Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel

We had a great stay at the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel. Our balcony had a lovely view, and the room was very comfortable. Staff were welcoming, and the facilities were excellent. The location is terrific, with Dalkey village a 10-minute walk away. We ate at the hotel several times and the food was very good each time. One evening in the Library Bar, we listened to pianist and singer Russell Smyth. He was a real talent and completely delightful. We'll definitely stay again.

We had afternoon tea as a gift, and the meal was excellent and thoroughly enjoyable. Our reserved table was nicely set up, and the staff were welcoming, friendly, and efficient. There were far more people there than we'd expected for what we thought would be a quiet time, so it was clearly a popular spot. The setting has extravagant, old-world luxury.

This seems like an outdated place aimed at a particular crowd, perhaps older retired locals. I came in recently for a meeting and some coffee. Nobody at the lobby counter greeted us or asked what we needed, and neither of the two women in the dining rooms said hello. We found seats ourselves and waited at least 5-10 minutes before one of them checked on us. She was nice enough, but seemed flustered and rushed, clearly busy with the retired locals having lunch or dinner. The coffee was average, and after finishing it we had to catch her attention again to pay. There also seemed to be a seminar in one of the rooms. Large groups of Garda kept walking through the dining room every few minutes, which made things feel crowded and disorganized. It's a shame, because the building and the area are both beautiful, and this place could do so much better.

We had the best week of our lives here, and made good use of the facilities, especially the gym. The spot and surrounding area are beautiful, and the price was good too. A mini fridge in the room would have helped, particularly since the nearest shop is a 20-minute walk away, but that's my only complaint.