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Up until about the Nineties, the prepackaged concept of ‘wellness’ didn’t meaningfully exist in Ireland. But Irish culture has always been underpinned by a sense of spirituality and we’ve long understood that nature has the power to help the spirit soar; exploring the majesty of our wild, primordial landscapes readily induces natural highs. So the building blocks for a distinctively elemental take on wellness were already there as Ireland’s hotels began to consider wellness more seriously at the turn of this century.
Now, every property worth its (Atlantic or pink Himalayan) salt has a slew of spa facilities (as something of an Irish idiosyncrasy, you’ll find lots of them include purportedly good-for-the-skin seaweed baths). And they deliver when it comes to providing heartfelt hospitality – it just feels good to be in these wholesome, welcoming places. So if you find somewhere that offers all that, and then it’s additionally in yet another spectacular, uplifting setting wedged between mountain and sea, you’re pretty much guaranteed a feel-good holiday. These are the best spa hotels in Ireland.
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.
There is a beguiling combination of old and new at Farnham Estate. The ghost of the original fine country house can still be glimpsed, combined today with a sparkling contemporary hotel, a world-class spa – and all of this surrounded by hundreds of acres of serene Irish fields, lakes and woods. Walk for miles through woodland and on well-laid paths; play golf at the on-site 18-hole course; take your ease in manicured garden and courtyard areas. Or plunge into the Espa spa – one of the largest in any Irish hotel, complete with indoor and outdoor pools, excellent relaxation areas and a full range of treatments. There’s even an amethyst salt inhalation room (to encourage deeper sleep).
From
£
132
per night
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With a peerless Lough Corrib setting and innate grandeur, centuries-old Ashford Castle has long been known as one of Ireland’s best hotels. Extensive renovations have imbued the property with sufficient modern comforts to ensure it can stake a claim as one of the most characterful and successful hotels in Europe. A Victorian-style greenhouse houses a pool and spa. Activities range from fishing with a local ghillie, horse riding, and joining the Irish School of Falconry.
From
£
297
per night
A wild grass covered Scandi-esque eco-lodge with a sparkling interior, the ultra-modern Samas spa is a chilled spot from which to survey the ever-changing tides. There are five treatments rooms where you can enjoy heavenly Sisley treatments and the knock-out thermal suites consist of a 40-degree thermal eternity pool open to the wilderness, a steam room, a tropical shower and knippe pool. To finish, a relaxation room with beds in which to tuck yourself up while enjoying floor-to-ceiling views of the ferns and pine forest.
From
£
279
per night
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Recently taken over by Anantara, the modern spa and wellness area is the big draw here, and it’s extremely impressive. It’s spacious and enveloping, with a cool, smooth palette of greys to create a sense of intimacy. The fabulous emerald-green infinity pool comes in at a generous 23 metres; there’s also a commodious whirlpool tub, plus a very extensive range of treatments. The pair of hammock-esque ‘retro-cocoons’ that hang from the ceiling and promise instant and immersive relaxation, look very inviting.
From
£
214
per night
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Lough Eske has been garlanded with praise – and no wonder: this five-star hotel offers marvellous service and hospitality. And a splendid setting too: the hotel and its grounds lie on the shores of beautiful Lough Eske, surrounded by some of Donegal’s most rugged landscapes. The excellent Spa Solis looks out onto the hotel gardens: it’s modern and sleek, with indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, infinity pool and eight treatment rooms.
From
£
221
per night
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The very lovely 18-metre swimming pool in The Merrion’s Tethra Spa is especially worth experiencing: flanked by symmetrical columns and tiled in lapis lazuli-blue mosaic, this is as Roman as they come, and beautifully relaxing. A full range of spa and beauty treatments is available, with a choice of Espa and Bioloque Recherche products, plus steam room, and gym with personal trainers. Spacious and light-filled Garden Wings to the rear enclose a pleasant half-acre quadrangle of fountains and manicured greenery. Rooms are beautifully appointed.
From
£
396
per night
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The Ice House is swish, small and delightfully situated. Moreover, it features an evocative history to add to a luxurious present life – for it really was an ice store, built to serve the bountiful salmon fishery on the river Moy. Don’t neglect the Chill spa, with its lovely products created by Voya Seaweed Baths along the coast – and definitely don’t miss the outdoor seaweed bath on the deck overlooking the river; even on a chilly Irish day, it is both therapeutic and luxurious. A full range of treatments is on offer.
From
£
196
per night
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While the original merchants’ property on the estate has since been rebuilt, Hayfield Manor still exudes period-style elegance. Guests can expect a serene and pampered ambiance and a great spa. A small residents-only fitness suite is available 24-hours and personal training can be pre-booked with former Olympian Gillian O’Sullivan. The 16-metre pool overlooks the enclosed garden with sauna, steam rooms and an outdoor hot tub. The Beautique Spa, featuring Elemis products, offers a wide range of treatments for both sexes or as a couple, with many packages including lunch or afternoon tea. Facials, massages, wraps, reflexology, manicure/pedicures and waxing are available. Handily, residents can also access the spa directly from a bedroom corridor.
From
£
274
per night
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A handsome, friendly spot: come here for luxury, style and impeccable service in spacious surroundings a 10-minute taxi ride from the city centre. It’s a great choice for weekending couples in need of a little pampering; business travellers seeking excellent facilities; and families after space and comfort. The swish spa features a 14-metre pool, hot tub, good gym and a relaxation area with herbal teas and daily newspapers on offer; plus treatment rooms, sauna and steam room. Espa is the brand of choice.
From
£
240
per night
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The Shelbourne Dublin is the grand old lady of the Dublin hotel scene. Stylish, opulent and utterly distinctive in a Victorian style, the property has glowed on the northern side of St Stephen’s Green since 1824. The main bar is a popular fixture on the city’s social scene, while afternoon tea in the Lord Mayor’s Lounge is something of a Dublin tradition. An excellent range of facilities is offered, including beauty salon, and smart barber shop in the basement. The spa area is delightful, complete with treatment areas, a gym, a top-lit 18-metre pool and a wonderful relaxation space, with park views and cocktails.
From
£
333
per night
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The hotel, with Michelin-starred dining, superb Atlantic views and striking modern architecture, clings to a cliff on the south side of Ardmore Bay. It’s very modern, with a ’boutique’ feel rather than a country house or explicitly rural one. The ace card here is the architecture of the building itself and its simply stunning views, through walls of glass. It’s a feel-good place, full of light. Of course, the full spa experience is indoors and it’s pretty special, complete with vast windows, infinity pool and a full range of treatments, plus in-house beauty products available for purchase.
From
£
257
per night
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While Limerick isn’t one of Ireland’s foremost holiday destinations, Adare Manor’s 842-acre estate provides a resort feel. Beside the grounds, it’s a pretty village with a terrace of photogenic thatched cottages and smattering of pubs. Activities on offer at the hotel include expert-led falconry, archery and fishing. Furnished in 19th-century style, well-sized Classic Rooms feature king-sized beds, marble bathrooms and minibars stocked with complimentary snacks and soft drinks. La Mer spa has a sauna but no steam room; a shallow plunge pool but no lap pool and a basic gym.
From
£
280
per night
Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa offers top-notch facilities and excellent service, but the smart and beautiful Espa spa is the hotel’s stand-out asset. It’s enormous, ranging over two floors and opening onto the hotel gardens – but intimate and relaxing too, and decorated in soothing shades of cream and muted gold. There’s an excellent gym, 24-metre pool (its tiled floor studded with Swarovski crystals), hammam suite, and a impressively wide range of treatments – plus a Spa Café, and a delightful relaxation room with wide views of the Wicklow landscape.
From
£
219
per night
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• The best hotels in Ireland
Surrounded by the natural beauty of West Cork, the Inchydoney Lodge & Spa is in a superb location overlooking the Atlantic on Ireland’s spectacular south coast. The service is super, and there are wonderful facilities: the spa is a top attraction with its heated seawater pools, comfortable relaxation areas and heaps of treatments. There’s a surf school on the beach, kites are available to borrow for windy days and you can order a picnic on sunny days. Indoors, you’ll find open fires, a Netflix room, library, snooker room and tranquil residents’ lounge with views and plenty of books.
From
£
234
per night
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This one-of-a-kind hotel on the banks of the Grand Canal is set in a tiny village meticulously restored by aviation tycoon and co-founder of Ryanair, the late Dr Tony Ryan. Service is friendly and eager to please; each of the 39 rooms, suites, apartments and self-catering cottages is different; and amenities are plentiful. The restored Carriage House is a charming setting for The Well in the Garden Spa, where the theme is botanical with signature organic products and impressively deft therapists. There is a fleet of bikes for freewheeling down the mostly car-free towpath, and various excursions can be arranged – even a barge trip.
From
£
279
per night
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A compelling history, splendid Georgian architecture, luxurious accommodation and facilities, Michelin-starred gastronomic delights, and some of the best landscapes in Ireland – all come together to make Mount Juliet a very special place. The spa is the cherry on top and offers a 15-metre swimming pool with a gym and several beautiful treatment suites. Spa days here are popular, as well as the use of Ground products (designed by spa consultant and wellness expert Peigin Crowley). The abdominal cleanse ritual is particularly good, focusing on gut health.
From
£
175
per night
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Castlemartyr lies amid the glorious pastoral landscapes of east County Cork and is the perfect country escape. Come to the sprawling estate for fresh air, relaxation, good food and excellent standards of service. Facilities are excellent, too, and varied: pride of place goes to the testing golf course and the award-winning spa, with its spectacular and enormous wellness centre, smart ESPA and Germaine de Capuccini treatments, and 66-ft pool. Alternatively, try a jog or a long ramble in the mature and beautiful grounds and explore the walled garden.
From
£
205
per night
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Originally built by the Barton family in 1832, The K Club hotel retains a delightfully period air. Add thoroughly updated facilities and a marvellous setting amid hundreds of acres of Irish countryside, and the result is truly winning. No shortages of facilities here either. Pride of place goes to the two golf courses, which will bear comparison to the best (the Ryder Cup was held here in 2006). The spacious and gleaming K Spa is also excellent, and comes with Natura Bissé and Grounded products, a 16-metre pool, sauna, steam room a studio with a full range of classes plus an outdoor Canadian hot tub.
From
£
294
per night
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Imagine a secluded wooden hotel built on the edge of a beautiful lake, with windows facing west; balconies on which to drink in the heavenly, endlessly changing views; wood-burning stoves; superb cuisine – and a delightfully relaxed vibe. Don’t expect lavish gyms, saunas and swimming pools (though you can certainly swim in the lake): Wineport is small, and the focus is on relaxation, reading – there are books scattered everywhere – and doing very little. There is a wellness area, however, with a full range of treatments; try a Swedish massage with the excellent Trisha, followed by an immersion in the hot tub.
From
£
197
per night
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Contributions by Marie Gethins, Neil Hegarty, Aoife O’Riordain
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Splendid Ballyfin is one of Ireland’s finest country houses, now restored to elegant and graceful…
From
£
700per night
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With a peerless Lough Corrib setting and innate grandeur, centuries-old Ashford Castle has long b…
From
£
297per night
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Spacious, gracious and beautifully secluded, Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa offers top-notch fa…