The Ritz-Carlton

Powerscourt
Co. Wicklow
Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, Wicklow
The Ritz Carlton Hotel enquiries

• Stunning location and total luxury.
• Ireland’s only Gordon Ramsey Restaurant.
• Best breakfast ever and super spa

We have just visited the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt for the second time this year, and once again had a fabulous mini-break with exceptional food, luxurious spa and total pampering. When asked to review the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Powerscourt inititally, I was only too happy to oblige. Having visited several of this prestigious brand’s properties in the past, including Berlin, Santiago in Chile; Cancun in Mexico and Battery Park in New York, I was pretty sure that it was not going to disappoint. Driving up from the pretty village of Enniskerry just off the N11, I soon came across the familiar lion’s head logo, and saw that they had chosen the heart of the Garden of Ireland to place the country’s only Ritz-Carlton hotel. And what a location – right at the foot of the Sugar Loaf Mountain and surrounded by the magnificent gardens of historic Powerscourt Estate sits the splendid hotel building– this was a breathtaking first impression.

ACCOMMODATION AT RITZ-CARLTON POWERSCOURT

The spacious Georgian inspired reception area of the hotel is actually situated on the forth floor of this seven storey building which is cleverly designed to both blend in with and avail of the views of surrounding gardens and countryside. Our room was one floor down, on the same floor as the renowned Gordon Ramsey Restaurant and also facing the Sugar Loaf Mountain. We had floor to ceiling windows and a large balcony with sun loungers where we actually sat out in the early-summer sunshine. We had two double beds with heavenly linen and pillows, a large sitting and working area and a spacious marble bathroom with separate bath and power shower. As you would imagine at a Ritz-Carlton, we had beautiful toiletries, towels, slippers and robes and plenty of extra touches of luxury. It was a beautiful room, we had three televisions – including one in the bathroom mirror – and access to our balcony from both the bedroom and the sitting-room through large French windows.

DINING AT THE RITZ-CARLTON

On our first evening we sampled the food at the light-filled Sugar Loaf Lounge where hot and cold food is served throughout the day and evening, and a cocktails and afternoon tea can also be enjoyed. We had an excellent burger with home-cooked chips, some tempura of prawns and calamari and a couple of glasses of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. It was perfect, as we had stopped off in Bray on our way down for lunch and just wanted something light that evening. We were saving ourselves for the Gordon Ramsey Restaurant the following night! We also checked out McGills Irish Bar, which offers a substantial menu in very traditional surroundings, and my friend sampled the room service menu the following day and had a pizza delivered to the room while I was down at the spa. So, plenty of choices to eat, but the breakfast which we enjoyed on two mornings was so good on the first morning, that we allowed ourselves an hour and half the second morning to experience it! While there is an ample buffet with everything from fresh berries, muesli and fruit cocktails, breads and bagels, cheeses, fish and charcuterie together with hot cooked food, you can also order specialities from the kitchen. Eggs Benedict are my favourite and they came on a sourdough muffin with spinach – just as I love them! We would certainly give a breakfast award here, and the service and surrounding scenery made the experience memorable.

GORDON RAMSEY AT POWERSCOURT

There is a choice of either the Prestige Menu – which the whole table must opt for – or the A La Carte. After some deliberation and consultation with the excellent waiting staff, we went A La Carte and opted for starters of Ravioli of native lobster and Clare Island salmon with lobster vinaigrette and lemongrass sauce. What a great dish! Our other starter was Sea scallops with a shellfish tortellini, organge puree and shellfish bisque. Other choices included Pressed Foie Gras with smoked goose; ravioli of lobster and roasted veal sweetbreads. With delectable canapés and Amuse Bouche we were filling up, but still enjoyed our mains of Assiette of Tipperary beef and pan roasted turbot. The restaurant uses local and seasonal ingredients and offered Wicklow venison, Connemara lamb, Line caught sea bass and Braised Atlantic halibut among its other choices. The wines rocomended were a glass of Bourgogne Chardonnay from Olivier Leflaire with our starters and a delicious Chianti from Marchese Antinori with our main courses. We even went on to manage a light chocolate fondant and a mouth-watering cheesecake! We were advised to bring out appetites with us when we visited the Gordon Ramsey Restaurant, and that certainly is the case. We were treated to a tour of the kitchen and finished our wine at the Chef’s Table which is located in the heart of the kitchen and overlooks the central ‘pass’. The table accommodates up to ten guests and is very popular for small corporate groups where the Head Chef proposes a menu based on the day’s market produce. The Chef’s Table is a signature of each of Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants and makes for a very special occasion offering exclusivity and privacy – especially if you are a celebrity and want to avoid the stares of other diners!

ESPA AT RITZ-CARLTON, POWERSCOURT

While we have many excellent spas in hotels throughout Ireland, the spa at Powerscourt has the benefit of being able to bring the spectacular outdoor environment into the numerous spa treatment rooms and suites, relaxation areas, pools and saunas. Natural materials including stone, wood and slate mirror the surrounding scenery and the glass walls offer great mountain views. With 20 treatment rooms and taking in 30,000 square foot, this is a substantial facility. Treatments include Chinese, Ayurvedic and Balinese influenced therapies and a full range of face and body therapies for both men and women. I opted for signature Garden of Inspiration Body Ritual which took all of two hours of total pampering. It began with a calming foot and leg bath, included a salt and oil scrub and an excellent massage. It left my skin feeling silky smooth.

My mini-break at Ritz-Carlton in Powerscourt was just what the doctor ordered – total relaxation together with ultimate pampering and foodie indulgence. We were so lucky the weekend we visited as the weather was fantastic and we could have been in any of the exotic world-wide destinations. Except that we were surrounded by green sweeping mountains and forest – we had to be in the Garden of Ireland.
Ritz Carlton Hotel, Wicklow