Thomas Lyons 
Irish hotels are taking advantage of their outdoor spaces and gardens by creating Instagram-worthy spots for guests. One such place is Bloom, a garden bar located in the courtyard of the five-star Hayfield Manor hotel in Cork. The bar’s floor-to-ceiling glass blurs the lines between inside and out, and its retractable walls and ceiling allow guests to enjoy the fresh air while sipping on cocktails or enjoying brunch.
According to Danielle Murrihy of Hayfield Manor, the courtyard garden was previously underutilized. However, Bloom has transformed the space into a tranquil oasis bursting with botanicals. The bar is open Thursdays to Sundays, with summer cocktails starting at €17.50. Brunch and tapas-style small plates are also available, and private bookings can be made.
Hayfield Manor is not the only hotel in Ireland to invest in its garden. The Park Hotel Dungarvan has invested €150,000 in a new al fresco arrangement with a civil ceremony area. The Sea Rooms at Kelly’s Resort in Co Wexford now boasts a glass cube, adding a compelling new layer to its dining options. Killeavy Castle in Co Armagh is developing its walled garden studio into a space for events, yoga, and cookery demos. All three hotels were featured on the Fab 50 list of the best places to stay in Ireland this year.
While hotel gardens may bring to mind larger resorts or country houses, this new wave of al fresco experimentation goes beyond that, taking outdoor dining improvisation to another level, often in tight spaces. The Montenotte’s €1m Glasshouse cocktail bar in Cork is a similarly showy space with epic city views. In Dublin, the Shelbourne and Alex hotels surprise guests with little terraces flush with greenery. The former’s terrace is an unexpected little plaza with sky views, while the latter’s Secret Garden tops its glass walls and bright, floral designs with a retractable roof.
Hotel gardens not only provide guests with a unique experience but also offer a variety of benefits. They allow guests to connect with nature and the outdoors, which was especially important during the pandemic. Spaces like Bloom or The Sea Rooms add novelty and variety for guests, and can work for weddings and private business events as well. These gardens also provide a fresh pop of publicity and can command premium prices for cocktails and tasting menus.
Modern construction techniques allow for creative use of glass and other materials, resulting in more energy-efficient spaces. According to Murrihy, outdoor dining and spaces that interact with nature are here to stay. Bloom was designed “to bring the outside in and use the beautiful gardens all year round.”
