Killashee Hotel

Our four year old got a real treat on Saturday night when one of the managers arranged a private movie setup just for the three of us, with our own theatre, popcorn, drinks, and a movie of our choice. He felt so special. Alfred, our waiter at Oak & Anvil, also made a big impression. He remembered us both nights and was so attentive. One of the best waiters we’ve had, and I could see him being a great manager. We booked on Tuesday for our Friday arrival, the 20th, and got a manor room. It was clean, comfortable, and had a Dyson hairdryer. The hotel decor is gorgeous and looks recently renovated. The check in gentleman on Friday night tailored the information to our stay with a child, and the receptionist on the mornings of the 21st and 22nd was excellent. We had two dinners at Oak & Anvil, both terrific value with generous portions. We loved every second of the weekend and felt we got a lot for what we paid. This was our second stay at an FBD hotel in six months, and they’re setting the standard in hotels in Ireland right now. Thanks to the team at Kilashee, you should be proud of what you do.

We enjoyed the dinner included in our one night package, especially the braised beef and filet steak. The cheesecake would be my dessert pick. Breakfast was included too. Our Jr Suite was spacious and didn’t disappoint, with a large, comfortable bed and Netflix if you wanted to log in. Getting there was a bit of a maze: from the lobby we took an elevator to the 1st floor, walked through a bar and down a hall, then took another elevator. The bathroom felt a little dated, though still nicer than home. I’d have liked a small fridge in the room and maybe an ice machine. Check in was crowded and involved a short wait, but went fine.

The Christmas decorations looked great, and the hotel was attractive from the outside as well as inside. Check in took less than a minute, the staff were all lovely, and there was plenty of parking. Dinner in the pippen tree was nice, the cocktails were very good, and the atmosphere was surprisingly good for this type of hotel. Breakfast was good too, though the pastries could have been better. I was surprised eggs benedict wasn’t on the menu, and the sausages were disappointing, precooked and reheated, with a slightly leftover taste and dense texture. The room was nice and the bed comfortable, but there was an unpleasant smell in the bathroom. I thought a bath or sink trap might have dried out, so I ran the water for a while, but it didn’t help. I stayed on a Friday night and didn’t get to use the spa. It looks nice, so I guess I’ll have to come back sometime. It was a nice experience overall.

The service let things down. The staff were nice, but seemed inexperienced and overwhelmed, with forgotten orders and long waits. Our dinner package came with a three course menu, but the food was average and somewhat bland, which wasn’t what I expected from a four star hotel. The panna cotta tasted artificial and didn’t seem to be made with real vanilla beans. The cod with gnocchi was very bland too, so the food was disappointing and didn’t feel worth the price. The room and hotel look great, with a comfortable bed, big bathroom, and nice amenities including a Dyson hairdryer and a big telly with Netflix.