Name: Imperial Hotel Cork City
Address: 76 South Mall, Cork City Centre, Cork, Ireland, Cork, County Cork, IE
Price range: $179–$824 per night
Rating: 8.77

What guests think

Imperial Hotel Cork City is a historic, centrally located property praised for elegant common areas and a welcoming atmosphere, with many guests highlighting friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and easy access to Cork’s shops, pubs, and attractions.

Service is largely praised, though several reviews cite slow breakfast or bar service and occasional check-in or billing mix-ups; cleanliness is generally high with some noted lapses. Rooms range from spacious and comfortable to small or a bit dated, with reports of sloped floors, frosted windows, temperature control quirks, and late-night noise from nearby venues. Facilities shine with stylish bars and lounges, but off-site parking is a hassle and the spa draws mixed feedback, including extra fees, early closing, and maintenance concerns. Expect a charming city-center stay with some trade-offs.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Guests love the stylish bar, lounges and on-site dining. Repeated complaints note off-site parking and difficult unloading, while the spa attracts mixed feedback (extra fees, limited hours, and condition issues); occasional maintenance like a down elevator also appeared.

Related guest reviews

10

Sean

Oct 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It’s a beautiful hotel with a recently remodeled bar area!

10

Lisa Jane

Oct 11, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Wonderful hotel. Staff were amazing. Bar is fantastic.

10

Laura

Feb 18, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful room and love the age and decor of the hotel. Excellent breakfast. The fitness facilities could use an update (the spin bike pedal was broken and there is a lack of dumbbells).

8

Lisa

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

All the employees were excellent. The bar is very nice and cozy. My only complaint was the off site parking, it was a hike to get back to the hotel! A valet would be a nice addition. Other than that I would definitely stay here again.

6

Evan

Sep 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was very nice, parking was a bit of a disaster, especially after 11pm. Hard to find and not a short walk when carrying luggage. Spa area was nice as well

2

wendy

May 16, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

The pictures of the SPA are from 20 years ago I am certain. The hotel is doing renovations which we understood but that is not the problem , the spa is in terrible condition, lots of mildew and the fresh towel had used gum in it. The tiles are lifting their was garbage on the floor and i was too dirty to shower in after the terrible massage given. We wanted to speak with the Mgr of the hotel or the spa mgr but no one bothered to contact us back and its been a week. It is robbery to pay 110 Euros for this so called spa service. Shame on the Mgmt. No one but a woman at the front desk by the name of Geraldine seemed to give a care about customer service.

6

Mihai-Cristinel

Feb 18, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

The room wasn't too bad. OK. The staff is nice. Very bad timing for the SPA. They are closing at 6 pm.

8

Sophie

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Comfortable and accessible. disappointed that they charge to use the spa.

10

Annie

Oct 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautifully decorated. Fabulous cafe and bar areas. Can't beat the location in Cork.

8

jeff

Sep 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Parking is off site and charged

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Cleanliness

Many reviews describe clean or spotless rooms, but there are recurring reports of bathroom mildew, musty odors, stained carpets, or missed housekeeping details.

Related guest reviews

10

William

May 27, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Getting a little worn. The carpet had big ripples in it and needs to be replaced. Some areas in the bathroom are condensed with dirt and grim, so while it was 'clean' needs a deep, deep cleaning.

10

Dan

Dec 11, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

staff very friendly and welcoming . room very comfortable and very clean

10

Catherine

Nov 23, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

The room was spotless, very nice location, in city centre, lovely bar area too

6

Manoush

Aug 24, 2023

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Stayed 2 nights

Property is in need of updating. Shower leaks all over the floor. Mold / mildew on the wood below tub. Slippery wet floor

6

James

May 25, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Something went on in that room before I arrived but room appeared clean. I came across papers and Trojan package at the bottom of the bed. Although I was a bit disgusted, it was too late to complain, so I kept it to myself.

10

David

Nov 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean and comfortable

10

Camille

Jul 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was great. Beautiful hotel. The room could have been cleaner. There were stains on the rug and hair in the bathroom.

2

James

Jan 28, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Worst and most expensive stay I’ve had out of many hotels in Ireland. Room smelled, it was extremely small, the plumbing made loud noises, the floor was dirty, the mattress was stiff and worn, the services at the spa were a joke, and the parking is very far away with only one drop off spot which is always taken. It’s not even worth it for the central location.

8

Andrew

Oct 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

First room was not clean. We moved to a clearly refurbished room which was much better.

6

Marianne

Jul 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Bathroom shower walls were moldy

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Rooms

Rooms are comfortable for many and some are spacious, but others feel small or dated, with sloped floors, frosted/no-view windows, and hard-to-control temperature. Street and venue noise affects some rooms at night; Wi‑Fi can be weak.

Related guest reviews

10

Audrey

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Central location with a great restaurant. I wish I could have stayed longer to take advantage of the amenities. The only thing was that the WiFi was weak and unstable but I would still stay again.

8

Markus

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fairly comfortable, older hotel, renovated in parts. Very friendly staff. Room temperature was difficult to control. Beds are a bit small.

10

Adrienne

Aug 3, 2025

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Stayed 3 nights

We enjoyed our stay at the Imperial Hotel. Our room was large, clean and comfortable. (One quibble- the only window had frosted glass which made the room feel a bit enclosed. Even if there is no view to speak of, I would have rather been able to see out the window.) The staff are very helpful. The breakfast was very good. The location is excellent- It was easy to walk to many restaurants and it's close to the bus station. We really appreciated the bottled water that was provided daily. We would stay there again.

2

Sok Cheng

Nov 29, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Room faces a pub that closes at 3am and was extremely noisy. Offsite parking is a 10 mins’ walk from hotel which concierge with bags.

6

Ana

Aug 4, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

The hotel looks much better in the pictures than it does in person. The room was a good size, but it felt run-down and not very clean. The bathroom, in particular, was disappointing—there were scuff marks on the tub and stains on the shower walls, and the tub itself was unusually high and hard to get into. It just didn’t feel clean or comfortable. I understand and appreciate the hotel’s historical value, but I personally prefer more modern facilities and updated, cleaner bathrooms. That said, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the attached bar was a cool spot—kudos to them. It wasn’t a terrible stay, but overall the room and bathroom just weren’t for me.

10

Nathan

Mar 21, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

I loved my stay here. Other than the room not being level which kinda made it hard to sleep actually! But is an old building so not completely unexpected.

10

D

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Beautiful, elegant old hotel, fairly well maintained (carpets in room has seen better days, and the walls could use a touch up in areas to keep it to standard to seen in common areas of this hotel). Quiet and comfortable, conducive to a good nights sleep. Our best stay in Ireland yet.

8

therese

Nov 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was small but very comfortable bed and pillows

6

anjali

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The location is good. I didn’t like the room. Very small

6

Charles

Oct 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Too much noise from bars below until 3 AM.

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Service

Service is frequently praised as friendly, attentive and helpful. However, several guests experienced slow or inconsistent breakfast/bar service and occasional check-in, billing or staff attitude issues.

Related guest reviews

10

Janet

Jun 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were most impressive. They could not do enough for you. From the moment we walked into the lobby to the time we left. Amazing service from all staff.

4

Miguel

Jun 5, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I liked that it was centrally located and the history of the hotel. What I didn’t care for was the attitudes of the staff and service that we received. Welcome lounge was dirty and not stocked.

10

Anitha

Apr 17, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

I would give the Imperial Hotel and its staff 10 stars if I could. It is true that it is in a perfect location, the rooms are beautiful and well-appointed and the hotel, overall, is just majestic. For me, however, it was the compassionate care that the staff showed me. Due to a sudden illness of my father, I had to leave Ireland immediately, and the front desk - both day and evening - did everything they could to ensure that I left Cork safely, off to Dublin and then back to NYC as soon as I could and they took care of me, while I grieved. They also refunded my last night, even though I had paid in full - the care they showed me is more than anything I could have asked for and I will be only staying at The Imperial when in Cork. I hope to go back and thank the front desk in person. Thank you to you all - I am so grateful.

4

Erik

Oct 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Upon arrival, unpaid for the breakfast for 4 people as my husband and I were traveling with friends. At breakfast the next day, we were questioned by the matre d regarding paying for breakfast and I replied I did already. The next day it was the same thing but by the manager who checked us in. After we sat down and were eating, she again approached our friends and said we needed to pay for breakfast Even though I had already told her we had. I mentioned I had a receipt and would find it as proof. She said it wasn't necessary right now it could wait. She left and returned a few minutes later and as I told her I found my receipt, she said no worries, it was already paid....very embarrassing. Then as we returned up tonight rooms after breakfast, both our friends and our room keys had been turned off and this was before 11 am ...we did pay for an additional night so I had to return to the main lobby and had the staff recharge the cards. Again very embarrassing. Finally, the front lobby and breakfast restaurant had a continuous smell of sewerage. Staff said there was nothing they could do. Would not recommend this hotel.

6

Patricia

Jun 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Service in the breakfast room was very very slow and having to ask for everything repeatedly... tea, toast, missing items on breakfast. The food is good but service very poor. Impossible to get someone's attention also. Check out is 11am which is very early when breakfast is so slow. I dont know of any other hotel with 11am check out. And they stick to it rigidly, ringing to get you out and turn off cards access at 11am. Rooms are basic and small, bathrooms need a revamp. There isnt even a seat to sit on in the lobby. I wouldnt recommend it as a good experience for the price of the hotel. Plenty of other better places to stay in Cork.

10

Tara

Feb 8, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

All staff were truly lovely. Friendly, polite, and very helpful. I immediately felt welcome and relaxed.

8

Razmik

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Everything was great about this hotel except the lady who took care of our breakfasts two days in a row. She was a total disaster. She got the order wrong twice the first day and then she forgot to bring our food after 30 minutes when someone else brought it out which by then was cold and inedible. I ended up complaining to the manager who got me a replacement right away but he should be firing that waiter for incompetence.

10

Robin

Sep 30, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Imperial did not disappoint! The room was clean and comfortable. What also made this property stand out was the service from all the staff we interacted with during our stay. The doorman, concierge, front desk staff and bar staff were all very friendly and helpful. The location was excellent with many shopping, pub and restaurant choices within easy walking distance.

10

Bryan

Jun 7, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great stay good breakfast close to shops and restaurants. Very friendly staff.

4

Martin

Oct 29, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The building is very old and as such requires constant maintenance. This meant scaffolding by my room's windows and noisy work during my stay. The receptionists are not quite friendly, had to ask multiple times about in-room Internet being out-of-order.

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Location

Excellent city-center location with easy walking to shops, restaurants and sights. The lively area can be noisy late at night.

Related guest reviews

8

Cliona

Feb 6, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great central location, paid parking off site which is fine on a dry day. Lovely reception area, bedroom small with no area to put your suitcase, staff very friendly and helpful. Food very good. Room noisy at night as in centre of town near clubbing area.

10

Lori

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Perfect location to walk to everything. Great restaurants and cafes nearby. Shopping around the block. The parking is just a little tricky, make sure you stop at the hotel first before trying to park. Lovely hotel, would stay again

10

James

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Cork’s oldest and most prestigious hotel. Great staff, vey friendly and helpful. Centrally located, a lot of bars and restaurants in the area.

10

Isabel

Jul 2, 2024

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Stayed 2 nights

Imperial is a stunning hotel. The rooms were clean and comfy and staff were super friendly and helpful. Only downside is parking is a 5 minute walk away so be mindful of this. There is a small spot to unload right outside the hotel but it’s often occupied by other guests checking in. Fantastic location, close to all the main stores and restaurants.

10

Greg

Jul 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location! Easy walk to restaurants and shopping.

10

Crismel

Nov 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Love it as walking distance to every where.

10

damhnait

Jul 4, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very nice hotel and a great location near shops cafes etc.

8

Kelley

Jul 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The property itself was fine, nothing bad but nothing great either. Note if you have a car parking is really inconvenient, they use 2 car parks off site. We arrive early afternoon and the first was filled so we had to park at city hall about a 10 minute walk to hotel. Property is situated in a rowdier part of town, to e fair there was a game that day so it could have been noisier than usual but even the restaurant we ate at down the street made us pre pay because so many people leave without paying, that sent up flags to us that it wasn’t the safest area in town

8

Dustin

Jul 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location but they don’t offer valet and you have to drive over to a fairly close car park with a special code. Middle of town makes it very difficult to unload or park to check in/out. If you like a party town atmosphere that’s the perfect spot, if you want quiet and calm I’d look somewhere else in town away from downtown.

10

Maryna

Apr 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A beautiful hotel in the city center

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Dining

Breakfast and on-site dining are often praised for quality, with a popular bar. Reports of slow or disorganized service appear across multiple reviews, and a few guests found afternoon tea or restaurant experiences disappointing.

Related guest reviews

10

Liz

May 6, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel is beautiful, the reception staff wonderful, the rooms tiny but very nice. Our complaint was with the restaurant and bar. We went to the restaurant to have a drink. They asked if we had a reservation, we said no. They directed us to the bar. Again here at the bar they asked if we had a reservation. We said no. They referred us to the restaurant. We stated that the restaurant directed us to the bar. They didn’t want to seat us. We told them we’d sit across the hall in the morning snack area. After checking with the manager they opened an upper level in the bar. Several other people were seated there after we were. Why not offer to sit us there to begin with? They knew we were staying there. Seemed like they were put out serving us drinks.

8

Jane

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very clean and comfortable. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Restaurant was very good.

8

Rory

Nov 5, 2025

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Stayed 1 night

Yes was cooked to order, Service in the bar was very slow and the restaurant Service was atrocious

10

paul

Jul 7, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

This Upmarket Hotel full of Irish History is in an ideal central location situated in the heart of Cork City Centre I had dinner in the Restaurant and ate the most delicious tender steak I had ever eaten in my life.

10

Carlos

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Wonderful, great location, service and excellent customer service. Breakfast was excellent, restaurants was excellent.

8

Razmik

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Everything was great about this hotel except the lady who took care of our breakfasts two days in a row. She was a total disaster. She got the order wrong twice the first day and then she forgot to bring our food after 30 minutes when someone else brought it out which by then was cold and inedible. I ended up complaining to the manager who got me a replacement right away but he should be firing that waiter for incompetence.

4

stacy

Sep 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our room was small. The sheets and wall was dirty. The fuse blew the first night so we had no electricity the first night. The staff did repair the problem quickly once reported. We also had tea at the hotel which was very disappointing. The cost was 45 per people and there were no choices. One server was vacuuming the floors during our tea service.

8

David

Oct 4, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a very nice room. The hotel is gorgeous with beautiful chandeliers. The bar was nice and we had a very good dinner in the restaurant.

10

Anne

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel was elegant and welcoming, My friend and I went to bed each night pondering what delicious treats to have for breakfast in the morning, The staff was friendly and helpful , and we loved having a Guinness at Fitzgerald 's last evening, The room was tastefully appointed , and the bed was comfortable and cozy. We enjoyed the array of pillows! The service was impeccable, and we will be raving to our friends and families about our stay at The Imperial, to be sure! Thank you for providing such a memorable experience,

8

Michael

Dec 11, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fabulous breakfast, great choices

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$178
February	$191
March	$206
April	$226
May	$270
June	$275
July	$255
August	$263
September	$268
October	$230
November	$190
December	$214

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10 $332	11 $428	12
13 $302	14 $296	15 $307	16 $396	17 $441	18 $462	19 $471
20 $217	21 $237	22 $519	23 $239	24 $268	25 $268	26 $360
27 $214	28 $214	29 $238	30 $233

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $238	2 $262	3 $371
4 $213	5 $244	6 $376	7 $302	8 $330	9 $773	10 $824
11 $192	12 $215	13 $340	14 $404	15 $423	16 $313	17 $296
18 $203	19 $232	20 $224	21 $229	22 $246	23 $418	24 $575
25 $381	26 $179	27 $210	28 $206	29 $206	30 $243	31 $272

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About this property

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What guests think

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