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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Having undergone a painstaking renovation under the stewardship of Irish billionaire and local boy-done-good JP McManus, Adare Manor was, in 2022, named the number one resort in the world by Condé Nast Traveller. The hotelier (who 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 wing; a sleek sports complex complete with a glorious glass-wall swimming pool (the Padel Club); the jewel in Adare’s culinary crown, the Michelin-starred Oak Room; and a 111 Skin spa. 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.
What’s the vibe?
Honoring the history of the imposing neo-Gothic building—which, with its 365 windows, 52 chimneys, 7 pillars, and 4 towers, is a rare example of a “calendar” house—has been central to the hotel’s 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 suites. The vibe is plush, without being chintzy or fussy, and allows the splendor of the building’s original details to shine. 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.
At the spa, nature is the focus, with an articulated “nature therapy” program advertised as some of the best medicine on offer. An infinity pool within the Padel Club (the exercise and wellness complex—not just the fast-growing sport) abuts the woodland surrounding it, making you feel as though you’re truly forest-bathing. Among the more interior-facing environments, the treatment rooms, like the rest of the exquisite hotel, are thoughtfully appointed, and there you can pick from a 30-page menu of services. Apart from the 111 Skin offerings, there are a number of nature-inspired therapeutic programs, grouped around themes of harmony, balance, renewal, and rebirth.
The history?
Farther back than its recent renovation, Adare was under the direction of Countess Caroline Wyndham-Quin, and it was under her that the property morphed from a relatively modest mansion into a grand neo-Gothic manor in the 19th century. (A stunning cathedral-inspired gallery that was the biggest domestic room in Ireland at the time is where hotel guests now linger over fresh croissants and traditional soda bread in the morning.) 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 hair dryer, the option to summon a perfect Negroni to enjoy as you complete your toilette—would have met with the discerning countess’s approval.
How environmentally friendly is it?
Adare has incorporated measures large and small into its efforts to reduce its environmental impact. There is the standard stuff (the elimination of single-use plastic, robust recycling programs) and, then, more innovative endeavors. The resort manages 840 acres, so that’s a lot of land to (responsibly) tend. There is a solar farm, honeybee hives, and monitoring the quality of the River Maigue, which runs through the resort—just to name a few of the efforts.
What else should we know?
The Oak Room restaurant, 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.
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. Cozy season complete.
Who can go here?
The spa is open to hotel guests (over 16 for facials and over 18 for massage), and as space is limited, reservations are encouraged at the time of booking, at least four to six weeks in advance of your stay.
—Adapted from Kerry McDermott
Booking details for The Spa at Adare Manor
Address: Adare, Co. Limerick, V94 W8WR, Ireland
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.