Butler Arms Hotel

We couldn’t use the shower because it wouldn’t drain at all. The phones in the room didn’t work when we tried calling the front desk, so we asked for help in person and were told they couldn’t do anything. There were hardly any other guests, and they could easily have moved us to another room but didn’t. The only way to wash was at the bathroom sink. Don’t stay here.

Butler Arms has the character of a traditional seaside hotel, with dark wood, sitting rooms, a billiard room, and a bar, while the rooms are modern and there’s an elevator. Our rate included a very good breakfast with traditional Irish options, and we had dinner there once and enjoyed it. Waterville is remote, with few hotel choices, and Butler Arms is probably the nicest. The town seemed a bit depressed, with several empty storefronts, but there’s a supermarket and pharmacy for essentials. It’s a handy base for a day or two on a road trip through the southwest.

The restaurant food was fine for a hotel, though I’d have liked a better vegetarian choice. They kindly made a pasta dish on request, and my husband’s Chicken supreme was nice. Our family room was the biggest we’ve stayed in, with doors to a small lawn and chairs outside. The staff were friendly, the hotel was clean, and there was a large snooker table. It’s centrally located, and we’d stay again.

The rooms were comfortable and the location was great, but breakfast was a bad experience. We ordered avocado toast and the avocado smelled really off. I also saw a server drop a knife, then kick it along with his shoe instead of picking it up. Disgusting.