Elephant Rock Hotel

People have been holidaying on the Portrush Peninsula since Victorian times, drawn by the sea and sand of its beautiful beaches. And, while the natural treasures are perenially popular, modern visitors feel more at home thanks to places like the Elephant Rock Hotel. This independently-owned, boutique hotel is truly one of a kind. Among a terrace of sea-facing Victorian townhouses in shades of cream, its black-and-pink finish demands your attention, and it might just be the coolest place to stay in town thanks to modern guest rooms and its own restaurant and cocktail bar.

Upholstered headboards, heavy velvet curtains, patterned feature walls and colourful throws add interest and texture to every room. Bed linen is Egyptian cotton, towels are soft and toiletries are locally-sourced and eco-friendly. Every feature, whether functional or fashionable, has been carefully selected and together they make rooms that are as comfortable as they are colourful. Whether you opt for a cosy single or a spacious executive room with a sea-view, all of them offer the modern conveniences of wifi, DAB radios and Smart TVs.

After a day on Whiterocks Beach, which is just 650m from here, a quick shower in your en-suite bathroom gets you ready for the evening ahead. You can start it downstairs in the art deco-inspired cocktail bar, and, for dinner, stay right here if there’s space in Elephant Rock’s 30-seater restaurant. If you’ve missed your chance for a table, book in for tomorrow, and take your pick from the many other eateries in Portrush, a short walk away.

With the Elephant Rock as your base, the whole of the Portrush Peninsula is yours to explore, with three of Northern Ireland’s eight Blue Flag beaches within walking distance of the hotel. The peninsula is known as a place for traditional seaside fun and there are the amusements and arcades to prove it, but you don’t have to look much further for more grown-up pleasures either. The Royal Portrush Golf Course is a mile away, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery is less than five miles from here and, a little further takes you to Giant’s Causeway, the famously scenic stone-stacked promontory that the Irish call the 8th Wonder of the World.' Being so close by gives you the chance to visit after all the visitors have gone home.