Best Boutique Hotels in Ireland

Owned and managed by the McEvilly family, Cashel House has an AA Inspector’s Choice Award, along with two AA Rosettes and four stars. Its 50 acres (including award-winning gardens) border Cashel Bay on the one side and the Cashel Hills on the other. Built in the mid 19th century, the house became a hotel in the mid 20th century, offering 32 types of accommodation for guests. The decor pays homage to its Victorian roots with vintage furnishings and antique pieces throughout, while the restaurant is housed in a large Victorian conservatory. Walking trails run from the house down to the beach, winding through the estate’s charming woodland.

Lauded milliner Phillip Treacy was the designer behind this destination hotel. It has Galway’s only five-star spa, the deeply sophisticated ESPA at the g. Spread across two floors, this includes treatment rooms, a thermal suite and a glass pavilion overlooking the rooftop Zen bamboo terrace. g’s Signature Lounges provide expansive views across Lough Atalia and Restaurant gigi’s serves two AA Rosette-awarded food. Some of the 101 bedrooms also have lough views, while others are interconnecting, to cater for families and groups. All have luxuries like interactive suite pads, bathrobes, ESPA toiletries, RESPA beds and down pillows. Don’t miss g’s Grand Salon, with its mirrored display by lighting designer Tom Dixon.

An alternative city break destination, Cork’s is easily explored on foot and bubbling with culture.  Spend your time here at the boutique Hayfield Manor, an 88 bedroomed central new build, that’s been designed with a heritage look and feel. While the property itself is but two decades old, the mature gardens date back well over a century. Two restaurants serve meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients (Cork’s famous market is but a stone’s throw away.) An outdoor hot tub is a particular highlight, plus there’s an ELEMIS spa, fitness centre (with pre-bookable personal trainers), a pool and a residents library.

Take an upscale beach break at this modern five-star establishment. The Cliff House Hotel’s modern Irish cuisine has earned it a Michelin star. But a BBQ and picnic area serves as a more relaxed alfresco dining option (and there’s a light bar menu). Each room has its own balcony overlooking the sea and guests can luxuriate in the hot tub, or in an outdoor seaweed bath. A subterranean pool allows for a dip, even when if the weather proves inclement. Water is a running theme here, as seen through the decor and artwork (commissions from local artists are dotted around the building).

The Marker is an ultra-modern hotel situated in the centre of the cultural and business part of Dublin on Grand Canal Square. Each room comes equipped with a 40 inch LED TV, and a host of modern amenities. There is a wide range of facilities on site such as a 23m infinity pool, steam room, sauna, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre for guests to work out. Guests can enjoy their time at the cocktail bar and brasserie which serves traditional Irish cuisine on the ground floor or at The Rooftop Lounge which has views out over the city.

New to the city, The Dean is very much a grown-up hotel, but with a super fun vibe. Just off Eyre Square, it boasts Galway’s first Elephant & Castle eatery. Guests can also drink and dine at Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, a stunning space offering great views across the skyline from the large picture windows inside, and from the wrap-around glass balustrade balcony outside. Bedrooms come with a host of tech gadgets, funky, unconventional decor, fully stocked mini SMEG fridges and all-Irish treats. Higher grade suites have huge handcrafted beds, a Marshall Amp and Rega RP1 turntable with classic vinyl, a Martin & Co. limited edition guitar and a vintage drinks cabinet.

The Leinster luxury lifestyle hotel is set near Merrion Square and tailored for those who appreciate fine dining and five-star hospitality. It features 55 rooms and suites, a luxury gym, a thermal suite, and the highly anticipated rooftop restaurant, Jean-Georges at The Leinster—Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first venture in Ireland, offering a blend of Irish, French, and Southeast Asian cuisines. The hotel also hosts The Collins Club bar and supper club, The O’Dwyer Suite for events, and is surrounded by Dublin’s rich cultural landmarks. Designed by local architects with a contemporary touch that incorporates art and modernity, The Leinster showcases over 300 pieces of original art by both emerging and established artists. This luxurious hideaway not only celebrates Irish hospitality and culture but also provides an inviting, sophisticated space that promises an unforgettable Dublin experience.