Just across the Sarsfield Bridge from the main commercial heart of Limerick, the Limerick Strand Hotel is a relatively new seven-storey hotel. Accessed from the rear, it has a pleasant, unexpectedly quiet ambience in the spacious ground floor areas and takes full advantage of views from the upper floors with picture windows, balconies and terraces - and glass-fronted lifts (blue-lit at night) allow guests with key cards to enjoy the city sights and the distant views of the Galtee Mountains.
Thiswell managed Limerick Hotels suites with balconies are especially desirable, but accommodation throughout is pleasant and comfortable, and the smart bathrooms all have bath and shower.
Although equally attractive for leisure breaks, the Limerick Strand Hotel is especially well equipped for business guests - an executive floor has a dedicated lounge, and all rooms have laptop safe, high-speed internet access, plus cable and on-demand tv and individual air conditioning. There’s a choice of 14 meeting rooms for groups of various sizes, and cutting edge conference technology.
Leisure and off duty business guests will all appreciate the Energize Health Club, which has a 20m pool, plus children’s pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, also a gym and beauty therapy rooms for both men and women.
Good food is available at either the River Restaurant, or the Terrace Café and Bar, with a large heated terrace.
River Restaurant
Situated at the front of the hotel and overlooking the mighty Shannon, this aptly named restaurant is elegantly appointed and, unusually for a large hotel, it's a pleasant place to explore some of the foods of the region.
Executive Chef Tom Flavin is a Failte Ireland Food Champion and he works hard to make food provenance and seasonality a point of difference throughout the hotel, and especially in The River Restaurant, which offers an above averge dining experience, and where a good breakfast is also served. As well as the usual fruits and juices, fresh fruit salad and porridge with Irish honey, there's a tempting range of breads and pastries baked in-house, an extensive tea and coffee menu, and hot dishes that include less usual items such as Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame alongside a good rendition of the full Irish.
Fresh meats are supplied both by local butchers and Caroline Rigney, whose renowned Curraghchase rare breed free range pork is from her West Limerick farm, while seafood is supplied by Rene Cusack Fishmongers in Limerick and seasonal herbs and vegetables are sourced from the Springfield Walled Garden, Broadford, Co Limerick - and Adare Farm Products make the artisan ice-cream that is proudly served in the hotel.
The kitchen team engages closely with their carefully selected suppliers, ensuring diners a true taste of Limerick.
