Luxury spa hotels in Ireland: the best escapes for some R&R

Located in the prestigious Ballsbridge area, within driving distance of Dublin’s centre and airport, this luxury spa hotel is a welcoming respite after a day exploring Ireland’s high-spirited capital. Select from spacious rooms – some of which feature Italian marble bathrooms and city skyline views – decorated in regal tones.

Enjoy the village-like atmosphere and independent shops of the Ballsbridge area, then recharge post-sightseeing with a wide range of treatments. Massages, facials, body wraps, scrubs, aromatherapy sessions and reflexology are all tailored to you and your stage in life.

Come evening, sample a menu focusing on fresh seasonal produce, such as Atlantic Ocean turbot, under the shimmering chandelier at Seasons restaurant. And finally, sit back, relax and close the day taking in the views over the pristine courtyard terrace.

Combining decadent amenities with the wild surroundings of the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea, this hotel is a utopian getaway just 30 minutes’ drive from Dublin. Explore the region’s majestic rivers, forests, lakes and beaches and you’ll understand why it’s affectionately dubbed ‘the garden of Ireland’. On site, aim for a birdie at one of the two 18-hole championship golf courses, or meander across the manicured grounds.

Back at the hotel, indulge at the award-winning spa, where an enticing range of facials, body treatments, wraps, scrubs and massages beckons. Nourish your whole body with a signature therapy in a gently lit treatment room scented with calming aromatherapy oils, or opt for a pedicure, manicure, wax and tint.

Later on, sit by the fire in the plush surroundings of your Executive Suite’s lounge – perhaps after a pigeon or venison dish at Hugo’s Restaurant, the hotel’s refined dining room. All rooms provide luxurious bedding and fluffy robes to snuggle into, along with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and flatscreen televisions.

This grand hotel, dating from 1897, features stylish suites furnished with authentic antiques and characterful art. Select a deluxe room overlooking Kenmare Bay for vistas of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way; it’s the ideal place to keep the calmness going after a spot of croquet in the hotel’s sprawling grounds.

Make the most of the SÁMAS spa with a thermal and holistic treatment influenced by Himalayan and Gaelic traditions, or choose a massage, facial, body polish, manicure and pedicure using SISLEY products. The indoor 25 metre lap pool is an appealingly light and airy space for a dip, or simply lounge in one of the scented steam rooms or glass-walled sauna. For a swim in the open air, opt for the heated outdoor infinity pool, while an ice fountain and tropical rain shower awakens the senses afterwards.

The Victorian-style dining room, with its Millers of Bond Street chandelier, offers a taste of the past. For a more informal meal, wander over to The Terrace with its bay views. Finish your evening in the dainty 12-seat cinema, where classic films are screened.

A 20-minute drive from Cork Airport, this 5-star hotel is set among 220 acres of parkland once owned by Sir Walter Raleigh. Rooms feature traditional décor nodding to the manor house’s 17th-century roots: think silk-trimmed walls and sumptuously soft furnishings. For real luxury, stay in one of the charming suites, which have sweeping views of the meadows and lakes.

When you’re not out on the 18-hole course designed by renowned golf architect Ron Kirby, head to the hotel’s steam room, jet pool, aromatherapy sauna and relaxation and vitality lounges. Go for a leisurely swim under the lofty double-height ceiling in the heated indoor pool, then look after your wellbeing at the spa. Pampering ESPA and Germaine de Capuccini treatments include aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and skin care. Facials, foot cleanses, mud wraps, massages and scrubs are administered in serene rooms with views of the garden.

Beauty therapies are also offered, including manicures, pedicures, cosmetic sessions, hair styling, waxing and tinting. Once you’re suitably made up, peruse a menu dedicated to contemporary Irish specialities in the quaint Bell Tower Restaurant with its opulent, gilt-edged floral chairs.

Dating back to 1228, this imposing castle blends original features, antique furnishings and striking artwork with the luxurious comfort of an extravagant spa hotel. It’s set among ancient woodland on the shore of one of Ireland’s largest lakes, promising a memorable getaway in a fairy-tale venue. A pet-friendly haven, this 350-acre estate also offers country pastimes including horse-riding, fishing, falconry and shooting.

Request a suite adjacent to the serene waters of Lough Corrib and wake up to expansive views from your bespoke bed. You’ll find freshly picked bouquets, monogrammed Egyptian cotton sheets and custom-designed carpets in your room. Start your day with a royal breakfast in the George V Dining Room, then later savour a steak in the Medieval-themed Dungeon restaurant. Dainty desserts conjured up by an award-winning pastry chef can be savoured during afternoon tea at The Connaught.

De-stress your body with treatments including foot rituals, facials, massages, body scrubs, wraps, aroma and marine therapy in between meals, then cleanse your mind while sitting on the stone-heated seats at the essence-filled hammam steam room. Afterwards, swim in the relaxation pool, nestled within a bronze-toned conservatory, under seashell chandeliers and an intricate mural depicting Celtic mythology. Nail treatments using Essie products, as well as waxing, brow grooming and lash tinting, offer the finishing touches.

Overlooking the tranquil waters of Lough Lein, the largest lake in Killarney, this hotel has a restful ambience with the spa facilities to match. Feel restored with signature ESPA therapies, which draw on European and Eastern philosophies, including massages, facials, Ayurvedic-inspired treatments, body wraps and hot-stone pedicures and manicures.

Further unwind in the thermal suite, with its saltwater pool, lifestyle showers, ice fountain, sauna and steam room. A leisurely dip at the combined indoor-outdoor vitality pool is next on the agenda. Or spend a few hours in the Private Spa Suite – complete with sublime views of the jagged Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range, a double bath, steam shower and sauna for two.

The resort’s bedrooms capture a sense of rural charm with their neutral tones and splashes of tartan. All rooms look out onto either the enchanting lake or the gardens, while the aptly named Panorama restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows – a particular boon thanks to its surrounding scenery. It serves a menu that emphasises the local provenance of its ingredients.

Set on the banks of Lough Atalia, looking out onto Galway Bay just a short walk from the thriving Quay Street and Latin Quarter, this spa hotel in Ireland has premier spa facilities. Stay here and you’ll wake up on Egyptian cotton sheets to a panorama of the calm waters from a light and airy lakefront room.

After a coffee brewed up by your own Nespresso machine, it’s spa time. Feel revitalised with a massage, hand and foot treatment, toning therapy, bathing ceremony, body scrub and body wrap, or focus on beauty with a make-up session, wax, brow treatment, manicure and pedicure. An Elemis Biotec stimulates skin cells for a renewed look and feel. Immerse yourself in the hotel’s thermal suite, equipped with a guided meditation room, rock sauna, hammam, scented steam cabin and experience shower. A soak in the Greco-Roman-style swimming pool, jacuzzi, outdoor hot tub, massage or bubble pools completes your stint of serenity.

The Galmont’s own restaurant, Marina’s Grill – a winner of two AA rosettes – is a fine place to try seafood from Galway Bay. Pair Clare Island salmon, West Coast crab claws and Clarinbridge mussels with a crisp white wine from the hotel’s expertly curated list.

This spa hotel in Ireland opened its doors in 1824, with several of its suites now named in honour of illustrious former guests, from Grace Kelly to John F Kennedy. The sophisticated décor showcases its history – the first constitution was drafted here in 1922 – while offering modern spa and dining options.

Settle into your elegantly furnished suite with period features and dark wood antique furniture, then head to the three-floor spa. Cocoon yourself in heat at the steam room, or make a splash in the 18 metre swimming pool. The relaxation room features reclining chairs to rest on and views of St Stephen’s Green.

Peruse the spa’s treatment menu and take your pick from make-up services, massages, body wraps, scrubs, eye treatments, foot baths, reflexology, manicures, pedicures, waxing and facials. For a completely different experience, discover your roots by booking a session with the on-site genealogy consultant.

Situated just outside the picturesque village of Adare, surrounded by medieval ruins, walled gardens and woodlands in an 840-acre estate, this glorious neo-Gothic spa hotel has recently enjoyed an extensive €10 million restoration.

The hotel now showcases a spectacular new afternoon tea menu, served in the elegant two-storey Gallery surrounded by magnificent stained glass and wood carvings. It’s quite a spread – think a totally indulgent 70% chocolate brownie with peanut butter (yum) and dainty sandwiches with Doonbeg dressed crab.

Enjoy the tranquility of the newly-renovated La Mer spa’s heated indoor swimming pool, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the River Maigue and golf course. You can also treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure or gel nails from Margaret Dabbs London in the salon, or simply sit back and relax in the sauna.

Other facilities in the hotel include a luxury, old-world cinema boasting a 140” wide screen and deep leather seats with cushions, where you can catch both classic and contemporary films. Or you can explore the grounds on a 45-minute horse-drawn carriage journey, complete with Irish lambswool blankets and wine coolers – the dream.