Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Set at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the centre of Ireland, Ballyfin is a place of history and romance, of tranquility and great natural beauty. At Ballyfin formality is blended with ease and enjoyment. The house has long been admired as the most lavish Regency mansion in Ireland, and after eight years of restoration, Ballyfin re-opened in May 2011 as a small 5 star country house hotel like no other. It offers the very best of Irish hospitality in the most beautiful surroundings imaginable. Enjoy the splendid interiors decorated with Irish Art and antiques from around the world. With only twenty rooms for the 614 acre estate, it is the perfect place for a break from the stresses of the modern world and provides discretion and privacy like few other destinations. Conceived on a generous scale for receiving guests, Ballyfin combines magnificence and intimacy in its State rooms. From the grandeur of the Saloon at the heart of the house, the eighty-foot library, the sun filled Conservatory which is reached through a secret door hidden in a bookshelf in the library. At Ballyfin, stone walls enclose 614 acres of parkland, a lake and ancient woods, delightful garden buildings, follies and grottoes. Whether you feel like swimming some laps, enjoying some water exercises or simply relaxing, our indoor pool, overlooking the courtyard garden, will be a beautiful space for invigoration and wellbeing. Come and enjoy life!!
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Ballyfin hotel emerges as a pinnacle of luxury, where guests are consistently impressed by its immaculate grounds and interiors. The service is described as nothing short of exceptional, making guests feel like esteemed visitors with every need anticipated. The atmosphere exudes tranquility, with richly-appointed rooms providing a sanctuary of comfort.
While the lavish amenities, including a sumptuous spa and bespoke experiences, receive high praise, the spa has room for enhancement. Despite the premium price, many travelers assert the unparalleled offerings justify the investment.
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Opulent
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Our family had the most incredible stay at Ballyfin last week. There are truly no words to describe how amazing this hotel is. It felt like a fairy tale.... and perhaps a bit like living at Downtown Abby or as guests of royalty.
Every detail of the experience is designed to make you feel as though you are a personal guest at the estate, rather than at a hotel. With only 20 rooms and over 100 staff that tend to the estate and provide guest service, the level of service is unparalleled.
The care and restoration of this historic estate is breathtaking. Never before have I seen such incredible decorative arts. The antiques alone are like living in a museum. It was clearly a labor of love for the entire restoration team. I can't imagine any other hotel being able to do what this hotel has been able to achieve. The fact that they have been able to restore the original floors, resurrect the conservatory, locate original portraits of the Coote family, find so much of the Coote family china -- it's all simply amazing.
We had truly wonderful service from everyone we met. However, a few names deserve particular mention. Liam gave us a wonderful tour of the estate on the day we arrived. He was engaging, knowledgeable and articulate. Not only did he provide a detail history of the estate and the Coote family, but he pointed out so many unique architectural details and decorative wonders. At cocktails and dinner, Lauren and Anna provided exemplary service. Not only were they engaging, they remembered our unique dietary preferences from night to night. They had a masterful knowledge of each dish and made our dinners feel like celebrations each night we were there. Finally, the general manager, Peter was wonderful. He was welcoming and engaging and made sure everything ran seamlessly.
There were so many little details that make this experience unique. From the free golf carts to explore the walled gardens, to the rows of rain boots ready for explorers, to the after dinner chocolates and the delightful gifts left on our pillows each night... every detail was carefully considered. You have spoiled us for life. I hope that we are able to come back one day - but, in the meantime, thank you for the incredible memories. It was most definitely the highlight of our entire trip to Ireland.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simply extraordinary. The property and grounds are beyond beautiful. You can have a picture in your mind of what an Irish castle hotel would look like and what the grounds could be and I guarantee this will exceed all of those. The fountain alone is almost worth thee stay. It is a cascading waterfall several hundred feet long that rolls down the hill at precisely 8 AM every morning. It would fit right in at Versailles.
Over 600 acres for a mere 20 rooms and a maximum of 40 guests. You feel as if you have the place completely to yourself at all times, and the staff is amazingly solicitous and helpful.
We did skeet shooting one afternoon for our group and spent the rest the time exploring the grounds. They have a bunch of costumes from the Chicago opera company which you can use to dress up and take pictures for dinner. And believe me the shots of your group in this location with these backdrops will be something you will forever.
I’ve stayed in other Irish Castle hotels, and this one candidly blows them away. It’s a must see if you have the means to splurge. Because it is definitely pricey.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
This was our second stay at Ballyfin Demesne and I’m sure it won’t be our last. It is probably the closest to perfection of anyplace we’ve ever stayed, and we have been fortunate enough to stay in dozens of 5-star hotels and resorts around the world.
What sets Ballyfin apart, besides its absolutely phenomenal buildings and grounds, is the thoughtful and genuine service. Everyone on staff is so kind. They truly anticipate every need. For example, I let the front desk know that we sadly had to depart quite early in the morning. It was before normal breakfast hours, but they offered to have tea, coffee and pastries served to us, either in our room or downstairs. We opted for downstairs and had a relaxing and memorable light bite all by ourselves in front of the cosy fireplace in one of the salons. Our car was waiting, all our luggage had been loaded in, and a delightful little package of cookies, apples and bottled water had been left in it for us. The car had been started while we checked out, so that it was warmed up on a frosty morning.
The rooms are lovely, the beds are so comfortable, and the food is delicious. Walking the grounds is tremendously enjoyable, with stellar views in every direction. It’s easy to feel as if you have the whole property to yourself. We walked for five miles one day and saw only one other guest.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big drop in Service levels and no management to be seen to ensure things are running well. Was looking forward to my revisit, but it has changed. They need to really up things or I would recommend to people not to stay here for the price they want. High price with poor service is just not good enough.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I did an all in overnight to Ballyfinn to mark a special birthday. The experience surpassed our expectations. I acknowledge that it is very expensive but it was definitely a worthwhile experience. From the time we arrived and were greeted at the steps of the house we were well looked after by the friendly and professional staff. The grounds and the building are meticulously maintained and the interior has been restored to the standard of a grand manor. We had a relaxing lunch in the conservatory on arrival, evening meal in the restaurant and breakfast the next morning in the restaurant. The service was top class and not in any way intrusive and the food was delicious. Our room was large and beautifully decorated. The swimming pool and sauna were simply decorated but spotless clean and bright. We felt welcome and at home in the lovely house. All in all a fantastic enjoyable experience.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just back from our 2nd visit and will return when we can. A stay here every few years is a reminder of how wonderful the world can be. It’s not a hotel, it’s a trip back in time in the most privileged way. Everything is wonderful but not the least bit stuffy; you can imagine you’re visiting a most fortunate friend. Go early to enjoy the enormous private grounds; there is so much to do and no need to pay extra. Unless you are staying more than 3 nights, you’ll be busy with the walks, biking, golf carts, rowing on the lake, tennis, games, pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and 3 wonderful meals a day, all included. Complimentary champagne on arrival and a drink of your choice before dinner every day. Live piano in the evening. Oh and laundry and shoe polishing are also included should it happen to rain (as it will). Wine with dinner is changed but we were extremely impressed with the knowledgeable sommelier and the many affordable choices he has stocked. Of course if you want there are extras such as a carriage ride, archery, clay pigeon shooting or falconry, or golf can be arranged nearby. Stay at least 2 nights if you possibly can
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â All the rooms are great. Every direction has a water feature- lake, cascade, 2 fountains
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My friend and I stayed at Ballyfin House on Friday 13th of September. As we drove up to the beautiful entrance, we were greeted by Diarmid and Bernadette. Bernadette greeted us with a beautiful smile and guided us in to the main building, She provided us with warm hand towels to clean our hands and a fabulous glass of champagne. She was so professional and so pleasant to both of us we were so impressed. We then met john, who provided up with a wonderful tour of ballyfin house, We later spoke to Anna who was wonderful with all dietary needs we had required for our evening meal. Our server was a pretty girl called Lauren, She was very precise and pleasant and had a beautiful way about her. The turn down staff done a beautiful job on our room (The Little Library) with fresh lavender on our lovely fluffy pillows. We also had the pleasure of meeting Mr Peter White the hotel manager, who was very welcoming to ballyfin hotel. Our breakfast had so much variety and again the staff were so accommodating Overall this was a 5 star experience, Ballyfin is a beautiful quiet and very peaceful place to stay. The bedroom was 5 stars, The Staff were 5 stars and the luxury and comfort was most definitely 5 stars. We without a doubt will be returning again. Thank u to all the staff of Ballyfin
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Explore the beautiful ground with the golf buggy unique scenery and beautiful lakes. The peace...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you want to experience old country house living in the midlands of Ireland you will have to stay at Ballyfin, first you will wonder where the place is and how to get in, the gate is a bit an adventure to find, once you ring the bell the gates will open and the drive up to the mention is beautiful until you come around the bend and see Ballifyn and the staff awaiting for you in front, right from the beginning you feel welcomed. After a glass of champagne we went to our room and it is exactly like in the pictures you see online, the Sir Charles Coote Room comes with a lot of history as every room and the whole estate, the bathroom and Lady Caroline’s bath was my favorite part, first I walked into the bathroom I was wondering how cold it will be with the old stone floor, but there was no money spared during the renovations to make it perfectly comfortable with floor heating and original bathroom tab’s and toilet from England, you will notice this in the whole Estate, the owner spared no cost to get the building back to it,s old glory, maybe even better.
We also enjoyed the activities with clay pitching shooting, it,s a great experience if you never shoot before, and the staff is so connected with the estate, doesn’t matter if you ask for an route to walk or doing the shooting, everyone will tell you a bit more history about the building and their connection to it, what is great and very interesting.
The restaurant is another good reason to stay here, the food is innovative but at the same time traditional local sourced food, the friendly staff will give you all the details where the food was sourced from all the local butcher and bakers or the own vegetable and fruit gardens.
It’s the small things that makes the difference, such ads when we got back from our first night dinner we found our boots beside the bed, I was lucky and had chocolate in mine, where my husband found coal in his ;) It was the weekend os St. Nicolaus we stayed and the tradition in Germany is, if you have been naughty you get coal, that was so cute.
Would I come back? Definitely, I plan already our next stay
Value for money? It is pricy bud worth it
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Take the history tour that is overdeveloped every day at 4pm, it’s great
Not ideally for children
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I visitied this exquisite hotel for the first time for our 10th wedding anniversary in May 2022, this venue has been on my wish list for a while. We were not disapointed! The staff, house itself and the location are sublime. It's a relaxed 5 star experience which is a delicate balance to strike, but Ballyfin does it perfectly.
We flew in to the house (as it was a special occasion) and we were met with the amazing staff who transported us by golf buggy to the front entrance. We had a glass of champagne on arrival, followed by a wonderful lunch in the conservatory.
After lunch we were shown to our room which was beautiful. Traditional interiors, filled with antiques and contemporary additions which complimented the decor wonderfully. It overlooked the lake, right over the front entrance of the house which gave us a wonderful view.
The room had a lovely large bathroom which was luxurious with traditional tasteful touches. A very small minus point was a slightly mis matched, poor performing shower door & the lack of high end tolietries (a very minor gripe though).
Food was exquisite, melt in the mouth fine dining! Loved it. Terrific French sommelier on hand for wine queries or requests!
I can honestly say this Hotel really gets the "customer experience" from start to finish and it does it in and easy unpretentious way!
In summary, staff amazing, venue amazing! This place has ruined me for any other five star experience in Ireland as this is now the standard I measure all the others by and in my opinion there is no comparison! It's Ballyfin all the way!
Planning my next visit already! Love Love Love it!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Would recommend a room with a front view of the lake.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luxury at its Best. Went here for a family dinner. You would expect it to be good , however it was absolutely perfect. The surroundings are among the best in the world, luxury everywhere, the restoration of this magnificent building is unreal, it has taken more time to restore it than it did to build it day 1. Service was exceptional, food to die for. Not been snobbish but you may need to be a bit of a foodie to fully appreciate the menu, particularly the taste of menu. The wine pairing was excellent. The wine list offers a great selection and you won’t have to break the bank for a really good wine.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackets for men at dinner are a must, unless you eat in the bar ( which is comfy and nice but casual) But, don’t do that. Dinner is so wonderful in the dining room. It’s part of the fantasy that is Ballyfin Demense. Women can wear pantsuits, dresses nice slacks. Dress during the day is comfortable since many guests ride horseback, shoot clay pigeons or archery, hike, boat on the lake, fish- you get the point. Your experience can be as formal or as casual as you like. I wore my robe to the pool. No one said boo. The staff are LOVELY!
Ballyfin is not accessible unless you have a dinner reservation or if you are staying. In other words you can't just drive in & enter as you would a regular hotel. You are buzzed in at the main gate.
If you are having dinner there you are permitted to arrive from I think 5.30 ( might be wrong about that time) and then you could have a walk around the house/gardens etc.
Hope that helps. :)
New Orleans, Louisiana48 contributions10 helpful votes
Suppose it depends when you are going. The further ahead the better. It is amazing and worth the effort. We would skip Dublin on our next trip to spend more time there.
There are more places to choose from in the Ballyfin area.
PRICE RANGE
€846 - €1,473 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
ballyfin demesne hotel county laois
LOCATION
IrelandProvince of LeinsterCounty LaoisBallyfin
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.