Bushmills Inn Hotel on Dunluce Road in the village of Bushmills has roots as a coaching inn dating to the early 17th century, and its atmospheric interiors — turf-burning open fires, gas lighting in the original bar, exposed stone walls, and low-beamed ceilings — reflect that heritage with genuine care rather than manufactured pastiche. The property sits four kilometres from the Giant's Causeway and immediately adjacent to the Old Bushmills Distillery, the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, whose presence permeates the surrounding village and whose tours are bookable from the hotel.
The inn has expanded over the decades to incorporate a Mill building alongside the original coaching house, giving a total of around 41 rooms and loft rooms across different character grades. Mill rooms occupy the converted grain mill and tend to have more contemporary finishes with exposed stone elements; the original inn rooms are more intimate and period in character. Loft rooms are the most spacious. All rooms are furnished with quality linens and the warm, unhurried atmosphere that differentiates a genuine country inn from a chain property.
The Restaurant at Bushmills Inn has a strong local reputation, serving a menu anchored in County Antrim produce — Portballintrae seafood, local lamb, and seasonal game. The original bar, gas-lit and furnished with high-backed booths, is among the most atmospheric drinking spaces on the Causeway Coast and stocks an exceptional range of Irish and Scottish whiskies. A peat fire lounge provides a sitting room for guests arriving in from the coastal walks.
Free parking is available. The inn is particularly popular with walkers tackling sections of the Causeway Coastal Route, whiskey enthusiasts combining a distillery tour with an overnight, and visitors seeking a characterful alternative to the more modern hotels along the North Antrim coast.
Room types
- Classic rooms
- Mill rooms
- Loft rooms
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Peat fire lounge
- Free parking
- Garden
Location
9 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, BT57 8QG
55.2011, -6.5175 View on map
Highlights
- 17th-century coaching inn with gas-lit original bar, peat fires, and genuine period atmosphere
- Adjacent to the Old Bushmills Distillery — the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery
- Four kilometres from the Giant's Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Restaurant with a strong local reputation for County Antrim seafood, lamb, and seasonal game
- Exceptional Irish whiskey selection in the original gas-lit inn bar
Tips for visiting
- Book a distillery tour at the Old Bushmills Distillery before or after check-in — it is a two-minute walk from the hotel.
- The original inn rooms are the most atmospheric; ask for one when booking if that character appeal is the draw.
- The inn's bar is one of the finest places on the Causeway Coast to explore a range of Irish whiskies — the staff can guide a comparative tasting.
- Reserve a restaurant table when booking a room — demand from non-guests means the dining room fills quickly on weekends.
- The inn is an ideal base for walkers on the Causeway Coastal Route; ask reception for the most rewarding nearby sections of the path.