Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House
1 / 10

Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A modern Irish eatery blending a microbrewery with a smokehouse, featuring a wood-fired grill and innovative dishes.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House

Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A modern Irish eatery blending a microbrewery with a smokehouse, featuring a wood-fired grill and innovative dishes.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Consistently memorable dining, this spot elevates Irish cuisine with smoky flavors and craft beers."

TIP

Reserve in Advance

Limited seating means reservations are a must, especially on weekends.

Try the Signature Dishes

Wood-grilled ribeye with smoked butter or slow-smoked pork ribs are highly recommended.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 5PM

Cuisine

Irish, American BBQ

Price

$$$

Phone

+353 21 239 0479

Address

4 Oliver Plunkett St, Centre, Cork, T12 YH24, Ireland

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Wood-Grilled Steaks & Ribs

Wood-Grilled Steaks & Ribs

Savor perfectly cooked steaks and slow-smoked ribs from the open kitchen's wood-fired grill, infused with smoky aromas.

Google Review+1
In-House Brewed Beers

In-House Brewed Beers

Experience unique, on-site brewed craft beers, including their own stouts, perfectly complementing the smoky dishes.

Restaurant suggestions in Cork, IRELANDPlan your Cork city break with
Decadent Desserts

Decadent Desserts

Indulge in exceptional homemade desserts, with the burnt honey & bourbon ice cream being a standout dream.

Google Review+2
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Reserve in Advance

Limited seating means reservations are a must, especially on weekends.

Try the Signature Dishes

Wood-grilled ribeye with smoked butter or slow-smoked pork ribs are highly recommended.

Don't Skip Dessert!

Reviews rave about the desserts, particularly the unique ice cream flavors.

Enjoy the Open Kitchen

Watching the chefs work their magic over the wood-fired grill is part of the experience.

Tips

from all over the internet

Reserve in Advance

Limited seating means reservations are a must, especially on weekends.

Try the Signature Dishes

Wood-grilled ribeye with smoked butter or slow-smoked pork ribs are highly recommended.

Don't Skip Dessert!

Reviews rave about the desserts, particularly the unique ice cream flavors.

Enjoy the Open Kitchen

Watching the chefs work their magic over the wood-fired grill is part of the experience.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House consistently impresses with its exceptional wood-grilled meats, house-brewed beers, and decadent desserts. The vibrant atmosphere and attentive service contribute to a memorable dining experience. While most reviews are overwhelmingly positive, one diner experienced an issue with a tough steak, though this seems to be an outlier.

"We enjoyed an absolutely amazing evening. Our server was Flores and she was very kind and informative! Her recommendations on which foods to pair with the beers was excellent and very helpful.
Matt was wonderful at getting us a table and helping us celebrate us being Newly Weds by sending us a glass of champagne.
The food was GOOD! I would say you truly cannot go wrong and definitely order the pork belly and the ribeye!"

Lucy Ferraro - Acosta

"I had my birthday in this beautiful place with wonderful people who serve you wonderfully well. I have no words to thank you. This day became wonderful with wonderful service and wonderful food. I would not recommend this place enough 10/100000000, that's why it's so busy. I've been trying to go to this place for over four months and it was worth all the wait. I can't wait to go back and I recommend it to everyone. As a good Brazilian, I love meat. I can say that the meat in this place is wonderful and of good quality. And the pork, please try the pork. Wonderful."

Itala Alves

"I am behind in writing this review as we visited in May, but I still think about our meal here! Perfect service, incredible food and drink and great vibe. Loved being able to watch the cooks do their magic, especially with the steaks. Brûlée a steak? Awesome! Everything is made in house, including their beers and the ice cream that I still dream about…Burnt honey & bourbon ice-cream, pecan & Korean chilli brittle 🤤 Definitely make a reservation while in Cork!"

Heather Friel

What People Like

Perfectly cooked, smoky steaks and ribs
Unique, on-site brewed craft beers
Incredible, standout desserts

What People Dislike

Occasional steak toughness

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, as the restaurant is small and popular.

Restaurants in County CorkGoogle Review

The wood-grilled ribeye with smoked cascade butter and the slow-smoked pork ribs are highly recommended. Don't miss their unique desserts either!

Cork City For Foodies: Best Restaurants Cork 2025Cork City Foodie Guide: Where To Stay And What To EatGoogle Review+2

Yes, Elbow Lane has an in-house nano-brewery and offers a selection of craft beers, including stouts and pale ales.

Restaurant suggestions in Cork, IRELANDPlan your Cork city break withGoogle Review

The restaurant has a cozy, intimate, and buzzy atmosphere, with an open-plan kitchen where you can watch the chefs.

Restaurants in County CorkGoogle Review

Yes, while known for its meat, they offer vegetarian dishes such as grilled king oyster mushroom or fish of the day.

Cork City Foodie Guide: Where To Stay And What To Eat

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One of the few restaurants in Cork that elevates modern Irish cuisine beyond upmarket pub grub, Elbow Lane is more than just an afterthought to accompany the micro-brewery downstairs. Executive chef Stephen Kehoe has masterminded a creative menu that plays to local strengths – in a tiny space, with an open-plan kitchen, the wood-fired grill seducing guests with smoky aromas. Standout mains include low-smoked beef brisket croquetas with rojak sauce and the house favourite – wood-grilled sirloin with smoked cas­cade but­ter.

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The small, dark, L-shape room (hence the name) on the ground floor of a handsome town house is dominated by a blue-tiled chimney with a wood-smoke grill, whose aroma pervades the room. There's a masculine ambience here, as befits a brewery and smokehouse renowned for hearty portions of grilled food and triple-cooked chips. The always-buzzy atmosphere is encouraged by helpful, welcoming staff.

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Elbow Lane: Craft beer enthusiasts will find solace in Elbow Lane, where exceptional on-site brewed beers accompany a menu featuring delectable wood-grilled dishes.

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Those who hail the glories of the barbeque will find themselves richly rewarded at Elbow Lane Brew and Smoke House. The traditional style of the L-shaped dining room sets the tone, while the flames that lap from the open-kitchen’s huge wood-fired grill gives more than a hint at what the menu might hold. Needless to say, the menu is relatively heavily meat-based, including slow-smoked pork ribs served alongside homemade smokehouse sauce and cooling coleslaw.

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You’ll find unique flavours and the buzz of a bar at Elbow Lane. With both a smokehouse and a nano-brewery right on site, expect to see American-influenced barbecue with an Irish twist, like slow smoked baby back ribs or wood grilled rib eye. Their beers are brewed specifically with the menu in mind, so you can ask for a beer pairing or dabble in a few options with the taster tray.

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For Carnivores – Elbow Lane Brew & Smokehouse – a recent arrival, but the Elbow Lane Smokehouse is already building a big reputation for BBQ ribs, stunning steaks and grilled fish – big, meaty, satisfying and using only the best from local fields and seas. They also have great craft beers, cocktails and small-batch Irish whiskeys. A place for indulgence.

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13/06/2025: That open kitchen was awesome—watching those flames and the chefs was incredible. The whole place was buzzing with energy, making the meal even better. My ribeye (medium) was perfect—juicy, flavorful, and so tender.

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