The Rabbit hotel in Templepatrick, Northern Ireland, welcomes all guests, but it's particularly suited for a girls' trip. Located about 20 minutes from Belfast, the hotel's exterior may not impress, but beyond the car park lies a space designed to be Instagrammable at every turn, with faux flowers, neon signs, and a cinema-style popcorn machine in reception.
Spa and facilities
The spa is the hotel's highlight, featuring a giant glitterball over an expansive pool where guests can relax under bubbling spouts. QR codes on the poolside make ordering drinks easy, with cocktails like the Rogers Rum (£16.75) and the signature Jessica Rabbit. The spa also includes a mud bath, a terrace Jacuzzi, waterbeds on the roof, and heated tiled beds in the tepidarium conservatory. The grounds are set around a lake, with a 10-person house on its shores popular for hen parties.
Dining and rooms
Chef Niall Sarhan's menu balances comfort food with elevated dishes, using local produce from Lisdergan, Carnbrooke, Draynes Farm, Morelli's, and Keenan's. Highlights include pork belly with seared scallops, whole bream with fennel and orange salad (£27), and a sugar pit pork chop (£28). Desserts are imaginative, such as yuzu baked Alaska (£10) and yoghurt terrine (£10). Rooms are smartly decorated with a private hot tub in a miniature garden, and the mini bar is well-stocked.
Practical information
Check-in is at 3pm and check-out at 12pm. The hotel has level access and a wheelchair lift to rooms on level 1. Nearby attractions include the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills distillery, Tollymore Forest Park, White Rocks Beach, and The Blue Pool in Portrush. The hotel suggests investing in additional steam and sauna rooms, as the steam was too cool during the visit, and an adults-only cocktail bar for late-night drinks.
