Cork has a varied and buzzing nightlife with bars, clubs and live music venues to satisfy all preferences. Bodega, 46 Cornmarket Street, is in a large, open-plan converted warehouse and is considered by many to be Cork's best bar. The Long Valley Bar, 10 Winthrop Street, is a classic Irish bar and pub, while The Franciscan Well, 14B North Mall, is the only bar in the city selling its own brews.

Pronounced ‘shin ay', meaning ‘that's it', Sin É, 8 Coburg Street, is among the best places in town for traditional Irish music. Rhino Rooms, 1 Castle Street, is a tiny, but ultra-trendy bar with a ‘gay-friendly' club space upstairs.

The Newport Bar, Paul Street Plaza, is a trendy bar and restaurant with its own nightclub, Vibes (website: www.vibesnightclub.com), which covers three floors and has three bars. Redz, 17 Liberty Street (website: www.redzcork.com), is a popular club on two floors open until 0300, featuring local and international DJs. City Limits, Coburg Street (website: www.thecomedyclub.ie), is a combined comedy/nightclub.

An Spailpin Fanac (The Wandering Labourer), 28 South Main Street (tel: (021) 277 949), offers traditional Irish live music most nights. Cyprus Avenue, Caroline Street (tel: (021) 427 6165; website: www.cyprusavenue.ie), is an excellent and popular live music venue that puts on a wide range of acts. The Half Moon Theatre, Emmett Place (tel: (021) 427 0022; website: www.halfmoontheatre.ie), located to the rear of the main Cork Opera House, is another good live-music venue.