Billed with good reason as 'Killarney's hidden secret', this historic hotel is in a lovely quiet location, convenient to Killarney town, yet - thanks to a long tree-lined avenue and extensive parkland, which stretches down towards the water - it has a charmingly other-worldly atmosphere.
The original house was built by the Herbert family, Earls of Pembroke, in the 17th century, and accommodation is divided between fine old rooms (including some suites and junior suites) in the main house, and more contemporary rooms in a modern extension; an atrium joining the two sections makes a pleasant conservatory seating area opening onto the lakeside grounds.
Following a change of ownership in 2016, a comprehensive programme of refurbishment was undertaken to bring this lovely property back to its best, beginning with some of the main reception rooms and the bedrooms in the main house which have been beautifully restored.
While the size and aspect varies - the most impressive is the high-ceilinged Herbert Suite, with beautiful garden, lake and mountain views - each room has its own character, and many guests especially love the charming smaller rooms at the top of the house, once used as the Herbert family's nursery. The style of the newer rooms in the 1960s wing is modern classic, and some have private balconies or patios.
This Killarney hotels got many attractive features, not least its generous period sitting rooms and open fires, and a characterful Cellar Bar with a real old-fashioned wine cellar and a healthy emphasis on local and other Irish craft drinks. Beers from the Killarney Brewing Company are well represented (and available on draft), for example, and a dedicated Gin Menu includes some of the best Irish examples, such as Blackwater Distillery's Juniper and Strawberry Gins and Bertha's Revenge, all made fairly locally, in counties Waterford and Cork respectively. The new wave Irish whiskeys are well represented too, and there's stylish informal food on offer as well, of course.
Herbert's Brasserie
For many the highlight of a visit to Cahernane House will be dinner. The restaurant is situated on the lake side of the house and, although it has recently been given a more relaxed makeover in line with a move away from fine dining on the menu, it is an elegant room with an enjoyable sense of occasion. Based mainly on the foods that the South-West is famous for - seafood from Castletownbere, Kerry lamb - Head Chef Cormac Vesey's menus offer plenty of choice without being overlong. Carefully thought out to offer a tempting range of Small Plates and Large Plates inspired by seasonal produce at its best, it's a relaxed dining experience. Cormac's focus on food provenance and seasonal ingredients lies at the heart of everything he does and - far from being a chef who feels the need for over complication to impress - he believes in simplicity and flavour, which comes from careful cooking of the best and freshest ingredients, that just need to be thoughtfully complemented and matched to create a memorable dining experience. Finesse is very much in evidence all the same - among the Small Plates, a Pressed Rabbit and Foie Gras Terrine sits happily alongside Classic Caesar Salad or a seasonal soup with Irish soda bread, for example, and Large Plates offer classics like Sole à la Meurnière and Steaks Béarnaise with Café de Paris butter or Peppercorn sauce, as well as a flavour-focused vegetarian option such as Wild Mushroom Risotto. Desserts follow the same pattern, with excellent renditions of well-loved favourites, and the overall feeling is of a restaurant that is comfortable with itself and focused on ensuring that guests have an enjoyable evening.Professional service to match, too, and a balanced variety of styles, grapes and countries offered on the wine list.
Breakfast, also served in the restaurant, is well worth allowing time to enjoy and will set you up well for a day out and about exploring this stunning area.
