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A Stay in The Heart of Dublin’s Historic Centre – Hilton Dublin Kilmainham Review

As Storm Brian forcefully made his way across Ireland, I sought my refuge in the 4-star Hilton Dublin Kilmainham.

Located in the historic heart of Dublin, close to many of the city’s popular tourist attractions, including Kilmainham Gaol, the Guinness Storehouse and Phoenix Park, this hotel is the perfect base for a bit of exploring.

As we walked through the front doors, a warm, relaxing atmosphere fell over me, with the violent wind and rain quickly fading from memory.

Suitably decorated for Halloween, there were a number of beautiful autumnal decorations subtly placed around the reception area.

Following a smooth check-in process, we ventured up to our room on the fourth floor, a lovely suite with beautiful views of Dublin City.

Complete with all the amenities you would expect to find in a 4-star suite, including a spacious bathroom, king-sized bed, TV, workspace and seating area, we immediately relaxed on the chairs in the lounge area.

The room is ideal for business travellers in need of a quiet space for work or for those who like to completely relax in a bright, generously proportioned suite.

The highlight of the suite was, of course, the private balcony. A large outdoor space with two chairs and a table, this vantage point provided a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area and the cityscape in the distance.

Luckily, the balcony had a cosy shelter overhead so we could enjoy the view without feeling the full effects of Storm Brian.

That evening, we popped downstairs for dinner in the Broyage Bar & Bistro. The relaxing atmosphere and contemporary décor were a winning combination.

While perusing the dinner menu I noticed that the staff were attentive to all of their customers, from the business diners grabbing a quick bite at the bar to a group celebrating a birthday, and even those just relaxing with a pint.

Opting to skip the starters in favour of dessert, we ordered our mains and enjoyed the vibe of the restaurant. There was plenty chatter in the bistro, including from us, but it wasn’t very loud which I loved. The Broyage Bar & Bistro seems to strike the perfect balance for all diners.

It may have also helped that we were in a cosy booth, which gave us a great vantage point for the whole room – ideal for pro people watchers.

As the main courses arrived, I realised that I was quite hungry, delighted that these substantial portions were going to quell my rising appetite.

I had chosen the Salmon Roulade (€16.95), which was accompanied by mashed potato, chives, vegetables, confit lemon and the most delicious spinach cream.

I enjoyed the salmon, which paired so perfectly with the creamy mashed potatoes and spinach cream. The portion, though quite large, seemed to disappear with a quick flick of my fork.

My guest had decided on the Portobello and Bell Pepper Pithivier (€12.95), which was accompanied by a hearty helping of Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Sauce.

The warm pastry was the perfect indulgence for a dark and stormy evening, with the savoury dish hitting all the right spots.

There wasn’t a crumb left on either plate by the end of the meal, and though feeling satisfied, we were tempted by the dessert menu.

Hilton Dublin Kilmainham

After a brief disappointment in finding out that the popular Eton Mess dish was sold out, we recovered as soon as our desserts arrived.

My White Chocolate and Orange Crème Brûlée (€6.50) hit the right notes, with the sweet white chocolate adding a creamy texture, which contrasted nicely with the orange flavour.

A nice take on the traditional crème brûlée, I thoroughly enjoyed my dessert, including the strawberries and blackberries resting on top.

Hilton Dublin Kilmainham

My guest, who has a serious sweet tooth, opted for the Sticky Toffee Pudding (€6.50), which was accompanied by Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce.

A well-presented dish, this dessert would be enjoyed by any fans of the classic toffee pudding, but my guest did wish there was a small bit more caramel sauce on the plate so that she could fully appreciate the indulgent toffee treat.

When we decided we could eat no more, the only option remaining was to sample a cocktail from the Broyage Bar & Bistro’s cocktail menu.

A great selection, we chose a French 21 and an Espresso Martini. I opted for the French 21 (€9.90), a take on the traditional French 75 cocktails.

Combining Ketel One Vodka, lemon juice, raspberry liqueur and Prosecco, this was my kind of tipple.

Hilton Dublin Kilmainham

My guest went for their current favourite, the Espresso Martini (€9.90). Coffee lovers will adore this cocktail, which is a blend of vodka, fresh brewed espresso coffee, honey and Kahlua.

The cocktail everyone is talking about these days, the sophisticated Espresso Martini is the perfect excuse to drink coffee at night!

The next morning, my guest ordered a fry while I decided to devour one of the hotel’s omelettes. Containing ham, cheese and mushroom, this was exactly what I had been craving.

There was a decent selection of continental and buffet options at breakfast, so all guests, be they young or old, would be able to find something to their liking.

After a lovely night and dinner, the storm had passed so unfortunately, we had to check out and venture back into the real world.

The price for a stay at The Hilton Dublin Kilmainham starts at €113 per person, with ten different room options available. Dinner for two in the Broyage Bar & Bistro with two glasses of wine and two cocktails came to €78.70.

Hilton Dublin Kilmainham
South Circular Road,
Kilmainham,
Dublin
T: (01) 420 1800
W: www3.hilton.com

FEATURE BY SARAH GLASCOTT

Sarah has always had a great love of travel, food and photography. Following her journalism degree at DCU, she developed a passion for travel writing while living in Spain.

Sarah loves exploring new places and sampling the local cuisine. Working with TheTaste.ie combines her love of food and travel.

Sarah Glascott Sarah Glascott
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