Originally owned by the Jameson family of whiskey fame, Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links enjoys a wonderful beachside position overlooking the islands of Lambay and Ireland's Eye.
Convenient to the airport, and only eleven miles from Dublin city centre, the hotel seems to offer the best of every world - the peace and convenience of the location and a magnificent 18-hole Bernhard Langer-designed links course.
A recent extension to this county Dublin hotels added a new wing to and, although this obstructs the views once enjoyed from public areas, it does afford them to many of the 40 new bedrooms. Décor in the original hotel and old house is a little tired and dated looking in places, and this is most obvious where the existing hotel joins up with the new accommodation.
While all accommodation is imaginatively designed and furnished to a high standard of comfort, with good bathrooms, the new bedrooms are superior in many ways.
The new rooms have unusual sea green colouring with bespoke headboards featuring enlarged images of grainy sand. The cool green colour scheme and contemporary styling are extremely appealing, so it's worth requesting a new room when booking.
The Jameson Bar, in the old house, has character and there's also an informal Links Bar and Restaurant next to the golf shop (12-10 daily).
Conference/banqueting (350/140) Business centre. Golf (18). Oceana, health & beauty: gym, sauna, steam rooms & a wide range of treatments. Children welcome (under 4 free in parents' room, cots available without charge, baby sitting arranged). No pets. Garden.
Rooms 138 (1 suite, 2 junior suites, 40 executive, 14 family, 3 disabled). Lift. 24 hour room service. B&B about €99 pps. Open all year.
Osborne Brasserie:
Named after the artist Walter Osborne, who painted many of his most famous pictures in the area including the view from the Jameson house, the restaurant is in a semi-basement overlooking a garden courtyard at the centre of the hotel. First-time visitors may not find it easily, so inquire at reception.
When it first opened in 1996 this restaurant was an important addition to a sparse north Dublin dining scene, and a succession of distinguished chefs put this formal dining room firmly on the map.
Now it is less a culinary destination and more a semi-formal dining option for resident guests and a 'special occasion' restaurant for local residents - but those who have not eaten here for some time will be agreeably surprised by the smart new décor and more contemporary food currently offered.
Menus feature imaginative combinations attractively presented, with about six dishes on each course – and, although the dinner menu still offers some sophisticated dishes, there’s now more emphasis on offering value.
Evening starters might include Duck liver & foie gras parfait served with red onion jam & toasted brioche or Irish smoked salmon, mixed leaves with a horseradish & dill cream. Main courses range from around €18.95 (oven baked risotto cake, baby roquette, basil pesto & shaved Parmesan) to about €25.95 (10 oz sirloin steak), with several other dishes around the same price.
Lunch menus are similar but with more bistro style main courses offered. Service is friendly and not overly formal, making this a relaxed, comfortable space to dine.
While the Osborne Brasserie is only open Friday & Saturday evenings, the Cocktail Lounge serves food from an a la carte menu all day from 12.30-9.30pm.
Osborne Brasserie: Seats 80 (private room, 20) D only Fri-Sat, 7-10. 2/3 course early bird D €19/25 until 7.30pm. Also A la carte; house wine from about €19; SC discretionary. Air conditioning. Closed Sun-Thu. Cocktail Bar open serving a la carte menu Sun-Thu. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.
