The Best Hotels Near Artis by Phelim O'Hagan, by the Record
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Steps from Royal Portrush Golf Club on the Northern Irish coast, this old-school hotel has been around forever and wears it well: tartan fabrics, dark wood, maritime paintings, and a deep green and blue palette that nods to the Atlantic outside. The Red Sail Room, a bar and restaurant inside, goes velvet banquettes and glowing lamps, which is a different mood entirely. Retro bicycles are on hand for anyone who didn't come just to golf.
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A hire property on the River Bann in County Antrim, Moore Lodge takes the whole-house model seriously: eight ensuite bedrooms in the main house, three converted stable cottages for bigger parties, and a River View Orangery for private dinners that look straight onto the water. Between sessions there's a withdrawing room with an open fire, a snug with a wood stove, and a Thermal Terrace running a hot tub, sauna, and bathhouse.
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Royal Portrush's fourth fairway runs past the window, which sets the tone: this woodland hotel takes golf seriously, with club storage, a putting green, and transfers to the course sorted before you ask. Nine acres of ancient forest shape everything else, from the wood-furnished, forest-hued rooms to a spa using locally gathered ingredients. The Vault downstairs stocks small-batch Bushmills whiskeys for guests who know what they're after.
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A sandstone castle on the shores of Lough Eske, with the Blue Stack Mountains beyond and 43 acres of woodland between you and the rest of the world. This is a luxury hotel that takes the castle brief seriously: spacious rooms, generous suites, and a spa that occupies the footprint of the original Victorian conservatory. Donegal Town is minutes away, which you'll probably forget to visit.
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A golf and spa resort spread across 163 acres of parkland in County Antrim, with the River Maine threading through it. The Thermal Village Spa draws people up from Belfast for its riverside soaking tubs, saunas, and a snow cabin for anyone who enjoys the ritual shock of cold after heat. Rooms lean cozy and contemporary, with plaid accents that make sense given the landscape. The golf here is serious, and several links courses sit within easy reach.