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Marble Hall

First time visitors have no idea of the delights that lie ahead as they arrive at Shelagh Conway's wonderful B&B, which is discreetly situated in a redbrick Georgian terrace, with no signage just a neatly presented frontage, with a pair of parking spaces at the front and granite steps leading up to the door.

But this warm and welcoming place will quickly work its charm. Shelagh herself is always on hand to look after guests, and her house is a gem. Everything is immaculate, with polished wooden floors and beautiful ceiling cornices throughout the ground floor; a little sitting room at the front of the house has a white marble fireplace and period armchairs - there's a TV/DVD player here for guests' use, along with a collection of DVDs, books and magazines.

The period bedrooms are large and bright, with big comfortable beds, plenty of pillows, books, mineral water, television and hairdryer and a spruce little shower room. Double doors from the sitting room open on to a lovely breakfast room with round and oval tables, and antique lace cloths; here, although there are only three rooms, Shelagh sets up a sideboard of delicious things including fresh fruits, pineapple, perhaps compôtes of fresh and dried fruits, muesli, cereals and yoghurt, home-baked bread and honey, which guests can help themselves to while she is prearing delicious hot dishes including Cashel Blue pancakes with crispy bacon and grilled mushrooms as well as a perfectly cooked and well-presented version of the traditional Irish breakfast.

This is Irish hospitality at its best and very hard to leave.

Rooms 3 (all non-smoking and en-suite); no wheelchair access; own parking (4). B&B €45-65 pps, ss€15. Closed 1 Dec-6 Jan. No credit cards.

Directions:

Located between Donnybrook and Ranelagh