A new guide has named the best hotels to visit in Northern Ireland for 2023.
The Sunday Times' chief travel writer, Chris Haslam, travelled around Northern Ireland seeking out the best hotels the region has to offer as part of their annual Best Places to Stay Guide.
The list includes a number of hotels that have been around for a while, with plenty of newcomers featured too. Options come from around the region, with locations on the North Coast and Antrim Coast featuring, alongside those from Derry and Belfast.
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Here are the top seven hotels in Northern Ireland to visit in 2023 according to The Sunday Times:
The Salthouse, Ballycastle
The family-run, 24-room luxury hotel near the beach in Ballycastle made it to the top of the list.
The review praised their "carbon-negative" approach, as all the power is provided by wind turbines and solar panels, whilst heating and hot water from air source heat pumps.
As well as this, the hotel's "Scandi-style rooms", spa with outdoor hot tubs with views to Rathlin Island, and a locally sourced dinner menu all helped this spot receive top marks.
Bushmills Inn, Bushmills
This North Coast favourite, which started out as a Coaching Inn in the 1600s, was praised for its location, near the Giant's Causeway and the Bushmills Distillery, as well as its "fabulous service."
But what really stood out for Chris Haslam was the "magnificent breakfasts and terrific Sunday roast" on offer.
Additionally, the guide stated that the hotel has managed to retain its authenticity despite its touristy location.
Galgorm, Ballymena
Ballymena's finest was described as "looking more like a Mitteleuropa health resort than an Irish hotel", with the 122 room hotel praised for its extensive spa facilities and Thermal Village.
The hotel's rooms were described in the guide as feeling "more Austrian than Antrim."
The Rabbit, Templepatrick
The Rabbit opened its doors in Templepatrick in July 2020, and is described in the guide as a "foodie boutiquey spa."
Praise was given to the hotel's cocktail menu and comforting food offerings.
Bishop's Gate, Derry
Described by The Sunday Times as Derry's "grandest hotel," the review looks back at the hotel's history, including the times it hosted famous faces such as WB Yeats and Winston Churchill.
It added that the hotel's "architectural grandiosity is undermined by the good humour of its down-to-earth staff."
Special mentions were given to The Gown Restaurant and the Wig Champagne Bar, while its 31 rooms were described as "comfortable, if a touch corporate."
The 1852, Belfast
Formerly known as The Crescent, The 1852 is praised for its "buzzing bar on the ground floor and big rooms with beds made for long lie-ins."
Although highlighting the lack of a lift and music from the bar below "could be off-putting for some," The Sunday Times added the hotel on Botanic has a "fun, inclusive vibe."
On top of this, special mention was given to the nice touch of getting a free beer in return for checking yourself in.
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction, Belfast
The eccentricity and design of The Harrison, owned and decorated by Melanie Harrison, is praised, with the review calling the hotel "an odd delight."
The 16 rooms are filled with antiques and art, with each room dedicated to a different "Northern Irish hero."
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