Ambassador Hotel

Ambassador Hotel Review

An imposing redbrick and cut-limestone Victorian-era nursing home now converted into a comfortable hotel may not be the fanciest hotel in Cork, nor the hippest, but it has the most character and the best view—which you pay for with a steep 10-minute walk up from the town center. Indeed, it is worth visiting the bar here just to enjoy the panoramic view of Cork City and the surrounding hills. The Ambassador is near the army barracks in a hilly area made famous by Frank O'Connor's short stories and now favored by style-conscious academics and bohos. Guest rooms are massive, with large bathrooms, patterned wallpaper, small sitting areas, and matching floral curtains and drapes. There are three floors of bedrooms, and the higher you go, the better the view—some rooms even have splendid balconies. The Embassy Bar has dark-wood paneling and a large bay window overlooking the city, while the cocktail lounge, with book-filled shelves and chesterfields by an open fire, is a quieter venue. The Seasons restaurant is a spacious room with formal table linen and a sedate, old-fashioned air.