The city of Cork in southern Ireland's Cork County offers opportunities for fishing and kayaking activities on the River Lee. Cork's hotels are within 10 minutes of the river and the downtown district, which has cultural and historic attractions. A possible day trip for tourists staying in a Cork hotel is a three-hour drive to Blarney Castle, a medieval attraction where visitors can kiss the famous Blarney Stone.
The River Lee Hotel, part of the luxury hotel chain, the Doyle Collection, faces the south bank of the River Lee. This downtown Cork accommodation offers a fitness center, body treatments and facials at the Urban Escape Spa and on-site dining at the Weir Bistro. This restaurant has a full-service bar and provides menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel's deluxe rooms offer complimentary bathrobes, and guest can access the hotel's Executive Lounge. This club features a library and finger foods.
The hotel is less than a mile from the restaurants and shopping opportunities in downtown Cork. Some of the plazas in the downtown area include the Paul Street Mall and Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre. The Triskel Arts Centre hosts live Irish music and dancing entertainment throughout the year and is a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
The Kingsley Hotel, in western Cork's Sunday Well neighborhood, is home to the Yauvana Spa. This spa provides Ayurvedic massages and treatments, a special spa experience that originated in India. Other hotel features include an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center and sauna. Private fitness training lessons are available. Irish-style breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served at the hotel's restaurant, the Sabrona Lounge, and the restaurant's dining room offers views of the hotel's landscaped gardens and the River Lee. Extended-stay rentals are also provided by the hotel.
The hotel is within walking distance of off-site dining at the Crow's Nest Lounge, which is an all-you-can-eat restaurant that serves Irish cuisine and offers views of the River Lee. Kingsley Hotel is a 20-minute drive from the Cork City Gaol, an old prison building that has been converted into a museum. This museum has life-size wax figures and depicts prison life in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Situated in Cork's Rochestown district, the Rochestown Park Hotel is lodged in an early 20th century manor that was owned by Sir Abraham Sutton. This hotel is on an 11-acre property with landscaped gardens and walking paths. Indoor amenities include a swimming pool, sauna, fitness room and whirlpool tub. On-site dining is available at Sutton's, a bistro-style restaurant with menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Room service is available from the restaurant. The hotel features townhouse units for extended stays, and includes daily maid service during the week.
The hotel is less than 10 minutes from downtown Cork attractions, which include theatrical performances at the Cork Opera House and fine art galleries at the Crawford Gallery. Both sites are next to each other, by the River Lee. Avid golfers staying at Rochestown Park Hotel are within five minutes of the 18-hole Douglas Golf Course.
The Gresham Metropole Hotel, on the northern banks of River Lee, is a five-minute drive from the historic St. Anne's Church, Shandon. This cathedral was built in the 18th century and is open for the public to view. The hotel is 15 minutes from the 70-acre Fota Wildlife Park, a zoological park where animals have more roaming space than the exhibits at typical zoos. The hotel is within walking distance of restaurants in downtown Cork.
On-site dining options at the hotel include the Riverview Restaurant, which offers breakfast buffets, and the Met Bar, which offers beverages and sandwich selections. Other hotel features include a studio for yoga classes, gymnasium, an outdoor swimming pool and massage services. The junior suites feature sitting areas, and the hotel provides complimentary bathrobes.
