DUNBRODY HOUSE

Top country house gourmet getaway in lushest Wexford

WHAT’S COOKING? Rather a lot. This is one of the more luscious slices of County Wexford, and Dunbrody House, ringed by neat lawns and 200 acres of parkland where rabbits scamper on the dramatic Hook peninsula, makes a terrific starter.

Let’s approach some mains. It’s an impressive, mellow 1830s Irish manor house, sometime family seat of the Marquis of Donegal, whose decor effortlessly marries lordly Georgian with contemporary swish. Step inside to an oasis of crackly log fires, fresh flowers and country calm.

Bedrooms at Dunbrody House come with gorgeous looks, garden views, top-notch bathrooms and a choice of bedding. You’ll find polished antique furniture, super-comfortable beds and elegant drapes. Some rooms have fireplaces or exposed beams while others sport a balcony. For a seriously splashy stay, check into the extravagant Waterford suite: just order the champagne and bliss out.

Gourmet getaways

Dunbrody House is a destination hotel for food lovers. Owned by Master Chef Kevin Dundon and his wife, Catherine, there’s nothing country-cousin about the much acclaimed restaurant, which could challenge Dublin’s top dining spots for talent and culinary verve.

Imaginative seasonal menus are complemented by a daily changing Tasting Menu making full use of on what’s local, fresh and organic – much of it grown in the hotel’s own kitchen garden and orchard. Needless to say there’s an excellent wine list, too.

Take a seat in the scarlet-walled dining room, with its modern art and sculptural long-stemmed blooms. This is definitely the place for bons vivants – we relished our pinkly-perfect Barbary duck with burnt orange sauce.

A must-have at Dunbrody is the champagne breakfast in bed, served until noon each day. For dedicated gourmands, there’s also a cookery school here where you can hone your own epicurean skills.

Too much indulgence? No worries – guests come here to trough, cook and energise. Check out Dunbrody House’s swanky Molton Brown spa and choose from a whole range of wellbeing treatments – from pampering specials to a therapeutic massage.

Dunbrody hits the spot when it comes to warmth, character and relaxed elegance.  The owners and their upbeat young staff  are the icing on the cake.


Dunbrody House was reviewed for Room for Romance by Mike North

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NEW! ULTIMATE RELAXATION AT DUNBRODY HOUSE  – South East Ireland

If you are looking for relaxation and pampering then look no further than Dunbrody House. Be spoilt with two nights of fine dining and spa treatments to make you melt.

Arrive in the romance inspiring Waterford Suite to chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of vintage Dom Perignan, then get rid of those travel weary limbs with a trip to the spa for the signature Dunbrody massage. If all that has worn you out then don't worry as the next day you can have a lie-in with a late breakfast (served until midday). Ladies will then be treated to a luxury manicure or pedicure with make up by Bobbi Brown. After every other part of you has been indulged then treat your taste buds with the Dunbrody Gourmet Tasting menu, prepared by top celebrity chef Kevin Dundon, with wine pairing. Say goodbye with a personalized signed copy of Kevin Dundon's Full on Irish. You'll be dying to return and have some more full on Irish pampering. For two nights in the Waterford Suite prices start from EUR 775.

*Quote The Dunbrody Ultimate on our Booking Inquiry Form

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Dining in
Dunbrody is at the top of Ireland’s culinary tree, and chef Kevin Dundon is justly regarded as one of the country's finest. Start dinner with ravioli of Abbey Blue cheese and spinach topped with truffle shavings, followed by the char-grilled fillet of Wexford beef with oxtail cottage pie. Hell, it doesn’t matter what you order – we sure you’ll love it. Accompaniments are sure to feature fruit and veggies from Dunbrody’s own gardens.

Dining out
If you can tear yourself from this culinary hotspot, the Cellar Restaurant in Foulksmills is well worth a visit, as is the wood-panelled, trattoria style Wine Vault in Waterford – famous for its lemon curd ice cream.

See & Do
Dunbrody has its very own cookery school where you can hone your kitchen skills at weekend classes. Kevin Dundon is one of Ireland’s top chefs, so many guests come here to trough and cook.

If you’d sooner leave someone else by the stove, there’s plenty to do in the region. Historic Dunbrody and Tintern abbeys are worth a visit, and the towns of Waterford and Wexford have plenty to see and do. The scenery along Ireland’s so-called Sunshine coast is also worth gawping at: hidden sandy coves, pretty harbours and a thousand shades of green.

Spa
Spend a day at Dunbrody’s spa being scrubbed, preened and pampered. Submit to a facial, massage or body wrap in one of the suede walled treatment rooms. This luxurious haven comes complete with an Asian style steam and mud room, a relaxation room with daybeds and an impressive list of treatments.

Oh, and you won’t be expected to get by on a bottle of iced water here. Flavour your spa visit with delicious healthy treats: think strawberries and tarragon chilled soups, champagne and lavender sorbets, citrus salad with toasted pine nuts and exotic iced fruit. In winter there’s even a naughty chocolate fondue.

Shop
Don’t leave without picking up a copy of Kevin Dundon’s cookbook for tips and inspiration. You can also stock up on the area's famous Waterford crystal, as well as knitwear and crafts.

After dark
Take a moonlit stroll through Dunbrody's gardens, and look out for the rabbits. If nightlife is a must, you’ll find plenty of pubs and sociable bars in Waterford and Wexford. 

Dates
March
There’s sure to be plenty of craic on 17 March for St Patrick’s Day.

June-July
Enniscorthy plays host to the annual Strawberry festival, dedicated to… strawberries. Live music, dancing, street arts and stalls come to town, and one lucky lass is crowned the Strawberry queen.

July
Traditional Irish music and dancing marks the JFK Dunbrody festival – with a warm welcome and plenty of craic.

GETTING THERE

Location
New Road, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford

Parking
There is free guest parking

Trains
Waterford station – 12km

Taxis
EUR 30-40 from the station.

Airport
Waterford – 13km, or Dublin International, 188km

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 270 - 500

Open/closed
Open all year except 20-27 December

Check-in
4pm

Check-out
Midday

Minimum night stay?
No

Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until midday, perfect for late risers. Treat yourself (and someone else) to champagne breakfast in bed.

Room service
Available until 10pm

Children
Welcome

Pets
No

Air conditioning
No

Languages
English, French, German and Italian

Wedding license?
No

Your contacts
Kevin and Catherine Dundon – owners