Where to Book a Stay in Ireland for a Local Experience

In the very heart of Ireland, equidistant from Galway and Dublin, Kinnitty Castle Hotel sits within 650 acres (263ha) of parkland. It’s flanked by the picturesque Slieve Bloom Mountains and the village of Kinnitty, where you can rub shoulders with locals at Giltraps Pub. At night, hunker down in an individually styled room within this gothic castle. Many suites still retain the castle’s original 13th-century features, including stone walls.

Set in a 19th-century red-brick building, Hotel Isaacs is home to one of the best-rated restaurants in Cork. The award-winning Greenes Restaurant serves seasonal, modern Irish fare using locally sourced ingredients (such as Skeaghanore duck and Ardsallagh goat’s cheese). When satiated, head up to your stylish room or serviced apartment and flop onto your large, plush bed. You can even order an extra pillow or two from the pillow menu.

Sitting in voguish Ranelagh, just south of the city, the Devlin opened at the end of 2018, making it one of Dublin’s newest offerings. For views across the Irish capital, a reservation at rooftop restaurant Layla’s is a must. When you want to sip on cocktails with locals, head downstairs to the buzzing Americana Bar. Catch a film at the hotel’s in-house cinema, and when sleep is in order, head to the design-led rooms, clad in deep teal hues.

Just a short walk from leafy Eyre Square, the Park House Hotel immerses you in the centre of stunning Galway. After dropping your bag in one of the well-appointed rooms, make a beeline for locally loved Boss Doyle’s Bar downstairs. Marvel at the hand-carved oak ceiling panels and stained-glass windows while you nurse a well-deserved pint.

In the quaint coastal town of Clifden, a short drive from Connemara National Park, Abbeyglen Castle Hotel is exactly where to go in Ireland for exploring the beautiful west coast. Behind the 19th-century castle facade, rooms come with four-poster mahogany beds, and spa treatments are available. Meanwhile, the restaurant has a daily changing menu that regularly features Connemara lamb and the freshest local seafood.

Built in 1854, Great Southern Killarney is a Victorian-era wonder. Set among six acres (2ha) of lush gardens, the rooms here are opulent, most with marble-clad bathrooms and clawfoot tubs. Oenophiles will love the Killarney Wine Room. After a taste of Killarney honey and Killorglin gouda cheese at the Garden Room Restaurant, perch yourself in the Whiskey Corner of Brownes Bar to sample the 190-strong collection.

In northern County Leitrim, Lough Rynn Castle Estate and Gardens takes its moniker from the stunning lough that lies next to it. Each of the individually styled rooms and suites takes on a modern medieval theme (think ornate fabrics, four-poster beds and dark wooden fixtures). After dining at the award-winning Sandstone Restaurant, find the secret door that leads you down to the gothic Dungeon Bar for a well-deserved nightcap.

At the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin Demesne is often touted as one of Ireland’s best hotels. Set on more than 600 acres (243ha) of ancient woodland, each of its achingly beautiful rooms is dotted with antiques, while deep soaking tubs and chandeliers adorn the bathrooms. When you can peel yourself away, there are whiskey tastings or a mosaic-tiled pool to enjoy. The team can also organise activities such as archery, fishing, boating and picnics.