LoisL

I am looking for one night, close to the airport, or in Dublin, with a reasonable rate, clean, and some atmosphere, for our anniversary, before flying home. I came across this hotel from a site given to me here. It dawned on me afterward, that it is actually our anniversary, and if possible, I'd like someplace a bit nicer than a basic room/hotel experience. I'm wondering if this hotel is in a safe location, and is clean and if there is anything in the area. Any help is appreciated! Thanks.

Liadain

The rooms in Clontarf Castle are not in the castle itself but in an annex attached to the castle. It is not close to the airport unless you have a car. It is about 20 mins by car depending on the traffic. If you have not got a car then you have to get a bus into town and another one to the airport. The castle is in the middle of housing estates but there are lovely walks along the coast and there was great atmosphere in the restaurant and pub when I was there.

hopingtotravel

We stayed in this hotel on 9/11/01. We were scheduled to fly out the following day. We had already turned in our car when we checked in.

They could not have treated us more wonderfully. We stayed 2 nights, then spent 3 nights in cheap rooms above a pub, then came back to Clontarf for the last 2 nights. (Obviously we were stranded quite awhile).

The rooms were very nice. The hotel is built around the ruins of the old castle and they have incorporated them into the lobby. I believe the site is where Brian Boru (the high king) died defending Ireland.

There is more than one place to eat in the hotel. There are lovely walking areas nearby. I'm sure the hotel could help you figure out how to get to the nearest bus stop.

SiobhanP

I know the area well. They just renovated the hotel a few months ago and updated the rooms as well I believe. I would stay for a treat. Its a very safe area (One of the more upmarket areas northside i.e. houses over a million in parts) and close to the sea front for walks.A taxi will easily get you to the airport.

The bar is nice and little has changed here and they do good food. The restaurant was always nice and still looks excellent but I have not eaten here since the renovation. There are a few other places close by if you are considering staying here let me know and I will pass along some more local places. We often go to the bar as its a local meeting point (We both still have family in the area and we live not too far away)

Laoghaire

Hi hopingtotravel,

Finally, someone also realizes Clontarf Castle area was the site of the Brian Boru-Viking battle in 1014!! We have not stayed there,but had lunch there and stayed just nearby at several guesthouses in the Clontarf area. Everyone looked at me like I was a little crazy, when I asked them where the battle was fought. As you can tell, perhaps, he is one of my Irish heroes, along with Michael Collins. So, you really hit a nerve with your post. Thanks!

Helen

LoisL

Thank you so much for the responses. At first, when I didn't get a response, I thought it was because it was not a good place, or, not a good location. I since booked the Central Hotel, in Dublin. Now, I'm thinking of cancelling that reservation and going with Clontarf. I can get an online, early booking at a very good rate. Thanks for the help!

hopingtotravel

Glad to make a contribution. I've had a LOT of help from this board.

SiobhanP

The central hotel is city centre and a good location but I have3e no idea about the rooms. Clontarf would be more upm,arket and I would try if its a good price. Let me know and I can give you a few restaurants in the area.

lucielou

I would opt for Clontarf Castle if you can still get a good rate, The Central Hotel is in a very convenient location,but nothing to shout about.

LoisL

Thanks once again, for the help and recommendations. I have booked the Clontarf, with a great rate [cheaper than Central Hotel], with an online advanced booking rate. Now, I'd love those recommendations for restaurants and anything else, in the area! This will be our last night in Ireland, for this trip, and it sounds like a nice way to end our stay.

SiobhanP

OK this is walkable from the hotel as you will not see any shops or restaurants outside the hotel but they are nearby.

Hemmingways on Vernon Avenue - I love this place and ate there last night again. Its a fish shop that started serving cooked food. They will cook a piece of fresh fish and they have loads of things on offer from seafood paella to a small tapas salad plate and wine served in a Metal bucket. Its a nautical theme and only a bar style counter to eat but the fish is excelent and fresh from the boats. The owner Brian can be a bit of a character. You MUST book especially if its a weekend and they close at 9. There are only about 12-14 seats but its excellent.

Also the reataurant in Clontarf castle looks good and is newly renovated as well the bar food is more of a dinner than snack and good. For a pizza or light meal the Sand bar around the corner from hemmingways is good and nice for a coffee outside if the weather is good although the car park is under construction in front so maybe not so pretty at the moment. Good pizza, soup bruschetta etc. The owner is Italian and also a bit of a character. Nice for a srop in after a walk along the seafront.

ter2000

Does your rate include breakfast? My brother and sister-in-law stayed there last year - and while the rate seemed reasonable, they were charged a whopping €14 per person for breakfast.

The location is perfectly safe and I'd like to add a thumbs-up for Hemmingway's also (although I believe that they are closing for renovations shortly). Chez Amis, across the street from Hemmingways isn't a bad place for lunch and there's a good Indian restaurant called Kinara at 318 Clontarf Road which is very good.

To blow the cobwebs away, take a walk along the Bull Wall to Dollymount Strand - a lovely walk by the sea with fine views of Dublin Bay (if you're there on a Sunday morning you'll have almost the entire population of Clontarf for company).

LoisL

This sounds like a charming town to end our stay! We're not coming to June. I'm wondering if that construction/renovation, for Hemingway's will be going on then. It certainly sounds appealing to me. When my husband and I travel, we like to go to really local, laid back places, and absolutely don't want to hit the 'usual tourist' places.

Our rate does not include breakfast, though we did have that option, for E30 more. It seems it was wise not to take it, for that rate. I will say, the price we got is excellent, for our room. We will only be there for one night, but the better part of the day before, including a lunch and dinner.

How far is the water from the hotel? I have arthritis, which sometimes is quite painful, but do try to take limited walks.

LoisL

One added bit of information........ we are staying on a Monday night. Will this pose a problem for restaurants? Sometimes, we've come across restaurants being closed on Mondays, because they are slow, and take a day off after the busier weekkend business.

SiobhanP

Should not be a prob for a monday night. Hemmingways wil close for a few weeks very soon (think he said six) so he can take out some of the deli counter and add a few table to add the the bar style seating along the wall.

Kinara is good but you would need a taxi and have to like Indian food (tasty and spicy!) Les Amis is also across the road and a few meters from hemmingways but I think its just ok. Its a bit pricey for average food. Picasso is an italian restaurant also in the area but I think its a totally rip off for what you get. Oh try my favourite chipper across from Hemmingways, Beshoff's. I love their chips and garlic mayo. My partner is a big fan of the battered Salmon if they have it. This is nioce for a snck after a walk.

You are walkable to the sea (5-10 mionutes from the hotel) Also there are always taxi's up and down the main road and a bus is to the side of the castle that will take you to town on Abbey Street Near O'Connell Street (the 130 bus)

ter2000

Mmmm - I thought breakfast would be a bit of a rip-off. Les Amis (not Chez Amis as I said earlier) is about a 15-20 minute walk away and that's probably your best bet for breakfast in the area. It's at 11 Vernon Avenue.

You're quite close to the sea in the hotel - about a 5-10 minute walk to the seafront, although the view isn't great - mostly mudflats when the tide is out. However once you get to the seafront it's only another 10 minutes or so to the Bull Wall - www.clontarf-online.com/bull_wall.htm

Hemmingway's - www.hemmingwaysfish.com/ seems to open on Mondays, as does Kinars - www.kinara.ie .

There's a great pub in Clontarf (actually at this rate it's probably the only pub in Clontarf) called Connolly's or The Sheds - a good place to meet locals.

Be aware that Clontarf is quite a sprawling suburb so if you have arthritis you may have to consider a taxi to get around.

You may find more details on www.clontarf.net

LoisL

Thank you, once again, for further information. I checked out the Hemmingway site, and it is definitely appealing to me. I sure hope it's open in June! It seems there are actually two pubs there, but I'll take your preference. We do like Indian food, as well as most different nationalities, but we would prefer a more 'traditional' Irish place, especially since it's our last day there. The small photos of the water, and the sea wall, and the town, all look very appealing to me!

SiobhanP

There are a few pubs in the area some walkable and some a short cab ride. I would opt for Harry Byrnes on the Howth Road. In the summer they have a nice beer garden and its a mixed crowd of young and older. The shed is more an old mans bar (I still go here on occasion) but I would not spen the whole evening here. Last time I went in It was so funny. This man had his little dog (Small Cutsie dog like Shitsu) on a stool and feeding him guinness from a small glass. I did a double take and aked why he was giving the dog guinness. He said he was unwell etc. Too funny as he was a typical older man with this cute feminine dog. Well I asked the name of the doog and he is called ....cuddles. I tried to keep a straight face but it was so cute. i have seen this man and cuddles in there a few times and say hello to both of them now.

LoisL

Siobhan, how far is Harry Byrnes from Clontarf hotel? My husband and I will be there with two [maybe three] of our daughters, who would probably appreciate something other than 'an old man's bar'.

SiobhanP

Harry's would be better. Its a bit of a walk (about 15-20 but nice if the weather is good. Clontarf is very residential. Either get a taxi from the hotel and when going home just stand outside Harry's as all the taxi's are heading back to town you will have no problem getting one.

To walk Leave the hotel down the long drive and take a right, you will be on jkinkora ave. As you walk about 5 minutes it turns to the right. At the T Junction take a left and then the first Right to Stiles road. AT the Howth road take a left and Harry's is about 5-10 minutes in this road. See map from Castle http://www16.mappy.com/sidXiWluzg+Xy...brand=&gb=



From the Castle