In addition to Ballyfin being named as the over all winner, the two other Irish hotels who were in the Top 10 were Ashford Castle and Waterford Castle. Congratulations to one and all.
Amazing to think that an Irish hotel topped the list, or is it? The more you read about Ballyfin - its little wonder that the 20-room Georgian home was their favourite. Just an hour and a half far from Dublin, many people describe the hotel as akin to a step back into the past, a romantic dream or a perfect setting for an honeymoon.
Ballyfin's team collected some of the most enthusiastic comments of the visitors on their website:
Ballyfin. It was like stepping back in the past without the inconvenience of no electricity. The personal attention...the welcome of the people, the setting, the food, I should be their PR manager. - Richard E Grant
"I'm crazy about this place, everything there is perfect". - Michael Smith, Celebrity Interior Decorator
Photo Credit: Ballyfin website
"Ballyfin is simply divine. The best mini break I have ever had and I hope to return very soon to the delights of food and luxury" - Deirdre & Peter, Limerick
Condé Nast is not the first company to reward the amazing Ballyfin Luxury Hotel! Since it opened in 2011 and 2016 Ballyfin has received more than thirty awards from all over the world.
The images alone make it easy to understand why this country house enjoys continued success; every detail is breathtaking including the Entrance Hall, below, which is home to a richly-patterned antique, mosaic floor, which came from Italy in 1822.
Photo Credit: Ballyfin website
The gardens of the estate are fairytale-esque; its natural and man-made beauties include the medieval-style tower, built in the 1860's, the walled garden with its formal borders and an abundant wildlife.
Photo Credit: The Irish Times
On a cold day when it's too chilly for a walk, the hosts can enjoy an outstanding collection of paintings and drawings of Ireland, by local and international artists alike. From the Estate Rooms to the first floor, the creative spirit of Ireland is on display, working perfectly with the refined furniture.
Photo Credit: Ballyfin website
Gemma Nisbet, The West Australian Travel, shared her view of Ballyfin: "It’s like something out of Jane Austen", and it is, indeed!
The site of Ballyfin "was ancestral home in succession to the O’Mores, the Crosbys, the Poles, the Wellesley-Poles – the family of the Duke of Wellington – and later the Cootes.".
What did Condé Nast say about the Ballyfin Demesne?
If you’ve ever dreamed of summering at a country house, you couldn’t do much better than this stately, 20-room Georgian home, about an hour and a half north of Dublin. Beyond the regal four-poster canopy beds, gilded mirrors, and richly textured wallpapers, there are 614 acres of secluded private gardens begging to be strolled. But the real highlight? Having a butler row you out on the lake before enjoying a sumptuous lunch at the picnic house.
Once again, congratulations Ballyfin!
