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At Adare Manor, evidence of the lifestyle Caroline Wyndham-Quin enjoyed as its chatelaine is everywhere you look. It was under the Countess of Dunraven’s direction that the property morphed from a relatively modest mansion into a grand neo-Gothic manor in the 19th century, home to a stunning cathedral-inspired gallery that was the biggest domestic room in Ireland at the time, and now is where hotel guests linger over fresh croissants and traditional soda bread as morning sunlight pours through the stained glass windows.
Lady Caroline’s initials are still carved into an original marble fireplace that is a focal point of one luxury suite, where a freestanding bathtub overlooks manicured formal gardens studded with topiary. One senses the contemporary additions to her erstwhile boudoir—the Acqua di Parma products, the Dyson hairdryer, the option to summon a perfect Negroni to enjoy as you complete your toilette—would have met with the discerning countess’s approval.
The Vogue review: Adare Manor
Having undergone a painstaking renovation under the stewardship of Irish billionaire and local boy-done-good JP McManus, Adare Manor was recently named the number one resort in the world by Condé Nast Traveller. The hotelier (he also owns the uber-luxe Sandy Lane in Barbados) has poured undisclosed sums into Adare since taking over in 2015, overseeing additions like a sensitively conceived new wing; a sleek sports complex complete with glorious glass-walled swimming pool in the Padel Club; a 111 Skin spa, and the jewel in Adare’s culinary crown, the Michelin-starred Oak Room. That’s before we get to the golf course, which has been reimagined by architect Tom Fazio (the Renzo Piano of the golf world) and was central to the resort’s successful bid to host the 2027 Ryder Cup. McManus—whose helicopter alighted on the lawn during Vogue’s stay—isn’t done yet. A stone workers’ cottage on the estate is in the process of being converted into a traditional chocolate shop. All part of his master plan to put Adare Manor on the map not just in Ireland, but around the globe.
What’s the aesthetic?
Honoring the history of the imposing Neo-Gothic building—which, with its 365 windows, 52 chimneys, seven pillars, and four towers, is a rare example of a “calendar” house—has been central to the hotel’s multi-million-pound makeover. And so, 18th-century aristocrats survey the light-filled drawing room from oil paintings that line the walls, and vast tapestries hang in the Gallery and over beds in the master suites. The vibe is plush, without being chintzy or fussy, and allows the splendor of the building’s original details to shine—the gargoyles on the facade, as well as the Hogswarts-ish heraldry and carved wooden ravens in the grand hall, only add to the transportive feel. The small, special details—a traditional horse-drawn carriage tour of the grounds, a patch of woods that’s been turned into an “enchanted forest” dotted with ceramic toadstools and fairy huts, a Yeats poem left on your pillow at turndown—are where Adare excels.
Describe the crowd:
Golfers surveilling the whiskey selection in the Tack Room. Families celebrating special occasions. Couples enjoying a romantic escape. Designer bag-toting girlfriends availing of the mythic properties of 111 Skin’s Black Diamond treatments. You’re also virtually guaranteed to overhear American accents at breakfast: the area is known as the gateway to Ireland’s scenic southwest, making it an ideal pitstop for U.S. visitors keen to connect with their Irish ancestry on a grand tour of the country.
What’s for dinner?
The Oak Room, housed in what was the grand family dining room, has become a destination in its own right thanks to award-winning seasonal tasting menus built around the very best Irish produce—think Connemara oysters, locally reared lamb, and Durrus cheese from County Cork. The dress code is smart and the dishes sophisticated, but the vibe is mercifully unstuffy (something of a theme at Adare, which manages to combine its impeccably attentive service with uniquely Irish affability). The Carriage House has you covered for more casual fare, serving wood-fired pizzas at lunch and steakhouse favorites after dark. Adare’s excellent club sandwich—always the marker of a truly great hotel—also warrants an honorable mention.
Why go now?
No one goes to Ireland in search of good weather, and Adare Manor—with its velvet sofas and wingback chairs that cry out to be curled up in, and crackling fireplaces at every turn—really lends itself to an autumn escape. Take a stroll through the fragrant walled garden, get to know Adare’s (adorable) fluffy owl community with a falconry experience, or hop on a bicycle and head for the pretty local village, replete with colorful thatch cottages and quaint pubs—time it right, and you could catch some traditional live music. Cozy season, complete.