Attitudes in Ireland towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are regarded as among the most liberal in the world. Ireland is notable for its transformation from a country holding overwhelmingly conservative attitudes toward LGBT issues to one holding overwhelmingly liberal views in the space of a generation. This being the case it’s easy to find a gay friendly hotels Cork.
Cork is the second largest city in Ireland, located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city’s boundary in 2019, its population is c. 210,000.
Top attractions to visit in Cork
Best Day Tours in Cork
- Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle & Kinsale – Shore Excursion
- Cliffs of Moher Day Tour from Cork: Including The Wild Altanic Way
- Skip the Line: Jameson Experience in County Cork Ticket
- Cobh (Cork) to Blarney Castle Half Day Shore Tour
- Blarney Castle Tour from Cork including Cobh
See all tours in Cork on GetYourGuide Ireland.
1. Imperial Hotel Cork City 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Cork
Located in the very heart of , The Hotel is less than a minute’s walk from ’s district restaurants and nightlife. It boasts air-conditioned rooms and the tranquil Escape Spa.
From Classic Rooms to the Penthouse the rooms feature state-of-the-art smart TVs, free WiFi, Nespresso machines and luxury toiletries.
In the Pembroke Restaurant, a high standard of Irish cuisine is created each day, with a la carte breakfast and lunch served daily. Guests can enjoy a coffee or light bite in Lafayette’s, while Seventy Six on the Mall, the hotel’s main bar, serves excellent cocktails. Each evening, Thyme at Seventy Six on the Mall serves a choice of main courses and desserts using locally sourced ingredients from the nearby English Market.
At the spa, guests can indulge in treatments including an aqua body polish, signature facials and Aveda or Voya massages. The spa also features an aroma and salt grotto, as well as tropical, rain, and mist showers.
Located in the very heart of the city the Imperial Hotel is the most central hotel in Cork. It is less than a minute’s walk from Cork’s main shopping district, restaurants and nightlife. It’s ambience exudes a historical elegance with contemporary touches and boasts luxurious air conditioned rooms and the tranquil Escape Spa, an oasis of calm in the city centre.
The bedrooms styles are elegant featuring state of the art smart TVs, free WiFi, Business Safe, Espresso machines and the Irish brand “Field Day” toiletries. In the Thyme at Seventy Six Restaurant, a high standard of Irish cuisine is created each evening using fresh fish, meat and vegetables from the local English Market. Guests can enjoy a coffee or light lunch in Lafayette’s Brasserie. Quirky, smart, Rus in Urbe, serving contemporary local food for breakfast and lunch, Sketch transforms into a vibrant cocktail bar serving sharing platters every evening. ‘The lunch is served in Sketch daily with a contemporary food . At the award winning Escape spa, guests can indulge in treatments including an aqua body polish, signature facials and Aveda or Voya massages.
Located on South Mall, it is close to many tourist sites, lots of restaurants and shopping. In fact when we took a historical walking tour of Cork, one of the places the guide brought us was The Imperial.
Michael Collins, the Irish freedom fighter stayed in the Imperial the night before he was assassinated in West Cork. There is a photograph and plaque for Michael Collins in the reception area of the hotel. Many famous people such as Grace Kelly and Gregory Peck have stayed there. In 1845, the famous anti-slavery American activist Frederick Douglass was honored at The Imperial. And for all it’s service, location and history, the room rates in June were pretty reasonable.
From the moment we walked in to the Imperial hotel we felt looked after and safe during these strange times.
Upon check in we were met with two amazing front of house staff members who enquired how was our trip down and casually told us we had been upgraded to the penthouse suite much to our amazement it wouldnt sink in we could be this fortunate.
This had been a fabulous gesture and much appreciated as our lives have been a bit of a whirlwind.
The penthouse suite is basically the whole forth floor so you have the whole floor to yourself. It has an amazing 2 ensuite bedrooms with a huge wrap around kitchen, dining room, sitting room with a decking area that you have beautiful views of all over Cork City.
We had a beautiful welcome gift of a slate with delicious chocolate brownies and Tattinger Champagne. The beds were so comfy you wake up buzzing with energy. The powerful shower and jacuzzi bath were such a treat it would leave anyone revitalised for the day or for us to prepare ourselves for the feast we were about to enjoy in the thyme@76onthemall in the hotel.
This is a lovely, historic hotel right in the heart of the city. The carpark is a 5-10 minute walk away and is an extra €10 per night (but the hotel are very upfront and clear about this). Was able to checkin early as an afternoon tea was including in our package and it was nice to be able to freshen up after a long drive.
Our Premium double room was a decent size, right at the back of the hotel so very quiet too. Bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was great. A selection of free-to-air channels were on the TV and the free wifi was alright for basic browsing. I would rate the meals included in our package as follows:
Afternoon Tea (Lafayettes) – fantastic food, lovely setting in the tiled cafe on the ground floor. Staff very friendly and attentive.
Dinner (Pembroke Restaurant) – Restricted menu selection for guests, very ordinary food, quite disappointing
Breakfast (same space as Pembroke Restaurant) – large selection of hot and cold buffet, self service, breakfast foods. Very average.
Overall a good hotel but very expensive for what’s on offer.
How much does a room costs at Imperial Hotel Cork City ?
Prices start 134$/night for Classic Double Room. The Deluxe King Room is 194$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
These larger rooms are located in a quieter section of the hotel and feature a king-size bed, bottled water, chocolates, robes, slippers, tea/coffee making facilities, a Nespresso machine, luxury toiletries and complimentary WiFi.
Where to book online – Imperial Hotel Cork City – Gay Friendly Hotels Cork – you can find the best hotels deals in Cork during SeaFest Cork which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Cork on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. The Metropole Hotel Cork 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Cork Ireland
In the heart of Centre, the Metropole Hotel Cork is just a short stroll from the city’s business district and many excellent shops, boutiques, theatres and galleries.
During your stay at the Metropole Hotel Cork, you can relax in one of 98 tastefully decorated bedrooms, equipped with everything for a comfortable stay.
At the rear of the hotel is the Riverview Restaurant, with some unique views overlooking Cork’s famous River Lee and city centre.
The Riverview Restaurant is opened each morning for an a la carte breakfast, with a wide variety of hot and cold options.
One of the finest of Cork City Centre Hotels, The Metropole Hotel in Cork is just a short stroll from the many excellent shops, boutiques, theatres, galleries and of course the business district of Cork, making it an ideal location for Cork City Hotel breaks and business travellers alike. During your stay in this superb Cork city hotel, you will be accommodated in one of 98 tastefully decorated bedrooms, equipped with all necessities to ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay.
The Metropole Hotel is a Cork City Centre Hotel designed to cater for the every need of the business professional requiring a hotel in Cork City, from our business rooms, event facilities and suite of twelve conference rooms through to the complimentary Wi-Fi internet access offered throughout the hotel, you will find plenty to make your stay as thought provoking as you would like. All guests staying at The Metropole Hotel, can also enjoy complimentary access to the Leisure Centre. Leeside Leisure is a White Flag Awarded Leisure Centre with superb facilities, which include a 20m Swimming Pool, with three pool areas, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Steam Room and a fully equipped gym with cardiovascular and weights area.
Great location, fantastic staff and spotless hotel. From the minute of arrival , to the woman seating us for breakfast and the concierge John we had a great experience. Cannot beat the location – a pity the pool was closed as other hotels have them open at the moment but that is their policy so I respect it! Lovey room with a view of the river Lee.
The hotel is fabulous and in the perfect location to explore the city. The staff were fantastic and very helpful with special mention for hotel concierge John who is a gent and looked after us all weekend. We ate in the hotel restaurant, the Met on the Saturday night and the food was delicious. We had a great weekend and we will definitely be back to the Metropole in the future.
Our room had a lovely view of the river and the Mary Elmes Bridge all lit up. Although we didn’t have dinner in the hotel we did have breakfast both mornings. Great selection of food on the continental buffet, and the hot breakfast cooked to order, which was delicious 🙂 We were looked after both mornings by a lovely lady called Lorraine. She told us all about the new bridge and about Mary Elmes and gave us suggestions as to where to go and what to see during our stay in Cork.
The Metropole is in a very central location, across the bridge from the city center and minutes away from the bus and train stations. We would highly recommend this hotel and hope to stay again in the near future :).
Location excellent as was within walking distance to lots of bars and restaurants. The room was very comfortable and clean along with the bathroom. The food for breakfast lunch and dinner was delicious. The cocktails from the met bar were very very nice also. The highlight of the stay was the staff who were all very helpful and wonderfully friendly.
How much does a room costs at The Metropole Hotel Cork ?
Prices start 115$/night for Budget Double Room. The Executive Double Room is 149$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
With free WiFi, this room also includes a work desk and a private bathroom with a bathtub. Free tea and coffee, mineral water, bathrobes and slippers are provided.
Where to book online – The Metropole Hotel Cork – Gay Friendly Hotels Cork – you can find the best hotels deals in Cork during SeaFest Cork which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Cork on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. Hotel Isaacs Cork City 3* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Cork
The boutique Hotel City is just a 5-minute walk from the city centre, including the English Market and Shandon Steeple. It offers spacious rooms, Greenes Restaurant, Cask Cocktail Bar and a courtyard with a floodlit waterfall.
Kent Railway Station and Cork Bus station, with buses to Cork Airport, are only a 10-minute walk from Hotel Isaacs.
The hotel offers spacious rooms, cable TV, laptop safes and Wi-Fi Access. Isaacs Apartments, which are part of the hotel complex, offer a fully fitted kitchen, sitting room/dining room and 2 or 3 bedrooms.
The critically-acclaimed Greenes Restaurant looks onto its own floodlit waterfall. Located under a stone archway and featuring a courtyard garden, the restaurant offers a unique setting in Cork with specialty fish and seafood dishes.
Hotel Isaacs & Apartments Cork, a unique gem of a hotel in Cork city Centre with an enviable location – recently refurbished (2016) only a short walk from the train and bus stations and the main shopping and financial centre of Cork. Hotel Isaacs is the perfect choice as a base when visiting Cork city, county and County Kerry.”,”viewport”:”DESKTOP”}]}”>
10 minute walk from the train station and central for so much of Cork, this place is a lovely find for a long weekend.
Our room was particularly large, though I suspect that’s because we were allocated a disabled access room (disabled shower, wardrobe access and a spacious room for manoeuvrability). Not requested, but it was lovely to have the space!
Comfortable bed, good shower and very clean. Quiet given we were on a main street.
Note – I would always travel with earplugs and eye mask as I do need dark and quiet to sleep and not all curtains blackout. This hotel had good sound insulation from the outside – but beware exceptionally poor dividing walls between rooms (our experience – room 207).
The staff were polite, friendly, professional and helpful.
The adjoining restaurant (Greene’s) provided breakfast – lovely surroundings, excellent food, exceptional staff.
The bar adjacent to the hotel allowed you to book drinks to your room (Cask). Popular, fashionable but cosy cocktail haven. Treat yourself.
How much does a room costs at Hotel Isaacs Cork City?
Prices start 129$/night for Deluxe Double Room. The Superior Double Room is 139$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This room has a double bed.
Where to book online – Hotel Isaacs Cork City- Gay Friendly Hotels Cork – you can find the best hotels deals in Cork during SeaFest Cork which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Cork on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
