Carton House

Maynooth
Co. Kildare
Carton House Kildare enquiries
www.cartonhouse.com

• Home to the excellent Linden Tree Restaurant.
• Stunning design set in 1100 acres
• Championship golf courses and spectacular spa facilities

The approach drive to Carton House is breathtaking – mature trees, waterways, woodland, and golf courses and in the distance sits one of Ireland’s oldest historic houses. With incredibly sensitive architectural planning, the addition of over a hundred luxury bedrooms is nestled in behind the old stone walls and connects with the house through light weight glass corridors. The design of this hotel is striking. There is ample parking, the reception area is bright and spacious, and check-in was swift and friendly.

ACCOMMODATION AT CARTON HOUSE

We visit so many hotels throughout the country, and sometimes one stands out as being exceptionally beautiful – Carton House did that for us. Space and light and seamless fusion of the interior and exterior are particularly evident from the moment you arrive. We were warmly greeted in the bright open reception area and escorted to our room through corridors of glass and subtle natural tones. We love being escorted to the room rather than just having an elevator pointed out to us!
The room was lovely. Everything we wanted was there. Free broadband, our own iron and ironing board, hairdryer, tea & coffee tray, robes and slippers, separate bath and power shower, lovely bed linen and chocolates! The room has a glass door that opens out to the beautifully maintained gardens. Perfect for a post-dinner stroll.

DINNER AT THE LINDEN TREE IN CARTON HOUSE

This restaurant is designed in such a way that wherever you are sitting you have a view of the majestic Linden trees that were planted for Queen Victoria's first visit to Carton House 150 years ago!
I had eaten here before and loved the food, and was delighted to return recently with a different companion to experience the fabulous cooking of Head Chef Cathal Kavanagh. On a previous visit I had tasted the succulent duck and the juicy scallops, but on this occasion we both opted for the delights of the sea – and we were thrilled with each dish. Before we began with our chosen dishes we were treated to a fabulous Amuse Bouche of Tempura of Sea Bream which came on a bed of sweet red onion. It was fleshy, light and moist fish in a heavenly batter. It set the scene for the dishes to follow. I had the best ever seared fresh tuna (I like the way the menu states that it is served rare – anything else would be a crime), while my friend had the Grilled fillet of Smoked Mackerel with Salmon Gravalax. He decreed that the delicacy of the salmon gravalax was an excellent compliment to the meatiness of the mackerel. Moving on to our mains, I had the Halibut and himself the Sea Trout and both dishes were fresh, colourful and bursting with flavour. I loved the citrus ‘zing’ and aromatic fennel which accompanied my dish, while his sailed in on a shrimp broth with saffron foam. Heavenly food. We enjoyed this with a simple bottle of fruity Chianti Classico from Rocca di Montegrossi. Dessert offerings included banana and Coconut Cheesecake; Lemon & Mango Tart; Dark Chocolate Ganache; Farmhouse cheeses and their own Carton House Eaton Mess. I have to admit that we declined the desserts in favour of a coffee as we had been so well fed at that stage. Another visit in the not too distant future should sort that! It is such a pleasure to find food of this calibre in a hotel setting. The Linden Tree is a real gem in the varied world of ‘Hotel Restaurants’ and merits the highest restaurant praise.

THE SPA AT CARTON HOUSE

While food and golf are central to this fine property, the Spa is a very important part of the relaxing and pampering aspect of a stay at Carton House. Since the first time I visited the Spa has grown to incorporate some very fine AVEDA treatments and products. Aveda facials are renowned for their natural yet very effective anti-aging properties, and so I was delighted to try the Green Science Skin Renewal Facial. It was an experience of one and half hours of pure bliss incorporating Aveda's signature 5-phase massage. Meanwhile my friend was having her Chakras balanced with a thoroughly relaxing massage that she deemed the best back massage she ever had! A short spell in the light-filled Relaxation Room sipping fresh fruit sorbet and reading the newspapers finished off a lovely visit to the spa. It was my birthday, and this was the most perfect gift a girl could wish for - Pampering before the Party!

The next morning, we breakfasted in the same light-filled restaurant and watched squirrels playing among the trees outside. Service was excellent.
Having digested breakfast and strolled around the grounds we later went off for an invigorating swim at the leisure centre.

With easy parking, friendly and attentive service, and standards that showcase the very best of Irish luxury hospitality, Carton House is indicative of the excellent hotels that we at Hotel Reviews Ireland are proud and pleased to highlight. We have visited several times since it opened nearly four years ago, and this is one Irish hotel that just gets better and better.