Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel

Limerick
Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel.

• Very friendly and helpful staff.
• Top restaurant dining and best breakfast.
• Great city location.

Situated just across from the University of Limerick, Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel is easily found, has ample secure parking and a very high standard of hospitality. It was a wild and wintery evening when I arrived, and I was so glad to be cocooned in such a perfect ambiance. Reception was exceptionally friendly, I was escorted to my room instead of being pointed in the direction of the elevator as happens in so many hotels, and I was offered a complimentary newspaper.

ACCOMMODATION AT CARLTON CASTLETROY PARK HOTEL

My room had all the essentials that all of us like in a good hotel room, and then some extra details that made it special. There were fresh flowers, candles in the bathroom, complimentary fruit juices and cookies. Robes and slippers came as standard, as did an iron, a fridge, a desk, tea and coffee making facilities, a huge comfortable bed and plenty of extra pillows. There were also contemporary and interesting magazines on the side table, and extra toiletries including lip balm and mouthwash in the bathroom. Certainly top marks for housekeeping here. There are just over a hundred rooms at Castletroy Park Hotel, so it is not too big to get lost in, and bedrooms are on either the first or second floor. There was a turndown service later on with complimentary bottled water, extra towels and gourmet chocolates. They thought of everything!

MCLOUGHLIN’S RESTAURANT AT CARLTON CASTLETROY PARK HOTEL

Some hotel restaurants stand out as a restaurant in their own right, and I found McLoughlin’s to be just that experience. Service was perfect and food presentation was beautiful. Home-made bread and water arrived with the menu and wine list. I found the menu the be very well balanced and choices were difficult, there were three delicious sounding fish dishes, Monkfish, Brill and Sole, a Fillet of Beef, Loin of Lamb and an imaginative vegetarian dish of Vegetable Strudel. Appetisers included Terrine of Confit Duck, Smoked Salmon, Ballotine of Goats Cheese, King Scallops, a salad of Roast Pumpkin and Sweet Potato and a Charcuterie Plate. I thought the latter very tempting as it is not often found on Irish menus, but in the end decided on the Seared King Scallops as they are so hard to resist. Three big plumb scallops arrived on an Apple & Ginger Puree with a crisp parmesan Salad, and they were just divine.

I enjoyed sole on the bone for my main course, and then indulged in a wonderful hot-chocolate fondant with Grand Marnier soaked strawberries for afters. What a wonderful meal! The wine list had some good house wines at keen prices, so I opted for light and fruity Chianti which went well with the fish dishes and beautifully with the chocolate.

Breakfast is served at McLoughlin’s Restaurant, and I was thrilled to learn that they serve it until 12 noon at weekends. This allowed for a swim in the Leisure Centre before breakfast and an opportunity to work up an appetite after the previous nights’ dinner. And I was glad I did, as the breakfast was a real feast. No scrimping on anything here, real juices, pastries, breads and preserves and a wonderful menu cooked to order. I had Eggs Florentine, my favourite breakfast when coked and served properly and I am delighted to say that this was among the best ever. It set me up for the day, and was breakfast and lunch all in one. I would have to give top marks for breakfast, there was nothing at all to fault here.

All in all, this was one very pleasant hotel visit. The main boxes were all carefully ticked – excellent service, fabulous food, warm and comfortable room and a genuine sense of hospitality at its best.