19 Best Hotels in The Southeast, Ireland

Built in 1928 to replace a house destroyed in Ireland's Civil War, Aherlow is set on the slopes of Sliabh na Muc (Mountain of the Pigs), and comes with its own private forest and incredible views of the magnificent Galtee Mountains and the ancient Glen of Aherlow. Inside, the decor mixes modern and antique pieces. There are lots of blank walls and slightly overdone furnishings, such as cushion-laden four-posters and heavy curtains getting in the way of those views. If you can, opt for the luxury three-bedroom family lodges, replete with wraparound sundecks and big open fireplaces. The Treetop restaurant is a bright-red showplace for tempting dishes, and has the best vistas in the whole place.

As the clematis-clad mansion comes into view at the top of a gently curving driveway you can understand why this wonderfully picturesque house was used as a location in the 1995 movie adaptation of Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends. Relaxation, long walks, and a warm welcome are the order of the day here. Five large, period bedrooms are decorated with Georgian furniture and ornate wallpaper and afford wonderful views of the river. You are welcome to walk around the gardens and participate in trout and salmon fishing. Mount Juliet Golf Course is less than a five-minute drive away.

Who needs Kilkenny Castle when you can stay at the Dowager Duchess of Ormonde's 18th-century town house, a charming piece of Georgian grandeur with an ivy-covered three-bay facade and an elegant walled garden? (There's even a private entrance to Kilkenny Castle.) Inside, the reception salon has a magnificent plaster ceiling and marble fireplaces. Upstairs, any grande dame might look askance—a gradual renovation of the guest rooms is ongoing, so the decor ranges from muted 1970s minimalist to bright and modern. The rooms vary in size, with some big as a house and others on the snug side. If you can, treat yourself to one of the high-ceiling bedrooms overlooking the garden and the castle. Breakfast is served in the gorgeous, bay-windowed dining room.

Tucked into the cliffs overlooking the fishing village of Ardmore, ageless nature confronts modernist design at Cliff House—and this luxury hotel and spa remains one of the most innovative additions to Irish accommodations in the last few decades. You'll find massive plate-glass windows, winding public terraces that trickle down to the water, and an atrium filled with the bright blues of sea and sky. The guest rooms aren't huge, but they are neatly designed with original art and modern furniture. If you are lucky enough to land one of the 15 suites, you'll have a private veranda jutting over the ocean below. In the glassed-in dining room, Irish and international influences are deftly combined. 

The main appeal of this collection of cottages built in the style of a 19th-century Irish village is the magical setting between Lough Derg and the surrounding rolling hills and forests. Cottages are of varying sizes with traditional exteriors but sleek and comfortable interiors. They sleep four to eight and are perfect for larger groups or families, with spacious kitchens and even a turf-burning stove in the drawing room. Four of the cottages are broken up into smaller suites that can be booked as double rooms. The marina gives easy access to the lake, and the spa makes use of a natural spring beneath the village---in good weather you can take your treatments outdoors. The Clubhouse bar and restaurant has great alfresco dining options.

A short stroll from all the main attractions, this unpretentious hotel on the banks of the River Suir is popular both with families and business travelers, while the traditional bar is packed with locals. Rooms are spacious and decorated in vibrant reds and yellows; some have four-poster beds. The New Ship restaurant serves Continental dishes and has an early-bird menu. The hotel also hosts live music performances.

One of Ireland's finest country houses, Dunbrody is a sprawling, two-story 1830s Georgian manor house with beautiful gardens, cooking classes with an Irish celeb chef, guest rooms that charm with a judiciously luxe combination of period antiques and fine reproductions, and restful views over the Barrow Estuary. A delightful three-bedroom lodge house is also for rent. No need to rush the next morn: the famous breakfasts are served until 11:30. There's even a small but luxurious spa area and a champagne seafood bar with alfresco dining and lighter fare as an alternative to the award-winning Harvest restaurant. A cozy pub on the grounds, the Local, lives up to its name, drawing a mix of locals and guests, and offers a beer garden and live music on weekends.

A favorite with families, this spot offers a swimming pool for kids, a peaceful and tranquil riverside location for parents, and a well-equipped health center for both. There are special family rooms, but the recently refurbished standard bedrooms are also spacious and have wonderful views of the river. Some also have private balconies. Reeds Restaurant overlooks its pleasant waterside location and offers a menu concentrating on seafood.

Honora and Philip Russel clearly love having visitors to their modern, simple house—a classic Irish B&B—on their family farm at the entrance to the hiker's paradise that is the Glen of Aherlow. Expect cows grazing outside your window, spacious rooms, Honora's killer muffins, and hosts that go that extra mile. You'll feel as if you're in your own home, except on a farm, and you don't have to milk the cows.

Overlooking Dungarvan Bay, this hotel is part of a family-run and family-friendly property that includes self-catering holiday cottages and golf villas on the edge of a woodland course on a links setting. Hotel rooms are bright, comfortable, and spacious and the Bay restaurant offers majestic sea views.

A local institution, Kelly's has been consistently entertaining families since 1895 with its winning formula of a stunning beachfront location, excellent entertainment and leisure facilities, a child-friendly approach, and a reputation for good food. The guest rooms are comfortable and well maintained, and decorated with rustic furnishings—try to get one with views of Rosslare Strand. The SeaSpa incorporates a seawater pool, mud baths, and seaweed baths among its many eco-friendly pleasures.

Originally an 18th-century stone rectory, the authentic Georgian-country-house experience is promised and more than delivered at luxurious Kilmokea, known for its award-winning gardens. An elegant hideaway, Kilmokea is set amid 7 acres of gardens that include formal walled gardens, more than 130 species of plants, and woodland gardens with winding paths—a delight for amateur and serious horticulturalists alike. While you may want to nest in the fragrant and tranquil gardens, you will have to settle for gorgeous views from one of the seven elegant bedrooms. Rooms are appropriately named for beautiful flowers like the rose, the lily, and the daffodil: the Magnolia Room boasts a period four-poster bed, sumptuous mahogany furniture, and the required garden views. Breakfast is served in the large conservatory beside the gardens and dinner is available in the impressive main dining room. The on-site spa offers aromatherapy treatments and a heated swimming pool. There is also a self-catering cottage that's ideal for families.

The Monart declares itself a "destination spa," and you can see why with an outdoor Finnish sauna and salt grotto, an award-winning thermal spa, a daring fine-dining restaurant, and luxe rooms to add to the pampering. Nestled in a hundred acres of mature countryside, the lap-of-luxury wellness resort offers opulent and spacious bedrooms, and every one seems to have a stunning natural view. To aid tranquility it's an adult-only spot.

For many, the Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course—which has hosted the Irish Open on three occasions—is the main draw, but this lush 1,500-acre estate beside the beautiful River Nore offers so much more. You'll also find a spa, an equestrian center, salmon and trout fishing, and excellent dining options at this elegant three-story Georgian mansion. The luxurious suites in the main house feature period decor, huge beds, and original fireplaces. There are additional guest rooms in the Hunters Yard building close to the main house. The formal gardens and unspoiled woodlands beg exploration; add an array of dining options—from a casual bistro to the haute Lady Helen's Restaurant—and you may have trouble leaving the grounds.

A perfect base for those interested in boating or fishing, this family-run guesthouse is a three-minute walk from the pier. The homey interior has Douglas fir pine floors throughout and country pine bedroom furniture. The cozy rooms have slightly nautical themes and are all neat and tidy as a ship's cabin. If you're the outdoorsy type, you'll feel right at home: nearby are great waterside walks and boating options (a room for drying and storing diving and fishing equipment is available). Packed lunches can be provided.

It's been 300 years since the Earl of Cork and Burlington built this handsome country house, and it still retains its imposing aura of courtly elegance, thanks to owners Claire and Paul Deevy. They've added welcoming touches like log fires, traditional country-house decor, and a fabulous restaurant. Each of the large rooms boasts glorious views out over the extensive grounds, and all include elegant period furniture that lets you live like a country gent or lady for a night. The place is a touch "tattered aristocracy" around the edges, but that's part of the charm, and the staff is famed for its attentive yet relaxed manner. The pièce de résistance here is the restaurant (reservations essential), where Paul and his small staff wow critics and diners alike. Famous for his warm asparagus wrapped in smoked salmon, he prides himself on using local game in season and fish from Helvic, Dunmore, and Ardmore. Triumphs include a fillet of Waterford lamb with sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary jus.

Not only does this fairy-tale castle come with an 800-year history, its own 310-acre island, a private ferry, and a highly rated 18-hole golf course, it also caters to lucky guests with the best of Irish service and the grandest of Irish style. Back in Norman times, the Kfyeralds built a keep here and over the centuries—as their name became Fitzgerald, "kings of Ireland in all but name"—they expanded, adding two Elizabethan-style wings in the 17th century, fitting them out with rooftop gargoyles brought from Castle Irwell in Manchester. Today, the air of exclusivity lingers as the private ferry picks you up on the shores of the River Suir, and heightens with one step inside the Great Hall, a magnificent faux-baronial room in Portland stone hung with medieval tapestries. Most guest rooms are exquisitely done in real country-house style, some with canopied beds, chintz armchairs, and dark mahogany furniture. Downstairs, dine in style in the luxurious Munster Dining Room.

This popular family-owned hotel in the center of Kilkenny boasts the gloss of a big-city boutique lodging but not the icy-cool reception you get in some fashionable joints. The clientele is mainly Dublin weekenders in search of Kilkenny's legendary nightlife, as well as a good cross section of local business executives and foreign tourists. Relaxed and welcoming, rooms are minimalist in style, with walls painted in strong, modern colors. Zuni also has a good nouvelle restaurant where the food, like the decor, is light and contemporary. The café is perfect for lunch.