Cork is Ireland’s second-largest city so it’s known for its rich culture, history, and its beauty. It’s also known for being alive at night, with unique bars and pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs frequented by most of its young population.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the top nightclubs in the area to see what they have to offer to people who want to have a good time after dark.
Let’s begin!
Average Cost of Partying at a Nightclub in Cork
According to several sources, the average cost of partying in a nightclub is as follows. Please remember this may vary depending on several factors such as the distance, special offers, and the reputation of the nightclub:
Top Nightclubs in Cork
We’re about to review the best nightclubs in Cork using the following:
1. The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega
| Entertainment | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location and atmosphere | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and safety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Drinks menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Stepping into The Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega feels like stepping into two worlds, and we kid you not! It’s a bustling restaurant in the morning until late in the evening—before transforming into one of the most fun nightclubs in Cork!
According to its regulars, it’s what they’ve all been waiting for—a night of dancing and chilling at the same time. The club plays funky Latin music that’ll get your dancing feet moving, but at the same time it’s not too loud that you can enjoy it while relaxing.
The Old Town Whiskey Bar is also known for its great food—so even if it’s nightclub time, you can order good food. The best thing we love about it is that you can pair the savoury food with a great pint of beer!
Speaking of beer—the club has a great selection of alcoholic drinks so you have plenty to choose from! And for a club located in a prime location—we’re quite surprised at how reasonable the prices are!
The venue itself is amazing—it’s high-ceilinged so you don’t feel suffocated. It’s also clean and well-maintained and doesn’t smell like smoke.
We advise you to double-check your bills though—there’s a tendency for overcharging. But the good thing about it is that the staff immediately rectifies the mistake when you inform them.
Pros
- Pan-global restaurant
- High-ceilinged
- Has outdoor seating
- Live music sessions
- Becomes a nightclub at night
- Great Latin dance music
- Serves amazing food
- Decent pricing
- Prime location
Cons
- The website menu is outdated
- Tendency to overcharge (check your bills)
Customer Reviews
A safe place to dance and drink at night
The place is great, especially in the evenings. They remove all the tables in the centre and turn the place into a discotheque with a DJ, very good music and drinks, plus they have a cloakroom for coats. The place is also very safe, there is a lot of security and if anything happens they act immediately.— Eneko Lazaro, Google Reviews
Good Latin music
Latin Saturday Night nightclub! Very fun and free entry :)—Isabel Bourke, Google Reviews
2. Nana’s
| Entertainment | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location and atmosphere | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and safety | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Drinks menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Nana’s is a hidden gem—at least according to its patrons. It’s not something you’ll go to immediately if you’re looking for a nightclub, but IT is a place for dancing—just a less crowded version of what you probably have in mind!
One thing we love about Nana’s is that it’s the place to go at night if you love to chill or dance. The thing with this venue is that it plays music perfect for both relaxing and having a good time—hitting two birds with one stone is a perfect description!
We like that it’s also true in terms of the place’s aesthetics—it has a stylish interior where you can find a spot to dance or just lounge. But if you want to book the place for a party, you can do so as well—just contact them in advance!
Another thing we love—the safety. According to patrons, most especially female ones, they go there solo or with friends, and they have never encountered any problems at all
The staff are also very friendly and accommodating. You can ask them for anything and they’ll help you the best they can—typical Irish hospitality, if you ask us!
Just make sure you dress properly, presentable and decent since the place has a strict dress code–you might not be allowed entry if you don’t. Also, bring an extra layer if you don’t want your clothes to smell like smoke.
Pros
- Stylish interior
- Possible to book one side of the pub for a party
- Safe for solo guests
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Great drinks selection
- Amazing live music
- Perfect for chilling or dancing
Cons
- Strict dress code
- Smells like smoke
Customer Reviews
Stylish and lovely bar
Great venue with fantastic entertainment. A friendly, stylish bar in a handy area just a stone’s throw from town. Well worth a visit any night of the week. Thanks guys.—Anthony Flemming, Google Reviews
Perfect hang-out spot
An absolutely fantastic bar with the most kindest, friendly and most welcoming staff. They really go above and beyond for each of their customers. It is very rare these days to walk into any business for the staff to ask how your day was. A very cosy bar with a lovely ambience. A perfect hang-out spot to have a quiet one alone, to catch up with friends or to have a party. Guaranteed a great evening/night filled with love and laughter. A hidden gem in Cork City. Definitely worth the visit!.—Sarah Dennehy, Google Reviews
3. Voodoo Rooms
| Entertainment | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location and atmosphere | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and safety | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Drinks menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Voodoo Rooms is probably one of the most popular themed bars in Cork, and it’s for a reason. It’s only open a couple of days a week, on Friday and Saturday, but people line up because when it comes to nightlife, this place hits the spot!
For one, Voodoo Rooms has such a cool interior—and a large dance floor made for dancing the night away! Also, it has themed nights so you can go wearing anything based on the theme.
We also love the fact that people just go there to have a good time! The ambience is always so lively, and even with the loud music (which is great by the way), everyone just seems to enjoy!
The drinks are reasonably priced as well so you can have a few drinks if you’re tired from dancing. The staff are polite and friendly, so you can always ask for assistance whenever you need it.
In addition to this, some regular patrons we talked to told us how polite the security people are. Entry to the nightclub is smooth and not a hassle!
The only thing we’re a little disappointed about is that it’s only open twice a week. Also, it’s only open for a couple of hours, so if you want to enjoy fully, make sure you arrive early!
Pros
- Polite security staff
- Smoking area
- Great dance music
- Lovely interior
- Lively ambience
- Themed nights
- Reasonably priced drinks
- Has a large dance floor
- Can reserve seats for a small group [Message only on Facebook]
- Not very crowded
Cons
- Only open on Friday and Saturday
- Short business hours
Customer Reviews
Best place for dancing
This past weekend was my first time there. Went with my husband and friends and we had a fantastic time! I would say my best night out in Cork. Would highly recommend for a night out if you love going dancing!—Ukachi Malaka, Google Reviews
Great atmosphere with everyone just having fun
Popscene in the voodoo rooms is a fantastic late bar. Over 23s with all the pop hits from the 80s and 90s. The design is funky and amazing. Great atmosphere always there. Everyone always dancing and singing along to the cheesy pop hits. Gives the feel of a club without the crowds etc. Loads of seating and if you contact them on Facebook they will arrange reserved seating for small groups. Drinks are reasonable for city prices and it’s free entry before 10. A great night and craic is guaranteed. Impossible to be in there and not sing along to any song!—Julie Long, Trip Advisor
4. The Secret Garden
| Entertainment | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Location and atmosphere | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ambience and safety | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Drinks menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If you’re looking for a nightclub to chill without any hassle at all, you can try The Secret Garden. It’s not your typical nightclub that requires a lot of preparation—it’s a simple bar and pub where people go to dance or just chill without pressure.
In fact, according to some customers we talked to, there’s no dress code. You can walk in there wearing jeans and a shirt, and you won’t be sent away.
People inside just either dance the night away or talk to each other. Smoking is also allowed inside—probably one of the things we don’t like though since we’ll all smell like smoke after.
In terms of atmosphere, we love the really chill ambience of the place. We know there are times when you just want to relax without a care in the world, and this is probably the best place to go.
We think you’ll love the fact that The Secret Garden also has affordable drinks! In addition to this, you have the privilege of having good music playing in the background whether you’re relaxing or having fun.
It’s a really small place though so it can get easily full—make sure you go early if you want a seat. Also, the food tastes average so don’t expect too much in the culinary area.
Pros
- Fun atmosphere
- Affordable drinks
- Good music
- Lovely aesthetic
- Young crowd
- Allows smoking
Cons
- Limited capacity
- Average food
Customer Reviews
Fun atmosphere
Great fun!! Everything you need for a great night out!!.—Eric Besson, Google Reviews
Affordable
Night club with good music, friendly people, cheap drinks… very good— Francoix, Google Reviews
5. An Bróg Bar + Kitchen
| Entertainment | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location and atmosphere | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ambience and safety | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Accessibility | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Reputation | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Drinks menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
With such a cool name as An Bróg Bar + Kitchen, we expect not only good service but also good entertainment, and we think it lives up to its name! The venue has a great crowd, great music, and great drinks—things you look for in a good nightclub!
In fact, according to the regular customers we’re able to chat with, An Bróg has DJs who play unique music. So even if you’re not familiar with their mixes, you’ll enjoy dancing or listening to the beats they offer.
Another thing we love is that the nightclub actually has a lively host. He pumps up the crowd every night with his enthusiasm and energy, making the atmosphere more fun and alive!
Menu-wise, we think you’ll love the fact that An Bróg serves really tasty and flavourful food. The club also has a decent selection of cocktails and beers which you can pair up with your food.
We also love that there are so many seating options including an outdoor seating capacity. It makes everything feel suffocating—you can stay outside if you’re in there to relax instead of staying inside with the energetic crowd.
It can really get crowded though—just a little warning from us. And since An Bróg doesn’t accept reservations, make sure to come early so you can have seats!
Pros
- DJs with a unique playlist
- Lively host
- Has a young fun crowd
- Serves good food with vegetarian options
- Next to the English market
- Decent beers
- Warm and inviting atmosphere
- Lots of seating options including outdoor seating
Cons
- Doesn’t accept reservations
- Can get crowded
Customer Reviews
Has a fun youthful crowd
Went there because they’re open later than the other bars that close at 11:30. Younger, boisterous late-night crowd which is ideal for partiers and boisterous youths, which clearly didn’t deter me from staying til closing. I was surprised to find out the next day that the alleyway was an entrance to the English Market near the fishmongers. I was also surprised to learn they also serve food, which I didn’t know about until just now when I began to write this review so I can’t really speak to that. Decent beers, healthy shot pours, and late-night hours.—Travis Brink, Google Reviews
Good music selection
…An Bróg Bar consistently delivers a perfect atmosphere, creating a warm and inviting space for patrons. The musical selection adds to the overall experience, and the prices are refreshingly affordable. One notable advantage is the abundance of seating options, ensuring a comfortable visit…—Matheus Tecchio, Google Reviews
FAQs About Nightclubs in Cork
We hope our list shows you where to go in Cork if you want to get those dancing feet moving or just have a good drink. Check out the Best Nightclubs in Galway if you ever visit the city.