Best Quirky Hotels in Ireland

The 5 AA Red Star Merchant Hotel is in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast's city center. It offers luxurious air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, a spa, and a rooftop gymnasium and hot tub. The Merchant is the winner of the Best UK Hotel 2011 award in the International Hotel Awards. All of the elegantly appointed rooms are decorated with original artwork. They each have black-out blinds, a flat-screen TV, and spacious en suite marble bathrooms. The Merchant is a Grade I Listed building dating back to 1860. Its Great Room Restaurant has a huge domed ceiling and offers a fine à la carte menu and traditional afternoon teas. There is a selection of bars, including the Veuve clicquot champagne lounge. Berts Jazz Bar serves food and has live music 7 nights a week. The Spa has 5 treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy area. There is also a sauna and a steam room located on the rooftop.

- "Excellent stay" - "Fabulous hotel" - "My wifes favorite hotel!" - "Exceptional" - "Helpful and lovely staff" - "Spectacular Stay with a Great Location" - "A great location and an amazing dining experience"

Located in Dublin, 1.7 miles from Sandymount Beach, Schoolhouse Hotel has accommodations with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. With a bar, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The property provides room service and a 24-hour front desk for guests. The rooms come with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an electric tea pot, a shower, free toiletries and a desk. All rooms have a closet. A buffet, continental or Full English/Irish breakfast is available at the property. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Merrion Square, Aviva Stadium and Lansdowne Road Train Station. Dublin Airport is 6.8 miles from the property.

- "A little hidden gem in Dublin" - "Sweet staff" - "Brilliant. Friendly & highly recommend" - "Excellent hospitality in a historic building!" - "I really enjoyed my stay very relaxing." - "Lovely Hotel." - "Very convenient and comfortable" - "Quiet haven in Ballsbridge" - "Highly recommend The Schoolhouse Hotel and Gastro-Pub!" - "Very pleasant stay - staff were welcoming and helpful, room was great and quiet,"

Bullitt Hotel offers accommodations in Belfast, 0.7 mi from the Titanic Quarter. Guests can enjoy a choice of the property's restaurant, 3 bars and cafe. There is free WiFi at the hotel. Every room has a king-size bed and TV with satellite channels. Guests will find a mini-bar in the room, and can enjoy views of Belfast. Each room has private bathrooms, with extras including free toiletries and a hairdryer. Guests will find a mini fridge in the room (Not mini-bar) The Waterfront Hall is 1640 feet from Bullitt Hotel, while the SSE Arena Belfast is 2297 feet from the property. The nearest airport is George Best Belfast City Airport, 2.5 mi from Bullitt Hotel.

- "OUTSTANDING AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND" - "Fab!" - "Perfect Hotel" - "Lovely hotel in a great location. All the staff were really friendly and helpful" - "Super cool place to stay" - "Excellent spot to start/end your Belfast adventures!" - "Hip, comfy and friendly" - "Great hotel, fantastic location" - "A comfortable centerpoint point of fun and cultural in the heart of Belfast." - "Really was wonderful" - "Very comfortable, relaxing, easy to navigate and welcoming!"

With fantastic city views, The Montenotte Hotel is just one mile from Cork city center. In a tranquil location, it offers spacious modern rooms, a pool and free parking. Bright rooms all have private bathrooms with baths and showers. They all feature TVs, hairdryers, irons and tea/coffee making facilities. Wi-Fi is available in public areas of the hotel. Apartments are services fortnightly. Perched high over the city, the Panorama Bistro & Terrace provides fantastic views and has a full a la carte menu available every day. Guests can enjoy afternoon tea while taking in the views of Cork city. The Montenotte has superb leisure facilities include a gymnasium, sauna and hot tub. Aquarobics and swimming lessons can be taken in the 20-yard pool. The hotel offers guests an in-house cinema, where films are shown nightly. Cork’s shops, theaters and the Beamish Brewery are just a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The world famous Blarney Stone and Cork Airport are both within 5 miles of the Montenotte.

- "Amazing stay, will be back" - "Excellent location, comfortable, brilliant staff and wonderful drinks and dining areas." - "Excellent!" - "Excellent hotel in stunning location looking over Cork" - "Great for a family stopover to recover from travelling" - "A fabulous stay in Cork" - "We loved every minute of our stay to celebrate my 40th birthday. A beautiful hotel, with amazing staff and facilities. T" - "Perfect"

Perched in the village of Crawfordsburn with fabulous views of the country park, The Old Inn is the perfect rural retreat, located just 10 minutes from Belfast and 5 minutes from the seaside town of Bangor. The hotel is bursting with character - think cozy corners, log fires, mini spa, glorious grub and elegant interiors. Kick of your shoes, put your feet up and make yourself at home…We have a guestroom for every mood. Whether you want to go traditional with our petite guestrooms, private hot tub in our suite, or rustic in our cottage, there is a room waiting for you. Whether it is lunch or a hearty evening meal in the restaurant, private dining or just a few drinks in the bar, our selection of options is guaranteed to satisfy. We also love a party here and hosting is our thing. Get together over fond memories and start making new ones. With all the character and charm we are a perfect boutique-hotel hideaway, served up with heartfelt personal service and an easy going at-home atmosphere. Trust us, you will love it.

- "Relaxing stay in a cosy hotel." - "Absolutely perfect couldn’t fault it" - "Staff made my daughter’s birthday so special. The spa is amazing …. a true gem" - "a pleasant stay and I shall return" - "An enjoyable stay and friendly staff who couldn’t do enough for you." - "Lovely stay" - "Lovely location for a relaxing stay"

Featuring garden views, Ballylagan Organic Farm in Straid provides accommodations and a shared lounge. This apartment features free private parking, luggage storage space, and free Wifi. Featuring a private entrance, the apartment allows guests their privacy. An oven, a microwave, and toaster are also available, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. At the apartment complex, each unit is fitted with a private bathroom and bed linen. For those nights when you'd rather not eat out, you can have groceries delivered and cook on the barbecue. Guests at the apartment will be able to enjoy activities in and around Straid, like cycling. SSE Arena, Belfast is 14 miles from Ballylagan Organic Farm, while The Waterfront Hall is 14 miles from the property. Belfast International Airport is 14 miles away.

- "Excellent Stay" - "We loved our time at the farm and would stay again." - "would not hesitate to stay there again" - "A friendly and beautifully rural stay." - "Very enjoyable, would recommend and go back and stay again" - "Life in a farm"

At the King Sitric in Howth we offer seaside accommodations and specialize in seafood dining. There is free WiFi access available and free on street public parking nearby. Our Seafood Bar is open every day from 12.30pm. Reservation ahead of time is recommended to be guaranteed a table. We offer varied seafood and has locally caught lobster, we also boast an extensive drinks and wine list. Each room here will provide you with a seating area and tea/coffee making facilities. Featuring a large walk-in shower. You can enjoy sea view from many of the rooms. No elevator to the upper floors but we are always on hand to help with luggage. The guest house is less than 1.2 mi from Howth Castle and the National Transport Museum of Ireland. The immediate area is popular for walking, sailing and golf. The property is 25 minutes from Dublin via the DART Rail System.

- "Enjoyable" - "I will go back and stay longer next time." - "A lovely hotel with a great location and friendly staff." - "Would stay again when in Dublin Area" - "A perfect way to experience Howth as this establishment has been here for a while & respects the tradition of old Ho" - "Great place to stay" - "We will be back! Guy at des" - "Very Comfortable in a beautiful place!" - "Best location in Howth with great access to bus and the DART station"

Located in the center of Dublin's cultural quarter, this small hotel offers boutique rooms and free Wi-Fi. Kelly's Hotel is just 2 minutes’ walk from Grafton Street and Temple Bar. Each room at the adult-only Kellys Hotel has a large Smart TV and a custom-made mattress. The rooms also benefit from an private bathroom and there is no air conditioning in the hotel.. Guests can enjoy freshly an à la carte breakfast menu for an additional charge which is served in the properties French restaurant . This is located just below the hotel, along with Hogans and the 'Bar with No Name'. Kelly's Hotel is set among numerous other bars, restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions. The airport shuttle coach is not far from the hotel. The Drury Street Car Park is nearby for overnight car parking. There is no elevator at the Kellys Hotel.

- "Really central location and lovely vibes around" - "Great place to stay!" - "Never been to this part of Dublin, Fade street is fabulous great atmosphere and Kelly’s hotel is the makings of it !!" - "Easy friendly check in, quirky internal layout, spotlessly clean" - "All good apart from the bed" - "Comfortable Room and very helpful staff" - "Location 10/10. Would highly recommend staying at Kelly's" - "Great location, comfortable room, lovely staff."

Superbly located opposite Trinity College, O'Neills Victorian Pub & Townhouse is a 5-minute walk from O'Connell Street and Grafton Street, Dublin's principal shopping district. O'Neills Victorian Pub & Townhouse has been family-owned since 1885 and serves a wide range of Irish beers, whiskeys and wines and excellent home-cooked Irish food. All rooms have contemporary private bathrooms. We have no elevator, so guests must use stairs to access all rooms. Staff are only sometimes available to help with carrying bags. Our pub is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so guests will use self-check-in for those days. The townhouse is in the heart of Dublin City and within walking distance of most of Dublin's attractions, including Dublin Castle, St. Stephen's Green and a range of museums and galleries.

- "Brilliant place for affordable rates" - "We were delighted upon walking into our room that first day. Great location and loved the pub on the ground floor." - "Great stay would definitely go back" - "Really enjoyed our stay. The pub opposite & Bread41 just 2 doors away were wonderfully good." - "Thank you so much for providing a nice and comfortable stay." - "Lovely and comfortable would stay again." - "Comfortable clean beds, huge room and bathroom. Excellent location"

House Belfast is a boutique-style hotel with a relaxed bar & bistro and lively nightclub. It is 984 feet from Belfast city center and a short walk from The Waterfront Hall. Each room has free WiFi, a coffee machine, toiletries and complimentary water. Odyssey Arena and Grand Opera House are easy to reach. House Belfast Hotel is located on the leafy Botanic Avenue, at the heart of the Queen's quarter. Queen's University is only 656 feet away.

- "Great place to stay" - "Really lovely hotel, good location, great staff and nicely decorated" - "Lovely hotel!" - "A glass of Prosecco under a tree" - "Hotel was lovely, quite quirky, staff were friendly, breakfast was great, would definitely recommend and stay again" - "The hotel food and service is excellent, staff are friendly and helpful, great location and rooms are clean and comforta" - "Staff were amazing - so welcoming. Love every minute."

The Quay House, Clifden offers accommodations in Clifden, 12 miles from Kylemore Abbey and 22 miles from Maam Cross. Guests staying at this vacation home have access to a balcony. Free Wifi is available throughout the property and Alcock & Brown Memorial is 3.4 miles away. The vacation home features 7 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven, a washing machine, and 16 bathrooms with a hair dryer. Towels and bed linen are offered in the vacation home. For added privacy, the accommodation features a private entrance. Ireland West Knock Airport is 82 miles from the property.

The boutique Hotel Isaacs Cork City is just a 5-minute walk from the city center, including the English Market and Shandon Steeple. It offers spacious rooms, Greenes Restaurant, Cask Cocktail Bar and a courtyard with a floodlit waterfall. Kent Railway Station and Cork Bus station, with busses to Cork Airport, are only a 10-minute walk from Hotel Isaacs. The hotel offers spacious rooms, cable TV, laptop safes and Wi-Fi Access. Isaacs Apartments, which are part of the hotel complex, offer a fully fitted kitchen, sitting room/dining room and 2 or 3 bedrooms. The critically-acclaimed Greenes Restaurant looks onto its own floodlit waterfall. Located under a stone archway and featuring a courtyard garden, the restaurant offers a unique setting in Cork with specialty fish and seafood dishes. The hotel has no in-house leisure facilities but guests have access to Leeside Leisure across the road for a small additional fee. The hotel is well-located for access to various golf courses, including Fota Island and Douglas.

- "We went for a one night stay with my husband had an amazing time dtaff so lovely aswell" - "Will definitely return but won’t be having breakfast" - "Friendly staff & Comfortable" - "Must visit Hotel Isaac Cork" - "WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AT LOVELY, UNIQUE HOTEL" - "Wonderful, cozy, warm, clean and centrally located. It felt like true Irish hospitality!" - "nice time, very comfortable room" - "Perfect for a business trip"

Kearneys Cottage, Dugort, Achill Island, County Mayo - 3 Bedroom Sleeps 6 offers accommodations in Bellanasally, 12 miles from Kildownet Castle. The property is around 25 miles from Rockfleet Castle, 26 miles from Ballycroy National Park, and 4.2 miles from Franciscan Monastery. The accommodation is non-smoking. Ireland West Knock Airport is 62 miles from the property.

- "We had a great stay and our host was lovely." - "peace and quiet in a tranquil rural setting approx 1km from degort coastal village i" - "A nice property and in a great location, overpriced for what you get."

Built in the 13th century, this elegant 4-star castle boasts individually decorated rooms and 20 acres of beautiful grounds. The restaurant offers award-winning fine dining, and Central Dublin and the Airport are both a 30-minute drive away. With classic decor and free Wi-Fi, each spacious room features elegant touches such as chandeliers and antique furniture. Rooms all include a private bathroom with hairdryer, and guests can relax with a TV in the room. Barberstown Castle’s restaurant serves French-influenced country house dining recommended by the AA and Michelin guides. Weekend live entertainment is also provided. The Edwardian tea rooms provide a place for guests to relax, offering cozy couches, afternoon teas, and freshly baked scones. Free parking is available, and Kildare and its Japanese Gardens are a 30-minute drive away. Nearby buses provide access to Dublin, and Powerscourt House and Estate is 40 minutes away by car.

- "Amazing" - "Unbelievable hotel. Only missing a pool but everything was perfect." - "Will come back" - "Lovely a very pleasant stay" - "Excellent location with superb staff" - "Old world hotel full of character, It was so comfortable and great service." - "will be back..." - "I absolutely love this hotel." - "An awesome place nestled in a beautiful historical setting." - "Incredible stay at Barberstown.....nothing more to be said"

Knockninny Barn at Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh is located in Enniskillen, just 16 miles from Killinagh Church and 18 miles from Ballyhaise College. Housed in a building dating from 2017, this vacation home is 13 miles from Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark and 14 miles from Drumlane Abbey. There's a picnic area and guests can use free Wifi and free private parking. This vacation home includes 2 bedrooms, a living room and a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with a dining area, and 2 bathrooms with a shower and a washing machine. Towels and bed linen are featured in the vacation home. There's also a seating area and a fireplace. Guests can make the most of the warm weather with the property's barbecue facilities. Guests at the vacation home will be able to enjoy activities in and around Enniskillen, like hiking. A baby safety gate is also available at Knockninny Barn at Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, while guests can also relax in the garden. Cavan Genealogy Centre is 20 miles from the accommodation, while Sean McDiarmada Homestead is 23 miles away. City of Derry Airport is 73 miles from the property.

- "Perfect location for a chilled out break" - "An attentive and welcoming hostess, well placed in the hospitality industry. Feels like an old frie" - "Great location from which to explore the area." - "Hiding Gem." - "A wonderful weekend in a quiet, scenic area staying in a beautiful home from home which I’d recommend to anyone." - "Perfect weekend break away. Peace and quiet in peaceful surroundings." - "Very happy there"

An beautiful lakeside retreat, a laid back home from home, an open-air spa with character. Welcome to The Rabbit, it’s nice to meet you. Whether you are here for work, rest, local or just passing-through, The Rabbit will look after you, with style in abundance and a homely feel. A gateway to city, we’re located in the heart of Templepatrick just 20 minutes from Belfast and 10 minutes from our International Airport. A place to grab a bite, snooze for the night or relax and take in the sights, we’re about good times, all the time. The laid-back little sister to Galgorm, you can expect all the creature comforts you love housed in beautifully designed spaces with a few quirks along the way. Make our space your place.

- "A total mind reset pure tranquility" - "Amazing location and service, spa is wonderful. Highly recommended" - "Spa sun holiday vibes" - "Fab but too expensive." - "Great staff, stay & relaxation facilities"

Located in Galway and with Dead Mans Beach reachable within 1.2 miles, The Dean Galway provides concierge services, non-smoking rooms, a terrace, free WiFi and a bar. This 4-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. The property features a year-round outdoor pool, fitness center, sauna and free bikes. With a private bathroom, some units at the hotel also have a balcony. At The Dean Galway you'll find a restaurant serving American and Italian cuisine. Vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options can also be requested. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Eyre Square, Galway Railway Station and Galway Greyhound Stadium. Shannon Airport is 50 miles away.

- "Great location!"

Featuring a bar, The Dean Cork offers accommodations in Cork, a 4-minute walk from Cork Custom House and 0.4 miles from Cork City Hall. This 4-star hotel offers room service, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. Guests also enjoy access to the indoor pool and fitness center, as well as the sauna and hot tub. All guest rooms come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a coffee machine, a shower, free toiletries and a desk. The rooms come with a private bathroom with a hairdryer, while some have city views. All rooms will provide guests with a minibar. Guests at the hotel can enjoy a Full English/Irish breakfast. At The Dean Cork you'll find a restaurant serving Irish, Italian and Local cuisine. Vegetarian, dairy-free and vegan options can also be requested. Kent Train Station is a 6-minute walk from the accommodation, while Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral is 1.1 miles from the property. Cork Airport is 4.3 miles away.

- "Comfortable" - "Still nice" - "Perfect getaway for a couple." - "Perfect" - "Will defo be back" - "A Boutique Hotel not to miss!" - "Lovely stay and friendly staff" - "I would definitely stay again for the room and feel of the hotel but not for the pool etc" - "Relaxing and comfortable but expensive." - "Nice but over priced for what it was"