Nestled in an alcove of pine trees just off the fairway on the fourth hole at Royal Portrush is the Dunluce Lodge.
It is a luxurious five-star hotel that offers golfers and those visiting the Northern Irish seaside town one of the best stays on the Emerald Isle.
Named after the nearby Dunluce Castle – a Medieval fortress that is situated just a five-minute drive up the road between Portballintrae and Portrush – the Dunluce Lodge is the perfect place to stay if you’re planning on visiting Royal Portrush and the network of brilliant golf courses Northern Ireland has to offer.
In fact, Rory McIlroy and his family stayed here when the Open Championship came to town in July 2025.
This £16.5million hotel was opened in the autumn of 2024, just in time for the Open’s return the following year.
It boasts 35 luxury suites and a private lodge, The Stookan, an exclusive guest house which features eight bedrooms.
The Dunluce Lodge is a five-star luxury hotel nestled in an alcove of pine trees on the fairway of the fourth hole at Royal Portrush
It is a luxurious, five-star hotel that offers golfers and those visiting the Northern Irish seaside town one of the best stays on the Emerald Isle
This £16.5million hotel was opened in the Autumn of 2024, just in time for the Open’s return the following year. It features a spa (left) and its very own putting green (centre), with views backing on to the Dunluce Links
The hotel’s large white buildings may stand out among the woodland that surrounds the Causeway Coastal Route, but as you first arrive at the property, you’ll feel a sense of grandeur.
Guests are greeted by the charismatic and helpful staff, who offered to carry my golf bag and suitcase to my room. This continues right through your stay as the exceptionally diligent and friendly hotel staff cater to your every need.
So let’s take a look at what the Dunluce Lodge has to offer.
The Rooms
The Dunluce Lodge offers up a warm and cosy feel, that is very much a welcome escape after a cold day on the links.
Interior designers have done a sensational job of creating a warming atmosphere in this hotel. But they have also paid homage to the colours of the Antrim coast.
Each of the bright and modern suites boasts dark herringbone green and tartan blue pieces of furniture, that reflect the grassy cliffs and North Atlantic that wraps its way around Portrush.
Dark oak panelled walls are also seen throughout the property, which again add to the elegance and grandeur of the Dunluce Lodge.
In my room, hotel staff had even placed several books, detailing Northern Ireland’s history, as well as an encyclopaedia on the history of Royal Portrush.
The Dunluce Lodge offers up a warm and cosy feel, that is very much a welcome escape after a cold day on the links
Interior designers have done a sensational job of creating a warming atmosphere in this hotel. But they have also paid homage to the colours of the Antrim coast.
Planning a golf trip to Northern Ireland? <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/golf/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Advertisement
It made for excellent reading prior to my round on the Dunluce Links.
The minibar is well stocked, with soft drinks, local craft beers, wines and even a mini bottle of Bollinger.
One of the best things about my stay at the Dunluce Lodge was the large king-size bed in my suite. Hotel staff provide 300 thread count luxury Egyptian cotton bed linen in all of their rooms, meaning you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
Staff even arrived to turn down my room late in the evening and left no detail unturned, even placing chocolates on my pillow.
The Dunluce Lodge also offers some excellent value deals, including an overnight bed and breakfast stay, as well as a two-night dinner escape.
The Bar and Restaurant
I could spend hours sitting in the Dunluce Lodge’s hotel bar.
It features dark oak panelled ceilings and floors, which give the bar a very soothing feel. There is no better place to snuggle away when the gales from the North Atlantic are blowing outside.
Windows at the rear of the bar provide a stunning view out towards the Dunluce, and I watched on intently as golfers traversed up and down the fairways.
Perusing the drinks menu I found that the Dunluce Lodge has named each of its speciality cocktails after holes on the Dunluce Links. For example, you can pick up a dirty martini, which has been aptly named Calamity Corner, after Portrush’s par three 16th. My favourite hole on the Dunluce, the dogleg right par five fifth hole, White Rocks, also gets its own cocktail – a Negroni.
The bar at the Dunluce Lodge is well stocked with a wide range of whiskies, cocktails and wines
Dark oak panelled walls are also seen throughout the property, which again add to the elegance and grandeur of the Dunluce Lodge
Guests can even book a more exclusive and intimate dining experience in the Lodge’s vault
The Lodge boasts a range of top-class whiskies, including a 46-year-old single malt from the nearby Bushmills distillery
Even if you aren’t in the mood for a drink, the menu is an exceptional read, with the bar having drawn out hole maps under each cocktail.
There is also a whiskey menu, which features a range of blends from the nearby Bushmills Distillery, a nine-minute drive to the east. The staff were keen to talk us through all of the many whiskies on offer, including a very rare £12,000 46-year-old single malt.
Thus is the grandeur of the food and drink options on offer at the Dunluce Lodge, which also has its very own Vault, an intimate and cosy wine cellar, where guests can gather and sample some of the hotel’s best tipples.
Guests heading into the Vault will feel like they’re in a James Bond movie. Inside the vault, you’ll find a big boardroom-esque table which is surrounded by glass cabinets full of expensive wines and barrels of whiskey.
In fact, the Dunluce Lodge’s wine cellar is so well stocked that the hotel’s menu is 28 pages long.
The Dunluce Lodge also has its very own restaurant, named Bailiú.
Bailiú stands for ‘gathering’ in Irish Gaelic, with guests and visitors who aren’t staying at the hotel able to book a range of dining experiences at the restaurant.
The eatery is open throughout the day, with its evening à la carte menu being a true showstopper. Oysters headline the hors d’oeuvres, while the chicken liver parfait and seared scallops, coated in Corndale Farm Nduja, were a delight also.
The hotel also boasts its own putting green, which was designed and built by the grounds staff of Royal Portrush
Didn’t bring your putter? That’s fine! The hotel has a selection of Taylormade Spider putters available which guests can borrow for a quick knock on the putting green
Chefs source ingredients locally, with the restaurant’s seafood options again being very popular among those dining here. Chefs will often do specials, depending on the catch of the day, which often includes Halibut roasted in garlic or cod with charred leek potato pavé.
There are plenty of meat and vegetarian options too, with the seared duck breast, confit chicken and braised beef fillet all being favourites among locals who frequent the restaurant.
The food is cooked to a Michelin standard and the chefs here know how to blend flavours. You can tell the utmost care and precision has been taken when crafting and plating up each dish. The presentation is beautiful, as you’ll see from the vibrant chicken liver parfait I tucked into below.
The restaurant staff are exceptional, from topping up glasses to walking you through the menu, they do an exceptional job of ensuring that no stone is left unturned.
The hotel’s restaurant is named Bailiú. It stands for ‘gathering’ in Irish Gaelic, with guests able to book a range of dining experiences through the restaurant
There are plenty of meat and vegetarian options too, with the seared duck breast, confit chicken and braised beef fillet (pictured) all being big favourites among locals who frequent the restaurant
The Spa
The Dunluce Lodge also has its own state-of-the-art gym and spa.
Situated across the grounds from the Lodge’s main building, the spa is a must-visit after a long day on the golf course.
Day retreats can also be booked here for those not staying at the Dunluce Lodge, with guests also able to book a range of treatments that include massages, facials and body rituals.
The spa is built in a wooden cabin next to the large pine trees that surround this stunning hotel. It offers a tranquil environment where guests can completely lose themselves in relaxation.
I particularly liked the balcony outside the front of the spa, where guests can sit on a lounger and watch players stroll up the fourth fairway on the neighbouring Dunluce Links.
Situated across the grounds from the Lodge’s main building, the spa is a must-visit after a long day on the golf course
Day retreats can also be booked here for those not staying at the Dunluce Lodge, with guests also able to book a range of treatments that include massages, facials and body rituals
The spa is built in a wooden cabin next to the large pine trees that surround this stunning hotel. It offers a tranquil environment where guests can completely lose themselves in relaxation
Golf and experiences
By far my favourite thing about this hotel is the 40-yard putting green which is situated in the grounds of the hotel.
It is by far one of the coolest and most novel additions to this golfing hotel, with grounds staff from Royal Portrush having hopped over the fence to help the Dunluce Lodge build the green.
It runs just about as true as the greens on the Dunluce Links, with McIlroy said to have spent a few evenings here putting with his daughter Poppy during the 2025 Open Championship.
Guests can pick up one of the hotel’s Taylor Made Spider putters from the lobby and head out to practise their putting on the green before their round at Royal Portrush.
The Dunluce Lodge also offers transfer services for golfers looking to head out to play some of Portrush’s local courses
Golfers, the Dunluce Lodge is by far one of the best places to stay if you’re planning a golfing trip to Northern Ireland, or Royal Portrush
The hotel is also perfectly situated near some of Northern Ireland’s best and most iconic golf courses.
The iconic Portstewart Golf Club and Castle Rock Golf Club are a 12-minute drive west, while further afield, you’ll find the also beautiful Ballyliffin Golf Club on Ireland’s northwest coast.
The Dunluce Lodge can help arrange transfers to your round and provide secure golf bag storage too.
Staff can also facilitate tours of the nearby Causeway Coast, Hillsborough Castle or even a trip to the Bushmills Distillery.
The last word
The Dunluce Lodge is by far one of the best places to stay if you’re planning a trip to Northern Ireland or Royal Portrush.
From the brilliant staff to the delectable food on offer, this place really does tick every box.
