Clontarf Castle Hotel

Staff were extremely helpful Rooms were fun Able to tour the art Spent time in the lobby cafe in the evening by the fire. Lovely

Stayed here the last night in Ireland and so glad I did. It was a great way to finish off our two weeks in Ireland. Beautiful lounge and Knights bar. The staff was friendly, food was average. The only caveat was we had to wait quite sometime for our room to be ready, but I just got a bite and relaxed at the lounge. My room was great and I ordered a snack (wings) and dessert which were really good. Room was clean and comfy. Though my view of magpies and the cemetery could have been better. Ha ha Now I really kept thinking about Dracula that night! All in all a great stay!

Everything about this hotel was perfection! If you are looking for something special outside of Dublin City this is a great hotel in a more residential and relaxed part of Ireland. You come here to get away from the city while still being close enough to taxi in should you choose, just note this is more on the outskirts of town. Who doesn't love the idea of staying inside a castle?! The theme was spot on and executed. What I love about this hotel is you get all of the magic and whimsy of wanting to stay in a castle like vibe without it being pedestrian. The hotel itself was beautiful and the amenities were pretty and well decorated. It didn't feel touristy in a bad way and it's clear they put a lot of love into this place. The hotel was immaculately clean and again, the decor, couches, lounges, and artwork made this spot stunning. Staff here are 5 stars! Omg the service was impeccable. I had an early travel in and was nervous checking in at 10am, figured there was so way my room would be ready and I'd be stuck waiting around until 2pm+ like some hotels can be. Not here, the front desk receptionist was lovely and so welcoming. She told me absolutely no problem with my early check in and that my room was ready. I do think I came on a quieter weekend so that could be why I was able to get right in but I just so appreciated the flexibility and the accommodation without them making me feel some type of a way about it. Lovely people work here. House keeping and the reception desk are on it. Needed waters and towels at different points in my stay, gave them a ring and they rushed right up with what I needed. Lovely 5 star service here. The complimentary breakfast buffet was wonderful. Buffets aren't usually for me but I'll give them credit they host a great one here. Wonderful assortment of foods and well stocked. They replenished the foods frequently and you can get a proper breakfast here with all of the fixings easily. It was wonderful. Pretty dinning spaces in this hotel. Lastly the rooms were great. Loved the decor and the rooms were very clean. Great amenities. Large TV, a bench for sitting, large circle side tables and the beds were super comfortable! Had a fabulous sleep here. The bathroom was wonderful too. Nice lightning and a great shower with fabulous water pressure. This hotel was probably the best hotel I stayed at in every domain on my three week European trip. If you find yourself wanting to stay in Clontarf this is definitely a great hotel option.

Amazing castle experience at Clontarff Castle! Our room was beautiful, the bed was super comfortable, the vibe was classy and historical. Staff was so friendly and while there isn't much to do in the area without a 20 minute walk, it's still a great experience. Happy to check 'staying in a castle' off my bucket list!

This was our last stop in Dublin. The "castle" is the facade, but mostly it's a regular hotel. The knights bar was great and the bartender from the US was fantastic. Close proximity to the airport which was a plus. Good distance from downtown so that's a minus if your plan is to spend the day in Dublin proper

Phenomenal!!!!! Wonderful hotel, the staff very helpful and kind! Beautiful grounds!!

4/11/23 - checked in today and by luck our room was ready to go at 1pm. Clean and no issues. The front desk was Nice and there is an exchange currency person there. Room in nice with 2 beds. Looking forward to exploring the castle and the hotel Wednesday. Heading for the Buffett in the morning which is 19.99 euro per person. Also, closest bus stop is about a 10 minute walk away. Bus 130. Also, you need exact change. See my Tip for this. More to come. Photos pending. Adults for the bus are 2.60 in exact coins and kids are free but one person charged us .90. Very odd. Also, there is a map here to look at all the artwork hidden. Takes about 30-45 minutes. It was fun. Also, good luck trying to find the gym. It's hidden. It's a workout just to locate it. The signs for it are a deception. Good luck and let the be with you mates!

When our Irish friend found out we were visiting Ireland she said we should stay in a Castle. That sounded fun and memorable so we stayed here. It has the charm of a castle with super comfortable beds and GREAT pillows (I note this because most hotel pillows are awful). We had tea and scones in the morning - THE BEST BERRY SCONE EVER! Seriously delicious and declared the best by our whole family. I wasn't a huge fan of the restaurant for lunch the one time we tried it when we first arrived. Food wasn't horrible but you can do better in downtown. The location is out of the way. We had to Uber to the city everyday which was fine as cabs came quickly and easily but the expense adds up. Totally glad we stayed here for our first visit to Ireland and would recommend to first timers to do the same but I will probably stay in a downtown hotel next time. Just being honest.

Breathtaking castle hotel. Felt like royalty!! The rooms were all unique and beautiful. Short walk to Dublin Bay. Very friendly staff. A little pricey, but worth the extra price.

Staff were polite and friendly. The hotel is nice and the bed comfortable. It was quiet during sleeping hours. The location is a bit awkward so plan to have a car or spend to go places of interest.

Wow! This was our last night stay in Ireland. It was an amazing place. The hospitality is beyond great. We had a beautiful king bed and the shower was the best by far. Breakfast was a huge buffet and it was wonderful. Best night of sleep we had the entire 16days we were here. Highly recommend staying here 1st night into vacation and last night to decompress.

We stayed at Clontarf on our last night in Europe after a two week trip. It was the great end to an overall fantastic trip! My mother in law had been hoping to stay at a castle while we were there and I found this fantastic place to end the trip. Customer service was fantastic, the rooms were beautiful and the restaurant/bar options were perfect. It was also a short walk to some spots along the water that we were able to see the outskirts of Dublin. Highly recommend Clontarf, especially once decorated for the holidays.

The coolest hotel I've ever had the pleasure of staying at! It was like a fairytale, the amount of excitement was overwhelming. We came straight from the airport and were so giddy to arrive! We had so much fun exploring, all the details are wonderful. They had a lovely bar and the restaurant had live music on piano every night. I would love to visit again.

For a castle, this was a major disappointment. It was the most expensive of all our hotels in our travels around Ireland and the least quality. For it being a castle the rooms were TINY and definitely worn. The bathroom was updated, but there were little flies coming out of the sink. We arrived in the evening from Killarney and were hoping for a later dinner at the hotel - come to find out you HAVE to have a reservation even if you're staying at the hotel, so that didn't work out. We booked this hotel about 40 hours before our stay, and when we arrived the price of our room was almost $100 less and they refused to adjust our room rate. The only positive to the stay was the bartender at the Knights bar. He was attentive and nice. We wanted to take our drinks and sit in the lobby to enjoy the scenery of the castle, but almost every single sitting area had dirty dishes not cleared from other patrons. I would not stay here again, nor would I recommend. Hopefully other people have a better experience.

Staying at this hotel was a lovely end to our trip to Europe. We really loved the kind staff, art work, decor and the Knights Bar & Fahrenheit restaurants! Our room was so charming and cozy too!

I had a bad experience staying in this hotel. Apart from the novelty of being a castle, there is nothing much this hotel offers. It is very far from the city Center . What troubled me the most is the uncleanliness of the entire hotel. There seems to be no house keeping present. In my week's stay here, I did not once see any housekeeping or cleaning crew . The rooms are old and worn out. The rooms don't get cleaned . They just put fresh towels . Not even the garbage bins are cleared each day. The carpets both in the rooms and the common areas are the worst. They are filled with crumbs and dirt.

6/18/2019 - Last evening in Ireland and we couldn't leave without staying in a castle. The entrance to the hotel is so welcoming and beautiful with so many colorful roses. We were in for a treat! The castle feel continues right into the reception area. The person at the reception, made our check in process smooth and he made us feel welcome. He gave us information about the castle's history and Clontarf. Our room was modern and clean with plenty of amenities. The bed was extremely comfortable, perfect for a princess. Exactly what we wanted after a great trip to Ireland. We ended up having dinner at one of the restaurants. I only had a soup as I wasn't very hungry. My friends did order food and they were very happy with it. It is very pricey though. I could definitely see someone wanting to get married here.

I spent a night at the hotel a couple of weeks ago. It was a lovely evening. Our room was clean and comfortable, although I was disappointed that they had no bathtub. The staff were absolutely brilliant from the start. It was a weekday and the dining room was pretty busy while we were there. It seemed like they were short staffed. The waitress got us started with drinks and starters and we did not mind waiting after that. Kindness, helpfulness and humour seemed to be the theme with the staff. I would highly recommend this hotel.

First trip to Dublin, Ireland from Buffalo, NY and this was the highlight of Dublin. My husband Dan and myself were on our honeymoon. From the moment we checked in the service the the best we've ever had at a restaurant. Vijay was Extremely helpful and caring. He handed us chocolates before we went to our room. By the stairs we were greeted by Peter and showed us around the castle a bit and gave us some interesting history. Then for a late lunch we sat outside a had amazing service from Karen!! We shared a few things including: the best & most flavorful seafood soup of our lives, a fish dish, and truffle Mac and cheese. Yum yum and YUM Staying in the castle was like a dream. The rooms had a lot of character. Everything clean and top knotch. The breakfast was upstairs and they had a room downstairs too. ALL the food was outstanding quality and tasty!! If you need help on renting a car they will help and give travel tips for the area. Even the complementary soup and lotion was handmade in Ireland. I'm obsessed and have a little bottle for my purse! We can't wait to return to Clondarf Castle!!

I'm staying in a castle, so how can I not give this place 5 stars? Seriously comfortable rooms, gorgeous art hanging in the hallways, interesting and deep history, good food in the restaurants and friendly staff. And comfortable bed and pillows, ahhh...cured my jet lag! Definitely recommended for a place in Dublin away from the maddening crowds.

Great food at the restaurant and bar! Amazing hotel. The rooms were nice, the atmosphere was great, and overall was extremely unique!

We LOVED everything about our stay here, from our welcome by Bruna--who offered lots of recommendations for local attractions, and even booked our dinner reservations for us--to the cleanliness of the room, and the fascinating artwork and layout of the hotel and castle. Highly recommend their onsite restaurant, Farenheit, which had the best food either of us had had in ages! The wait staff there was phenomenal too. Hotel had good proximity to the airport and downtown Dublin. We definitely want to go back!!!

The construction noise and getting bed bugs bites. I got over 25 bites and still a week after, they are not gone. Rooms are small and they asked me to pack my guides luggage since they sold.

Super cool location just outside Dublin. We were wrapping up our trip and our last leg was in Dublin. One of our friends found a castle you can stay in. Enough said! It is a very cool old building with tons of charm and the amenities of a modern hotel. The rooms are clean and well equipped. The AC was the only thing a little funky but windows can open so we had a nice Irish breeze coming in. The rooms are also very eclectic and the hotel is a neat design of old and new. The hotel also has a very nice restaurant, Fahrenheit, on site. There is a also a bar area and conference rooms for meetings and what not. There is also little activities and what not for the kiddos. Crafts and what not. A pretty cool hotel and not a bad drive to downtown Dublin. Consider it for a different Dublin experience!

LOVE this castle hotel!!! The look is fabulous and the concierge was extremely professional. Definitely fits the theme. Everything is clean and the beds are really comfortable. Would recommend to anyone.

We stayed here on the first night of our honeymoon. Everyone we met who worked there was friendly and helpful. Our room was nice and clean. It had a king bed, which was nice (but rare, from our research). The outside is gorgeous, as is the inside! We can the week of Thanksgiving and they were decorated for Christmas, which is my favorite! There's a bar and a restaurant on property (and I think one more food/drink place), but we only visited Knights Bar. We decided on a small tour of Ireland, so we'd be in a different place every night, but we both wished we could stay another night or two!

This was our final stay in Dublin... what a way to end the trip. We also had dinner here and it was delicious. The bars were great, room was a good size and very modern. I couldn't resist taking pictures of almost everything... enjoy! Fahrenheit Grill was an amazing dining experience as well... please see pictures.

After an 8-day road trip through Ireland and Air BnB's, my mom and I spent our last 2 days in Dublin and at the Clontarf Castle Hotel. I was concerned at check in, as the employee told me we had 1 double bed booked. I made the reservation via Hotels dot com months ago for two single beds, and told her as much. (Which I confirmed via my online reservation.) She apparently fixed it, though she didn't note she had and I had to ask after she went through the rest of the spiel. The room was smaller than I anticipated, with the two single beds really an inch apart. There was a neat bench seating area with a table, plus a desk. No functioning fridge: just the minibar. The bathroom had two mirrors and two shower heads: one waterfall, and one smaller wand-type. The water pressure on the latter was great! Housekeeping was good. The second day, they put a washcloth underneath my mom's toiletries, which she was super pleased about. They also restocked all of our toiletries and washcloths, even though some were still in use. The AC in the room goes down to 19°C. There are both a bar and restaurant on site. Each was better than the room itself, but they will be separate reviews! I was NOT thrilled that there was mold in various places in the shower. They really need to bleach that! Also, our cable TV kept freezing every 10-15 minutes. I notified the front desk and they said it would be taken care of by maintenance, but later that night it froze a few times again, though not as frequently. Overall, the Clontarf Castle Hotel was a-OK: a bit gimmicky, flashy but tasteful "castle" decor. However, there is certainly room for improvement, especially since rates aren't entirely cheap. * Note: The Front Office Manager sent me a personal email following my review (I cross-posted to Hotels dot com, so likely from that). I appreciate that he reached out to address my concerns about our stay.

My husband and I kicked off our honeymoon at Clontarf and I cannot rave about the experience and service! From check in to check out, every staff member we encountered was polite, friendly, and sincerely welcoming. At check in we were notified that we have been upgraded to a junior suite at not extra charge - just the hotel's way of saying congratulations. If that wasn't enough, while were checking out the stunning room, the gentleman who checked us in brought up a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolates. He also arranged our dinner arrangements at Fahrenheit, the hotel's in house gourmet restaurant. Which, by the way, if you're staying here, the restaurant is a must! The four-course dinner was absolutely delicious and quite a bargain! Our waitress was, like everyone else phenomenal. She was very accommodating and attentive. She answered all of our questions, checked in regularly, and kept the wine (which she so generously comped) coming. The only thing that might warrant a complaint was our visit to the Knight's Bar immediately following check in. Our server forgot about us after delivering our drinks. However, there was a very large private function taking up a large part of the bar and there were a limited number of servers. So, someone who has worked in serving, I won't even really complain about that, especially in light of how terrific everything else was. Overall, this was an experience that will not be forgotten and we plan to make this our regular anniversary getaway!

During a recent trip to Ireland, my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to stay in Dublin but we also wanted to stay in a castle. So after a little research we stumbled upon the Clontarf Castle Hotel. Although it is more hotel than castle, it fit the bill and we ended up booking two nights. The hotel is located right outside the Dublin city center, tucked away in a neighborhood but still within walking distance to everything. After driving down a long drive way, you see the beautiful Castle which is perfectly decorated inside and out. The lobby is amazing, and the decorations were on point- great attention to detail. The lobby staff was friendly and super helpful. They even printed directions for us. We ended up staying in a junior suite on the fourth floor. The room included a huge comfortable bed, desk area, couch, and a big bathroom. The room was coated in a deep rich purple and gold wall paper and the ceiling had a unique slant to it. The hotel also has a few different restaurants/bars. We only ate at the one that served breakfast in the morning. Breakfast was an additional 14 euros and totally worth it. The buffet was huge, and the options seemed endless. I think my boyfriend ate at least 3 pound of the smoked salmon. And again, the staff was great. The hotel has plenty of parking, and there is a hop on hop off bus that stops by each morning. The hotel has free wifi, no password needed. I would recommend this hotel to anyone who is staying in Dublin but wants to be a little bit removed from the hustle and bustle.

It's a freeeeking castle! Sheesh. How many people get to get up on their high horse and shout out a review of a castle? It was more than we expected. The experience of decor and ambiance along with a great restaurant and location near to a bus that drives right into downtown was ideal. Of course, it's not a proper castle, but who would really enjoy that? It has a wonderful blend of castle decor with the realistic functionality of a hotel. the designers did well. The rooms were nice, not plush, but nice and the room servers were attentive. We only ate breakfast there, and there was a choice of off the menu or the take what you want the buffet. The buffet was well rounded with many choices of bread and a variety of grains for porridge and cereals. I've never seen that before. Of course, I went for the Irish breakfast stuff of blood pudding and sausages with eggs, mushrooms, and tomatoes with some bread and fruits. The food service was more continental than what I would have expected. I mean by that, the attitude was stoic and even Teutonic rather than the freewheeling Irish attitude that I simply love--no better people in the world! The hotel hospitality staff were amazingly accommodating, pleasant with a proper blend of professionalism. The fish rots from the head down and it is plain to see that the head of this establishment is an extraordinary model of the hospitality profession--top shelf. I have not idea if the price range is moderate or pricey. It was well worth it and I've paid more for less. Thank you.

My husband and I came here on our honeymoon. It is a very beautiful hotel but not really a castle at all which was disappointing. A very small part was a castle not much to explore. Hospitality and customer service not good at all. We stayed at two other places and am basing my experiences with all three. This place came in as my least favorite place. If we visit again will not be coming back. Other two places congratulated us on our marriage and up graded our rooms. This place nothing. No congrats from them or a greeting from manager like the other places thanking us for staying with them. Other places went out of their way to make sure we were happy. Don't expect that treatment from here. The room was so cramped and small. Same thing with the bathroom. The only thing I enjoyed was the food. They had a lunch buffet which was amazing. The dinner was great but too fancy. It looked more like art than dinner lol. Size was so small like an appetizer. We had drinks and deserts to fill us up. Was kinda pricy for the lack of food on your plate. The bed is very hard and its actually two small beds pushed together! I was like you got to be kinding me.

I am so disappointed. My wife and I and another couple were set to stay there last month, but United Airlines had a delay causing us to miss our connection to Dublin from Newark. I immediately from the airport sent an email to the hotel and to the manager, but received no response. We were unable to get to Ireland at all and ended up being diverted to England two days later, and when the manager did respond, he cited their cancellation policy and refused to refund or credit towards another stay. I called Chase Rewards, who I booked this place through, and they said that the hotel marked us down as a no-show. Subsequent efforts to resolve were not successful, but rather were met with the type of responses that seemed were given numerous times to others. I will make it to Dublin next year . . . but will never consider this place.

Stayed for two nights on our way out of Ireland. Really really enjoyed it. Awesome location to airport and Dublin. Great rooms, peaceful and great staff. Desk was great, restaurant was tasty, bar staff wonderful. Super clean throughout, easy parking, google maps led us straight there from Limerick. The restaurant was adaptable to our desire to have a Chartucarie plate that was just cheese. The location is super photogenic. Basically, it's a really cool old small castle, with a nice normal hotel bolted on the back.

Beauty is only skin deep. This hotel is picture perfect from the outside. Staff is welcoming upon reception. Our room, however, was another story. We are familiar with cramped quarters in major cities but this room required traffic signals for my husband and me to pass by each other. Between the bed and the dresser was one way only. Also, why would a hotel of this caliber be so stingy about room essentials??? We were given only two bath towels, two face cloths, one hand towel and one tiny bar of soap for two people. Hangers in the closet were the type that disconnect from the ring around the bar. Do they seriously think visitors are going to steal the wooden hotel hangars? As for the restaurant, Fahrenheit, it was closed for a private party the night before our departure. Why on earth do hotels do this to guests who have no reasonable alternative in a residential area like Clontarf? This hotel should at least have a few tables available to guests who wish a lovely final meal in Dublin. As it turned out, the tavern inside the hotel offered a limited ( but satisfying) menu which wound up being simpler but far better than our initial first night meal in Fahrenheit. Go figure.

I love this place - its grandness on a small scale and the fact that its so unexpected located as it is in the middle of a residential area. It's a lovely space to pop into for a bite to eat in the restaurant or bar and people from out of town seem to particularly love it (the Irish castle touristy charm of it all I suppose!) Hadn't been here in a few years but stopped by recently for some Sunday lunch and wasn't disappointed in the least. Love when you visit a place you recall so fondly and it lives up to your memories - doesn't happen enough! I had the seabass starter with pineapple salsa and a small crabcake. It was small and light but full of flavour. For mains I had roast lamb with duckfat roasties and veg. It was usual Sunday lunch fare but the lamb and veg were cooked so perfectly that it hit home notches above the usual carvery offering. A lovely strong Americano and a glass of lovely Malbec rounded out the meal and I pretty much felt like purring by this stage. All in all the Castle is a great spot for a meal, and one of my favourite hotels in Dublin.

I mean, what can I actually say about a castle...it's a castle and magnificent! Everything from the ambiance, the decor, the service, and the accommodations was truly impeccable. The beds were incredibly comfortable (which was truly needed after sleeping in some awful beds in Europe) and the rooms were regally decorated. I love how the castle integrates modernity into the antiquated charm because there was art everywhere. I especially loved the hanging art from the ceilings in the main hall. The ornate woodwork on the ceiling in the King's Bar was stunning and the food matched the environment. I had a steak sandwich with the most tender and flavorful sirloin steak which was perfectly cooked and topped with roasted tomatoes and crispy onions. The fries were awesome, piping hot, obviously homemade and only lightly salted which tickles my fancy. I also had the side of the truffle macaroni and cheese and while my waistline didn't need any more carbs, it sure was worth it. A great meal paired with a Smithwick Pale Ale and my life was complete while staying the night in the castle. I would highly recommend to anyone if they are looking for a magical experience while visiting Dublin or the surrounding area that they need to spend at least one night there. It truly was the perfect way to complete the week I spent in Ireland, and hats off to the staff for going above and beyond. Robert, who checked us in when we first arrived was so friendly, so knowledgeable about the history of the castle, and who was truly a breath of fresh air after spending a few hours in the car traveling back towards Dublin.

Pretty awesome hotel! The only thing that was upsetting was that we were only here for one night. We tried to make the most of the time by visiting every little different area in the castle and reading about the cool historic factoids at each designated area. We hung out at the bar, it was a nice area and service was great. The hotel room was very nice, luxurious, and we only wished we were able to stay here longer as it was so nice! All of the little toiletries were awesome products ! Parking is great! You don't have to worry about limited spaces. One day we will return, and cannot wait to stay here again !

Rooms nice but small-ish. Dinner deal was appreciated, but food was meh. Breakfast= great buffet, wide selections. Just a bit overpriced for what you're getting. The decor and vibe is awesome and the staff were helpful/friendly.

Sounds weird, but I want to be bottle up the scent of the hotel and use it as perfume! We decided to stay here only because it was a castle and we thought it was something different, but I'm glad we did! The hotel was beautiful inside, the people were super friendly, and the food was delicious! There were 2 restaurants -you need a reservation for the Fahrentheit and the Knight's Bar which is more casual. The hotel was a mixture of modern and antique decoration and furniture with a color scheme of purple, gold, and silver. One downside is that it is near a residential area so it is a bit far from the Temple Bar area and other tourist attractions - about a $20 taxi ride.

Loved this place. Beautiful interior and amenities and the staff was so responsive. Definitely have the breakfast buffet- it's so expensive but oh so delicious. Beds were comfortable and showers were refreshing. One of the best castles I stayed at in Ireland that was actually reasonable affordable in comparison to the rest. Highly recommended.

The castle itself is beautiful. The room was very spacious. Wish they had king size beds but I know that can be uncommon in Europe. They gave us two doubles, after a long travel day the hubby and I didn't mind separate beds! The bed was very comfortable. I also wasn't able to find a hair dryer in our room (not crucial but would've been nice). The breakfast in the morning was lovely. We stayed in multiple hotels in Ireland and this was by far the best hotel breakfast of the trip.

**Update: Upon check out the representative was very nice and was sure to remove all additional items from our stay and the entire staff appeared more relaxed. Assumably they were definitely overbooked and understaffed the prior evening. Perhaps worth a try again?? Upgraded to theee stars from my original two.** After an amazing holiday in Ireland we planned to conclude our trip with our final night at the Clontarf Castle Hotel. What a disappointment. It appears they overbooked in other events and were unable to accommodate their other hotel guests. Here's some background on our evening. We arrived this afternoon at around 5pm and though check in was brief we were simply handed an envelope with the cards in it and a leaflet on the castle itself and sent on our way. I even had to inquire once dismissed as to which floor we were on! Ironically, our entire holiday prior to this was with "Air B&B" and we received better service through every one of the places we stayed than we did booking at the Clontarf Castle Hotel. So, needless to say, we settled into our room, read the manual provided, and decided to head to the more casual pub area for dinner. We sat at the bar and waited...and waited. We weren't the only ones waiting. There were a half dozen others! Once served (the bartender was apologetic) we mentioned that we planned on having dinner and asked if there was staff for us to sit outside at the tables there. He suggested we close out our tab with him and head outside and he would let the waitstaff know to serve us. After waiting a while outside (enough time to nearly finish my beverage) my husband went inside to check. He came out with menus and had been told that there was not ample wait staff to come table side. He brought menus and was told we could decide on our order and then go back in, let them know, and they would then deliver it to the table. We patiently waited for our meal. An HOUR later, my husband again went in to check if out meal had been forgotten. The staff said they would check on it and soon after our meals arrived. The waitress appeared bothered we asked for salt, pepper and mustard.

Loved this hotel! Pricier than I ever would pay for a regular hotel (because I never book fancy, expensive hotels), but unbelievably cheaper than the other castles that I found. Who doesn't want to stay in a castle while in Ireland? So I splurged for one night. The interior was very nice with some old castle walls/areas still intact though mostly modernized. The decor was awesome and there was plenty of sitting areas and a nice bar/lounge with friendly staff. Our bartender that night was wonderful. Friendly staff makes all the difference. My room was very nice although the bed was a bit too hard. The breakfast buffet was huge. You could make yourself a traditional Irish breakfast and then some. The parking lot was large and easy to access in comparison to every other hotel I stayed at here.

The small rooms are okay. But don't do that. Go big. Treat yourself. We tried 4 different types of rooms because of our trip. A small upgrade in price is a big upgrade in size. It's worth it. The staff is amazing x10. They have really good food both upstairs and downstairs. Celiac friendly. The beer and food isn't overpriced, so the neighbors come over for a pint and for large meals. Explore the castle. There are tons of really cool features and details. This is as good as it gets.

When going to Europe, I like to avoid typical touristy stuff like visiting old churches and castles. If on my own, I would probably stay at a hip downtown hotel. If that were the case on my recent trip to Ireland, then I would have missed Clontarf Castle Hotel. I came here for a week for meetings and I am glad my company pre-booked everything. This hotel is about 3 miles from downtown Dublin near the water, and is a gem of a hotel. Like most castles, a part of the building is hundreds of years old. Another part was built a couple of centuries ago and the rest of the hotel was built early in the 20th century. In addition, it seems that the entire hotel has had a complete makeover - so no Lord of the Rings nonsense here. The interior is completely modern and upscale, but has lots of exposed stone in the lobby, etc. to give it the "castle feel". For dining, Clontarf has 2 restaurants and a bar. The rooms were well appointed and roomy by European standards, as were the beds. My only (minor) gripe about the rooms was that the TV only had 8 channels. I ate most of my meals in the hotel, served banquet style, as we were a pretty large group. The food was pretty good, although any chicken dish was completely overcooked and there was very little in the way of vegetables or fruits. The staff was excellent. They did a great job taking care of us. Almost every request by our group was handled promptly and with a smile. I guess it is the Irish charm thing. Next time a trip takes you to Dublin, skip the downtown hotel and stay at Clontarf.

Wanting to do it up right the last day of our vacation I booked the Clontarf Castle Hotel. Booking online was a little confusing to me but I was positive I got a medium sized room plus a free dinner for two in their fancy dinning hall. Upon arriving I was told that we would be staying in the King suite. I tried the control the look of surprise and wonder on my face and after discovering that I didn't get charged extra it was even harder. Either they upgraded me for free or ??. I gave her a big smile and many thanks as I ran away to get to my King suite. This suite was brilliant, fantastic, elegant, and down right awesome. It is located on the very top corner of the building, the size of three rooms combined, a large tub (enough to fit two people ;) ), a four post bed, and a view of the whole valley that is worth the price alone. All the comforts and then some! I loved the design, part castle, part modern hotel, it all worked very well and without the cheesiness that you would expect. All of the staff including the bartenders and servers were happy and energetic. Service was more then excellent!! The usual amenities, 24 hour fitness center, free wi-fi (once you get a code from the front desk), they also have a lounge, a bar, and a fine dining area. Knights Bar- Great place to chill (relaxed atmosphere), eat some comfort food (simple food made well) and have a few drinks (they know how to pour here!). Fahrenheit Grill- Fine dining indeed, Steamed mussels, Duck leg confit, loin of lamb, and other earthly items. It all was delicious but could have used a little more seasoning. Desert, Lemongrass and Basil Crème Brulee was very nice. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here more often even if I didn't get the King suite ever again. **If you're around check out The Bram Stoker Dracula Halloween Festival takes place at Contarf Castle Hotel from the 29th - 31st of October. ****

We loved this place, I wish we could have stayed longer. Beautiful building. Easy access to taxis and to the bus. Great staff rearranged our nights for us after Dublin airport closure left us 2 days behind, lent us books, and made change for the bus fares. Breakfast buffet included fresh fruit, yogurts, pastries and toast, eggs, sausages, cereals, fresh juices, and a great view. Modern building with ancient castle section- I wanted to live in the tiny room between the lobby and lounge. Our room had adaptors, tea makings and a built-in sitting area.

Beautifully Spooky I had a great time when I stayed here during my time in Ireland. The outside of the hotel really does have the appearance of a Castel. It even has giant lion statues on both sides of the main entrance. At night this place can look spooky from the outside with the way the moon shadows over it. Once inside the hotel there are several windows to let in all the natural light. In the lobby there is a grand fireplace and ample seating. The employees will even bring you coffee and tea to enjoy for a minimal fee in this area. We spent most of our time here. This was partially due to having to wait a few hours before we could check into our room after being dropped off from the airport. There is also a cool bar on the property that offered a variety of local drinks that we enjoyed. The rooms are clean and a decent size which is all I need in a hotel room. I would recommend this hotel to anyone going to Dublin.