Clontarf Castle Hotel

23 Best Hotels in Dublin, Ireland | Condé Nast Traveler

"Approached along a tree-lined driveway two miles from the city center, this historic castle by the sea in Clontarf, dating back to the 1600s, delivers a full-on storybook experience. Inside, you’ll find suits of armor and heraldic touches, while suites are unapologetically palatial, with ornate four-poster beds and, in some cases, telescopes for surveying views over the cityscape. Breakfast is a standout, with a first-class full Irish built from carefully selected local ingredients, and staff come across as genuinely eager to please. Dining options cover a range of moods: Knights Bar, a gastropub with vaulted ceilings and leather banquettes, feels like the castle’s spirit made manifest and is the place to sample the house pale ale, Cluain Tarbh, brewed locally by Five Lamps; Fahrenheit restaurant offers more formal, classical cuisine rooted in local produce; and traditionalists can opt for a carvery lunch in Indigo Bar, which spills out onto the terrace in sunny weather. Altogether it offers a generous slice of true Irish hospitality." - Ciara McQuillan, Matt Charlton