Montenotte Bistro in Cork

From the moment we arrived, our stay at The Montenotte Hotel felt special. Though the entrance from the road is on a sharp turn and a little awkward to navigate, the warm welcome from the staff immediately set a positive tone. Martha at reception was very helpful, offering thoughtful local recommendations and a great overview of the hotel’s amenities, including the in-house cinema — something we’re already looking forward to returning to try. Our room had clearly been prepared with care to mark our anniversary, complete with rose petals on the bed and a lovely couples dessert to greet us. The furniture was functional and well-kept, though a little dated in style, a theme noticeable across parts of the hotel. Still, it didn’t detract from the overall comfort or atmosphere. The shower, set over a bath, was slightly awkward to use because of the space, but manageable. Around the hotel grounds, the panoramic views over Cork city are stunning. The sunken gardens were beautiful for a short stroll — I can imagine they are even more impressive in full bloom. The quirky artwork and statues dotted around the grounds added a fun and interesting touch. Accessibility seemed well considered throughout the hotel, with lifts to different floors and ramps connecting most spaces. However, the designated accessible parking bays at the front felt somewhat tight and perhaps better suited as a drop-off zone. The spa experience was a real highlight. We were greeted by name upon arrival, which created a very welcoming start. Carla provided an excellent Five Element Aroma Massage, both deeply relaxing and effective for the muscle areas I had mentioned beforehand. She also offered great aftercare advice. Despite my initial doubts, the salt room session proved incredibly beneficial — I left after twenty minutes feeling clear-headed and noticeably decongested. Dinner at the restaurant was another standout moment. Luana, our waitress, went out of her way to make our evening special, acknowledging our celebration and chatting warmly throughout the meal. The live piano music and city views created a wonderfully romantic setting. The oysters were among the freshest we’ve had, and the dessert menu offered some pleasantly unexpected and creative options — a nice touch for a hotel restaurant. After dinner, we visited the Glasshouse Bar, a stylish and relaxed space separate from the main restaurant bar. The signature cocktails, many made with locally produced spirits, were both inventive and reasonably priced. Breakfast the next morning continued the high standard, with a good selection of “from the kitchen” dishes — including eggs Benedict, Royale, or Florentine — alongside a well-stocked buffet. Even arriving around 9:45 (with breakfast served until 11), the area never felt particularly crowded. Overall, The Montenotte combines thoughtful service, beautiful views, and a welcoming atmosphere that make it ideal for a romantic or restorative getaway in Cork. While a few design elements show their age, the warmth of the experience more than makes up for it, and we look forward to returning soon.

I stayed in the Woodland Suits for a weekend, the best experience ever so far!!! All the staff are amazing, extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The manager who took care of us is so nice! I already love her, her name is Danielle, she’s lovely, and also a guy from the staff, his name is Felippe, he is a 100/10! Excellent service, he deserves a raise! Overall, the experience was incredible and definitely we will be back soon!!!

There hardly any parking spots due to local people park and use gym and pool. I have rented the apartments and very loud music coming from the bar that is up over the apartments and next to it. Until midnight.

I've stayed in a lot of 4 star hotels, and truly, The Montenotte blows the rest out of the water. I actually did not want to go home after two nights away here, I was so relaxed and comfortable. The service from the lovely staff, the food, and the amenities are second to none. We had dinner for our engagement anniversary and it tasted absolutely amazing - food we had elsewhere on the second night seemed so bland by comparison. The drinks and cocktails were delightful also in The Glasshouse and the live music in both the restaurant and bar makes it truly special. Breakfast was amazing - an excellent continental selection for making a yoghurt and berry bowl with seeds and nuts, a huge selection of cooked food, and eggs cooked to order. Liked the coffee also, both in the room and at the restaurant. The pool and amenities were very quiet and spacious - as a person who wanted some quiet time, this was amazing to not be struggling for personal space. Loved the free cinema each night; a special treat. The gardens are very tranquil with interesting sculptures and beautiful to look out on from the balconies. I will certainly be back again soon. Worth every cent!

Absolutely loved our stay in the woodlands suites. Food, location, and spa were amazing. The hospitality was unmatched. Will be back for sure.

Jess who looked after us at reception was a ray of sunshine. It was a girlie weekend for myself and my daughter who's 10. Jess made a big fuss of her which was so lovely. Every moment of our stay was like that. Just over and above from all staff. From Ken on the door and again at dinner we had a fantastic waiter, unfortunately I've forgotten his name. Again in the morning for breakfast a really lovely lady looked after us. I mean it when I say we had an above and beyond experience from everyone we encountered. I will most definitely be returning with friends and with my husband and kids. I love the location, so close to town and it really was everything we could've asked for. Thanks so much again to Jess in particular, what an angel.

Honestly, the best most sincere welcome in a hotel ever from Ken at the door. The hotel was just spectacular in every way. The bar area and gardens were exquisite and what a view!!! We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment which had everything we needed to cook our own meals. The layout was great for a family of 4 however I would have liked a larger bed in the master bedroom. The only thing missing in the whole apartment was a mirror beside a plug socket for styling hair...I had to wing it without a mirror which meant I had a questionable hair style for the duration of our stay! The pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room were fabulous. We walked and bused it into city centre, bus is 5 min walk away or city centre is a 20 min walk. My advice, walk in and bus it back as its a steep climb up to the hotel. Get train to Cobh for an afternoon out or drive to Kinsale 40 mins away, it's beautiful! We hope to return to this little gem of a hotel in the future. Thanks so much Montenotte Hoyel!

We stayed 3 nights in a 1 bed apartment and let's just say it was compact and expensive Fabulous view over the city

We stayed two nights at The Montenotte in September 2025. Rooms are nicely decorated and very quiet with views of Cork and harbor. The restaurant is beautiful but food is just average for the price. The Glasshouse bar was exceptional with excellent servers and bartenders.

Really gorgeous hotel, and the staff were so friendly and helpful. Beautiful views.