Frequently Asked Questions at Ballyfin Demesne

Ballyfin is tucked away in County Laois, at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Ireland's central heartlands.

Ballyfin has just 21 individually designed rooms and elegant private suites, along with the separate Gardeners Cottage, that sleeps two with a view over the walled garden.

Ballyfin is owned by the Krehbiel family. Fred and Kay Krehbiel purchased the estate in 2002, and it is now owned by their sons, Jay and Liam Krehbiel.

Ballyfin has lived many lives. The present neo-classical house was shaped by the Coote family in the 19th century and later became a boarding school. After the Krehbiel family acquired the estate in 2002, an extraordinary restoration brought it back to life, and Ballyfin reopened as a country house hotel in 2011.

Ballyfin's State Dining Room holds a Michelin star, and the house is a member of Relais & Châteaux and Ireland's Blue Book. Ballyfin hold 3 Michelin Keys and was included in the inaugural Condé Nast Traveler Triple Crown Awards in June 2026. Ballyfin has also been recognised as the no.1 hotel in Ireland in   Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards in both the US and UK editions.

Our check-in time is 3pm. We will do our utmost to have your room ready earlier, however this may not be possible.

You are welcome to arrive from 12 noon and enjoy all Ballyfin has to offer including using the spa, sitting down to lunch or exploring the grounds.

If you are arriving on an early morning flight and need access to your room before 3pm, we advise reserving the room the night before.

Check-out time is at 12 noon. It may be possible to have a later check-out, depending on availability. Late check-out fees may apply.

A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your reservation at Ballyfin.

Our cancellation policy is 14 days prior to arrival, at which point the booking deposit will be refunded. Cancellations received within 13 days of arrival will be charged 100% of the booking arrangement. Bookings received within 14 days of arrival date will be on a no cancellation policy and above cancellation policy applies.

Please note a service charge of 7.5% will apply to all accommodation, food & beverage, activities and spa. This will be added to your final bill on departure.

Rates include VAT at the applicable rate. A separate service charge of 7.5% applies to accommodation, food & beverage, activities and spa, and is added to your final bill on departure.

We welcome guide dogs only at Ballyfin.

Rates vary by room, season and dates. You can check live rates and availability through Book Now.

Amadeus: WBDUBDE, Sabre: WB146111, Galileo/Apollo: WB83922, Worldspan: WBDUB

We welcome children over the age of 9 for individual reservations. Children of all ages are welcome when the house is reserved exclusively by one group, which makes Ballyfin a family-friendly choice for exclusive-use celebrations.

Dublin Airport is approximately 108 km from Ballyfin, around 1.5 hours by car. Shannon Airport is approximately 132 km away, around 1 hour 45 minutes by car.

Portlaoise Train Station is approximately 8.5 km from Ballyfin, around a 10-minute drive away.

Ballyfin is around 108 km from Dublin Airport, about 1.5 hours by car or we can arrange to pick you up.

Yes, we can arrange private transfers from airports or railway stations. Please contact our Reservations team in advance at [email protected] and we will take care of the details. 

Yes, we have electric car charging points for our guests to use during their stay.

On-site valet parking is provided for guest staying and dining at Ballyfin.

The Eircode is R32 X5X8.

Yes, our GPS Coordinates are Latitude / Longitude 53° 3'23.61"N 7°26'4.05"W. Please call ahead to let us know your approximate time of arrival to enable our staff to be ready to greet you and bring you to the house. If you'd like to book a helicopter transfer or tour, we'd be happy to arrange it for you.

Ballyfin offers individually designed Rooms, Junior Suites and Suites, as well as the separate Gardeners Cottage. No two are quite alike: each has its own history, furnishings, outlook and character.

Gardeners Cottage is a private, one-bedroom cottage a short walk from the main house, beside the walled garden. It has its own generous living room and private patio, giving you your own privacy within the estate.

Yes. The Lady Kildare Junior Suite can connect with Lady Mornington. A Deluxe Room (Trellis) interconnects with a State Room (Dr Beaufort) Please check with Reservations when booking, as availability will depend on your dates.

There is air conditioning throughout each bedroom at Ballyfin.

Yes. Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

We are pleased to be able to offer our guests complimentary laundry, limited to five items per room per day. Further laundry and dry cleaning are available at an additional cost.

Ballyfin is a historic house, so access varies by room and area. We have one fully accessible bedroom - The Viceroy. Please contact Reservations before booking and the team will talk through your requirements and recommend the most suitable arrangements.

There is plenty to tempt you outdoors. Activities include falconry, horse riding, horse-and-carriage tours, clay pigeon shooting, archery, boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, tennis, cycling, Gaelic games, guided walks, hiking, mountain biking and garden tours. Or you can simply wander and see where the estate takes you.

Some activities are best reserved before you arrive, particularly those involving visiting specialists. Falconry, for example, requires advance booking. If there is something you are especially keen to try, let us know early and we will help arrange it.

Absolutely. We can shape days around your family, from boating, falconry and horse-and-carriage rides to archery, tennis, cycling, garden walks and an introduction to Gaelic games. Some experiences rely on visiting specialists, so it is worth arranging those before you arrive.

Yes. You can take a rowing boat out on Ballyfin's lake, while guided kayaking and paddle boarding can also be arranged. A lovely way to spend a few hours.

Yes. Our guided history tours bring the house, its collections, characters and remarkable restoration to life. Ballyfin has a great many stories told by our team, and this is one of the best ways to hear them.

Yes. We can arrange guided hiking in the nearby Slieve Bloom Mountains, with routes tailored to the group and conditions. Ideal when Ballyfin's own 614 acres have only whetted your appetite.

Unfortunately, the Ballyfin grounds are not open to visitors that are not staying at the hotel.

You will eat very well at Ballyfin. Dining ranges from Michelin-starred dinners in the State Dining Room to relaxed lunches and light bites, drinks in the Cellar Bar and seasonal dining in the Conservatory.

Yes. Ballyfin's State Dining Room was awarded its first Michelin Star in 2025. Executive Head Chef Richard Edwards and his team lead a dining experience rooted in the seasons, the estate gardens and exceptional Irish produce.

Ballyfin Demesne is delighted to welcome non-resident guests to enjoy dinner in our Michelin starred State Dining Room. Reservations must be made in advance of arrival. The culinary evening commences at 6pm, where you will be greeted by one of our butlers, who will show you to pre-dinner drinks served in one of our stunning public rooms. Following this, you will be seated at your table in the State Dining Room at 6.30pm or 6.45pm, depending on your reservation time.

The dress code for dinner is smart casual, although you're welcome to be more formal if you like.

Yes. The State Dining Room offers both à la carte and tasting-menu dining. Menus move with the seasons, making the most of produce from Ballyfin's own gardens and trusted Irish suppliers and are paired with a sommelier-chosen wine flight.

Yes. Please let us know about any allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements before you arrive, so the kitchen team can prepare thoughtfully for you.

Very much so. Our chefs make a daily journey to the plentiful kitchen gardens and orchards, where seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs travel only a short distance before appearing on the plate.

Ballyfin lends itself rather well to a celebration. The estate can be used exclusively for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other private occasions, giving you the house, grounds and the freedom to make the event entirely your own.

Exclusive hire gives your group private use of the house and estate, with Ballyfin fully staffed throughout. Dining, spa time and activities can all be shaped around the occasion, from tastings and garden tours to country pursuits and quieter moments in between.

Yes. Weddings at Ballyfin take place as part of an exclusive-use stay, allowing the house, estate and experience to be shaped around you and your guests. Civil Ceremonies can take place on-site.

The State Dining Room can accommodate up to 80 guests and the Ballroom can accommodate 120 guests.

Yes. We can tailor an exclusive-use stay with experiences such as wine or whiskey tastings, garden tours, spa treatments, Gaelic games and other estate activities. The pleasure is in making Ballyfin your own.

Exclusive-use stays are created individually. Send us your preferred dates, group size and the occasion you have in mind, and the team will advise on availability and put together a proposal around you. Please email our Reservations & Events Manager, Lorraine Galvin, at [email protected]

Yes. Ballyfin's Wellness Area has four treatment rooms offering massages, facials, body treatments and beauty treatments, alongside an indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna.

We strongly recommend booking treatments in advance, as appointments depend on therapist availability.

Yes. Ballyfin has a 14-metre heated indoor pool, along with relaxation areas and a Vitality Pool.

Yes. A fully equipped gym forms part of Ballyfin's Wellness Area.

Yes. Ballyfin has a 14-metre heated indoor pool, along with relaxation areas and a Vitality Pool. Floating and doing very little is, of course, also encouraged.