Bru Bar & Hostel, Cork

Lies, Lies, Lies

If you are unlucky enough to have a room to the street you can look forward to enjoying all the disadvantages of horrible insulation -- going to sleep at 1am because of the pub downstairs and waking up at 5am due to the traffic. We were staying in a bedroom for 3 which had only two beds. One was slightly bigger but could not possibly have been designed for two grown adults. The wifi, supposedly available all over the hostel, would not work in our room. In our last night some people on our floor threw a party with loud music, shouting, moving beds, lots of people, alcohol and smoking. Even though all of those things were said to result in immediate ejection from the hostel, whose staff was supposed to be checking for smoking regularly, nothing happened. If you could actually catch some sleep you would wake up to minimal breakfast. No thank you.

Bru Bar & Hostel has everything you could ever need from a hostel. It's New Zealand themed bar and hospitality is a welcome break after a long day of travelling. You are given access to the free-wifi right away and access to breakfast in the morning is all included in the extremely reasonable price of your stay.

The Location

The hostel is very easy to find, just across the river from the Busaras station, and down the road from Cork train station. From here, you can cross the River Lee to the main city within minutes. Cork itself is a vibrant city and undergoing regeneration in spots to give it a more modern feel. The people you meet within the hostel and in the city are some of the friendliest you will every meet.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The dorm rooms are cosy and come with a couple of plug sockets so you can charge your phone or laptop with ease. The hostel has 4-bed and 6-bed mixed and single-sex dorm rooms, as well as three-bed private en-suite options available. Each room requires a swipe card, with multiple swipe doors to get through before you get to your room, making the place feel extremely safe and secure. The bathrooms are single, private rooms (there were two between eight) which is fine for a quick jump-in and out. My only reservation with the rooms might be that under-bed storage is not lockable, but the people there are very trusting.

Common Spaces

With live sports on the TVs and live music most nights in the bar area, this hostel definitely has a great social atmosphere. There is a happy hour where drinks are about 20% cheaper before 8pm. All of this is located on the bottom floor - you have to walk through the bar area to check-in (a good excuse to have a drink as you arrive). If you're after more of a quiet chill-out area, there are computers and TVs in a separate social room on the first floor, which also joins onto the kitchen. On the whole, this is hostel is quite a social hostel with an almost party-like atmosphere, though you do get a good mix of young and older travellers.

Summary

The staff are super-friendly, the location is perfect for a trip to Cork or the south-east of Ireland and the social atmosphere of the hostel make Bru Bar & Hostel a memorable stay. Whether you've come to kiss the Blarney Stone down the road, learn about the Lusitania and Titanic in the beautiful port of Cobh or take a stroll along the beaches of Clonakilty or Kinsale, this place is an ideal base for all your adventures around County Cork.

Enjoyed the bar and hostel living too much!

Perfect location! Free internet, free breakfast, and a bar downstairs -- simply lovely! Isaacs was great food and just a couple doors from the hostel! The bar made my stay in Ireland the craziest of all the nights, but you only live once! I did have a cold shower for one night, but it got better! And the Australian bartender (forget his name) was fabulous!

Good place to stay. Nice, warm beds. Storage space. The shower was a little annoying to work and the bathroom in itself seemed loud if someone was in there. The bar, to be honest, was a disappointment -- no one seemed to be there. My friend and I went down, assuming that it was busy since our room was empty and it was a weekend night and there was no one down there. I guess they should spice it up a little. However, that'll work itself out -- it was a great hostel. Oh, and the guy running it -- extremely helpful and kind. Great guy!

This was my very first hostel ever and I was scared to death, but this place was awesome! I've been to many other hostels since and Bru Bar is still really cool. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. The bar is a great way to meet people and it's not actually in the hostel, but next to it, so you don't get all of the bar noise if you want to go to sleep early. If you're going to Cork, I would definitely stay here!

This hostel is centrally located in a nice part of Cork city, one block from the Lee River. It's located near the Summerhill Bridge bus station, on the opposite side of the river. There is one free parking spot in front of the hostel, but when it's not available there are plenty of paid parking places at your disposal.

This hostel is extremely clean. Fresh sheets and comforters are included and every room has its own ensuite bathroom. The bathrooms and showers are spacious and very clean, however there is no temperature control on them, so the water can get quite hot. The shower also runs on a timer, so you have to push a button every minute or so in order to run the water. As for hostel security, each block of rooms require a key card in order to gain access to the room itself where the same keycard is used to open the room's door. Keycards are replaced each day for added security.

This hostel is owned and operated by four New Zealanders, and they are all very friendly and welcoming. Upon your arrival you are presented with a free map and coupon book full of savings on dining and entertainment. The hosts are extremely knowledgeable with the city sights and sounds, as well as places to dine or get a pint. Before you head out for dinner, ask them for their recommendations. You won't be disappointed.

The hotel also owns and operates the adjacent Bru Bar pub. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this. The main advantage is that you don't have far to crawl home after a hard night of partying, however the main disadvantage is that on Friday and Saturday nights, the pub patrons can get quite rowdy and if you are on one of the first few floors, it will be difficult to get some sleep. The pub atmosphere is classy yet relaxed with limited seating, but overall a great place to have a pint and meet fellow travelers.

The Bru Bar Hostel does not have an elevator, and is about five stories high. It also has a public internet caf on the main floor, and rates are decent. A continental breakfast is included with your stay and is served daily in the large and clean kitchen attached to the common room where the TV and pool table are located.

Overall, the Bru Bar hostel is a fantastic place to stay while visiting Cork.

My husband and I stayed here while backpacking through Ireland. This was by far the nicest hostel we stayed in. It is so clean, and it is attached to a pub, what more can you ask for!!! The four New Zealanders that own the hostel and bar are so nice and were very helpful as to what we should see, do and eat.

All I can say is WOW!!! This is by far the nicest hostel in the world!!! Stay here... you won't be disappointed. Clean, good location, clean, attached to a bar and clean.