The 10 best places to stay in Northern Ireland in 2025 – from a whiskey hotel to forest dens
A fifth of the entries in the Fab 50 list of the best places to stay around the island of Ireland this year are in Northern Ireland.
That's its best show yet in the island-wide list, and inclusions range from mirror houses on a family farm, to forest dens in Galgorm and a new five-star overlooking the fourth fairway at Portrush.
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Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Irish Independent
In Portrush for The Open? Here's where to eat, drink and have great craic
Where to eat Ramore Restaurant Complex — This is made up of six restaurants, all of which will offer live entertainment every night during The Open week. Amici — Located between Portrush and Portstewart, this Italian restaurant uses local ingredients and homemade dough. Shanty — Offering lunches, dinners and signature cocktails where the old boathouse used to be, Shanty has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The Elephant Rock Hotel — The hotel's Eldon Bar and Restaurant boasts stunning sea views, bold interiors, fantastic cocktails and delicious food. It featured in the Irish Independent's Fab 50 in 2023. Where to drink The Harbour Bar — One of the oldest bars on the north coast with one of Northern Ireland's longest-serving barmen, Willie Gregg, you're guaranteed to receive a warm welcome from locals. Celebrities such as Jamie Dornan and Jimmy Nesbitt are known to pop in for a drink. The Quays Gastropub — As well as an extensive selection of beers, wines and cocktails, this pub on Eglinton Street provides a variety of classics as well as fresh, locally-sourced seafood and seasonal specials. Guests can eat in either the indoor dining area or there is a spacious covered outdoor atrium where visitors can enjoy the fresh sea air. Kiwi's Brew Bar — Located on Main Street where the town's famous cinema used to stand. The venue has much to offer including great food and drinks, live music, comedy nights and takes pride in its largest Irish whiskey collection on the north coast. The Station Bar — The station building, designed by architect and engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, was opened in 1893 and now houses a bar with regular live entertainment. Portrush Icons The White House — Founded in 1891, the department store remains an institution and is as loved locally as by the many people who visit the north coast each year. It boasts brands such as Barbour, Joules, White Stuff, Gant and has a toy shop as well. Kellys Complex — For over 50 years, Kellys has been a well-known fixture for entertainment. With The Barn, The Deerstalker, The Library Bar, Kon Tiki Boat Bar, Golflinks Hotel, The White Pheasant, Kellys Kitchen as well as its holiday homes, there is something for families, partygoers and foodies alike. ADVERTISEMENT T-Shirt City — This famous shop has been printing garments for over 50 years. Based on Main Street, Phyllis Niblock is now preparing to sell her business, but if you want to visit this emporium, be sure to grab a printed T-shirt. The Dolphin — A traditional fish and chip shop on Causeway Street, if you want to sample their famous takeaways, be prepared to queue. Curry's Fun Park — Still referred to as its former name, Barry's, by many, this small amusement park is packed full of fun for the family. Attractions include the waltzer, Aqua Valley water flume, dodgem cars, a rollercoaster and mini attractions for the wee ones. Phil's Family Amusements and Bingo Hall — One of the island's finest ticket and prize shops with easy-to-play machines and weekend bingo, it's not surprising people have kept returning to Phil's over the years. What's new? The Marcus — Last month, Hilton opened its first venue on the north coast in an old Victorian-era hotel on Main Street in a €13m renovation. The Marcus hosts 80 rooms and has restored original elements of the building, telling the story of the locality through interior features and artwork. Topblade Steakhouse — The third restaurant for its directors Aaron Taggart and John Crawford following their success in Portadown and Belfast, opening in the former KoKo location beside Curry's. Urban — Only a stone's throw from Portrush's sea front, Urban offers an impressive menu. Smash N Bird — Smashed burgers, ribs and wings, buttermilk chicken, thickshakes and buffalo fries are all on the agenda in a visit to this street food bar on Eglinton Street. Alan Simpson's five Top Things to do in Portmagic Portrush resident Alan Simpson runs the Portmagic Facebook page with almost 55,000 members. The popular media personality says 'Portmagic' is the feeling and sensation people get when they visit the town. The long-term promoter of the area gives us a rundown of his top five things to do: West Strand and East Strand beaches in Portrush: Alan adds: 'West is best and East is for the rest!' There are surf and paddle boards lessons with Portrush, Troggs or Alive surf schools. Curry's Fun Park: One of Northern Ireland's largest tourist attractions, the fun park has everything for little and big kids alike from the traditional ghost train to the euphoric Beast. A 99 at Morelli's: With outlets in Portrush and Portstewart, no visit to the area is complete without an ice-cream from the Italian family run parlour. Chat to the locals: They're a friendly bunch!
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘A deeper connection to nature' - Galgorm to spend €3.5m on new forest spa garden and resort rooms
Luxury hotel and spa resort Galgorm has announced a £3m (€3.5m) investment in guestroom refurbishment and plans for a forest spa garden. The resort said the changes, part of an overall £40m (€48m) investment plan, enhanced its thermal spa village while reinforcing its commitment to investing in tourism in Northern Ireland. Parent company Galgorm Collection has spent £2m (€2.4m) on room refurbishment, including renovating the six junior suites at Galgorm, which now have private hot tubs on their balconies overlooking the River Maine. And work to refurbish 45 superior rooms is due to be finished by July. A new forest spa garden is due to open in the autumn of this year in a further £1m (€1.2m) investment which the venue said would offer guests 'a deeper connection to nature'. The garden will be sited opposite the thermal spa village within the resort's woodland area, and will be equipped with four cabanas, three private hot tubs, a sauna and forest walkways. A new bridge will link the new garden to the main spa, which Galgorm said would create 'a fully immersive wellness journey'. Colin Johnston, managing director at Galgorm Collection, said: 'These investments allow us to push boundaries in creating exceptional guest experiences. "The junior suites' private balcony hot tubs offer guests a spa retreat within their own room, while the Forest Spa Garden introduces an entirely new way to relax and reconnect with nature. 'Our guests both from home and overseas can expect even more from Galgorm, and this latest chapter reflects our vision for world-class hospitality here in Northern Ireland.' The forest spa garden will be open to all overnight and day spa guests, but is particularly aimed at guests staying in its forest dens, eco-friendly accommodation combine luxury and an experience close to nature. The forest dens, featured in The Irish Independent's Fab 50 list of Ireland's best places to stay in 2025, have a private garden terrace, outdoor shower, wood-fired bath, and private sauna. This latest investment is part of Galgorm's broader £40m expansion strategy, which the group said was 'futureproofing' the industry in Northern Ireland. The resort is the flagship property in Galgorm Collection and has benefited from spending of £60m (€71m) since 2010. Galgorm Collection recently announced the acquisitions of Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena and Roe Valley Resort in Limavady for a total of £28m (€33m), with another £22m (€26m) to be spent to improve both properties in the next five years. Galgorm Collection opened the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, Co Antrim in 2019, and in 2021 acquired and relaunched The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, adding an outdoor treetop spa and improving its accommodation and dining facilities. Mr Johnston added: 'As international travel continues to rebound and domestic tourism flourishes, our focus remains on delivering premium, experience-led hospitality across our entire property portfolio. "We are proud to contribute to the vibrancy of Northern Ireland's tourism offering and look forward to welcoming even more guests from domestic and overseas markets to experience everything Galgorm has to offer.'
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Galgorm to spend £3m on resort rooms and new forest spa garden as part of major investment
Luxury hotel and spa resort Galgorm has announced a £3m investment in guestroom refurbishment and plans for a forest spa garden. The resort said the changes, part of an overall £40m investment plan, enhanced its thermal spa village while reinforcing its commitment to investing in tourism in Northern Ireland. Parent company Galgorm Collection has spent £2m on room refurbishment, including renovating the six junior suites at the Galgorm, which now have private hot tubs on their balconies overlooking the River Maine. And work to refurbish 45 superior rooms is due to be finished by July. And a new forest spa garden is due to open in the autumn of this year in a further £1m investment which the venue said would offer guests 'a deeper connection to nature'. The garden will be sited opposite the thermal spa village within the resort's woodland area, and will be equipped with four cabanas, three private hot tubs, a sauna and forest walkways. A new bridge will link the new garden to the main spa, which Galgorm said would create 'a fully immersive wellness journey'. Colin Johnston, managing director at Galgorm Collection, said: 'These investments allow us to push boundaries in creating exceptional guest experiences. "The junior suites' private balcony hot tubs offer guests a spa retreat within their own room, while the Forest Spa Garden introduces an entirely new way to relax and reconnect with nature. 'Our guests both from home and overseas can expect even more from Galgorm, and this latest chapter reflects our vision for world-class hospitality here in Northern Ireland.' The forest spa garden will be open to all overnight and day spa guests, but is particularly aimed at guests staying in its forest dens, eco-friendly accommodation combine luxury and an experience close to nature. News Catch Up - Monday 26 May The forest dens, featured in The Irish Independent's Fab 50 list of Ireland's best places to stay in 2025, have a private garden terrace, outdoor shower, wood-fired bath, and private sauna. This latest investment is part of Galgorm's broader £40m expansion strategy, which the group said was 'futureproofing' the industry in Northern Ireland. The resort is the flagship property in Galgorm Collection and has benefited from spending of £60m since 2010. Galgorm Collection recently announced the acquisitions of Galgorm Castle Estate in Ballymena and Roe Valley Resort in Limavady for a total of £28m, with another £22m to be spent to improve both properties in the next five years. Galgorm Collection opened the £15m Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, Co Antrim in 2019, and in 2021 acquired and relaunched The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, adding a £2.5m outdoor treetop spa and improving its accommodation and dining facilities. Mr Johnston added: 'As international travel continues to rebound and domestic tourism flourishes, our focus remains on delivering premium, experience-led hospitality across our entire property portfolio. "We are proud to contribute to the vibrancy of Northern Ireland's tourism offering and look forward to welcoming even more guests from domestic and overseas markets to experience everything Galgorm has to offer.' Galgorm's thermal spa village was named Best Spa Experience 2025 at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards.
