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Hotel review: This intimate Killarney hotel is beloved by the Michelin Guide yet feels like Kerry's best-kept secret

This atmospheric boutique hotel is a perfect choice for a romantic rendezvous in The Kingdom.

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025 - 01:00

Thom Breathnach

The Victoria

Our rating: 9/10

Location

Located along Killarney’s hotel Walk of Fame — aka Muckross Road — The Victoria may not be as well known as some of its neighbours (The Brehon, The Lake, or Gleneagle, for starters), but it certainly has the location to match.

Lying just a 10-minute stroll from the town centre, and equally close to Killarney National Park, the hotel offers a perfectly balanced base for enjoying both cultural and natural attractions.

9/10

Style & Design

The Victoria delivers double surprise on this front. Its impressive façade with pointed gables, walls cloaked in lush Virginia creeper and a charming entrance porch redolent of a heritage guesthouse belies the fact that the property was built as recently as the 1990s.

However, it cosplays very convincingly as a long-standing landmark from first impressions, with plenty of off-the-bat character.

Interiors surprise here too. Upon entering, the property feels more like an ambient boutique hotel than a traditional country house.

There’s a decadently decked-out lobby and stylish draped reception area with plush armchairs, fresh flowers, Art Deco furnishings and a bold selection of contemporary paintings, sculptures and objets d’art.

Beyond it, each of the guest room floors also features its own private lounge area with views to the Reeks beyond.

You can certainly see how interiors’ inspo here has been drawn from a pretty wide net — some details may not appeal to all.

One lounge featuring dark Chesterfield sofas, candelabras and a painting of anthropomorphised Westie in military garb almost feels like being on a quirky Cluedo set — but it’s imaginative and different and everything down to the stairways here feel aesthetically and architecturally considered.

8.5/10

Service

I found a standout warmth to the service at The Victoria. While many a merry hotel check-in can still feel a little transactional, here it feels like there’s a genuine eagerness to engage.

At reception, Maria greets me like I’m an old friend returning and is personable and welcoming, while on a later shift, Maura (via Connemara) chews the fat with me as Gaeilge which is always a lovely experience in any Irish hotel.

Elsewhere, restaurant and breakfast staff are excellent, and owner Sinead Courtney is a regular hands-on presence around the hotel.

9.5/10

Guest Rooms

The Victoria offers 33 elegant rooms, each with its own bespoke décor.

Cosy Heritage doubles blend boutique chic with retro elegance — plush velvets, bold prints and statement art in colours from plum to emerald.

These looks can feel a little blingy, but every room feels curated, colourful, and cosy.

I stayed in one of the property’s spacious suites which featured a working, living, and sleeping area in softer oaty tones and, with sophisticated wall panelling, elegant cornicing and walnut herringbone floors, almost had the air of a Chelsea townhouse stay.

It’s a great space, though I’d have appreciated one smart TV rather than the two here, which aren’t.

The accompanying ensuite is spick and span though has aspects which feel a little dated but it does have a jacuzzi tub.

8.5/10

In-Room Perks

Rooms feature Nespresso and tea machines, bottled water, and bedside chocolates from Lily O’Brien’s.

7/10

On the Menu

The Botanical is the hotel’s smart al fresco bar that looks particularly resplendent with summer’s hydrangeas — and is a nice spot to sip the hotel’s signature garden cocktail made with Muckross Gin.

The Courtyard and Ivy Lounge are the two dining options.

I dined at the latter where dishes were impressive, particularly a (substantial) starter; a smoked salmon, crab and avocado tower topped with a mango and dill salsa.

Breakfast the next morning is served in The Courtyard — a smart, classical space with white linen tables overlooking the garden.

It’s a sit-down affair and I opted for the tasty kippers served with lemon-parsley butter and — a welcome but all too rare sight on breakfast menus — a side of crispy potatoes.