Hayfield Manor is one of my favorite places to stay in Ireland, and it is a haven for highly sensitive people. The hotel is romantic and luxurious. TripAdvisor lists the hotels as the #1 hotel in Cork and #4 in Ireland. As you enter the gates of Hayfield, you feel as if you have gone back in time to a more quiet and serene place; it feels like a smaller version of Downton Abbey.
PROS
- 5 Star Luxury at an affordable price
- Romantic & Quiet
- An oasis for anyone with high sensitivity
CONS
- Orchids restaurant can be expensive if you start ordering wine and deserts.
Hayfield Manor Style
You feel the five-star setting with Georgian-style windows, a carved oak double staircase, antiques, and luxurious furnishings. The drawing room has a white-marble fireplace, a 19th-century chandelier, and very comfortable chairs and sofas, a perfect place to relax before dinner. The hotel will have several small cozy seating areas to enjoy a quiet conversation or reading.
Nearby the wood-paneled library overlooks a small but lovely walled garden inspired by Muckross House gardens in Killarney. The hotel's decoration is stylish and classy, making you comfortable no matter where you are. It didn't feel like a 5-star hotel where you felt out of place; you instantly felt very relaxed and at home.
Location & Sound
Hayfield Manor is a 10-minute walk from Cork city center and a 15-minute drive from Cork Airport. If you drive, you will find the car park to the left after you enter the main gates, from there it's a short walk to the front door. You can also drive up to the hotel's front door, where the doorman will unload your luggage and park the car for you, whichever you prefer. Parking is free.
Outside Hayfield is the historic University College Cork, stroll through and head to Patrick's Street for shopping. Not far from Patrick's Street is the famous English market that Queen Elizabeth visited. Wander around the market and stop to have lunch at the Farmgate Café. Even though the college is outside the main gates and not that far away from the hotel, I didn't hear the students. It felt like all the noise went away when you entered the gates.
Service and Facilities
On arrival, a doorman in a top hat greeted us and escorted us to a nearby reception desk—one of the better check-in experiences I have encountered, from the warm welcome to the comfortable chairs. Enjoy a glass of whiskey while you check in from a lovely decanter on the desk. Through this process, you can feel yourself relaxing and the atmosphere of Hayfield taking hold. The staff is excellent, friendly, and always there to help you with whatever you need.
Onsite you will find a residents-only gym, a spa, hot tub, steam room, sauna, and a beautiful old-world swimming pool. The pool overlooks an enclosed garden where you can sit and have lunch or afternoon tea if the weather permits. The spa regularly offers packages, including a spa day with lunch.
The spa includes seven individually designed treatment rooms, each featuring a chandelier and antique furnishings old-world ambiance.
There is also an outdoor hot tub separated from the garden by a row of trees, this area is not big, but it feels very private and cozy. The Beautique Spa offers a wide range of treatments for both sexes, using Elemis products.
Rooms
Hayfield has 88 rooms; each is individually furnished, extremely comfortable, and spacious at 300 square feet. The bed linens felt luxurious, and the bed was extremely comfortable. You can avail of a robe and slippers, and the bathroom features a fantastic tub, separate shower, a heated towel rack, plus Elemis spa products. Our room was tranquil the entire time. The rooms also include; free wi-fi, laundry service, safe, TV, tea/coffee, iron & ironing board, individually controlled heating, and air conditioning.
Many rooms can be connected for families, and the manor offers cribs, babysitting, and kid-friendly menus. Three of the 88 rooms are wheelchair accessible.
Food & Drink
Hayfield has two award-winning restaurants; Orchids is the main restaurant and fine dining, while Perrott's Garden Bistro is a casual alternative.
Orchids is a premier Cork city gourmet restaurant with a modern Irish menu focusing on seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Afternoon Tea, a favorite of locals, is served in Orchids to the tones of a classical piano and a delicious assortment of pastries and cakes. There is also a gluten-free Afternoon Tea option.
Breakfast is served in Perrott's and should not be missed; order an Irish breakfast to experience it to the fullest. At breakfast, visit the buffet where you will find local cheeses, cured meats, pastries, champagne, fresh orange juice, and of course, a Virgin Mary station. Perrott also serves lunch and dinner.
In addition to the two restaurants, a Victorian-style bar serves a light menu until 5 pm. The bar is full of old-world sophistication, and has a beautiful fireplace and lots of nooks where you can meet friends and have a private area to chat.
I have stayed at Hayfield Manor on three occasions and have loved it each time. I honestly can't come up with many cons other than dinner was expensive. One day, we ordered room service for breakfast, spent the morning in the pool, had massages at the spa, and returned to the room to nap. That evening some friends came to the hotel; we ordered pre-dinner drinks in the victorian bar and found one of those cozy nooks. After dinner, we returned to the bar to chat the night away—a fantastic, relaxing day.
Hayfield Manor Hotel
Amenities
- Downton Abbey Vibe
- In the Center of Cork City
- Restaurant & Garden Bistro
- Spa | Pool | Hot Tub | Gym
- Bar | Library
- Sitting Room with Fireplace
- Family Friendly
- Beautiful Gardens
- Free Wi-Fi | Free Parking
Recommend For
- Romantic Break
- Foodies & Wine Tasting
- Afternoon Tea & Spa Days
- Sailing | Golf
- Kinsale
- Blarney Castle
- Jameson Experience
- English Market, Cork City
- Fota Wildlife Park
How to Get There
& When to Go
Planes
Fly into Cork airport (in Irish, it's Aerfort Chorcaí). It's a ten-minute drive to Hayfield Manor.
Trains
You can also take the train to Cork's Kent station from Dublin or other cities. The train station is about a ten-minute drive from the hotel.
The Irish drive on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, which can be disorientating. So I recommend renting an automatic car if traveling from the US. They are more expensive than a stick shift but easier to drive. Ireland is not a large country, so the drive to Cork City from other parts of Ireland is not that long.
Best Time to Visit
Offseason, Spring, and Fall are the best times for HSPs.
*** St. Patrick's Day is crazy in Dublin, and many people travel worldwide to see the parade. Avoid that time at all costs.
General
Information
Language
Irish is the national language; however, everyone speaks English.
Currency
Euro in the Irish Republic.
English Pound in Northern Ireland.
Cash | Cards
Most places accept credit cards but always carry cash. Use Visa or Mastercard with no foreign transaction fees. ATMs in Ireland are called Cashpoint and are the best way to get cash.
Plugs
The standard voltage in Europe is 230 V; buy a travel adapter before leaving the US.
Irish Emergency
999 – Call the emergency services by dialing 999 from a mobile or fixed phone line.
999 works in any EU country free.
EU Emergency Number
Dialing 112 from any country in the European Union will connect you to emergency services – police, fire, and ambulance. Dialing 112 is free from any mobile phone, landline, or payphone.
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