Butler House Named in the Irish Independent’s
Hot 100 Hotels 2026!
A Celebration of Butler House, Garden and its People
We are delighted to share some wonderful news. Butler House & Garden has been named in the Irish Independent’s Hot 100 Hotels for 2026, taking its place among a carefully selected collection of outstanding places to stay across the island of Ireland.
Compiled by award-winning travel journalist Pól Ó Conghaile, the Hot 100 celebrates hotels that excel at what they set out to be, with particular appreciation for independence, creativity, and businesses that reflect and support their communities. For Butler House, this recognition is particularly meaningful.
A Very Special Year for Butler House
The news comes as we celebrate 240 years of Butler House, built in 1786 as the dower house of Kilkenny Castle.
Today, our 17-bedroom Georgian house is cared for by Kilkenny Civic Trust, a not-for-profit organisation established to protect, enhance and promote Butler House & Garden and the historic Castle Yard. Revenue generated through the house helps support the continued care of these important heritage spaces for future generations.
It means that when you stay, dine, or spend an afternoon with us, you become part of a much bigger story.
What Makes Butler House Different
In his Hot 100 review, Pól Ó Conghaile highlights the details that give Butler House its individual character, from our walled garden and direct access to Kilkenny Castle Yard to our Georgian rooms, art collection, and Cream Tea. It reflects what we hope guests discover on arrival.
Behind our garden gate is a quieter side of Kilkenny. Paths that lead through the walled garden; Kilkenny Castle rises beyond, while through another gate lies the Castle Yard, where working craft studios continue a long tradition of Irish design and making.
Inside the house, no two bedrooms are quite the same. Georgian architecture, garden and castle views, Irish art, and warm hospitality all form part of an experience deeply rooted in Kilkenny.
The house is also home to works from the Sir Basil Goulding Art Collection, on loan from Butler Gallery, with pieces displayed throughout Butler House for guests and visitors to discover as part of the house itself.
Owned by the People of Kilkenny
Perhaps one of the loveliest aspects of the Irish Independent feature is its recognition of Butler House as something a little different.
As Ann Phelan of Kilkenny Civic Trust explains in the feature, Butler House is intended to be accessible. While it is a member of Ireland’s Blue Book, it is also a heritage property run by a not-for-profit organisation and closely connected to Kilkenny's cultural and creative life.
That spirit runs through the house, whether you are staying overnight, enjoying Cream Tea overlooking the garden, attending one of our Long Table Dinners, wandering through an exhibition, or simply stepping through the garden gate for a quiet moment.
A Recognition Shared by the Whole Butler House Team
Being included in the Irish Independent Hot 100 Hotels 2026 is wonderful recognition, but it belongs to far more than a building.
It belongs to the team who welcome our guests each day, those who care for the house and garden, our kitchen and hospitality teams, the makers, artists and craftspeople around us, Kilkenny Civic Trust, and, of course, the guests and local visitors who continue to support Butler House.
As we celebrate 240 years of Butler House in 2026, it feels especially fitting to see this historic house recognised not simply for its past, but for the experience it still offers today.
Come and discover Butler House for yourself. Stay a night or two, wander through the garden, enjoy Cream Tea with a view, explore Kilkenny from our doorstep and become part of the continuing story of this very special house.
Book Your Stay at Butler House Here!