2 Best Hotels in Glengarriff, County Cork

This high-peaked Victorian landmark has peered out over the calm water of Glengarriff's harbor for more than 250 years, and in that time it has welcomed literary legends such as George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, and novelist William Thackeray. If you want a harbor view, ask when booking, as they are the first to go. Replete with period character like a wraparound wrought-iron balcony and dormer roof, the building is surrounded by greenery, making this a peacefully idyllic spot. Inside, guest rooms are elegantly designed, with large mahogany headboards, tartan blankets on white comforters, and flat-screen TVs, the one concession to the modern age. The public areas are updated with warmer shades, yet an air of nostalgia still prevails throughout, while the coastal backdrop is captured through the massive sash windows. For those who want to venture outside but retain the warmth of the lobby's open fireplace, the recently added spa is fully equipped with hot tubs that overlook the bay side. A busy passing trade and child-friendly staff bring the place alive.

Smack-dab in the middle of the scenic and busy village of Glengarriff, this small, family-run hotel is an excellent base for touring, with some great scenic walks on the doorstep, and sits alongside its sister establishments MacCarthy's Bar and the Park Bistro. The light-filled reception area, with its high ceiling and imposing wooden staircase, sets the tone for two stories of generous-size bedrooms and bathrooms, a legacy of the boom years when the original B&B was rebuilt to hotel specifications. The rooms are stylish, with large wooden headboards, color-themed walls and carpets, and luxurious throws and cushions.