2026 Award Winners HOTEL OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2026

HOTEL OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2026

5-Star Hotel of the Year: Lough Eske Castle Co Donegal
Set amongst woodland and formal gardens close to the shores of Lough Eske, this handsome castle hotel brings a sense of occasion to one of Donegal’s most beautiful areas. Its story reaches back to the O’Donnells in the late 15th century, while the present property incorporates the restored Victorian castle that was destroyed by fire in 1939, giving the hotel a genuine historical anchor beneath its contemporary luxury. With spacious accommodation, destination spa facilities, a beautiful indoor pool and extensive grounds, Lough Eske Castle offers the range expected of a five-star resort while retaining the calm of a country retreat. Cedars Restaurant, the Gallery Bar and Lobby Lounge provide contrasting dining experiences, and the Father Browne Bar adds a distinctive Donegal connection through its memorabilia. Yet facilities alone do not make a great hotel. The pleasure here lies in the combination of scale and welcome: a property capable of major celebrations and business events that will still feel restorative to an individual guest. Donegal deserves hotels that encourage visitors to stay, explore and return and this is one of the best. For its setting, character, breadth of experience and confident five-star hospitality, Lough Eske Castle is our 5-Star Hotel of the Year.

4-Star Hotel of the Year 2026: Killarney Royal Townhouse Killarney Co Kerry
In a town famous for grand hotels, Killarney Royal Townhouse offers something particularly appealing: the polish and comfort of a four-star property on an intimate, human scale. Family-owned by Joe and Margaret Scally of the Scally Hotel Collection (Great Southern Killarney, Hayfield Manor Cork, St Helen’s Hotel Dublin) it has been cared for with the same attention that characterises the family’s wider hospitality tradition, while retaining a personality all its own. Its recent refurbishment and rebranding to Townhouse identity suit the property beautifully. Elegant period styling, high-quality materials and individually designed bedrooms create a restorative retreat in the heart of Killarney, with the town’s shops, restaurants and transport links on the doorstep and the national park close by. The emphasis is on the things that matter: comfortable beds, thoughtful lighting, handsome bathrooms, welcoming public rooms and staff who understand that genuine hospitality cannot be manufactured through design alone. Fig Restaurant and the bar and lounge spaces give residents and local diners relaxed options throughout the day. Killarney Royal Townhouse shows how effectively a traditional hotel can evolve without losing its warmth. Stylish but never showy, central yet cocooning, it offers an exceptionally well-judged town-centre stay and is a very worthy 4-Star Hotel of the Year.

3-Star Hotel of the Year 2026: Casey's Hotel Glengarriff Co Cork
A good family-run 3-star is hard to beat – it’s a particular kind of Irish hotel that has earned loyalty not through fashion or spectacle, but through generations of genuine hands-on hospitality. Hotels like this are the backbone of Irish hospitality and Casey’s Hotel in Glengarriff is a shining example. Established in 1884 and run by the same family ever since, it belongs to the great tradition of independently owned hotels that make guests feel they have arrived somewhere rather than simply checked in. Glengarriff, with its mild climate, luxuriant vegetation and access to beautiful Garinish Island, has welcomed visitors since Victorian times, and Casey’s remains an ideal base for exploring this remarkable corner of West Cork. The hotel is modest in scale, comfortable and characterful, with a garden and comfortable dining terrace adding to its relaxed appeal. Food is an important part of the welcome here and it’s a popular destination, with straightforward, satisfying cooking that suits the setting and gives both residents and local diners a reason to linger. But the defining quality is continuity: family involvement, personal service and an understanding of what guests genuinely value. At a time when independent three-star hotels can be overshadowed by larger properties, Casey’s reminds us how rewarding this category can be. For warmth, value, character and remarkable longevity, Casey’s Hotel is our 3-Star Hotel of the Year.

Boutique Hotel of the Year 2026: The Hat Maker Dungarvan
Dungarvan has gained a delightful new place to stay in The Hat Maker, Rebecca Queally and David Burke’s luxurious heritage hideaway on Parnell Street. Named for the listed building’s former use as a hat maker’s premises, this 16-bedroom boutique hotel is wonderfully individual: maximalist in spirit, combining vintage pieces, original art and contemporary comfort with an infectious sense of fun.
Every detail feels considered, from the handsome bathrooms and carefully collected antiques to the small practical extras that tell guests somebody has really thought about their stay. The welcome is equally important, with a friendly team who are clearly proud to work at this one-off property.
The food and drink offer is cleverly restrained. Rather than compete with Dungarvan’s excellent restaurants, The Hat Maker serves breakfast, light bites, charcuterie, toasties and treats from nearby Dún Artisan Bakery, alongside bespoke cocktails and a short, carefully chosen all-French wine list. A courtyard provides an inviting extra space in good weather.
Boutique should mean personality, not simply size, and The Hat Maker has personality in abundance. Stylish, generous-hearted and rooted in its town, it is an exciting addition to Irish hospitality and our Boutique Hotel of the Year.

Business Hotel of the Year 2026 The K Club Straffan Co Kildare
Business hospitality has always been of great interest to the Guide and it works best when efficiency is matched by a genuine sense of escape and hospitality - something that few Irish hotels can offer as well as The K Club. Set on 550 acres in lush Kildare countryside, with beautiful formal gardens, extensive grounds, two championship golf courses and with an elegant French-flavoured manor house once owned by the Barton wine family at its heart, this grand resort is only half an hour from both Dublin airport and the city, yet feels a world away from both. While it is best-known for its exceptional golf offering and leisure breaks, it is an ideal business destination. The scale of the property allows it to handle everything from small meetings and private dining for a dozen or so guests up to conferences and major corporate occasions for 500 with style, and without impacting on other activities – and the exceptional amenities on-site and in the surrounding area make it an ideal destination for team building and incentive groups. (Visitors from abroad may be intrigued to try the Celtic Challenge…) The golf and the estate setting offer great opportunities for informal networking and downtime – and, with everything being so enjoyable, a working visit can easily become a rewarding stay… And the exceptional dining options might well sway the decision to stay on for a break - notably the experience in the beautiful main restaurant, The Barton Grill, which has been recently reinvented to create an elegant and atmospheric setting for Executive Chef Gary O’Hanlon and Head Chef Adam Leahy to showcase local and Irish produce, while The Palmer, The Drawing Room, Henry Lounge, South Bar & Restaurant, offer a range of very different options – or guests can slip out to Straffan village to The K Club’s own local, The Straffan Inn.

HERITAGE HOTEL of the Year 2026 – The Bedford Hotel Belfast
Facing Belfast City Hall from Donegall Square, The Bedford is an exciting example of how a significant city building can be given a new life without losing sight of its past. Located in the Grade B1 listed Scottish Mutual Building, which dates back to 1904, the multi-million pound restoration included the preservation of 32 original steel vault doors, and is rightly seen as a commitment to preserving the city's architectural heritage. It respects the generous proportions and Edwardian character of the property while celebrating Belfast’s industrial heritage – and especially the linen industry - in thoughtful details throughout. The result is a hotel that feels rooted in the city rather than (as often happens) imposed upon it. Elegant bedrooms and handsome public rooms combine historic references with contemporary comfort, while the location welcomes guests to the heart of Belfast’s cultural and commercial life. And celebrated chef Noel McMeel gives the hotel another strong local connection through its food. At The Nineteen Hundred, he makes Northern Irish produce central to the experience, in his trademark style drawing on regional meat, poultry, seafood, potatoes, cheeses, apples and drinks. Friendly, efficient staff reinforce the sense of pride in both the hotel and the place it represents.
Heritage hospitality is not about preserving a building in aspic. It is about allowing history to inform a living, relevant experience. The Bedford achieves that balance with confidence and imagination, making this beautifully revived Belfast landmark a very worthy Heritage Hotel of the Year.