6 Best Hotels in County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands, Ireland

With structures that date back to the 11th and 16th centuries, and now one of Ireland's grandest hotels, Dromoland Castle's picture-perfect setting and lavish finishes offer a classic fairy-tale feel but with modern comforts. Public spaces are richly decorated with velvet and hardwood furniture and fittings in traditional heritage hues of green, yellow, and crimson; curtains, carpets, chairs, couches, and timber walls capture the essence of an important period home. The large hearth is the focal point for guests who lounge in its glow, while sparkling crystal chandeliers illuminate ancestral portraits. The bedrooms, on the other hand, tell three different stories spanning as many centuries. Much of the recent refurbishment costs have been lavished here, with the addition of luxurious en suite bathrooms and upgrades to bedroom decor, soundproofing, and air-conditioning. Accommodations in the original 19th-century castle cleverly integrate heritage style with modern flair: spacious rooms feature scaled-back Baroque patterns in soothing tones and fresh linen covers on the four-poster beds. Dromoland's Queen Anne section contains the hotel's fully refurbished standard rooms housed in quadrangle-shape 18th-century stables, with all rooms facing an internal courtyard. While the rooms are comparatively modest in size, they are furnished to the same high standard. The final bedroom section is a 20th-century expansion that lies farthest from reception. For dining, the Fig Tree Restaurant in the golf clubhouse offers a casual fireside option, while the Earl of Thomond Restaurant is the place for a chandeliered European feast. Afternoon tea is popular with locals; book ahead. The hotel offers a stunning golf course, tennis, fishing, spa, falconry, and woodlands perfect for jogging and cycling.

Take a stroll through the castle's arched hedge to its ornate garden and note the ancient stone entrance. It was taken from the family's earlier palace on the outskirts of the Burren, Lemanagh Castle.

A remote, luxurious restaurant--hotel with sweeping sea views and a minimalist interior, Inis Meáin Restaurant and Suites offers a unique, modern-monastic retreat in a stunning, low-lying stone-and-glass building that blends with the stonescape of the island. Marie-Thérèse and Ruairí de Blacam's five much-in-demand suites are free of all modern distractions such as TVs or other electronics, featuring a simple, natural blend of stone, wood, and wool and a private terrace so that the focus is directed outward to the exceptional sea and island views, and indirectly inward, as quiet reflection and contemplation is unavoidable in such a private setting. A packed lunch (with homemade soup in a thermos) along with the Inis Meáin Exploration Kit in each suite---island-customized bicycles, binoculars, baited fishing rod, ash walking sticks, beach towels, maps, guides---facilitate exploration of the island.

Miles from the nearest town, this handsome ivy-clad Georgian retreat lies in the heart of the Burren, its turf fires and antique furnishings a draw back to a simpler time. Nobel Prize--winner Seamus Heaney and author J. R. R. Tolkien have both stayed here. Fine dining is a cutting-edge experience with a daily tasting menu using organic produce. The balance of tradition and modern design is also reflected here: modern art is offset by antiques. Guest rooms are bright, airy, and uncluttered; choose either a magical view of stony hills and sparkling sea or a ground-floor room with private patio garden.

With 300 degrees of coastal views and little else but ocean between this retreat and New York, Loop Head Lighthouse is the place to rewind and charge batteries. In keeping with its past, the house is simply furnished with white Shaker furniture, timber flooring, and traditional brass beds. The house can accommodate five people.

Even though this is a large, luxury hotel in central Galway, snazzily converted from a 200-year-old warehouse, it feels like a home away from home, thanks to attentive owner-managers. From the porter who organizes the valet parking of your car to the friendly reception and bar staff, everyone seems to want to help. The Park House actually only reveals its origins in its exterior; inside, a modern wing has been cleverly incorporated. Furnished with sofas and coffee tables, the lobby area is a quiet rendezvous for morning coffee. The lively bar has a big local clientele, and serves food until 9:30 pm; there is also a large formal restaurant. Guest room windows are triple-glazed—in some cases twice (against the noise of late-night revelers). The very quietest ones overlook an interior roof garden. The fanciest have high ceilings and antiques, combined with striking modern prints in warm colors. All are spacious, with good-quality Art Deco–style furniture, and have generous-size bathrooms.

Not your typical West of Ireland bolt-hole, this B&B has the elegance of a luxurious, small, boutique hotel with the charm and warm welcome of a B&B. The walnut flooring, large modern en suites, and marble-floor conservatory where breakfast is served are all divine, but pale in comparison to the magnificent views over Galway Bay. It's tucked into a Salt Hill residential area close to a golf club, away from Galway's heady nightlife, so a good night's sleep is guaranteed.