Another Place, The Machrie

Another Place, The Machrie: A Comprehensive Review of Islay's Michelin Key Selected Retreat

Another Place, The Machrie, nestled on the stunning Hebridean island of Islay, consistently earns high praise as a modern and relaxed luxury destination, particularly renowned for its world-class championship golf links. This Michelin Key Selected property offers a blend of Scottish heritage and contemporary comfort, drawing guests with its exceptional service, breathtaking coastal views, and dedication to local provenance.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Another Place, The Machrie is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "delightful," "superb," and "amazing." Many express a strong desire to return, highlighting the hotel's special atmosphere and the memorable experiences it provides. The property holds a strong reputation, being named among the UK's Top 30 Hotels in the Condé Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards 2022 and recognized as one of the best golf resorts globally.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of Another Place, The Machrie:

• Location & Views: The hotel's position facing the Atlantic, with unbroken views of dunes, sea, and sky, is a major draw. It's a short 10-minute stroll to a pristine seven-mile sandy beach, offering opportunities for walks, swimming, and fat biking.
• Golf Course: The championship golf links, originally designed in 1891 and magnificently redesigned by DJ Russell, are a significant highlight and a "must-play bucket list course." There's also a 6-hole par 3 "Wee Course" and a driving range.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel blends classic, country-nodding interiors with contemporary furnishings, featuring house tartan, wood paneling, and curated artwork. The ambiance is relaxed, yet the property offers a sophisticated experience with roaring fires and comfortable seating in areas like the Stag Lounge.
• Wellness Facilities: While not a formal spa, the hotel offers a sauna in the Clubhouse, a wild garden with two wood-fired hot tubs, a cold plunge pool, and a second sauna. Two treatment rooms provide massages and facials using Hebridean seaweed products. A fitness center is also available.
• Amenities: Guests appreciate the screening room, gym, and complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel. Fat bikes are available to borrow for exploring the beach.

3. Room Quality

The hotel offers 43 beautifully designed rooms, including five suites and family lodges, some with outdoor terraces and stunning views. Rooms are described as supremely comfortable, featuring premium bedding, minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobes, slippers, and Land & Water bath products. Accessible rooms with adapted bathrooms are also available. Specific rooms like the Islay room are noted for their four-poster beds and fern-green details, while "Best" rooms offer French doors for fresh air and verdant views. Lodges are ideal for larger groups, particularly golfers, offering open-plan kitchens.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Another Place, The Machrie receives considerable praise for its quality and focus on local produce. The 18 Restaurant & Bar, with its window-wrapped space, overlooks the golf links and the Atlantic Ocean.

• Breakfast: Rates typically include a Scottish breakfast, which guests describe as "great," offering options like smoked haddock kedgeree, full Scottish breakfast (with veggie options), porridge, and fresh bagels. A continental breakfast is also available.
• Lunch & Dinner: The seasonal restaurant impresses with island-fresh seafood and produce, including Loch Gruinart oysters, Port Askaig lobster, and Ardtalla venison. The food is described as "seriously good" and "outstanding," focusing on unpretentious but quality comfort food with local Scottish ingredients. The Courtyard takes over for lunch, serving soups, salads, and burgers. Afternoon tea is a decadent daily affair.
• Bar: The bar offers an extensive selection, and staff are noted for their expertise in whisky pairings.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Another Place, The Machrie is consistently highlighted as exceptional. Guests frequently praise the staff for their friendliness, attentiveness, genuine passion, and enthusiasm, often going above and beyond to ensure a special stay. Concierge services are excellent, and staff are helpful in arranging taxis and tours. The warm hospitality is a recurring theme in guest feedback.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel is situated on the Isle of Islay, an outpost in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, near Port Ellen.

• Attractions: Islay is known as the "Queen of the Hebrides" and is famous for its numerous whisky distilleries, wildlife, and dramatic coastal landscapes. The hotel is a short stroll from a seven-mile beach. Port Ellen and its ferry terminal are about four miles away, offering some shops and a pub. Bowmore, with more shops and restaurants, is a 30-minute drive.
• Transport: Islay Airport (ILY) is a convenient five-minute drive from the hotel, with a free shuttle service available. Ferries from Kennacraig operate from May to October, arriving at Port Askaig (30 minutes drive) or Port Ellen (10 minutes drive). While the hotel has free parking, having a car is recommended for exploring the island. Public transport options can be limited in the evenings.

7. Value & Pricing

Another Place, The Machrie is a luxury destination, and its pricing reflects that. While specific average prices can fluctuate, classic rooms have been observed starting around £137-£184, double rooms around £156-£210, and standard rooms from £266. A three-night break including breakfast and some meals can cost from £928 per room. While considered expensive by some, many guests feel it offers good value for the quality of the experience, particularly given the exceptional golf, amenities, and service. February is typically the cheapest month to stay, while September is the most expensive.

8. Common Complaints

While generally very positive, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Room Layout/Bathroom: One guest noted an unbalanced room-to-bathroom size ratio, with an unusually large and cold bathroom. Issues with a high bathtub lacking a handrail were also raised as a potential safety concern.
• Dinner Portion Sizes: A few guests felt that the portion sizes for dinner mains, such as cod, were a little small, leaving them still hungry.
• Lack of Air Conditioning: One guest noted that their room did not have an AC unit or thermostat for temperature control, relying on opening windows for a cool breeze.
• Cancellations: A 30-day cancellation policy, while understandable for a remote luxury property, was noted as unfortunate by one reviewer.
• Corporate Feel in Corridors: One guest mentioned that the modern corridors felt a "little corporate."

Despite these minor points, the overarching sentiment is that Another Place, The Machrie offers an unforgettable stay on Islay.

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