We stayed one night upstairs and came down for the included breakfast at the pub. 5 stars for each…read moreindividual experience! The room was cozy and comfortable with a queen size bed. Had a wardrobe and two windows. TV didn't really work but we just came there to sleep really. Room was so clean. Checked in late and it was smooth. Breakfast the next morning was delightful. We had an amazing cocoa, lots of toast, Eggs Benedict that was incredible. And everything is served via a fancy robot that played Christmas carols. What an awesome time to stay and eat here.

From the cheerful greeting at reception to our new friends, Daniel and John, this place is top…read morenotch! It was our first stop on a whirlwind week in Ireland and it's truly what you picture the word "inn" to mean. Small, cozy, somewhat off the beaten path, and just lovely. We had our first Guinness of the week there in the front pub with a cheerful fireplace and seemingly several locals bellied up (always a good sign in my opinion). Daniel (one of the managers) became an instant friend. He continued to give us GREAT recs for our short stay, even so much as writing them down on a napkin for me. Owner John Nevin greeted us each day with a smile and a story. The included breakfast is yummy and the dinner we had one night was amazing. It's also directly across the street from access to Clew Bay where we took a lovely hike along the water and sheep farms. It is located for easy access for a day trip to Achill Island (DO NOT MISS THIS). The price is right and accommodations more than satisfactory. We just loved it!

Great find in this beautiful seaside town Ballycastle on…read morethe wild Atlantic way, so nice to be able to get an excellent meal in a country town without the inconvenience of looking for parking. Restaurant is new and the food prepared to a standard befitting a Michelin Star. Staff were so attentive and friendly we felt we had made new friends for life. We felt so welcomed we had a few pints and stayed locally. They even offered us free camping. What a treasure in this beautiful part of Ireland. We will definitely be back.

From the owner: A great pub with outstanding bar food from 12.30pm to 8.30 pm Monday to Saturday. Last orders at…read more7.30 pm on Sunday.

As an earlier reviewer noted, this is really a three star hotel that should not be selling itself…read moreas a four star. While generally okay, it was mostly just a bit underwhelming and very average. We had got a deal off one of the voucher pages which included a spa treatment and brekkie both mornings. Firstly, my spa treatment was a back, neck and shoulder massage and while not the worst that I've had, was far from the best. The relaxation suite was quite nice but the jacuzzi was tiny and overcrowded when we were there. The breakfast was overall poorish enough in my opinion. I ordered the baked egg but it was so runny as to be practically inedible (for me anyway) The selection of breads, fruits etc was again just not four star. I didn't actually bother with coming down for breakfast the following day to be honest but my partner did pick up a few croissants for me to nibble with my coffee in the room. I did have a club sandwich later that night in the Middleton Bar and that was delicious in fairness. Plus their cocktails are pretty amazing too!!

I am rather undecided about rating this hotel and feel a little mean giving it only 2 stars as we…read moregot such a good deal at €99 per room for a night including breakfast with either a spa treatment or golf which had to be booked in advance. Castle Dargan Hotel is not a castle, but a modern built hotel. It is situated in a lovely country setting with wonderful mature trees and views of the surrounding hills and the golf course. It is supposed to be a four star Hotel but it is more deserving of 3 stars. Our accommodation was in an apartment which is in a separate block - very industrial looking - away from the main hotel, as all the hotel rooms were fully booked. While the bedroom was cosy and warm, the bathroom was very small but most alarming for a Hotel of this caliber was the dirty state of the shower! The reception area of the hotel is very austere and cold, badly lacking a fireplace for the winter months, and the main bar which looks out over the first tee of the golf course, was uninviting and freezing cold - but could be due to the floor to ceiling windows and the rainy weather at the time we were there - however, it lacked complete atmosphere. We had dinner in the adjoining restaurant at the reasonable price of approx. €27 for 3 courses and this was really delicious with lovely, friendly waiting staff and a very good choice. Breakfast the next morning was also very good too with a reasonable choice on offer. However, my biggest gripe was with the spa treatment..yes I know it was included in the price for the overnight stay...but it was such a disappointment. I had opted for the balneotherapy and boy was I sorry! Having been given a nice cosy warm dressinggown and slippers, and guided to the supposedly relaxation area to wait for my therapist - this area was crowded with women who sat around chatting out loud, the room was far too bright and certainly not relaxing! Eventually the therapist came and took my to the room for the balneotherapy bath and she explained that it would take 20 minutes and then promptly left the room. The temperature of the bath was just barely tepid and utterly disappointing as a result. When I complained afterwards, with my goose-pimpled body, I was told that there was a problem with the water in this area and the Therapist apologised profusely. Luckily, I was able to go the steam room immediately to heat up! I passed on my complaint to the main receptionist later and she immediately called the Spa Manager to relay my concerns and once again, apolgised profusely. I have no quibble really with the staff who were all very attentive and friendly, but the place seems to seriously lack a good management structure, particularly in the Spa area. Incidentally, my friend who had booked a massage, also complained of the cold, the long wait for her massage, despite booking in advance, and the fact that the therapist yawned constantly while massaging, which was very offputting and ineffective for my friend. Perhaps, I will try the golf next time as I understand the course is very good!

The Belleek Castle looks a bit like fairy tales. After crossing a huge fortified gate, you travel…read moreseveral hundred meters in a large wooded park to finally appearing at the corner of a bend, placed on a hill, a castle with gray hues contrasting incredibly with a grass of a green not found. Crossing the front door, you are immersed in a world that oscillates between the medieval armor, the remains of eighteenth century ships used to make the bar, chandeliers and buffets that would not demerit in the most beautiful museums. The restaurant is in the same style though a bit more rustic. It is true that the castle is regularly busy for weddings or seminars. So you need solid! Paul Doran is a well-informed amateur, almost enlightened by his obsession of beautiful bottles. He has a superb cellar that would make many sommeliers green with envy. The list is longer than the Nile, with multiple international variations. In addition, our owner does not force the sale since he guided me to a bottle, a Pinot noir Rochioli 2013, much cheaper than the one I had originally chosen, a 2012 Sonoma Pinot Noir Kosta Brown Coast. And as we sympathized, he offered me in the middle of the meal to open my first choice to taste it! We ended up sampling a Château d'Yquem 1997. Do I really have to comment? !! But back to the plate, that was our first reason to come here. When I informed our landlady that we were going to dinner at Belleek Castle, her billiard-eyed eyes made me understand its reputation for excellent food was well established. The breads are really excellent. Particularly this "soda bread" which is made not with yeast but with baking soda and milk "ribot". It is accompanied by brioche bread for those who want lighter to start. As an appetizer, a few slices of smoked beef with mushroom mayonnaise and cucumber. It's pretty thin. It is unfortunate that the slice of cucumber is too thick and without any seasoning. The other elements are worked and it is a little rough in the middle of others. As a starter, chef David O'Donnell uses local "fuel", turf, to smoke a piece of lamb. It's good but we would like a little more strength. Either the turf does not give a particular taste, and in this case, as much smoked with conventional wood, or while the meat should be smoked a little longer. This starter is very good but less original than expected. The scallops are presented with a crumbled crab and mussels. The first are perfectly cooked, neither the crab nor the mussels come to encroach on their fine taste. The few branches of dill bring a welcome herbaceous power. And some caviar grains more. We start the tough part with drunk beef at Jameson. Impressive (and funny) preparation of a beef tenderloin stuck on an authentic fifteenth-century sword made in Taiwan. The waiter dramatically blazes at Jameson whiskey. This "service en salle" is like you don't often see! The deer fillet is perfectly cooked, "rosé" and very tender. Country accompaniment of vegetables. Fortunately we are spared the evergreen potatoes that invade Irish dishes too often. Beautiful Pavlova with wild red fruits for dessert. It is therefore a beautiful discovery that this Belleek Castle, with a very pleasant atmosphere, a little outdated but I love it. I will return one day to discover the rooms. Do not hesitate to take a tour before or after your meal at the bar. It is made of ship recovery wood and is shaped like a quarter-deck. Apart from the radiator that detonates a bit, the owner has created an atmosphere out of time. Thanks again to Paul Doran for welcoming us and having some of his beautiful bottles tasted. A little inconvenience, the chef is a little rigid on the menu service schedules. Very reasonable addition of 219,50 euros for 2. I do not integrate the two glasses of Yquem extra.

Definitely stop here if you are in the area. The castle has ten bedrooms for those that want to…read morestay overnight and a wonderful bar and restaurant. We stopped in to have a drink and really enjoyed the experience. Excellent way to end our day.