Castletroy Park Hotel

Well maintained gardens, a large and warmly furnished foyer and welcoming staff create a good first impression at this pleasant four star hotel near the university.

One of the leading Limerick Hotels, it's an appealing destination for short breaks, with outstanding amenities nearby – including the adjacent University Concert Hall and the University Sports Arena – and excellent on-site leisure facilities, which are very well maintained and staffed.

Public areas are spacious, with plenty of pleasant seating areas including The Conservatory - a nice open space overlooking a well maintained courtyard, it’s ideal for casual meetings and snacks (a small coffee dock near the reception offers tea and coffee, scones and snacks throughout the day).

The Merry Pedlar pub has more character than the usual hotel bar and, while the food is in the traditional hotel carvery style, the quality is good and it’s a pleasant spot offering a change of scene at the end of the day.

Guest rooms are large, clean and comfortable and have all the usual amenities. Bathrooms are also spacious – although, like other areas, slightly dated – and thoughtful details like good quality towels and a choice of pillows make for a good level of comfort.

With Shannon International Airport just 25 minutes’ drive away, Limerick is well located for all visitors to the region; the city and surrounding area have a lot to offer, including golf, river cruising, fishing, golf and horse racing as well as many cultural activities.

Castletroy Park is ideally situated for exploring Limerick on foot and could be a good choice if you like lots of room and a quiet location.

Conferences / Banqueting (450/260); free broadband wi/fi; secretarial services; video conferencing. Underground parking (€5). C Spa & Leisure centre (pool, fitness room, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room); beauty salon. Children welcome (under 6s free in parents room, cot available without charge, baby sitting arranged). Conservatory. Garden.

Rooms 107 (7 suites, 5 junior suites, 5 junior suites, 11 executive, 2 shower only, 1 disabled). Lift. 24 hour room service. Turndown service. B&B from €85pps. No SC. Open all year.

McLaughlins Restaurant:

Comfortable and well-appointed, with semi circular banquette seating on one side and a striking collection of photographs depicting Limerick scenes decorating the walls, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant is in a large, high ceilinged room with a pleasant outlook over the courtyard.

Polished wooden tables are smartly dressed with red runners and crisp napkins, and welcoming, well trained staff give a good impression from the moment of arrival.

Executive Head Chef David Geoghegan heads up a strong kitchen team, with Derek Fitzpatrick responsible for fine dining; their imaginative menu offers half a dozen interesting choices on each of the three courses, promising an enjoyable meal at a reasonable price.

And diners expecting a typical hotel meal here will be pleasantly surprised; there’s a commitment to quality ingredients (with suppliers credited on the menu) and they are used with flair – the cooking has finesse and presentation, on modern white plates, is excellent.

Starters could include Roast quail, orange clafoutis, carrot and star anise with pickled beech mushrooms (a good flavour combination and visually outstanding) and an excellent Fresh fig tart tatin with Cashel Blue cheese.

Main dishes demonstrate accurate fish cooking – an attractive and well-flavoured dish of Steamed wild halibut with asparagus and saffron mash, perhaps – while meat lovers should enjoy a perfectly cooked fillet of beef, perhaps served with a beautifully smooth celeriac purée and an intensely flavoured veal and truffle oil reduction.

Equally impressive desserts may include a pretty and refreshing fruit-based dish, such as a pineapple and coconut mousse with a terrific blueberry and mint sorbet.

A small but well-chosen wine list leans towards France and matches the food well, offering a good choice by the glass and, in addition to a moderately priced main list, some upmarket wines selling at much reduced price.

Add good service, and you have the makings of a very enjoyable experience – and the hot dishes cooked to order at breakfast are also well above the standard normally expected in hotels.