Reviews of Bru Bar & Hostel
Victorian Quarter 57 MacCurtain Street, Cork, Ireland
#38 of 44 hotels in Cork
Guests' ChoiceReview score
Based on 947 hostel reviews
7.4Score breakdown
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Cleanliness
7.7
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Comfort
7.5
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Location
9.1
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Facilities
7.3
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Staff
8.6
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Value for money
7.4
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Free WiFi
8.3
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Reviewed: 2 July 2025
Alan
United Kingdom7 reviews1 helpful vote6.0“Average”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Bed in 4-Bed Male Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Rooms too hot.
Location
Stayed in July 2025
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Reviewed: 20 June 2025
Olivia
Spain7 reviews2 helpful votes6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
Small room and bathroom. Beds shook while getting in and out and the under the bed storage didn't work so well and was very loud. Breakfast was also laughable it was just toast and coffee. Nice but absolutely not what I was expecting based on reviews.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 17 June 2025
Dan
United Kingdom9 reviews3 helpful votes7.0“Great for Rail station, but hostel needs freshening up.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
I have often stayed at BRU, many times over the last 20 years. While still great value, it is starting to show wear and tear and is due for a bit of refurbishment to keep it fresh; also lounge and kitchen close at night, it would be good to have them open until 4am as long as users are quiet. Lounge is also very small and windowless; maybe could be improved in some way?
Free breakfast was welcome and included in price although it was basic as you might expect. Excellent location for travelling by Train, it is just few minutes walk from Intercity Rail Station, nearer than any other hostel.
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 16 June 2025
Madelaine
Canada14 reviews2 helpful votes6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
It was the least social hostel I've been in. It was just rooms above a bar, no activities recommended, no socialness encouraged, staff didn't want to talk to you. The room was super stuffy and no fans provided. The cages under the beds need recalibrating, as soon as someone was on the bottom bunk, you couldn't move them without shaking the whole bunk.
Good location, beds comfortable, continental breakfast as expected.
Stayed in June 2025
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Reviewed: 16 June 2025
Thomas
United States4 reviews8.0“Good for a short stay in Cork to see the city.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Double or Twin Room with Private Bathroom
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Room was quite warm, but tolerable.
Great location, great house bar.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 3 June 2025
Hayes
Ireland1 review7.0“I would stay again, good value, good location, nice staff”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Needs a bit of upgrading.
It was fine. Clean, nice staff, very basic. Good value
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 31 May 2025
Jutta
Finland4 reviews8.0Very good- • Business trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 6 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
Staff was very good
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 30 May 2025
David
Ireland35 reviews4 helpful votes8.0“Good Budget accommodation.”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Male Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Great Value in a great location.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 29 May 2025
Carter
Australia1 review8.0Very good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
I liked the ensuite bathroom, the chargers by the beds and that it was close to the city centre
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 25 May 2025
Alih99
United Kingdom32 reviews1 helpful vote7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Double or Twin Room with Private Bathroom
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Friendly welcome, we were allocated a quiet room (not above the bar), indoor storage for our bikes, basic breakfast.
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 25 May 2025
Till
Germany23 reviews2 helpful votes7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Twin Room with Bathroom
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
The rooms were very small; the furniture is quite old; The walls are very thin;
The Bru Bar & Hostel is situated centrally. The staff is very friendly.
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 25 May 2025
Danielle
Australia33 reviews7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
Beds were super uncomfortable
Very nice location, lovely little breakfast
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 21 May 2025
Jen
Ireland3 reviews7.0“Totally functional and adequate hostel accommodation right in the centre of town”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Was not aware in advance of the key card deposit that's needed (cash or ID)
Totally functional and affordable stay in a world of poor availability and high prices - did what it said on the tin, nothing special but nothing bad either
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 19 May 2025
Verónica
Spain12 reviews7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The price doesn’t include towels
The location
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 17 May 2025
Brenda
Canada20 reviews4 helpful votes6.0“A practical, safe, and conveniently located hostel. Nothing much more than that.”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The walls were thin and so we could hear other guests late into the night. They charge you for towels and there are no towels/dryer in the bathroom to dry your wet hands with after using the toilet which is a bit icky. The common area/kitchen also has dungeon energy. Having to walk through the bar at night is not the best, and the “side door” they say you can use to access the hostel directly is often blocked by the bars table/chairs and people smoking.
I liked that it was close to the city centre, train station, and bus station. It was also good that the beds had boxes for locking, a light, charger area, and curtains.
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 17 May 2025
Falko
Germany54 reviews6 helpful votes6.0“Simple accommodation, centrally located but noisy, which is fine for one night.”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Double or Twin Room with Private Bathroom
- • Stayed 1 night
The double-room was very small and stuffy, and the cleanliness especially in the bathroom could be better. It was very noisy in the morning, and the windows were unfortunately not very soundproof.
The location was very central. The staff was friendly and the accommodation was very affordable. A simple breakfast was included in the price.
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 16 May 2025
Selina
Switzerland19 reviews2 helpful votes8.0“Would book there again”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The room was clean, basic breakfast was included, good kitchen. Live concerts in the bar downstairs.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 6 May 2025
Gillian
Ireland8 reviews2 helpful votes6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Location
Stayed in May 2025
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Reviewed: 25 April 2025
Tomoya
Japan2 reviews7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 7 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
A room was so dry that I wanted a humidifier.
Good
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 24 April 2025
Sinead
Ireland4 reviews8.0Very good- • Business trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
The room was insanely warm at night.
Bed was comfortable and the staff were so lovely. The light breakfast was really appreciated also. Location is perfect.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 22 April 2025
Sw
Canada16 reviews1 helpful vote6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
No privacy curtains around the beds
Great location
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 19 April 2025
Yu-jie
United Kingdom15 reviews1 helpful vote6.0Pleasant- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The water temperature of the shower is not adjustable. The room is painted dark green, not like what the photos were shown, and the dark green makes the room look really crowded.
It is really close to the city centre.
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 16 April 2025
Laura
Ireland58 reviews3 helpful votes8.0“Good, well run hostel with decent amenities & a range of options”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Double or Twin Room with Private Bathroom
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted via mobile
Bathroom a little grim View of the bins outside the window The bar has gone very shouty in recent years (I used to drink there in the early days before moving away) Otherwise good
Plenty of towels Comfortable beds Good security Quiet room Pizza & bar on site but separated enough to get a good night's sleep No frills & very tiny room (technically sleeps 3!) but otherwise fine. It's a better option than most of the grotty b&bs in this part of town for a similar price
Stayed in April 2025
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Reviewed: 8 April 2025
Elisa
Germany20 reviews4 helpful votes7.0“A good place to stay in Cork!”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveller
- • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted via mobile
The staff was very kind and helpful and the rooms were clean. You could not hear any noises from the bar, and the free breakfast was as "light" as they advertised it, but more than enough! Would definitely recommend staying there.
Stayed in April 2025
