Once a hospital, this is now one of Ireland's most elegant hotels - with stellar views

Once a busy hospital, the Address Hotel is a landmark on the Cork skyline, its elegant 1870s red-brick facade recalling the architectural grandeur of the Victorian era. It's been skilfully revamped as a four-star hotel by the Address Collective, which also has properties in Dublin and Glasgow, and has solid sustainability credentials, including achieving a Green Tourism Gold Award, partnering with the International Tree Foundation and offering EV charging on-site.

Set high on Military Hill, a stiff 10-minute walk up from central Cork, the Address commands views over the city, the river Lee, around which it spreads, and across one of the world's largest natural harbours.

The former hospital's interior has been upgraded - sterilised corridors have been replaced with plenty of light and style. This begins with the open lobby, with its chequered marble floor, long reception desk off to the right and a Warhol-like portrait of Cork actor Cillian Murphy prominent, above a statue of a black dog, facing the entrance.

The hotel's centrepiece is North restaurant, adjacent to reception on the ground floor, an inviting space with polished wooden floors, walls lined by bookcases and clusters of tables beside large windows. Elsewhere, there is a sense of space throughout, with tall ceilings and larger-than-normal guest rooms. The Address has retained historic elements of the original building, such as stained-glass windows in staircases and antique radiators. There's a small fitness centre upstairs and a spa, with sauna and hydrotherapy pool opening in early 2026.

The hotel's Club rooms with balconies (from 245 euros or $400) are its star attraction: spacious, brightly decorated and making the most of that view over Cork. I share a Club family room with my teenage daughter, which has comfortable king and double beds, 37 square metres of space, and ensuite with bath and shower. All 70 rooms are well equipped, with high-speed Wi-Fi, and tea- and coffee-making facilities.

North restaurant serves modern Irish cuisine and, while breakfast is a disappointing affair, featuring overcooked bacon and stone-cold scrambled eggs self-served from troughs, lunch on the sunny terrace outside is more promising with tasty bao buns, salads and sandwiches, including a smoked salmon and prawn offering. Dinner is better still, drawing on ingredients sourced from within a 50-mile radius of Cork and including a seafood chowder full of chunky fish, with Guinness soda bread, goat's-cheese fritters and seared lemon sole fillets. Other dining options in town include the excellent Market Lane restaurant.

Cork is a lovely city so you'll be busy exploring most of your stay. Near to the hotel is the historic Shandon quarter, where you can climb to the top of St Anne's Church tower to ring the Shandon bells and visit the Butter Museum, dedicated to the export that made Cork's so-called "Merchant Princes" rich in the 18th and 19th centuries. The city is also Ireland's food capital, with a yearly Cork on a Fork festival, and an exciting market and restaurant scene. The English market, founded in 1788, is great for brunch or lunch, while the Marina market, in docklands, beside the river Lee, is an atmospheric dinner venue with live music.

Sitting on the room's balcony, on a sunny morning, enjoying wide-ranging views over Ireland's second city.

The writer stayed courtesy of Tourism Ireland