What it is

A thoroughly modern, 39-room sea-front hideaway in Ireland’s famed County Waterford, with an inventive spa.

What it isn't

Cold. Yes, there are floor to ceiling windows, but the interiors are as cozy as you’d want in Eire, with Donegal tweed fabrics and burnished woods galore.

What we think

Occasionally, parts of Ireland feel a little stuck in the past—and that’s exactly why we like it. But sometimes, only latter-day glamour will do, and when that happens, Cliff House is all you need. Here, rooms are tricked out with terraces, supersized King beds, and bathrooms with rainforest showers and opaque glass windows that fill the interior with the glow of Irish daylight. (Warning: you may fall in love with their French Anne Semonin toiletries). Did we mention your stay includes a la carte breakfast each morning? Pure comfort.

You're here because

The on-site spa is among the most lauded in the country, thanks to its unexpected treatments. (You could, for example, steep in an organic peat or seaweed bath in an outdoor tub set overlooking Ardmore Bay).

The Moment

You’re not always a big planner (it’s vacation, and occasionally a to-do list feels like work). Which is one reason you couldn’t be more delighted with the hotel’s activity offerings. This morning, you’ll whir around the craggy sea cliffs and caves by kayak, the mist in your hair, before returning to the hotel for an afternoon tea with housemade lemon curd and whiskey fruit cake. Paradise, found.

Restaurants & Bars

The House Restaurant - Irish cuisine, made with fresh and local ingredients

The Bar - A sophisticated yet easygoing menu of Irish cuisine

Location

The teensy fishing village of Ardmore (population: 430, at last count), just a block from the Ardmore Cliff Walk—where emerald green cliffs tumble down to the turquoise sea. Here, you’re just over an hour’s drive from Waterford, home of the famed House of Waterford Crystal—open for 50-minute tours.