Cliff at Lyons

This is a lovely location; however, it feels so small and cottage-like that it’s hard to imagine choosing it as a place to stay for locals. There isn’t much to do. We didn’t stay overnight but visited the spa and explored the dining options instead. The estate itself is beautiful, with some charming touches and an interesting sense of history. The food was very good, artisan in style and tasting wonderfully fresh. The spa, on the other hand, was just okay. It lacked warmth and attention to detail, and it wasn’t particularly clean. Strangely, the spa felt more like visiting a shop than a place for pampering. It didn’t have the ambiance you’d expect from an upscale spa. No drinks were offered before or after the treatments either. Overall, there’s a big piece of hospitality missing here: client service. None of the staff around seemed to really care about anything.

An Oasis of peace and tranquility set in the wonderful Co Kildare. Every member of staff from the young lady on reception to the lad who showed us to our accommodation were incredibly kind and are a credit to the Hotel. Our dinner at the Mill restaurant was exquisite and the young servers were attentive, genuinely ensuring we enjoyed our experience. Breakfast was equally amazing. We stayed at a cottage which was simply "wow". Our two night stay exceeded our expectations and we cannot wait to return.

We had a wonderful overnight stay. Upon arrival we traveled along the kilometer long tree lined avenue with well manicured lawns on the verges. On the short walk to reception we admired the very well restored buildings with rose and ivy clad walls. At reception we received a very warm welcome. Check in was easy and we were shown to our cottage that left us spellbound because of its beauty. From the cottage we had a magnificent view of the Lilly pond complete with a visiting heron. To the rear we had a view of a stream, outdoor chess board and an orchard laden with rosy apples. The garden and general surroundings are absolutely amazing with cream hydrangeas and yellow climbing roses. |We had everything one needs in the spacious cottage that comprised a large and beautiful sitting room, kitchen and dining room and two en suite bedrooms. In the morning we had breakfast in the orangery. There are no buffets here, table service only. Crisp white table cloths, dainty table ware with sweet pea designs. There was a very good variety of food on the menu and the service is second to none. We both thought that the breakfast was delicious. Afterwards, we took a leisurely stroll, exploring the magnificent gardens and the canal outside the hotel grounds. Before our departure we lingered on the veranda over a coffee to savour the atmosphere and the sound of the stream outside.|This hotel surpassed our expectations as it ticks all the boxes.

What a beautiful location. The setting is absolutely Incredible. Really friendly and helpful young staff. The rooms are beautiful, we had a gorgeous view of the lily pond from our room. The bathroom was very luxurious. This hotel compared very well with some of the best 5 star hotels in Ireland including its illustrious sister in Waterford.|The food in the restaurant was exquisite. The pigeon, the lobster salad, the John Dory especially as well as desert and cheese were all gorgeous. We will certainly be back. We get blue book vouchers as a present and we use them to get away, this is our 6th year using them and this was our best blue book trip.|We came here for a badly needed break after a tough year while our daughter was very sick and this truly gave us respite we needed.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Janie, our coordinator at Cliff at Lyons, for her invaluable help and guidance in organizing an incredible wedding for my daughter and her husband. A special thank you also goes to the chef at Cliff at Lyons; the food was not only delicious but also beautifully presented. Our guests are still raving about the exquisite flavors, impeccable service, and the extra special late-night snack—it was a huge hit!||We loved having all of our family stay together and enjoy the beautiful grounds at Cliff at Lyons. Although we didn't have the chance to visit before the wedding, we were thrilled the moment we arrived. We couldn't have chosen a more magical place to gather our family and celebrate such a special occasion.

Magical is the best word to describe it. We have stayed on several occasions over the years and every time I am just amazed at how beautiful this place is, and the staff are so welcoming, professional and attentive. The glass encased Orangery is straight out of a fairytale and breakfast is served there every morning. Food is amazing, cocktails in the Lyons Den are an experience not to be missed and so are the treatments in the SPA on the premises. If you visit Ireland make sure to add Cliff at Lyons to your list of places to stay.

My wife and I recently had the very great pleasure of both dining and staying overnight at Cliff at Lyons. Our experience, from the moment we arrived until we reluctantly said farewell, was nothing short of exceptional. We arrived a little earlier than expected but this was no trouble at all. We were warmly welcomed and checked in in the relaxed atmosphere of the reception area. After a quick chat about where to go and what to do, we were shown to our room. The room was magnificent, with an extremely comfortable four post bed and huge ensuite. We decided to have a cocktail (or two) before dinner. The drinks were on a par with the very best we'd ever had and the friendly, professional, engaging staff were so refreshing to deal with. Little did we know but this was only a taste of what was to come. Our reservation at The Mill restaurant was for 8pm but as we were ahead of schedule we were asked if we would like to sit sooner? We duly obliged and were seated at approximately 7. It is here that we met head chef Sean Smith. He was friendly and charismatic but also professional and so passionate about the meals they were creating. He was a joy and inspiration to meet and truly an ambassador for Cliff at Lyons. We met him again the following morning and he asked how was our meal? We can honestly say that it was not just one of the best meals we had ever eaten, but without doubt one of the single best dining experiences of our lives. Testament to this was when he asked me if the restaurant was busy? We simply didn't know, the staff and dining experience were so good, we felt as if we were the only people in the restaurant. Breakfast was superb followed by a walk through the gardens and coffee in the pantry. The facilities are truly excellent. I can honestly say that this was the best dinner bed and breakfast we have ever had, and if you are thinking of booking, don't hesitate, do it, you won't be disappointed. Thank you to Sean and everyone at Cliff at Lyons, you made our stay an unforgettable experience.

Our stay at Cliff at Lyons was unforgettable. The dinner was exquisite, the spa treatments incredibly relaxing, and the breakfast delightful with stunning views. Every detail and the exceptional service made us feel completely pampered. We cannot wait to return

The Cliff At Lyons is not a hotel. They have no restaurant or spa on Mondays. They have no service for carrying luggage through gates and gravel to a very run down and dirty cottage. It's filled with broken items in the kitchen and stocked fridge w sausages. The place is remotely located from any towns for going out and very few taxi companies are available. We had this booked for a family of (5) on vacation and had expected at least a 4 star hotel. We were so disappointed it's beyond comprehension. Why did our travel company place us here is beyond me when we needed a good hotel. Breakfast is served around 8:30 and we had to catch our transfer to Dublin airport at 7am. Everyone was tired and hungry and we had to eat and have coffee at the airport! Wish I could give this zero 0 stars !

This was the most beautiful stay of my life. The staff were so kind and everything was perfect. I want to go every year. The spa and thermal village were divine. I loved my copper bath and stone massage. The food was fantastic at the Mill and the Pantry. I am an American and I came during my Thanksgiving and I felt just completely in heaven with this Irish Countryside experience. I wish I stayed here my entire trip. I took a walk on the canal and saw cows. There were baby goats and lambs on site. Also, the Irish Soda Bread was addicting. I will be back!

06/2018 Cliff at Lyons in Kildare with its old-world charm & modern amenities, is top-rated on my Ireland hotel list. Strolls around the picturesque grounds & historic buildings were enchanting. Charming touches at every turn including green-painted doors, greenery-covered walls, white gravel walkways, large lawn chess set & a beautiful tiny chapel across a pond. We were impressed with our rooms in the converted stables having the juxtaposition of period-style furnishings & uber sleek bathrooms. I would most definitely stay here again. Just 30 minutes from Dublin.

What an amazing venue.....my wife was asked to dress the bride whilst my two girls and I soaked up the atmosphere of this absolute gem of a place. The bride and groom had a traditional Hindu ceremony, in the Orangery and the bride donned the traditional Hindu Indian Red dress with all the dazzling accessories. Before dressing the bride we had lunch in the Canal Cafe. For four of us it was a very filling, wholesome and reasonable €27. The food was delicious. I had chowder whilst my wife had the pea and spinach soup both served with fresh bread and butter. The girls had sausage and fish goujons both with chips. The venue itself is a restored old Mill and sports its own Waterfall, cookery school called The Academy, exceptionally well kept gardens including a vegetable/herb garden for the school, a lake with fountain as well as being period decorated with wooden panelling, a lovely wine display, large open fires inside and out and lovely sculptures dotted throughout the gardens. The Carriage House was where the bride and groom relaxed and was very large and elegantly decorated. The staff, venue, food and service really do make this an amazing wedding/conference facility. I'm so thrilled to have had the chance to experience it.

I have been here for breakfast a few times and have really enjoyed it. I love the breakfast for 2 which includes baked eggs, bacon, homemade bread, cheeses, yogurt and to finish scones and pastries. Make sure you go hungry! Lovely grounds to go for a walk. Friendly and helpful staff. Definitely worth a visit!

Drive through the gates down the manicured 1+Km driveway to The Village at Lyons. This 7th Century settlement on The Grand Canal, has been completely renovated into a haven for fans of good food & relaxation. The gardens are magnificently manicured and maintained. The Village area was a thriving communiity which grew up with the arrival of the Grand Canal (1756-1790), with hotel, shops, a forge, police barracks, flourmill etc. Now the estate is the destination for weddings, or relaxing breaks. Only a short drive (or a nice 40Km cycle as I did) from Dublin, you feel as if you are much further from the Capital City, than you really are. The main building makes you feel as if you are in a castle, with the stone walls, large fireplaces, and solid wood throughout. The main room for weddings is a split level room. Outside the windows of the lower level rushes a small waterfall which really adds to the whole experience. I was there for a friend's wedding, and the food was superb. Fillet steak all round, although there was salmon as an option too, but the steak was cooked to perfection. It even pours a pretty good pint of Guinness. If there is one area they could improve it's the staff. While they are, for the mostpart, very helpful, they just lack that something extra that you would expect by way of customer service in a venue like this. At breakfast there were only 2 staff on for our wedding party, when it had been arranged with the coordinator that we would be down for 10:30...the staff weren't expecting us. Maybe someone needs to come in to retrain them about smiling, and when you seat someone for breakfast ask if want tea/coffee rather than waiting for the customer to ask for everything.......bring the butter with the toast, etc. I believe that there are plans to develop a leisure centre. This would definitely be a major plus for this facility. There are some shops open during the day, and there is also a cookery school onsite with celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna, which would be a superb trip for a group of friends to take. Apart from that, it is definitely a very relaxing environment and one that I would probably return to.

Such a beautiful venue. We stayed here for a wedding. The grounds are very picturesque and the accommodation is just stunning. There is character everywhere and the staff are super friendly. But beware the drinks are really pricey!!!!

Stunning location with magnificent trees and estate, with a canal nearby. I went there to go to Clodagh Mckenna's cookery classes and enjoyed the cafe in there too. There's a restaurant that looks beautiful from the outside, and I heard the food is delicious there too. Warning : I think they're closed on tuesdays and wednesdays.

Review based on Canal Cafe We came in for lunch with our toddler. There were 4 waitstaff and a lady making coffee for only 8 tables. We were told we could have a table in the corner (which would not have fit a Highchair), but another table left as we were waiting. I had to ask three times for the table to be cleared and finally 20 minutes later we were seated. We had to ask to order and ordered one tea, one wine and a soup/sandwich to share. Thankfully we brought our daughters lunch as she wouldn't have been impressed with the slow service! Our sandwich and soup came 20 minutes later (40 min at the cafe at this point) and they forget the drinks. I had to chase a waitress down for these. Overall, food was mediocre. Service was abysmal. Nonexistent. And with 5 staff for 8 sets of customers it seemed more like an organisation issue than resource. New owners take note!

I've been there for a few weddings. Beautiful setting. You wouldn't think you're in Ireland really. The driveway up to the place is long so by the time you get to it, you feel nice and secluded. :) I have been into the little cafe and found it lovely. I've also eaten the wedding food (beef twice and chicken once) I found it all delicious. Yep, all in all, worth a look if you're in the area!

We stayed here for a wedding and were pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the hotel grounds were. Its about an hour from Dublin and you get that countryside setting. We booked a coach/carriage house and a few of their hotel rooms and all the rooms were beautifully modern and elegant. There was a nespresso bar in all rooms. Our room had a grand bathroom that had an enormous shower (w/ dual rain showerheads). Also included were Hermes products. I felt like I was in a fairytale!

Ive been here 3 times so far and always with a group of ten or more and the location is stunning. We normally arrive by boat and stay overnight and then continue on our journey. The food has been excellent but the staffing situation is what lets them down? why? why? get a a few more wait staff and train them for gods sake. Last night I had to organize a lunch for 10 at the last minute so today we are heading there again. It was fully booked until 4pm so I'm praying now after reading these reviews that things will go ok as these people are visiting from Oz and the UK, I shall update if its a disaster or good whichever. Today was a family Sunday lunch, nothing really to celebrate just 9 and a baby having lunch. We had the set 2 course each, a few drinks and 4 coffee's. 4 of use drove so couldn't drink. The bill was 420 Euro without gratuity as expected and the food was amazing. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed there's and were delighted with the choice they made. I love the whole place and will definitely be back. Thank you Billy for giving us the reservation at the last minute

Beautiful setting with a great restaurant in the orangery a wonderful venue for any occasion Allirelandvacations.com

As we were passing on the canal, we decided to go for a bit of lunch, Mrs R has been on about it for a while. Oh what a mistake, the food it was okay what little was on the plate. The service really bad, first sign should have been the tourists at the next table who after asking about there coffee were told " its very busy you will have to wait". After chasing two waitresses we eventually got served. Now there were a few people about but not many that should cause a decent trained staff any trouble. The food quantity was small not great value. The coffee now that was a rip off served in the smallest mug I think that is available. Will I be back no, I got better service and better value at any of a number of greasy spoons I can think of. Oh and they know how coffee should be served. A wasted lunch.

Visited the tea rooms for lunch for my mams birthday. Staff were so attentive and friendly, menu was small but something to suit everyone. Very quiet and peaceful in a beautiful setting. It's expensive but you wouldn't expect it to be cheap considering the location. Excellent expedited staff made a big impact.

I had really intended to go for it once my wedding was over - set up a blog detailing every example of the shocking service I had. With the passage of time and a busy life I haven't done so but I just had an email from the hotel group (although I have tried to unsubscribe several times), so here goes..... Before I say anything I do want to give a personal thanks to people like Debbie (no longer there) and operations manager Billy O'Connell. Without Billy, I think I would have had a nervous breakdown. He took over in the absence of both wedding planners in the two weeks prior to our wedding (not advised ahead about this!) and in such a short space of time we ironed out everything with ease. What a shame we didn't experience that the whole way through. Also, on the day of the wedding, service was excellent. The staff on hand were great, we were extremely well taken care of (except a few little fluff-ups but nothing major). Our guests felt very spoilt and the venue itself was amazing, including the food. But I have to write this because I feel so strongly about it. We booked our wedding here over the summer and from the moment our deposit was paid we endured the worst level of service I've ever experienced in my life. Main issues: 1. Inconsistencies in what was communicated to us verbally and then by email (eg the amount of people that can be accommodated in the main reception room, how many bedrooms would be available for us etc.) 2. No dedicated person dealing with queries, and with staff working in a part time basis, often sending an email three times before reaching someone without an out of office message on. Emails going weeks without responses.... unacceptable. 3. Complete profiteering on the pricing front - total inconsistencies in the information being given from different people. Example - corkage is €35, someone else says it's €10, and then someone tells me it's not allowed at all. Madness. 4. Never known a wedding venue to want to charge €4 corkage PER ITEM for a favour of a mini bottle of Baileys (so €400 to give our guests a favour - ridiculous). 5. Not informed at all about rebranding of the venue (as in , the complete change of name) when our invitations had been sent to our guests while the venue was still called Village at Lyons (made this discovery myself when I was browsing online in the weeks before the wedding). So plenty of guests coming from abroad not knowing the correct venue name. Isn't this the first thing you would do - inform clients of the name change of their wedding venue so they can tell their guests?! 6. A venue calling itself luxury that doesn't provide different sized wine glasses for red and white wine and doesn't have starter plates that are smaller than main course plates?! What a joke. Plates looked like the kind of thing you would get in a hospital. Cutlery also sub par. We had to hire our own glassware and cutlery and our own starter plates. Nuts when you're already paying top tier prices. 7. For the tasting, total lack of flexibility for when we could do it. We don't live in Ireland and had to take a Friday off work to fly home to do the tasting on Thursday evening. Also, they only let you try one item each (ie one starter, one main, one desert) so how in heaven's name are you supposed to choose the best dishes when you can't sample them all? Words fail me. 8. Being informed after paying our deposit that in fact it's not an exclusive venue and that we would have the bridal party from the day before using up the room allocation and having a bbq onsite on our day, AS WELL AS the chance of a smaller wedding party (up to 60 people) onsite on the same day. In the case of the latter, being told that we would not have access to parts of the grounds for our photos. I could go on all day, there is so much. It got to the point where I had to have my fiancé read the emails that came back from the Village at Lyons before I did soI would know if I should save it for the evening so I didn't end up crying at work. It really was that bad. Best of luck if you're planning a wedding. This place is beautiful but if management is still the same, negotiate EVERYTHING you want before you hand over a single cent to them. Shocking, shocking way to manage a business and treat people as they prepare such a highly emotionally-charged event. I'm happy to go into more detail for anyone who has questions.

During a recent walk along the Canal my friend and myself ventured into the Canal Cafe at the Village at Lyons for Coffee and a snack. From the very outset, we felt the staff were unwelcoming and didn't make much effort to facilitate us. While the place was relatively busy, we were shown to a table after a short wait while they cleared it after the previous customers. My friend had an open sandwich which just about ok - the smoked salmon was very good and the salad and accompanying potato chips, however, the brown bread was stale and stodgy. I ordered a fruit scone and it was so bad that I had to give it back - and thankfully I did - it was a huge lump of doughy bread - the only way I could describe it, with just one miserly raisin that I could find sitting on the bottom! It seemed to me that it had been either defrosted or reheated! The staff member that I gave the scone back to was initially indignant and unhappy that I was dissatisfied, however, later she admitted that I was correct and that she, herself, thought the brownies, scones etc were very poor quality and she was going to report it to her superiors. All in all a pretty poor experience and in my opinion, hugely overpriced - €3.20 for an white coffeee and €2.90 for a cup of tea - rip off!! What a pity for such a lovely place on the Canal and a most amazing setting. Hope they take my comments on board!