2 Best Hotels in Adare, The Southwest

Play king or queen for a day at this spectacular, recently overhauled, Victorian Gothic mansion, once the abode of the Quin family (earls of Dunraven) and still a wonderland, thanks to 840 well-manicured acres outside and the 26-foot-high, 100-foot-long Minstrels' Gallery with its decorated ceiling and stained-glass windows inside. This must be the most memorable breakfast spot in all of Ireland; afternoon tea is also served here by appointment, while dinner in the Oak Room offers the best of Ireland's artisanal foods in chef Michael Tweedie's tasting menu. The castellated mansion is enormous, with stone arches and oak wainscotting, but the judicious furnishing of public spaces, and an open fire in the drawing room make it feel cozy. The hotel reopened in late 2017 after a major refurbishment, which moved weddings and conferences to a separate on-site venue in a discreetly added new wing, and added a cinema, spa (La Mer facials), and pool to the hotel. The four suites in the original house are the most sumptuous, but all rooms have super king--size beds, luxurious drapes (electrically operated), large bathrooms, and a chandelier. Views of the parkland and the River Maigue are relaxing and privacy is ensured, as only hotel guests are allowed on the grounds. Children as well as adults can enjoy falconry, archery, and walking trails on-site, and the informal Carriage House restaurant.

Book ahead for afternoon tea in the Gallery at Adare Manor. It may look pricey at €62 a head (children €32), but you will need neither lunch nor dinner that day. Champagne an extra €12 a head.

This is the small country hotel of your dreams: a Victorian yellow-stucco jewel set atop a small hill overlooking Ballingarry, a village that time forgot, deep in rural Ireland, yet only 13 km (8 miles) southwest of Adare. And if you take the trouble of getting off the beaten tourist trail here, you'll be rewarded by being pampered. What was once the parish priest's imposing house has been decorated with flair and wit, placing Chinese inlaid lacquer cabinets and Georgian satinwood wardrobes in the beautifully furnished bedrooms. But for all its finery, this is a fun, down-to-earth place. Much of the food served in the restaurant is produced in the 7 acres of gardens, so the kids can have fun collecting eggs for tomorrow's breakfast.