shopping in the afternoon, dinner was at 8.30 so maybe a wine bar or pub after shopping and the go back to hotel , get freshened up and then dinner. So after shopping at about 4.30pm we went to a nice wine bar called Old Brennans. It was a cosy spot and very busy. These guys also knew their stuff about wines and they recommended two lovely glasses. I'm a red drinker but my wife is a white so thankfully it is by the glass. Their little bites and kind of cheese boardy courses were really nice so we went for some patata bravas and crisps with a dip just to tide us over until dinner. I always have the habit of staying in wine bars and skipping the meals and I nearly had to be dragged out of there after 2 large glasses of red and the food. Anyway we had a booking for 8.30 so better not be late.
The meal was at a popular restaurant called Spitjacks Rottiserrie. The menu was still their Christmas menu but I had my fill of Turkey and ham so I went for their speciality. The spare ribs. I haven't got these in a while because they are messy but I knew this type of restaurant would do them just right and I was correct in my assumption. They were outstanding. I had croquettes to start and a Pecan brownie as a dessert. Yum Yum. All good here. I would recommend Spitjacks. I would recommend them more for their breakfasts. I had this a few years ago and I am still dreaming about their full Irish. If you are ever in Cork go there for breakfast. Oh and I finished off with an Irish coffee.
The sister had recommended The Fountain and the High Bi as bars to go to. The High Bi or the Hiberian bar is unique as you have to put your phone in a locker when you go in.The owners promote conversation so they do not like any dope stuck in their phone. Here here. The seating is also arranged that you have to talk to everyone so that is another characteristic. It is an interesting place. I'm normally a fun bobby when it comes to these type places but I was wrecked after Christmas so I decided to skip for the Fountain. A kind of 70s themed living room pub which was quirky. Had a port and a pint there and went onto Mutton Lane Inn. The Fountain was quiet but it was good to see it.
The Mutton Lane Inn was packed and there was not much seating space in the narrow pub when we went in. So you had to do a sort of delicate dance and shift swiftly of any sign of someone putting a coat on. So after about 15 minutes we got a seat at the bar and had a few beers which was nice. Everyone in Cork drinks Murphys as their ale. So if anyone orders Guinness then people know they are an outsider. There is not much difference in the two drinks really. I recognised Mutton Lane having been on a stag a couple of years back. It has an old man Irish rock theme to it. So that was the end of Day 1.
Day 2 we went for breakfast in a place called The Book Shelf and it again was recommended to us. I got the avocado and bacon on soudough and it was really really nice. More Shopping and I ended up spoiling myself to a new TCL Mini LED TV to watch Spurs being terrible.
