Fodor's Expert Review Glengarriff Eccles Hotel and Spa

This high-peaked Victorian landmark has peered out over the calm water of Glengarriff's harbor for more than 250 years, and in that time it has welcomed literary legends such as George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, and novelist William Thackeray. If you want a harbor view, ask when booking, as they are the first to go. Replete with period character like a wraparound wrought-iron balcony and dormer roof, the building is surrounded by greenery, making this a peacefully idyllic spot. Inside, guest rooms are elegantly designed, with large mahogany headboards, tartan blankets on white comforters, and flat-screen TVs, the one concession to the modern age. The public areas are updated with warmer shades, yet an air of nostalgia still prevails throughout, while the coastal backdrop is captured through the massive sash windows. For those who want to venture outside but retain the warmth of the lobby's open fireplace, the recently added spa is fully equipped with hot tubs that overlook the bay side. A busy passing trade and child-friendly staff bring the place alive.