2 Best Hotels in Dundalk, Dublin Environs

Just north of Dundalk, this Victorian mansion with a slightly severe but elegant modern addition sits on 130 acres on the scenic Cooley Peninsula. The place has a reputation for comfort and good cuisine. Reproduction period pieces fill the extra-large guest rooms, which overlook either the spacious gardens or the old stable yard. The restaurant serves a set menu of Irish and French cuisine; it specializes in lobster and other fresh seafood in season. The wonderful Terrace Bar is perfect for a chilled-out drink. The golf course and leisure club also have a great reputation.

An early-20th-century redbrick gem in the heart of Dundalk, Innisfree House is a shockingly good value considering the genteel, stylish atmosphere created by the beautiful Edwardian furniture and antiques throughout. All nine bedrooms are carefully decorated in a lovingly cluttered style—try to get a room with one of the grander metal or wooden framed old-school beds. Dinner can be booked in the "days of yore" dining room.