It’s that time of year again! Halloween has passed, the days have grown crisp, and love it or hate it, it is finally acceptable to mention Christmas. Another set of fairy lights and Christmas window displays are unveiled with each passing day and the Elf on the Shelf has returned to many homes. We cannot help but feel a little excited for December. Everything has been different this year and Christmas will be no exception to this. However, if there is one thing we have learned is to appreciate the little things previously taken for granted. It has been a year of discovery of the beauty we passed every day but didn’t see, where simple things like going for a meal with friends, seeing the people we care most for or popping into town for a quick browse around the shops became some of life’s greatest luxuries. Undoubtedly, it has been an unusual and challenging time not least for our many retailers in Cork City.
Here at Hotel Isaacs, we want to do our bit to champion green and showcase the many amazing offerings our city has this Christmas. So whether you’re in the middle of planning a December shopping trip to us or simply want to get some Christmas gift ideas, here are 32 wonderful places to shop in the city this Christmas.
Most are offering gift vouchers, click ‘n’ collect, and online shopping options so whether it’s a refreshing new fragrance, some handmade cosmetics, the latest bestseller, a taste of art and culture, comfortable new footwear, or a trip above the clouds- you will be sure to find something for even the most difficult person on your Christmas list.
Happy Shopping!
Unbound Boutique Gift Shop
5 Bridge St, Victorian Quarter
Just around the corner from Hotel Isaacs, Unbound is a family business in the Victorian Quarter that specialise in gifts that are quirky, heartfelt, light-hearted, and unique. You will discover a variety of brands and products you won’t find in many other shops. They are operating both click & collect and delivery service at present. Vouchers can also be purchased online.
ECCO Shoes
25 St Patrick’s Street, 6 Princes Street, Mahon Point Shopping Centre and Blackpool Shopping Centre
ECCO is one of the world’s leading shoe brands, combining style and comfort. ECCO’s success is built on products with a great fit and top-quality leathers. Book your personal shopping experience at ECCO Shoes this Festive Season. They can provide you with a solution to your footwear needs with one of their highly trained ECCO Brand Ambassadors in a personalized appointment in-store. Shop Safely and get the best possible service at a time that suits you in a secure and hygienic environment with no queuing. Book now on their website, or why not get the person who has everything an ECCO Gift Voucher this Christmas?
D’Bag Shop
Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre
We will eventually be able to travel again. Be ready for when that time comes with D’Bag Shop. Located upstairs in Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre, D’Bag Shop caters for all your travel bag needs. They also stock a wide range of backpacks, handbags, purses, wallets, and laptop bags.
The Perfume Shop
Mahon Point Shopping Centre
Is it really Christmas without a new perfume? The Perfume Shop offers customers a wide range of designer and branded fragrances for both men and women including luxury brands like Dior ,Chanel, Tom Ford, Hermes as well as Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani, Paco Rabanne, Gucci, Lancôme and many more. Coupled with experience in selling the world’s best fragrances, they are also experts with four of their sales advisors being Fragrance Foundation -Fragrance Specialists graduates with Honours so customers can feel confident of a superior service. Their store is currently closed but they are offering free Click & Collect during Level 5 restrictions. E-gift cards are available to purchase on their website and they offer free gift-wrapping all year round.
Leaders Menswear
76/78 North Main St
Leaders Menswear caters for casual and formal attire with jeans, winter jackets, casual shirts and polo sweatshirts for both regular and king sizes. They also sell nightwear such as pajamas and dressing gowns and a range of socks for outdoor activity including for circulation and diabetic health conditions. Their orders online are delivered via registered post to reassure their customers of safe delivery.
Tom Murphy Formal and Menswear
58 St Patrick’s St
Established in 1938, Tom Murphy’s Formal and Menswear is a household name in Cork for all kinds of menswear. Suits, shirts, scarves, jackets and all kinds of accessories. They have you covered.
Lush
96 Oliver Plunkett Street
Lush sells fresh, handmade cosmetics that are made with ethically sourced ingredients. Their product range is 80% vegan and 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free. Offering gift cards, click & collect and online orders.
Nano Nagle Design Shop
Douglas Street
Nano Nagle Place joins the latest batch of Cork Retailers jumping on the online bandwagon! Just in time for Christmas shopping, their award-winning design shop and Cork focused bookshop are selling a range of stock from sustainable homeware, local prints, designer jewellery, kids’ toys, books all about our beautiful city and much more. They also sell gift vouchers for both of their shops to make your Christmas shopping a little easier!
Miss Daisy Blue
1-2 St Patrick’s Quay
Miss Daisy Blue is a vintage clothing shop located in the heart of Cork City. They stock a large selection of ladies and menswear ranging from the 1930s to the 1990s with everything from casualwear to occasion and bridal. They also have an online shop if you can’t wait until they reopen to start planning your Christmas outfit.
Annemarie Reinhold Design
Jeweller and Silversmith
Based in Cork, Anne Reinhold is a jeweller and silversmith working on a range of fruit and vegetable inspired pieces as well as having developed a selection of jewellery and objects from silver revisiting multiple leaf constructions. Her aim is to create unique engaging sculptural and wearable objects. Passionate about nature, her work is inspired by the natural world with an interest in the botanical, the endless inspiration to be found in trees, and the whole plant world which surrounds us. Her pieces are unique and precious capturing the lightness and delicate flow of nature. Her work is available on her website, through an online shop or by contacting her directly. Also, a selected range of jewelry is currently available at Designworks Cork.
Everyman Palace Theatre
15 MacCurtain Street
Directly opposite our boutique hotel lies the Victorian gem that is the Everyman Palace Theatre. The Everyman’s new Play It by Ear programme of audio streamed live performance is the ideal gift for someone who is missing live performance this Christmas. What’s more, it’s a great gift for family and friends abroad as the audio streamed shows can be accessed globally. There are a mix of rehearsed readings, comedy, and music to choose from, all performed live from The Everyman stage and available through live audio broadcast to be experienced from wherever audiences are. The Everyman Gift Voucher (no expiry date) can be redeemed against any Play It by Ear performance. Take a look at what’s coming up at The Everyman – upcoming shows added every couple of weeks.
Vibes & Scribes Bookshop
21 Lavitt’s Quay
The last independent bookshop in Cork City, Vibes and Scribes stock a huge range of titles, from bargain fiction and non-fiction to the latest bestsellers. They also have a thriving second-hand bookshop where books can be traded in for cash or store credit. They have recently added a large range of their books to their online shop. Gift vouchers available too.
Vibes & Scribes Crafts
3 Bridge St
Vibes and Scribes Crafts is another gem in the Victorian Quarter and one of the largest retailers for art and crafts, wool, fabric, haberdashery and upholstery supplies in Ireland. Vibes and Scribes Wool, Fabric and Crafting Supplies is one of a kind in Ireland as it focuses not just on one type of craft supply but encompasses a wide range of DIY possibilities. They also supply the whole country through their online shop. Gift vouchers available.
53 Degrees North Outdoor and Adventure Gear
Unit 7 The Cornmarket Centre, Cornmarket Street
Created for active people that use their free time to pursue adventure sports, 53 Degrees North is proud to be a wholly Irish owned company. You’ll find a huge selection of the world’s most popular brands including The North Face, Berghaus, Patagonia, Columbia, Helly Hansen, Regatta, Craghoppers, Icebreaker, Merrell, plus many more. The team at 53 Degrees North are all outdoor enthusiasts and wish to share their passion with you. With over 15 years of dedicated service in Ireland’s outdoor adventure industry, their staff will help you find what you are looking for. Whether it’s hiking, walking, camping, climbing, kayaking, mountaineering, running, sailing, skiing, surfing, travelling, or trekking you will be safe in the knowledge that you’re buying the very best equipment at the very best price. Give the gift of adventure this Christmas with a 53 Degrees North gift card. Happy Adventures!
Bradley’s Specialist Off-Licence & Foodstore
81 North Main Street
Bradley’s is a specialist off-licence and food store stocking a huge range of whiskeys, speciality spirits, and hundreds of craft beers as well as artisan food boxes. They also carry a wide selection of specialty foods with a particular emphasis on local and Irish. Gift vouchers are available in store and online.
Newbridge Silverware
Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre and Mahon Point Shopping Centre
The Home of Christmas! There are only eight shopping weeks left until Christmas but panic not, Newbridge Silverware has amazing collections of jewellery, giftware, dining, and Christmas pieces to keep your loved ones happy. With free delivery in Ireland and the UK, you can sit back and relax while they deliver your Christmas shopping to you. Simple no stress Christmas shopping.
Triskel Arts Centre
Tobin Street
The Triskel Arts Centre is a cultural hub in the middle of Cork City featuring literary events, arthouse cinema, contemporary visual art exhibitions and live music concerts with a particular focus on classical, jazz, trad and folk. They also host civil ceremony weddings in their main auditorium, which is a 300-year-old church on South Main Street alongside Bishop Lucey Park. Gift vouchers are available too.
Fervor and Hue
Cornmarket Centre
Fervor and Hue is Ireland’s newest name in branded homeware, interior finishing’s and lifestyle accessories. Borne out of consumer desire for colour expression and originality in home decor, Fervor + Hue means just that- PASSION + COLOUR! Irish owned, this new brand is set to take the home styling world by storm as they unveil a range of Fervor + Hue products to truly inspire, delight and shape moments that create lifelong memories. Indulge your senses in vibrant colour and an eclectic collection of select-piece furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, wall art, and more.
Phoenix V
8 Maylor Street
At Phoenix V they have a special dress for all of life’s occasions. Their stunning outfits are ideal for any special occasion including weddings, lady’s day races, black tie, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, debs, bridesmaids, and red carpet. Catering for a range of sizes and colour preferences, dresses can be tailored to each individual’s personal taste and style. You can pop into their boutique and fit on your desired design, they can then assist you with any design alterations changes. They will make your dress with the design elements changed as requested.
Cork Arts Supplies
28 Princes Street
Get crafty this Christmas! Your one-stop-shop for all your art & craft needs. From oil paints to watercolors, candle making kits to card making supplies, pens, pencils, and sketchbooks, they stock the full range of art & craft supplies online and in-store.
Azure Jewellery
23 George’s Quay
Established in 2004, Azure Jewellery specialises in exquisite handmade jewellery, bridal jewellery and bridal hair accessories, all of which are handcrafted in their studio in Cork’s city-centre. They have even had some of their designs featured on the beautiful and stylish Lisa Jordan, Tracy Clifford, Celia Holman Lee, Lisa Cannon, Mary Kennedy, Sinead Desmond and many more. Not only do they make and stock bridal jewellery and accessories, but they also provide a full selection of everyday pieces as well as those pieces for a special event or evening out. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift, they have you covered!
Carrolls Irish Gifts
10 St Patrick’s St
Carrolls Irish Gifts are the bright new home of quality Irish craft gifts. Whether it’s a hamper for a loved one, gifts for him, her, kids, or home – this Christmas, look no further! Supporting Irish brands like Westend Knitwear, Newbridge Silverware, Herb Dublin, Butlers Chocolates, Guinness, and many more they’ve got something for everyone this Christmas at Carrolls.
JoJo Maman Bébé
11 Princes St
Founded in 1993, JoJo Maman Bébé has grown to become the leading mother and baby multi-channel boutique brand. They design and retail high quality, imaginative, practical clothing and products for pregnant women and families with young children. JoJo places a huge emphasis on great quality, fantastic customer service, environmental sustainability and loyalty to all involved. JoJo’s 2020 Christmas collection boasts unique wooden toys, nostalgic keepsakes and traditional Christmas jumpers. As well as JoJo’s exclusive range of charming toys and gifts, this year you can discover gifts from some of their favourite suppliers including Le Toy Van, Olli Ella, Little Einstein and many more quality brands. Classic toys can now be personalised with children’s names too!
Pinocchio’s Toys and Gifts
2 Paul Street
Pinocchio’s was founded in 1983 and specializes in mostly wooden toys. It is a family run business bang in the middle of Cork City stocking a wide range of beautiful long lasting toys from birth to more mature children. They even do a few for the parents, good puzzles and large jigsaws. Gift vouchers are available and they can also be contacted by phone and online.
Wild Design Collective
Paul’s Street Shopping Centre
Wild Design are a small but mighty creative lifestyle and gift company established in October 2017. 98% of their product range is made in Ireland and 95% of their makers are female. They pride themselves on knowing who exactly makes their products and offer customers a unique, friendly and positive retail experience. They also have a beautifully curated gift offering on their website including gift vouchers. They believe the pandemic has brought so many communities together given the amazing local support they have encountered. They feel this positive shift towards supporting small Irish businesses will far outlive the negative effects of Covid.
Atlantic Flight Training Academy
Cork International Airport
Looking for a gift that will take your loved one to new heights? Look no higher than The Atlantic Flight Training Academy offering a range of exciting experiences including introductory voucher flights, aerobatic voucher flights and Boeing 737 (jet) simulator experiences! Introductory voucher flights make the ideal gift for anyone who has not flown before giving them the unique opportunity to take in a birds eye view of Cork Harbour and Kinsale to name but a few. The Boeing 737 Simulator Experience is the perfect family experience for those wanting to feel the thrill of flying a jet airliner whereas an aerobatic voucher flight will take you to new levels of exhilaration with one of Ireland’s top aerobatic pilots.
Waterstones Books
69 St Patrick’s Street
Open on St Patrick’s Street since 1988, Waterstones Cork sells a broad range of books, stationery and great gifts. Call in and receive tailored recommendations from their booksellers or browse their full range online at Waterstones.com where you can Click & Collect or Call and Collect from the store. Not sure what to buy? Why not purchase a gift card instead and give the gift of reading this Christmas?
Mother Jones Flea Market
2 York Street
Mother Jones Flea Market, just around the corner from our boutique hotel is full of vintage antiques and clothing, collectables and a whole lot of quirky finds. You never know what you’ll find there. They are open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10-6pm. They also offer gift vouchers.
Comic Vault
15A Oliver Plunkett Street Lower
For the comic book lover in your life, check out all the latest from your favorite superheros stocking all major titles from Batman to Spiderman and more.
Hederman Salmon
The English Market
It wouldn’t be Christmas without good food. Smoked Irish Wild Salmon amongst other delicious authentic traditional delicacies await at one of Europe’s oldest indoor food markets. Lose yourself in an unforgettable sensory experience.
Arasys Skin Care Clinic
135 Oliver Plunkett Street
Give the gift of good skin with the celebrity favourite H20 Glow Facial by Crystal Clear Comcit for just €99 (usually €149). Recommended for skin rejuvenation, collagen activation, skin-plumping & anti-aging. Other treatments on offer include laser hair removal, acne treatment, microdermabrasion, and many more. Vouchers can be posted out or reserved over the phone too.
Dash of Beauty
18 Pope’s Quay
Dash of Beauty Salon views all of their treatments as a form of relaxation and enjoyment for body, mind and soul. Their aim is to deliver a unique and personal experience that leaves the client feeling amazing in a welcoming and relaxed environment. They provide a huge selection of treatments including manicure, pedicure, waxing, facials, eyebrow, and eyelash treatments. This year, they have also extended their salon to include a hairdresser so all your beauty needs can be taken care of under one roof. They sell various beauty and skincare products and of course, gift vouchers are available too.
Gift Vouchers
Yes, we may have said 32 great places to shop but we couldn’t quite finish this blog without dropping a tiny hint about our own three-in-one vouchers available online. After all, as much as we all love Christmas shopping, there’s nothing quite like kicking back with some pre-dinner cocktails in Ireland’s number one cocktail bar, Cask; a mouth-watering dinner at Greenes Restaurant and a restful night’s sleep
