Becoming a parent can be a strange experience. As you’re growing this little human inside of you, you go through such an emotional rollercoaster, it gives you whiplash! Stress, elation, fear, excitement, nervousness and then stress all over again!
Through all the ups and downs of pregnancy, getting ready for baby, educating yourself and planning the birth day, we can lose ourselves in the pregnancy. We forget to take time for us and for our relationship both with ourselves and our partners, who we will be going through this journey with. When baby arrives, we don’t want to be exhausted, disconnected form our partner and not feeling at our best, which is why a babymoon is a great idea in the months before giving birth.
A babymoon gives you a little time out from the nursery shopping, birth planning, parenting books and stressing to take time to appreciate the last time you and your partner will be childless together and pamper your body as it grows a human.
It’s a time for connection, self-indulgence and romance, to strengthen your family unit and your baby before they arrive and one of our favourite places that we recommend rejuvenating and reconnecting is The Imperial Hotel in Cork.
The hotel’s Cosmo package is the perfect option for those looking to inject a little luxury into their babymoon and treat themselves before baby arrives. It includes a trip to Blackrock Castle and Observatory just outside the city, cocktails back in the hotel bar (non-alcoholic for mama!) along with dinner for two in Thyme, two night’s accommodation and breakfast, so you’re really getting a whole luxurious experience all wrapped up in the one package.
The ever-charming and vibrant Cork city is the perfect backdrop for your babymoon as it’s a really walkable city. Just drop your bags off with the super accommodating staff before being whisked off to experience ‘Cosmos at the Castle’, a seriously cool adventure where you can tour through space, enjoy theories on alien life, and admire the night sky together in the planetarium. And the best part is you get to name a star when you’re there, so you can name it after your soon-to-arrive little one! It’s a really fun way to start off the trip and a very unique experience that we haven’t come across anywhere else.
You can then indulge in a virgin cocktail or two at the stunning and quirky ‘Sketch’ cocktail bar and relaxed before dinner. It’s a space that feels totally glam without being stuffy which is always the vibe we’re looking for, and it gives you a real chance to celebrate the two of you and your time away together.
Dinner is then scheduled in Thyme at Seventy Six on the Mall and the menu is hugely varied and exquisitely selected, with everything a seafood lover, meat eater and vegetarian could ask for. Their BBQ Glazed Pork Ribs starter gets a special shout out, as does the O’Farrell’s of Middleton Lamb Rack for the main course. Succulent, perfectly cooked and just an overall indulgent dining experience, Thyme is a must for every foodie visiting Cork. The restaurant itself has a real 1920s feel to it and a gorgeous intimate atmosphere that’s perfect for a romantic getaway.
Their rooms exactly what you’d hope for and more for a glam getaway, with a well-stocked bathroom, huge, comfy bed and everything was absolutely spotless and looked after to the highest degree. You can set about exploring the city the next day, stopping off at all of Cork’s best spots – the English Market, Crawford Gallery ringing the Shandon Bells, going for lunch in Frannciscan Well Brewery and Pizzeria which is always a particular highlight, and spend the night out in Cork’s vibrant and varied nightlife where you’ll never be short of things to do and places to go. Some of our favourite spots include Mutton Lane Pub, The Old Town Whiskey Bodega, Market Lane Restaurant and Bocelli’s Wine Bar.
Breakfast is also included in the package, so you’ll be treated to the hotel’s luxurious ‘birdcage breakfast’ each morning, which includes a gorgeous ‘afternoon tea-esque’ breakfast, full of delicious mini pastries, fresh fruit and yoghurt, which is a super charming way to start off the day.
The hotel is elegant but relaxed, meaning you get all the glamour of an upscale hotel without the fussiness that makes you feel on edge. Be sure to try the spa when you’re there for some extra you-time to prep for baby, but call well ahead to be sure to get a booking! With the incredible food, care and attention to detail, the hotel is the perfect luxurious base for an indulgent, restful, and romantic weekend away together. We couldn’t recommend it enough as a couple’s babymoon getaway spot for a weekend of reconnection and restoration.
