Cork

Standout boutique hotels in Cork for a stylish getaway

If you’re heading for a weekend away in Ireland’s second largest city, make it extra special with a stay at one of these top boutique hotels in Cork.

With comfort and style in abundance, these hotels give you more than just the backdrop to a girls’ weekend, romantic break or family get-together. They each have something that little bit different, whether it’s a cool and quirky interior design scheme, experimental fine dining or unrivalled service. Cocktail bars, cinemas and spas – they all feature in these hotels that are brimming with character.

A vibrant 4-star boutique hotel in Cork with Nordic style

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The Montenotte Hotel in Cork city centre mixes Scandi-chic design with Victorian splendour, and has top-level service and amenities. If you’re on a relaxing mini-break with your other half, spend an evening watching a classic film at the hotel’s in-house Cameo Cinema, or book in for a treatment at the luxe Bellevue Boutique Spa. Here to shop and explore? The city centre is just a 6 minute drive away.

Take a dip in the 20-metre pool before soothing your muscles in the Jacuzzi. The pool and spa space features low-level lighting and stunning floral arrangements, making for a calming, nature-led mood. Treat yourself to a body scrub, followed by a massage with oils from the hotel’s own product line, Bellevue Botanicals. If facials are more your thing, choose a treatment that will leave you glowing. Afterwards, amble through the hotel’s glorious Sunken Victorian Garden, enjoying the scents of lavender, myrtle and rosemary.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, make your way to the Panorama bistro and terrace to watch the sun go down on the cantilevered terrace. Sipping a margarita is a great way to set the mood as you choose from the à la carte menu (think steamed mussels with smoked bacon, followed by Ballinwillin venison wellington with roast celeriac and dark chocolate jus). Return to your executive suite to find quirky Nordic style interiors, featuring bright pops of teal, yellow and pink on furnishings and linens for a fresh, modern feel. When you wake up in your king-sized bed in the morning, refresh yourself with a rainforest shower and brew yourself a latte from the coffee machine.

The Montenotte Hotel

Top rated
Cork
8.5 Excellent (2213 reviews)

An elegant boutique hotel situated in a country manor house

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If you’re celebrating a special occasion, Hayfield Manor gives you an experience to remember – and then some. This grand, ivy-covered manor house sits within pretty walled gardens, making for a peaceful oasis, a 10 minute drive from the city of Cork. Expect opulent, high-end design features with plush velvet seating, gold-gilded mirrors and glass chandeliers. Sweeping staircases are just the thing for making an entrance, especially if someone’s waiting in the lobby for you to come down for dinner!

Superior rooms come with antiques and vintage furniture to give a feel of old-world elegance. Sink into a king-sized bed with textured pillows and throws, or make yourself a fresh cup of coffee and take in the views of the surrounding gardens from the large Victorian windows. Freestanding baths and Elemis spa toiletries add to the luxurious feel. Book a table for afternoon tea in the Orchids dining room and order a glass of bubbly as an accompaniment. Then sit back and relax as you listen to the resident pianist. In the evening, don’t miss a three-course dinner created by head chef Mark Staples. The contemporary Irish cuisine uses fresh local ingredients such as Castletownbere dressed crab and West Cork trio of lamb. Soft lighting and candles add to the romantic atmosphere.

Revitalise your body and mind with an afternoon at Hayfield Manor’s lavish Beautique Spa. The sunchairs next to the heated pool are just made for lounging on with a magazine before relaxing under the jets of the outdoor Jacuzzi, or detoxifying in the sauna. Over seven individually designed treatment rooms, the Elemis trained therapists will scrub, rub, and soothe your body with a range of indulgent treatments so you can truly unwind.

Hayfield Manor Hotel

Top rated
Cork
9.6 Excellent (1448 reviews)

A luxurious boutique hotel in Cork with a top spa

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Switch off completely at the Maryborough Hotel and Spa, a tranquil retreat with a 2 AA-Rosette restaurant. The hotel is just a 10 minute drive from the airport, and 20 minutes from Cork city centre. So if you’re looking for a countryside escape, but still want to be within easy reach of the city lights, the Maryborough is a good choice.

As you enter the spa, you’ll notice the scent of fragrant candles, the trickle of flowing water and the stillness of the pool – the ideal calm. Treat yourself to a luxurious treatment by ESPA. The signature hot-stone massage helps dissolve stress to leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated while the marine algae body wrap is designed to eliminate toxins. Afterwards, you can make the most of the thermal suite with its laconium, sauna, vitality pool, heated lounges and ice fountains.

In your plush executive room comfort meets style. Lie back on your king-size bed with soft cotton sheets, or have a long soak in the bath before getting cosy in an armchair with the papers. Gaze across the patio at the 300-year old listed gardens and surrounding woodlands and drift off into total relaxation.

Fine dining is on the menu in opulent surroundings at the Art Deco-inspired Bellini’s bar and restaurant. Settle down against velvet cushions in a cosy booth with soft lighting and sip a pre-dinner cocktail. The menu here focuses on local, seasonal produce and artisanal suppliers, with tasty plates like the West Cork Toons Bridge Mozzarella with heirloom tomato and avocado mousse. Afterwards, grab a nightcap at Bellini’s Bar – try the hotel’s own Maryborough Classic, or a trusty Old Fashioned before heading off to bed.

Maryborough Hotel And Spa

Top rated
Cork
8.8 Excellent (985 reviews)

A modern boutique hotel in Cork with a cool cocktail bar

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Isaac’s Hotel is based in the heart of Cork city’s Victorian quarter where you’ll find the quirkiest boutiques, cafés and bars. After a fun day’s shopping, opt for a special dinner at the hotel’s on-site restaurant Greenes, by trying the tasting menu. Goats cheese, walnut and beetroot, gooseberry and vodka sorbet, and Dexter beef with organic vegetables are some of the plates you can tuck into – you can also add on matching wines. The à la carte menu is just as tempting, cooked with fresh, locally sourced ingredients such as pan-fried scallops, local rare-breed pork belly, and Dublin Bay prawn dumplings. After dinner, a tipple or two at the hotel bar Cask can’t be missed. The resident mixologist serves a range of cocktails from a small menu that changes seasonally every 12 weeks. The Penny’s Hun, Five Euro has got to be worth a try – it’s a combination of blueberry Bombay Sapphire, Lillet Rouge, Suze, Lavender and prosecco.

The hotel design mixes vintage-style shabby chic with modern touches. This is seen in the Chesterfield sofas and gold-gilded mirrors, with black and white photography on the walls. The theme continues through to the bedrooms, decorated in chic black, white and grey. Your comfortable deluxe room has a king-sized bed to kick back in, television and dressing table. Sumptuous fabrics like crushed velvet, leather and suede give a sensual as well as cosy feel. Refresh yourself under the powerful rainforest shower before getting a good night’s sleep under crisp cotton sheets.

If you’re exploring Cork as a family, or with friends, opt for one of the hotel’s private serviced apartments. The two and three-bed apartments feature an open-plan living space, along with a kitchen and dining area, great if you’re after more space, or staying for an extended period of time.

Isaacs Hotel Cork City

Top rated
Cork
8.7 Excellent (1166 reviews)

A boutique hotel in Cork with a giant Jacuzzi

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Check yourself into one of the boutique-style Tobin or Ellis Collection Suites at Oriel House for a truly chic experience. The stylish double bedrooms are immaculately designed, with plush furniture, striking artwork and marble bathrooms.

If you can bring yourself to leave the comfort of your suite, the leisure centre will be waiting for you downstairs with its 25-metre swimming pool, infinity resistance pool, 8-seater Jacuzzi, steamroom and sauna.

After a well-deserved lie-in, make your way to the Bar & Bistro or Courtyard for a lazy brunch. Served from 10 am – 12 pm, the brunch has all the classics

Oriel House Hotel

Cork
8.0 Very good (1455 reviews)