Garnish House

Garnish House appears cozy, with a motherly owner that keeps the atmosphere warm and friendly, but its larger scale and sprawl means you're unlikely to find a bed-and-breakfast level of intimacy here. Lodgings are split between the main
building -- an attractive block of three converted townhouses in tasteful
pastel green -- and other properties along the street, up to an 11-minute walk
away. The lobby is elegant but small and a tad dated in parts, with just a few
built-in shelves for a desk. Crisp and smart interiors have parquet wood
flooring, white walls with framed prints, and white wood trim, though the
patterned carpet is a bit garish. Attractive vintage heater covers and
bronze-framed mirrors add character, but the clear banisters and metal
handrails on the stairs feel a bit charmless. A number of cozy, stylish lounges
have parquet flooring, fireplaces, and elegant retro-style armchairs, plus
floor-length curtains at large windows.

The hotel’s
main building is set slightly back from the busy street, in a more peaceful neighborhood
teeming with other guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts, plus pubs and cafes. It’s around a
17-minute walk into Cork’s city center, or a seven-minute drive; the bus stops
outside the hotel, too. Closer to the hotel,
University College Cork and the Cork Public Museum are a seven-minute walk
away, while it’s a 10-minute walk to St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral; all three are
two minutes away by cab. The English Market is a 14-minute walk, six-minute
drive or bus ride from the hotel, and the Crawford Gallery is a
15-minute walk, nine-minute drive or bus ride away. St. Anne’s Church
and Shandon Bells Tower, the Cork City Gaol museum, City Hall, and the Butter
Museum are all within a six-minute drive or 20-minute bus ride. Blackrock
Castle Observatory is a 13-minute drive or 55-minute bus ride away. Cork Kent
railway station is an eight-minute taxi ride or 18 minutes from the hotel by
bus; Parnell Place bus station, for intercity and international services, is
10 minutes away by car or a 13-minute bus ride. Cork Airport is an 13-minute
drive or 55-minute bus ride from the hotel.

Guest rooms at the Garnish House tend more toward functionality than design,
and can feel generic overall. Still, they’re pleasant and quiet, with
large comfy beds and modern headstands against attractively wallpapered accent
walls. Small bedside tables have lamps in addition to the overhead
reading lights. Carpets and padded armchairs in various colors are smart, and
large windows have floor-length curtains, but neighboring roofs obstruct views
from some rooms. Some rooms have old-fashioned tube TVs; in others, even the flat-screens look dated. Some are also haphazardly positioned on top of closets. Standard amenities include individual heating, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, mini-fridges, and coffee- and tea-making facilities, plus safes, phones, and free Wi-Fi. Standard Double and Standard King Rooms are compact and lack desks.King Rooms
(not to be confused with Standard King Rooms) add generic tan wood desks. More
spacious Standard Double Single Rooms are actually triples; each has a double and
single bed plus an attractive modern sofa, armchair and small desk, but they’re
awkwardly arranged. Large, airy Standard Triple Rooms are similar to Standard
Double Singles, except that each has the bizarre inclusion of a whole wall of no fewer
than five double tan-wood closets. Bathrooms vary enormously; some are
attractive but tiny, with white wall tiling and black slate-effect floor
tiles, and small walk-in power showers. Others are bright and spacious with white
tiles, but dated-looking shower/tub combos, with whirlpool jets and power showerheads,
look out of place. Standard Double Single bathrooms have both built-in
whirlpool tubs and separate walk-in showers. Individual toiletries are a
welcome touch across the board.Self-catering
options (in nearby buildings) range from studios to one-bedroom apartments that
sleep two to three with a pullout sofa bed, both with kitchenettes, and townhouses
with three en suite bedrooms, a living area and full kitchen.

Though
Garnish House has little in the way of conventional amenities -- there's no full restaurant, for instance -- there’s a warm and inviting lounge with a flat-screen TV,
and guests are also welcomed on arrival with free tea, coffee, and cakes. The
excellent cooked and continental breakfast includes homemade bread, scones and
yogurt, plus other local produce. But breakfast isn't included in all rates, and it’s
served in the main hotel, so those staying in other buildings need to make a morning trek over. The hotel’s motherly owner adds a personal touch to the
place, and she's helpful with local recommendations. There’s reliable free Wi-Fi
access throughout, and free on-site parking.