Cliff House Hotel
Ardmore, County Waterford, Ireland
THE PERSONALITIES
Coastal wanderers. Storm chasers. Sea-foragers and soul-seekers. Artists of quiet. Travelers who find peace in weather and poetry in the tide.
MOMENTS
Salt on your skin before breakfast. Watching waves hammer the cliffs from your soaking tub. Oysters by firelight. Sea mist curling through your terrace door. A sunrise swim followed by seaweed therapy. Nights wrapped in Irish linen and the sound of the sea.
Best Visiting Months
March through October. Spring arrives with wildflowers on the cliffs and coastal hikes full of fresh air. Summer brings long golden evenings and Atlantic swims. Autumn is dramatic and quiet - the perfect season for bath rituals, fireplace conversations, and storm-watching with a glass in hand.
Cost
Why stay
Cliff House Hotel is one of those rare retreats where luxury feels earned. Built directly into the cliffside above Ardmore Bay, each of its six terraced floors spills down toward the sea, creating a seamless connection between architecture and ocean. No matter where you sleep - whether in one of the 39 sea-facing rooms or suites - the view is uninterrupted: navy blue waters stretching endlessly toward the horizon, framed by private balconies and warmed by Irish light.
The interiors are a gentle nod to nature, with a palette of moss green, marine blue, limestone, and oak. It’s five-star luxury, but with the grounding charm of a place that knows its roots. Ardmore Bay itself is steeped in history, once an ancient fishing village and now known as Ireland’s "gourmet heartland." And while the Cliff House dates back to the 1930s, its modern incarnation feels like a perfect fusion of past and present, where warm hospitality, sea air, and deep sleep all seem to go hand in hand.
Why wander
From this perch on the southeastern coast of Ireland, the world feels open, untamed, and full of story. Ardmore Bay is a dream for walkers and wanderers: from windswept cliff trails and golden beaches to old churches and thatched-roof cottages. The Ardmore Cliff Walk is a must—offering sweeping views of the sea and relics from the past, including a 12th-century round tower and early Christian ruins. From November to February, the coastline becomes a front-row seat for humpback whale sightings. Just inland, you’ll find the Blackwater River, a haven for quiet fishing, and further afield, the cultural trail of southern Ireland unfurls: browse the seaside market at Dungarvan, explore the grandeur of Lismore Castle, or follow the Waterford Garden Trail through 15 lush and storied gardens. End the day with a whiskey at Henry Downes Bar—bottling its own since 1759 and one of the few of its kind left in Ireland. Here, every path leads to a place worth pausing, and every pause feels like part of the story.
INDULGE IN
Michelin-starred tasting menus built around local seafood, herbs, and wild Atlantic flavors. Fresh crab and warm brown bread after a swim. Irish whiskey by the fire.
GETTING THERE
Cliff House Hotel is located in Ardmore, County Waterford - about a 1.5-hour drive from Cork or 2.5 hours from Dublin. The final stretch hugs the coastline, winding through lush green hills and fishing towns before the sea opens up at your feet.
WILD INITIATIVES
Cliff House honors the land and sea it sits on—sourcing ingredients from local farmers and fishers, supporting native biodiversity through sustainable landscaping, and reducing impact through efficient energy and water systems. The spa integrates traditional Irish elements—like wild seaweed, salt, and herbs—into its treatments, grounding every ritual in nature. It’s a place where luxury means living well with the land, not in spite of it.
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