The popular restaurant closed earlier this year
18:32, 29 Jun 2026Updated 18:36, 29 Jun 2026
The property is up for rent on George’s Quay
The former Café Velo restaurant unit is up for rent, seeking new operators to bring some new life into the George’s Quay property.
The restaurant is in a “most enviable” position in the city, letting agents at Cohalan Downing say. It overlooks the River Lee and is in a “gateway” location fronting the quay. The ground-floor lot encompasses the former Café Velo and adjoining Eskimo Pizza unit- spanning a total area of 3,000 square feet.
The property has been empty since the popular restaurant closed earlier this year. Café Velo was a popular spot, well known for its all-day breakfast. In March, the team announced plans to relocate after a decade.
The former Café Velo and Eskimo Pizza units are available for a new operator(Image: Cohalan Downing)
Now, the restaurant is available to rent, with a new tenant sought to operate at what is advertised as a very attractive position in the city. The letting agents describe it as being on “the gateway corridor to the South Mall, which is the traditional central business district of Cork city and is home to a variety of international and local firms in various sectors, including banking, insurance, technology and professional services.”
“3 Georges Quay is situated at the gateway to the epicentre of Cork’s Central Business District (CBD), the South Mall,” the property listing notes. “The façade fronts George’s Quay and this strategic positioning immediately adjacent to the intersections of South Terrace, Union Quay and White Street to the east, with Sullivans Quay, Parliament Bridge and Mary Street to the west is most enviable.”
They say that it may suit commercial uses, including food, retail, hair and beauty, medical, or other uses, but is “ready for its next incarnation and bespoke fitout.”
The area is seeing big changes. Down the road at South Terrace, a new Hilton hotel is under construction and on track to open in 2027. Meanwhile, the old Trinity Bridge, opened by Cork’s Jewish lord mayor Gerald Goldberg in 1977, has been removed. It is being replaced by a new, more modern pedestrian bridge as part of extensive works ongoing at Morrison’s Island.
In March, the Café Velo team announced they were “heartbroken” to be leaving its landmark location on George’s Quay. In a notice to customers, they said that after “many good years”, they thanked everyone who visited and enjoyed the restaurant.