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Home > Buy & Eat & Learn & Stay > Cliff at Lyons and The Mill Restaurant

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Cliff at Lyons and The Mill Restaurant

Café / Hotel / Restaurant

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Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan foods; the selection excludes obvious 'non-Irish' elements regardless of quality, eg ethnic restaurants and specialists in coffee, wine and other drinks, unless relevant to local production or history. Eat & Stay establishments are chosen for their commitment to showcasing local produce and Irish hospitality. Highly Recommended as a Special Place to Stay Outstanding Location, building or atmosphere Previous Georgina Campbell Guides Award Winner The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

Cliff at Lyons and The Mill Restaurant

Beautifully situated alongside the Grand Canal, with the entrance - guarded by stone lions and a new lodge which sports the trademark soft Lyons green - just beside the 14th lock, the Lyons Demesne is part of CLIFF (Cliff House Hotel, Co Waterford; Cliff Townhouse, Dublin). There's outstanding food (including the destination restaurant, Aimsir, in the charming former cookery school premises), delightful accommodation, a very special spa - and Arthur Guinness's grave. What's not to love.
Conferences/Banqueting (10 areas, max 200). Rooms 22 (in several areas around the village; 12 shower only, 3 wheelchair friendly); pets permitted. B&B from about €195 per room off season. The Mill: L & D Wed-Sat 12pm-3pm & 6pm-9pm. Sun L 12pm-3.30pm, D 6pm-9pm. Dove Square Dining: The Pantry Wed-Sun from 9:30am (snacks. light lunches; takeaway salads, sandwiches & cakes) all day Wed-Sun. Dining reservations essential. Outdoor dining. Deli/artisan produce shop, walking tours (Arthur Guinness trail), canal trips, bikes, paddle boarding. Special offers & activity breaks offered. WiFi. Establishment closed 25-26 Dec, Good Fri. Helipad. Amex, MasterCard, Visa abbreviations

Beautifully situated alongside the Grand Canal, with the entrance - guarded by stone lions and a new lodge which sports the trademark soft Lyons green - just beside the 14th lock, the former Lyons Demesne is currently owned by the CLIFF group (Cliff House Hotel, Co Waterford; Cliff Townhouse, Dublin).


In an imaginatively landscaped setting with delightful little gardens and ever-present water, this unusual place has many faces - romantic wedding venue, conference and meeting place, rural retreat, and fine dining destination among them.


You approach the main entrance past stone statuary and a bed of box balls, over a little bridge (pausing to admire the mill race below) and in through a massive front door which leads straight into the bar; known as The Lyons Den, it’s a welcoming room with a huge fireplace, plenty of comfortable well-worn leather furniture and a full figure portrait of a lady to welcome arriving guests.


The range of luxurious Accommodation options offered around the village includes four 'Estate' rooms (a striking mix of the traditional and the contemporary, one with free standing bath); nine varied but atmospheric Lily Pond Rooms overlooking the central water feature; a romantic one-bedroom apartment; and a number of 2 and 3 bedroom ‘cottages’ (some overlooking the canal) which come complete with Aga cookers and can be used for longer lets.


A very good breakfast is served in The Orangery, a beautiful conservatory overlooking the gardens, and Dove Square Dining offers informal all-day and takeaway plus a deli and gift shop at The Pantry (deli, snacks, light lunches, Wed-Sun) - and, since spring 2019, the destination restaurant Aimsir (see separate entry) has brought new life to the charming former cookery school premises nearby. Majken Bech Bailey, who is manager and co-owner with her chef husband Jordan Bailey, of Aimsir, is now also operations manager at Cliff at Lyons and stylish refurbishments to the accommodation have been undertaken under her direction.


The main in-house,restaurant, The Mill (see below), is a stunning double-height room where chef Sean Smith serves up excellent modern classic cooking in an atmospheric setting at both lunch and dinner. And (along with several other areas, including The Garden Room and The Shackleton Room) The Mill also makes a superb venue for private gatherings when permitted, including exclusive weddings - there is a tiny chapel, which has to be seen to be believed.


Billed as a 'Boutique Hotel and Rural Retreat' this is a wonderful place with an emphasis on relaxation, both onsite - notably at The Well in the Garden spa, which is beautifully set in the restored Carriage House - and in the area, where there is ample opportunity for gentle exploration on foot or by bike, and stand up paddle baording is available on the canal.


All this - and Arthur Guinness's grave.  


The Mill Restaurant


Housed in The Old MIll, a lofty building that was the first to be constructed at the Village at Lyons, The Mill Restaurant is a spacious and beautiful room that feels both historic and contemporary. Overlooking the rushing mill race, guests seated by the large French windows may be lucky enough to be treated to a balletic performance from yellow wagtails or sparrows bathing in the pools at the top of the mill race.


The water feature and lush foliage outside makes for a soothing and secluded view, but this room has plenty of unusual internal features too. Think thick stone walls in chalky white, a large round feature window with decorative leading, a magnificent oversized fireplace fashioned from stone, double height ceilings with dark beams and a large nook that neatly houses a dining table and banquette. A large mezzanine, complete with low slung sofas and coffee tables, overlooks the room, and a sweeping staircase dramatically leads guests from the outdoors to the well spaced tables below.


Dining here is a smart affair, all linen tablecloths, navy leather chairs and staff kitted out in crisp white shirts, dark aprons and emerald green ties knotted neatly at the neck. It’s a semi-formal space, with a relaxed vibe, and a setting that’s just right for chef Sean Smith’s accomplished brand of cooking.


Smith came from Cliff at Lyons’ sister property in Dublin, The Cliff Townhouse, where he was known for his polished line of classical cooking and exemplary seafood. The move to Kildare sees a shift in menus and ingredients while staying true to Smith’s strengths.


Championing the best of seasonal Irish ingredients, diners can expect quality like Peter Hannan’s sugar pit bacon and salt-aged beef, Harty’s and Kelly’s oysters, Lambay crab, TJ Crowe pork, Warrenpoint cod, Galway Bay mussels and Duvillaun Beg Island lamb. Smith brings a modern touch to a menu filled with the classics, maybe glistening gigas oysters with piquant mignonette and Tabasco; tender pork cheeks with crisp apple and celery; and delicious cannon of lamb with barigoule artichokes, vibrant broad beans and salty samphire. The Lyons’ Garden Salad, a crisp mix of freshly picked greens and thinly radish slivers, is wonderful. 


An extensive wine list is matched by an innovative seasonal cocktail selection and interesting mocktails. Desserts are a stand-out, perhaps sweet Wexford strawberries with sabayon and buttery shortbread or honey-poached peach with an almond parfait wrapped in the finest white chocolate.


Outdoors, there’s the newly developed Mill Terrace, a bucolic outdoor dining space overlooking the atmospheric mill race and creeper-clad Old Mill. It’s hard to think of a more tranquil setting to while away time over an excellent meal. A hot spot for Sunday lunch, the sophisticated and delicious menus make it a perfect destination for a relaxed and special family occasion.


Many of The Mill’s friendly staff are new, and still finding their feet. Under the watchful eye of the exceptional Majken Bech Bailey, who also runs Aimsir’s front-of-house, the service will no doubt settle down quickly and match the excellence of the food and location. 


 

 

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  • Activities
  • Facilities/Features
  • Restaurant/Dining/Pub
  • Archery
  • Clay Pigeon Shooting
  • Cookery Classes
  • Equestrian (nearby)
  • Falconry
  • Forest / Woodland with trails nearby
  • Garden Visits (nearby)
  • Golf nearby
  • Horse Racing nearby
  • Quad Biking on-site
  • Wine Courses
  • Banqueting
  • Breaks - Short
  • Broadband WI/FI
  • Children's Baby Sitting Arranged
  • Conference Venue
  • Family Friendly
  • Ground Floor Bedrooms (accessible for less able)
  • Heli-Pad
  • Location - Peaceful
  • Location - Remote
  • Location - Scenic
  • Location - Waterside
  • Meeting Rooms
  • No Smoking Establishment
  • Open New Year
  • Outdoor Dining Avail. (summer)
  • Private Parties
  • Romantic Venue
  • Shop - boutique
  • Smoking Area
  • Smoking Area Covered
  • Smoking Area Heated
  • Smoking Area Seated
  • Wedding Venue
  • Wheelchair Friendly
  • Contemporary International
  • Al Fresco
  • Atmospheric
  • Attractive Views
  • Budget Meals (€21-35/£14-23 pp 3-courses, not inc. dr
  • Business Meal
  • Character Pub
  • Cocktails
  • Coeliac Friendly
  • Daytime/Coffee
  • Early Bird / Value Menu Available
  • Extensive Wine List
  • Formal
  • MSG Free
  • Old World / Traditional
  • Organic Produce used (mainly)
  • Party Venue
  • Romantic
  • Sunday Dining
  • Vegetarian Friendly (always at least 1 starter & 1 main course)
2021 Award Winners HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2021
Last Updated: 15-11-2022
Author: Georgina Campbell
Click here if you are the owner or marketing manager
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Cliff at Lyons and The Mill Restaurant
The Village at Lyons, Celbridge Co Kildare
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Directions About Celbridge Trip Planning Tools
Left turn just before bridge in Celbridge village for Ardclough. Follow road for a couple of miles, you will come to a part in the road that has some really tight bends with warning signs. Shortly after that there is a left turn (as signed by a small pale green sign opposite turn). Drive over the hump back bridge and it is immediately on the right with 2 big lions on pillars flanking a gate.
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