Each city has one. This space is perpetually crowded with visitors as well as the city’s inhabitants. Loud, colorful and often bearing the best deals, shopping districts are immensely popular. The city of Cork in Ireland has its own special high-class market place- Opera Lane. Shoppers find familiar brands everywhere they look- H&M, River Island, ONLY, etc. When they’re done shopping, there are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops for them to unwind and survey their purchases.
The English Market is one of Cork's greatest assets, with an array of butchers selling traditional Cork meats, fruit and veggie shops selling at discount prices, fishmongers, Italian and French cheese stalls, fresh bread stands and more. Early in the morning, chefs from various restaurants and cafes drop in to buy their supplies. It is also popular with visitors as it is a unique shopping experience that really should not to be missed.
Miss Daisy Blue sells gorgeous vintage dresses. The collection holds claim as original. The store is run by its owner Breda Casey who shares her passion with her shoppers. She has carefully selected and curated every item in the shop. Customers can find clothes that date from as early as the 1930s. The most ‘modern’ apparel to be found there is from the late 1980s. The store also customizes bridal apparel, though this requires prior appointment.
St Patrick's Street or "Pana," as they call it, is the main shopping street in Cork. This street has great restaurants, such as Ruen Thai Restaurant, and fantastic shops, such as Barratt's. After spending the day shopping, you'll realize why some people call St Patrick's Ireland's best shopping street. Its also is one of the main venues in the city for its street festivals and carnivals.
Record stores are a rare find in the 21st Century. The City of Cork, Ireland, has its last surviving record store in the form of PLUGD. Important to the city’s heritage, the record store is very much still a part of the city’s music scene. The store is also known for the gigs that take place. Several artists known locally have performed there over time, including Sam Amidon, the September Girls, Bouts and Richard Dawson.
Korky’s is a longstanding Irish shoe store. While there are several outlets in Dublin, Cork has a single store on Princes Street. Specializing in retail business, the aisles carry brands like DC, Converse, Wrangler and Vans. However, Korky retains its charm in the form of its own line. The line is extremely creative, well designed and caters to a large spectrum of the market, both male and female. Inspired by the shoppers, the styles are constantly changing with every season.
Veritas recently moved to its new location, which is a narrow street in Cork's Huguenot Quarter. The old building boasts a stunning bay window over the shop entrance and in some respects, resembles the facade of a small church. Inside, the shop is very well-laid out with discrete sections dealing with various aspects of the subject matter concerned. Books are the main merchandise, though there are some religious artifacts for sale also. The focus is placed very much on Christianity; many of the books are on the life of Christ or the Apostles, others focus on the place of the church in modern society.
Crowley's sells beautiful spectacles: the stock includes Gucci, Lacoste, Calvin Klein glasses as well as some designer children's ranges. The store also sells contact lens, and offers a Hearing Aid Maintenance Service; a specialist is available. Prices can be quite steep, but given the quality of the goods, it's hardly surprising. There are also many types of lenses available: reflection-free, high index thin lenses, varifocal, and "transitions" lenses that become tinted when it's bright.
This boutique stocks clothes by well-known designers such as Yves St Laurent, Valentino, Marni, and Escada. The entrance to Naphisa is on the left of Bewley's Restaurant, and up the stairs. The selection consists of this season's ensembles as well as some pieces from past ones. Consequently, you may well be able to pick up a beautiful outfit at a fraction of the usual cost! The staff are very experienced and offer good tips and outfit advice.
This outlet stocks all the major brands and can cater for most of your sporting needs. Its speciality, though, is in running gear for the professional and amateur. So whether it's cross country, track, field or otherwise, you're bound to find what you're looking for in the line of kit and shoes with help from experienced staff. They're across the river from the Cork Opera House in the center of the city.
Located near the South Mall, Cork's main financial area, this shop provides general office stationery for its nearby customers. The layout of the shop is somewhat old-fashioned. While there are a lot of products crammed together, the staff are very helpful, so finding what you need is not a problem. In fact this shop has a superior selection to many other shops twice its size. Prices are reasonable also.
At Kinsale Silver, you'll find jewelry made from sterling silver in Celtic designs. It is an age old craftsmanship tradition, that is carried forth even today. The tools and techniques are tried and tested, but the innovation, design, creation and style are dynamic. Each piece is handmade and therefore no two are alike. You can order online or visit the shop where Dolan, the silversmith, blacksmith and sculptor will guide you personally!