The view from the formal gardens on to the manor house part of the estate.
What's the draw for a London foodie to this Irish hotel?
The five-star resort recently opened a brand new restaurant, Terre, bringing in ex-Arzak chef Vincent Crepel to head up the team (you can read the full Test Drive of our meal there over here). But it's also a fabulous place for a break and here's why.
Checking in
Arriving at the resort you head up a sweeping drive past the ruins of the castle that gives the estate its name. That was built back in the 13th century by the Knights Templar. The manor house itself dates back to the 17th century but before that the lands were owned by one Sir Walter Raleigh. There's also a huge modern addition to the hotel which features the spa, the more modern Canopy Restaurant, Brasserie & Bar and a wing of guest rooms.
Oh, and it was where Kim Kardashian stayed for her Irish honeymoon with Kanye.
The grounds are gorgeous, so do make time for a wander around (if the weather plays ball).
What is there to do around here?
Within the hotel grounds, the spa has a large pool with a gym overlooking it. Across the way from the modern part of the hotel, there's a very modern clubhouse looking over Castlemartyr's inland links-style golf course.
But if you were to venture further afield there's the Jameson whiskey distillery close by along with the world-famous Ballymaloe restaurant, the Titanic experience in nearby Cobh and loads more. We couldn't rate the hotel's head concierge Gerald more highly - he's the perfect person to hit up if you want an interesting itinerary put together.
What are the rooms like?
We had a deluxe room in the modern part of the hotel and it was absolutely massive. You could also opt for a junior suite or the manor house has some more characterful rooms. The grounds also have a series of self-catering residences if you're here as part of a larger group.
The deluxe rooms are entry level and they're absolutely massive.
We really fancy trying a pint at a local pub...
Handily, Castlemartyr has its own pub, having bought The Hunted Hog in the village at the end of the gates. Not only does this serve a cracking pint of the local brew, Murphys stout, but the food here is excellent. We walked up for lunch on our first day and had a brilliant chowder - each bowl is made to order - along with top scampi.
If you ask very nicely, they might even let you pour your own pint...
Really quite phenomenally good scampi with exceptional batter.
And drinks before dinner?
While there is a bar as part of the Canopy restaurant, we'd suggest heading to the Knight's Bar in the manor house for pre-dinner drinks. This gorgeous room is warmed by real fires and looked incredibly festive on our visit.
The Knight's Bar is the perfect spot for a pre or post-prandial cocktail
Where else is there to eat if you've already booked Terre for one night?
The Canopy restaurant is run by chef Kevin Burke who spent four years at the Michelin-starred Foliage restaurant in Knightsbridge before he returned home to Ireland. There's a huge chef's table which would be great for a large group to take over and the brasserie is a nice bright spot for a light lunch.
Ballycotton Smoked Salmon with Apple, Fennel, Horseradish Mayonnaise
What's the breakfast like?
It can be fairly busy in the Canopy restaurant in the morning, but the food is worth the wait. Make sure to try some of the local soda bread along with a cooked option too.
The full Irish includes both black and white pudding and was all freshly cooked to order
Overall thoughts:
Whether you're happy basing yourself in the hotel for the duration of your stay, or love getting out and about exploring the nearby area, Castlemartyr has plenty to offer. Staff here were univerally lovely and helpful and we loved the way the modern and historic elements of the hotel blended together. It's a great place for a relaxing stay and well worth getting on a plane for.
Need to know
Rooms at Castlemartyr start from around £200 for a night. From London, it's about an hour by plane to Cork taking either Aer Lingus or Ryanair. The hotel is roughly 30 minutes from the airport by car.
More about Castlemartyr resort
Where is it? Castlemartyr Resort, Grange, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, P25 X300, Ireland
How much: Rooms at Castlemartyr start from around £200 for a night.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @castlemartyrresort
Hot Dinners stayed as guests of Castlemartyr. Prices correct at time of publication.
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