Hotel Snapshot
Cashel Palace Hotel, a County Tipperary Relais & Châteaux that reopened in 2022 following a renovation, is in the swath of Ireland known as the Golden Vale. It sounds like a kingdom in Game of Thrones, and it looks like it, too. Green rolling hills and golden pastures are dotted with ruins of medieval castles and cathedrals. The hotel is surrounded by bucolic, calming countryside, but also nestled in a market town. There are restaurants, pubs and shops to walk to and ruins to explore. The most notable, the Rock of Cashel, is just behind the hotel and has centuries worth of stories, some miraculous, some tragic, to tell.
Design + Character
Owned by the Magnier family, one of the most prominent thoroughbred breeding and racing families in Ireland (the family’s nearby Coolmore Stud Farm is world-renowned), the hotel oozes classic equestrian style and modern comforts. It took five years for conservation architects and master craftsmen to restore the grand Palladian building– built in 1732 for the Archbishop of Cashel–with a unique dual façade, red brick on the front and limestone on the back. Palladian architecture was essentially the precursor to Georgian style.
Architects preserved ornate plasterwork, Corinthian columns and timber paneling while adding new construction, including a Garden Wing, a spa, and a light-filled swimming pool overlooking restored gardens featuring mulberry trees planted in the early 1700s.
The stately main hall is a warm refuge from Ireland’s often fickle weather, featuring two large stone fireplaces with backplates embellished with the Bishop of Cashel’s coat of arms. This space and others have high ceilings, furniture in jewel-toned upholstery and walls adorned with equestrian artworks in ornate gold frames. Some are one-off reproductions of the Magnier’s private collection.
The Rooms
Guest rooms are spread throughout different buildings, including the Main House, a restored carriage house, a gatehouse, a historic schoolhouse as well as the new Garden Wing. It’s an impressive achievement that the design still feels cohesive (I’ve stayed in many castle/manor house hotels where this hasn’t been the case). Interior designers carried the pretty pastel hues throughout. Historic rooms feel fresh, and rooms in the new build have rich details. The Garden Wing Suite with two kings beds, a separate living area and a walk-in wardrobe had more than enough room for our family of four.
The Main House Suite I stayed in on another visit, with original cornicing rimming the high ceilings, a king-size bed, a gleaming white marble bathroom, and views of the Rock, was flawless.
Food + Drink
The Golden Vale’s pastures produce a rich bounty of ingredients: legendary apples, a tangy Cashel Blue cheese, and locally reared lamb and beef. Cashel Palace’s Bishop’s Buttery restaurant, which is in the building’s original vaulted kitchen, earned a Michelin star in 2024. Tasting menus showcase local ingredients and French technique. My husband and I devoured West Cork lobster with spring peas, lemon, saffron and Oscetra caviar and Wicklow Sika deer with pear, parsnip and chanterelles while sitting next to the central brick fireplace
The hotel’s more casual offering is a beloved local pub called Mikey Ryan’s which the Magniers restored and reopened. Hotel guests can eat fluffy scones paired with locally produced jam in the Queen Anne Tea Room, adorned with panels detailing dressage instructions, and sip rare Irish whiskies at the Residents Cocktail Bar. One of the archbishops who lived at Cashel Palace, Archbishop Price, was Arthur Guinness’s godfather. The original Guinness brewery was founded with a £100 bequest from Price, and the hotel’s Guinness Bar pours frothy pints of Ireland’s favorite beverage.
Amenities
Both times I stayed at Cashel Palace, I went on a thrilling cross-country horseback ride soaring over log features. The hotel employs a full-time equine concierge to help visitors explore the region’s rich equine heritage through visits to see the famous stallions at Coolmore, horse treks up Tipperary Mountain and rides and lessons at family-owned Crossogue Equestrian Center.
Spa and Wellness Scoop
In addition to excellent cuisine and equestrian activities, Cashel Palace is a retreat for wellness seekers. Its modern spa wing has a “Thermal Suite” with hot and cold showers, Klafs steam room and sauna and a heated pool. Spa treatments feature products by Bamfords, Voya and Valmont. The 90-minute Bamfords Ritual, with a salt foot bathing ritual, a combination of Japanese and Swedish massage, and heated chakra stones, was the best jet lag cure.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Cashel Palace is located on Cashel’s Main Street, and guests simply need to walk along the hotel’s treelined avenue to get to the heart of town, where there are bakeries and boutiques, like Rossa Pottery. Cashel Palace operates Donoghue's Irish Pub, where there’s traditional Irish music on Mondays and Thursdays. From the manicured gardens in the back of the hotel, guests have private access to the Bishop’s Walk, a path that leads to the Rock, one of Ireland’s most visited tourist attractions. The seat of Munster’s Kings, where St. Patrick himself converted the king in the 5th century, visitors can see the remains of important ecclesiastical buildings. Cormac’s Chapel contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland.
Fast Facts
Location: Main St, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, E25 EF61, Ireland
Rating: 5-Star
Starting Nightly Rate: Starting at $379 per night
The vibe: Irish elegance with a contemporary touch. The varied dining and imbibing options keep it lively and fun.
Room Count: 42 rooms, including 8 suites
Our Favorite Thing About The Hotel: The swimming pool with an innovative design allows guests to swim from indoors out through an opening and breathe in the invigorating Irish air.
Main Amenities: Spa, fitness center, three restaurants, indoor swimming pool, family rooms, tea/coffee maker in all rooms, concierge services, included breakfast, pet-friendly
Nearby Attractions: Cashel Folk Village, St. Peter the Rock Cathedral & Dominic's Abbey
Closest Airport: The international Cork Airport (ORK) is an hour from Cashel. The hotel is about two hours from Dublin.
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