Checking into Adare Manor in Ireland for next level luxury and a visit to their brand new sushi restaurant Ōku

Looking towards Adare Manor from its gorgeous gardens

Didn't this place recently top the Condé Nast Traveller awards?

It did. Back in 2022, it was chosen as the No. 1 Resort in the World AND the No. 1 Resort in Europe. And in 2026 it got their Triple Crown, a new award only given to hotels that have made it onto the magazine's hot list, gold list and the Readers' Choice Awards. It's fair to say that this is a very impressive place.

Give us a primer then...

It's a luxury Irish manor hotel that's set in 840 acres of parkland, with xx bedrooms and staterooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a golf course that's playing host to next year's Ryder Cup and that's just a small part of it. The owner is the Irish billionaire JP McManus, who hails from the area, and also owns Sandy Lane in Barbados.

Where is it?

Adare is in the west of Ireland, in Limerick. But it's incredibly easy for Londoners to get to. You can take a one-hour flight to Shannon from any of London's airports (except City) and from there it's barely a 30-minute taxi ride to the resort. It would be very easy to do as an overnight or short break stay.

So why are we going now?

In addition to their Michelin-starred Oak Room restaurant, and its more casual Carriage House offering, the hotel has just opened Ōku, its brand new sushi restaurant which we were here to try out. The 24-seat restaurant is situated out in the hotel's Carriage House, a short walk from the hotel. It's a gorgeous space, with huge windows overlooking the gardens and an open kitchen so you see chef Jan Vincent Amo and his team at work.

Chef Jan Vincent talks us through the sashimi selection 

Bluefin Tuna Shibaki (24 euros) - perfect crispy rice topped with spicy bluefin tuna.

Truffled wagyu (42 euros) - one of the nicest dishes we've had in a long time. Everyone else seemed to be ordering the miso black cod, but we definitely feel we made the better choice here.

What else is there for foodies to do?

Elsewhere in the grounds, you'll find Harry Lowes Chocolate, a chocolate shop in an old groundsman's cottage where you can see fresh chocolates being made, and even take part in workshops yourself. Chocolates change seasonally, with everything including the praline and ganaches being made in house. On our visit, there was an amazing golf medal and American flag crafted in chocolate to mark the visit of the American Ryder Cup team's captain Jim Furyk that weekend.

Obviously, we had to take some of those chocolates home with us...

What are the rooms like?

As you might imagine from a hotel of this level, they're gorgeous. We stayed in a twin stateroom in the manor house itself but there are also signature suites with butlers and lodges in the grounds if you prefer your own space. Ours had views across the lawns and parkland and we appreciated the minibar stocked with local sodas and beer. Even checking into the hotel is an experience with a fully stocked trolley of sweets and the offering of a mini cocktail (or mocktail) while they complete the paperwork.

Our twin room in the Manor house at Adare featured maybe the most comfortable beds we've ever slept in our lives. 

We'll presume there are plenty of activities too?

In addition to that championship golf course, the hotel has its own Padel Club and a spa, and we spotted families having a go at falconry or just using the hotel's bikes to head on up to Adare village which is a gorgeous place to check out in its own right.

But one activity we would urge you to book is the horse-drawn carriage guided tour. This takes you on a gentle amble through the grounds, past the Norman castle ruins and our guide gave us a potted history of the estate's original owners through to its current ones.

Our carriage tour guide

How's the breakfast?

Breakfast is held in the gorgeous 19th-century Gallery, complete with minstrels' gallery, medieval carvings and soaring ceilings. Not only was the cooked full Irish a must-have, complete with Clonakilty white and black puddings, but the buffet is exceptional and staff encourage you to take boxes of pastries away with you for later. The room is also used for the hotel's afternoon teas. We also loved that they had a page of cocktails in their breakfast menu ranging from the traditional Mimosas and Bloody Marys through to Bellinis and even Irish Coffees.

It's a pretty impressive spot to have breakfast in.

Overall thoughts:

We must admit that a trip to Adare has long been on our bucket list. We'd heard so much about its legendary hospitality, and we weren't disappointed. Of course it looks amazing, but when the settings are backed up by top-tier service, then it becomes a different experience entirely. We'd rank it on the same level as Estelle Manor in the UK for a luxury stay. But what makes Adare unique is that Irish welcome - we've never felt so cossetted in such a relaxed way.

One thing to note: if you're planning a trip here to coincide with the Ryder Cup, you should know that the hotel itself is going to be given over to both teams and their families. But you can come on either side of the Championship, and we really think you should.

The drawing room at Adare