With just under two weeks to go until hotels reopen, now is the time to consider your options when it comes to a short but sweet break away. With restaurants not opening until the week after, we have compiled a list of hotels worth visiting for the food alone.

The Aimsir Experience at Cliff at Lyons

Aimsir needs no introduction for those who celebrate good food, and now an actual in-house meal is within arm’s reach with this luxurious getaway. With the Aimsir Restaurant Overnight Experience you can enjoy the award-winning tasting menu at Aimsir Restaurant, the elegant two-Michelin starred restaurant at Cliff at Lyons. There are packages available for two or four guests and some even include lunch and a sorely needed spa treatment. Go crazy and stay two nights, after all, there is a lot to explore in this unique haven. www.aimsir.ie / www.cliffatlyons.ie

Adare Manor

It comes as no surprise that Adare Manor was awarded the Best Hotel Resort in Europe in 2019 and reopening will no doubt be met with a flurry of excitement. Dining options are plentiful at Adare Manor. Enjoy an al fresco lunch on the Lavender Terrace or opt for an overnight stay and dine in The Oak Room, which sounds like a fairytale to us right now. Also open to residents will be The Tack Room, The Drawing Room and The Carriage House. Decisions, decisions. www.adaremanor.com

Ballynahinch Castle

If ever there were a hotel perfect for a special treat, it’s Ballynahinch Castle. With acres upon acres of glorious grounds, excellent food at The Owenmore restaurant along with the atmospheric Fisherman’s bar for drinks, it really does have everything. If the weather holds, take a picnic and commit to enjoying every moment of your newfound freedom. www.ballynahinch-castle.com

Dunbrody House

Kevin and Catherine Brody’s Dunbrody House have announced plans to reopen in June and we couldn’t be happier. Breakfast at Dunbrody is a real treat and as an added bonus, it is served until 12 midday making it perfect for those lazy staycation mornings. Walk the Dunbrody Coastal Loop by day to work up an appetite and indulge yourself with the tasting menu at The Harvest Room in the evening. The Champagne Bar is the perfect location for after dinner drinks.
www.dunbrodyhouse.com

The Brooklodge Hotel and Macreddin Village

The only problem with dining at The Brooklodge Hotel is choosing where to do so. The Strawberry Tree restaurant is a delight, and Ireland’s first certified organic restaurant. There is a choice of a five-course tasting menu or a nine-course tasting menu. While you’re there, don’t forget to sneak a peek inside the walk-in Wild Foods Pantry, featuring much of the produce foraged and prepared by hotel staff, along with a selection of meats cured in our their own smoke house and great Irish cheeses. For a more casual but equally enjoyable dining experience, La Taverna Armento serves southern Italian cuisine including fresh pastas and wood fired pizzas. There is also Actons Country Pub and the food market so rest assured, you will not go hungry. I haven’t even mentioned The Wells Spa, but needless to say, you should book in during your stay. www.brooklodge.com