Aberdeen Lodge

Centrally located (close to the Sydney Parade DART station) yet away from the heavy traffic of nearby Merrion Road, this handsome period house in a pleasant leafy street offers all the advantages of a hotel at guesthouse prices.

Elegantly furnished executive bedrooms and four-poster suites have air conditioning and all the little comforts expected by the discerning traveller, including a drawing room with comfortable chairs and plenty to read, and a secluded garden where guests can relax in fine weather.

Staff are extremely pleasant and helpful (tea and biscuits offered on arrival), housekeeping is immaculate - and, although there is no restaurant, a Drawing Room menu offers a light menu (with wine list).

And you can also look forward to a particularly good breakfast, served in a dining room with floor to ceiling windows allowing a full view of the beautiful garden: fresh and stewed fruits, home-made preserves, freshly-baked breads and muffins, big jugs of juice are offered, and hot dishes cooked to order - including delicious scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, kippers and buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup, as well as numerous variations on the traditional Irish breakfast.

Guests may join residents for breakfast - a useful service for early morning meetings - and the spa at the nearby sister property, Merrion Hall (see entry), is available for guests' use.

[Aberdeen Lodge was the Dublin winner of our Irish Breakfast Awards in 2004.]

*Nearby sister properties are Blakes Townhouse and Merrion Hall.