Ashford Castle

My daughter and I spend a couple of days every year , at this time , in Ashford. As always it was an utterly fantastic and enjoyable experience. All the staff make you feel as if you are the only people staying there . From our arrival with Emily , Breige and Eleanor , Patrick and Lucas at breakfast, Andrea and of course Robert at dinner , and if you consider a facial at the spa , ask for Valerie, she made me look 20 years younger . Joanne in Mrs Teas shop was so incredibly helpful with us and Sophie enjoyed clay shooting with David, who is a great instructor , Ashford Castle is my favourite place , I think, anywhere in the world , the staff make you feel.so special, and so very relaxed , the food , drinks and overall experience are the best you will find anywhere . I intend to visit every year, still , for many years to come

We had a wonderful 5 course meal for our son's college graduation in the George V room. It was absolutely gorgeous and our waiter, Andy, was exceptionally helpful and attentive. He tended to our individual dietary needs and Leander was an attentive friendly runner. When we entered the castle, Martin helped us manage our way around with helpful history facts.

Unreal. No other word can describe this place. Absolute gem of a spot. Been to a lot of amazing places but this tops them all! My review here cannot explain it truly. You just have to go and experience and then you too will understand.

We had an amazing experience here for afternoon tea. When we arrived we were literally welcomed with open arms by the doorman who was so nice and friendly. We were brought in to I believe the Connaught room which is beautiful. Our waiter was very good (apologies I’ve forgotten his name we were there Tuesday afternoon) he was a gentleman explained every single item that was being served he even got a recipe for one of the sandwiches for my girlfriend. He was so knowledgeable and very polite. The food was delicious and plentiful the sandwiches were fresh and tasty the scones again fresh and warm ( the Dubliner cheese scones were the best) and a great selection of sweets and treats. There was also a wide selection of teas to try. After the food we were able to have a look around the hotel and get a few pictures. The whole experience was just amazing and we can’t wait to go back. Big thank you to everyone for giving us a wonderful afternoon

I visited the castle on 27/10/2025. I stayed for one night and paid 727€ ($850USD) for the Corrib room alone. The weather was perfect at 11C (51F) with light rain here and there. I will try to be as specific with details for those who are thinking of staying at the Ashford but are unsure due to costs. Room: The Corrib room (room 214) that I had stayed in had a view of the front and of the entryway you drive into. The room was clean and inviting. The bed and pillows were fluffed and had a lovely smell of cedarwood. I have a sensitivity to smells, so when a room smells like it has not been aired out, it dampens my experience. The bathroom was a marble masterpiece that included a bidet and heated towel rack and floors. At the end of the night, they do a turnover service where they fluff your pillows, leave out slippers, pull back the comforter and leave you tasty little chocolates. I had read that the room was too small but I felt like it was comfortable enough for my boyfriend and myself and my three bags and coats. The only negative thing I have to say about my stay in this room is that around 9AM, there were people working outside of our window (loud talking and clanging) but considering the time, I will not let that affect my rating. 5/5 Food: We went to the Prince of Wales bar, had a drink and shared an appetizer since we didn’t want to ruin our appetite before our reservation at the Dungeon. The setting was more relaxed and the lovely lady that served us was very attentive. There is no dress code for the bar. We ordered their steak sandwich with chips, a whiskey, lemon Fanta and a Bailey’s coffee which came out to 85€ (give or take). The food was delicious and made with care. My only gripe here is that the lemon Fanta was 4€ (or 4,5€) so it did feel that the price for basic products were inflated to match the location. I do not mind paying what products are worth but you can get 3 Fantas for 5€ at Centra. 4.5/5 We had dinner at the Dungeon where we had the most amazing set of drinks. I had made a reservation via email and was booked for 6PM. The staff made booking activities and dinner very easy. I had their Cherry Blossom and their Rhubarb Orchard and my partner had the Earl of Ashford and a Rhubarb Orchard. I am not a fan of gin, but I still purchased a bottle of their Ashford Castle Gunpowder Gin because of the tasty drink. Aside from the Earl of Ashford, my absolute favorite was the Rhubarb Orchard. Samuel, the creator of the Rhubarb Orchard, came out to greet us and ask for our opinion. He even recommended his favorite, the lemon tart for dessert, which was delightful. For our entree, we had the duck and the chicken pot pie. I had only had duck at Chinese restaurants, and it was not to my likeness. I, however, found it devastatingly delicious at the Dungeon. My partner felt like it was not enough food. In my opinion, it lacked either one more strip of duck or a smaller plate. The price for two entrees, four drinks and two desserts was approximately 230€. Keep in mind that all services include a 15% surcharge, meaning you do not have to tip since it is already included. 4.75/5 Breakfast: Check out was at 12PM, so we woke up early enough to enjoy their breakfast buffet. The breakfast is included with the room (even the Corrib) at no cost. Alcohol beverages are available at an additional cost. I really appreciate it when luxury hotels include high tier breakfast at no charge. It makes those, like myself, who can only afford the stay during special events (I paid for this stay as my gift to my boyfriend for our second anniversary and his first trip to Ireland) feel like we are not being drained of our last penny. They included a lovely juice steward that would pour you a cup of a well put variety of tasty and health (mostly healthy) juices. The staff greeted you with a smile and were never annoying like American servers who wont let you get a second bite in before asking how the food is. I look forward to returning and enjoying breakfast here again. 5/5 Activities: I booked the 50 Clay Pigeon Shooting Experience for 140€ per person (280€ total). After booking the room, I reached out via email to reserve our shooting experience. I was very nervous about this experience because I was not sure if I would be taught how to handle the gun or properly shoot. While I do have hunting experience with a rifle, I have zero experience with an over-under barrel shotgun. David, who was our instructor, was incredibly patient and taught us both the essentials and was very helpful with showing us how to shoot the target. He made the experience ten times better. My partner and I are both anxious people, but he made us feel at ease. Thank you, a million times, David. 5/5 In-castle activities: After exploring the outside and being in awe of how beautiful the grounds were, we decided to take advantage of the entertainment. We were too tired to go to the movie theater but we did pop in to check it out. One of the staff members walked us to the billiards room which was so cozy and inviting. They also have a heated tent outside where you can smoke cigars. We decided to have one drink at the Drawing room, where they had a gentleman playing the piano was exiting and a man singing karaoke songs was beginning his shift. There were only two other groups who joined us as we ordered three more drinks. The staff mentioned that at nine, they have more lively music (Irish or a Harp player). The singer had a great voice but I did not feel like it was the right setting. However, the fact that the Red Carnation team makes an effort to keep their guest entertained at all hours is precisely why I cannot stop singing praises. We ordered four drinks in total; the Irish High King, Brawley, Clover Club and Pornstar Martini. The total for those drinks plus the service charge was 101€. 5/5 In total, I spent around 1500€ ($1780USD) since I also tipped extra in cash and I made a purchase at their Mrs. Tea shop. My overall rating was a 4.875/5 which is very high. I tend to be very critical on anything considered luxury because most of the time the price does not match the quality. I was happy to see that Red Carnation employs a diverse team (people from different countries) which makes the experience even more enjoyable. I will be returning in late March with my partner for two nights and cannot wait to experience some of the activities that we could not during our first. I want to thank Johnathan, for reaching out enquiring about my stay and a special thanks to the amazing staff who clearly take pride in their job. Special shoutout to Samuel, Peadar, Breege, Giuseppe, Viktoria, John (the gentleman by the entrance), Martin and the tall gentleman that walked with us during the orientation (forgive me for not getting your name). Everyone was exceptional and I want to thank you for making my stay as magical as the castle.

Having stayed in the Lodge a couple of years ago and had a fabulous experience, we decided to splash out and stay in the castle and to be honest, we were quite disappointed. Yes the castle looks fabulous from outside but inside the authenticity is just not quite there. Staff were helpful but some need more training in customer service. Food (George V restaurant) was good, but not delicious. Spa treatment and products were mediocre at best. Even the cinema room was a letdown, cheap popcorn, uncomfortable seating. However, although the bedroom was tiny, the beds were extremely comfortable and the bathroom was pretty. Overall, this place appears to cater to the American tourist who want an Irish castle experience, there’s so many more castles in Ireland with better food, staff and ambience to enjoy at a more reasonable price.

Historic lakeside estate with beautifully detailed rooms and activities like falconry and boat trips. Warm service and generous breakfasts; a picture-perfect stay.

Very mediocre and disappointing experience for a not inconsiderable sun of money. Underwhelmed. We were presented with a plate of sandwiches each, not nicely cut up or prepared, honestly I could have made better and tastier myself. Desserts were nicely presented, but almost all mousse based. Scones didn’t taste of anything, one scant tiny pieces of dried fruit. The bill for 2 soft drinks and the afternoon tea were on 2 separate receipts, I had to add them myself to sort the bill. Ouch.

Just left Ashford Castle and I am already planning my return trip. From check in to check out, every staff member I interacted with was top notch, so friendly and helpful! A special shout out to Sandro and Catherine at reception, Ellenore and Breese in the breakfast room and Raymond, who drove me back to the airport. They helped make my stay better than I ever expected!

Ashford Castle is a special place. The castle itself is just the beginning. The surrounding gardens, the Irish wolfhounds, the shooting, the archery, the falconry, and the boat rides are all part of what makes it so extraordinary. There are a number of things to highlight. First, Ashford Castle is very US traveler friendly, with outlets for standard US electronics and no need to use converters. Second, the staff is amazing. It seems as if they anticipate your requests before you make them, lol. Third, the entire property is beautifully kept, with none of the slightly worn look that one often finds in large, old converted mansions, country houses, or castles. We stayed in a suite, 312, and it was very nice, with lots of storage, a beautiful (and very comfortable) bed, and the luxury of two full baths. Like many of the other reviews, I echo the need to book activities and meals in advance. We were fortunate that we had booked our falconry, clay shooting, and archery. We made the mistake of not booking the meals except for our dinner in The George V. However, the good news is that the Drawing Room, which has arguably the most spectacular views of the lake and the grounds, can generally be counted on to have a few open seats, and the food served in the Drawing Room is amazing. We are huge fans of falconry. The experience at Ashford was the best we have ever had, with a full hour of wandering through the forest with two amazing and super smart Harris Hawks. Our guide was a genius at capturing videos and photos, which we will cherish forever. Go. You will not regret it.