Trending 21st April 2026 by Stellar Magazine

The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat: True Luxury Just Outside Belfast City

A rejuvenating retreat I will definitely be going back to

Situated only a 20-minute drive from central Belfast and 10 minutes from Belfast airport lies the luxurious Rabbit Hotel and Retreat. This hotel offers more than you could ever dream of – from the staff, the amenities, the rooms, and the food, everything here is perfection.

We sometimes need to just get away for a night or two from our hectic and stressful lives, but it can sometimes be hard finding a location that fits your needs and wants. If you’re looking for the perfect place to relax and revive your skin, body and mind, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is the best place to go.

When you first enter the hotel, you’re greeted with guidance and a warm, genuine smile. And of course, the location. Overlooking a calm and serene lake, I found myself trying to take in the full beauty of this place a lot during my stay. It’s just beautiful… and dog friendly. Did we mention that?

@stellarmagazine ELEMIS have officially launched their Pro-Collagen body care. And what better way to experience it than at the luxurious Rabbit Hotel and Retreat. Just look at how beautiful the place is. ✨ 👙#invite #fyp #spa ♬ original sound – STELLAR

The rooms are truly unique with beds as comfortable as clouds, neon lights and even a Dyson hairdryer – I’ve never felt more like a queen. The room’s interior design combines Scandi-style and bohemian luxury which create a quirky, retro vibe, that’s still very calming and peaceful.

I was lucky enough to stay in the Outdoor Bathtub Room and let me tell you, that bathtub with a fire toasting in the courtyard, 20 steps from your bed, is the true feeling of luxury.

During your stay, you can take full advantage of relaxation and wear your robe and slippers all day, from room to spa to massage. The Rabbit Spa is one of the main highlights. With an open-air setup, and that incredible overhanging disco ball centrepiece, you can walk from the Roman bath to your cabana with a drink in hand – perfection.

The spa also features a heated pebble beach, the only one of its kind in Ireland, with heated sand and comfy loungers, so you can lay all day. You also get access to the sauna room, steam room and hot tubs.

As part of my stay I experienced the Full Facial Revival (which was very much needed). Each facial in the spa uses the most luxurious products from the ELEMIS skincare range, to ensure you get the full lift, glow and skin health this brand ensures.

Once this incredible facial was finished (I never wanted it to end) my world-class therapist advised me on the best products for my skin. I was then led with my glowing skin and relaxed shoulders to the relaxation room.

 

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Let’s just say if you thought the spa couldn’t get better, it absolutely can. The post treatment service consists of deflating on a waterbed while being refreshed with chilled water and a scoop of fruit sorbet, served in a seashell dish. It felt celestial.

Once you’ve dragged yourself out of the spa, why not enjoy some food at the Rabbit Restaurant? Available from 6pm – 9:30pm every day, the restaurant prioritises locally sourced food from Northern Irish producers, which in turn creates incredible, tasty dishes.

The next morning, if you feel up to it, you can get a quick 20-minute bus, right outside the hotel, to central Belfast and explore everything this city has to offer. Think of the Rabbit like a 2-for-1 hotel, with a relaxing lakeside refresh on one side, and the discovery of the history and culture of Northern Ireland’s capital on the other.

But before you explore the spa again or drift into the city, the hotel offers a hybrid experience with a mix of a continental buffet then followed by an á la carte hot breakfast served from the kitchen. Included on the menu is the Full Rabbit Fry, and not only is it delicious but it’s also an homage to the traditional Ulster breakfast.

A divine end to a divine stay.

You can find out more about The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat here. 

Words by Nia Hayden