The One and Only Castle Hotel in the Kingdom

Please note: The following review was written by Keith Mahon and Olivia Byrne of TheTaste.ie.

Kerry is one of those counties that you can visit an endless number of times and still find new, beautiful places to explore. Having not been to Tralee since childhood, when long summer days were spent enjoying homemade picnics on Banna Beach, it was time to rediscover this beauty spot and, in particular, Ballyseede Castle Hotel.

Ballyseede Castle is Kerry’s only castle hotel and a member of the Romantic Castles of Ireland group. Located on 30 acres of woodland, the gorgeous grounds are soul-soothing. Opposite the hotel entrance, a group of old friends have gathered—the resident donkeys and ponies are absolutely adorable.

Perched on 30 acres of private gardens and woodland, this very special castle hotel offers lots of wonderful walks within its peaceful gates.

Self-described as elegant accommodation, we have to say that this is an understatement. Ballyseede Castle is elegance and luxury personified. From the moment you ascend the steps to the entrance, you are wowed by the stunning surroundings.

Upon entering, a huge marble fireplace with glowing embers immediately adds a sense of occasion, as do the decorative, ornate ceiling mouldings. Doric columns lead to an elegant oak staircase.

Our Superior Castle Room was located on ‘The Poets’ floor. Every step through the hotel is surrounded by opulence and grandeur, but we were still absolutely bowled over when we entered our room.

It featured plush, deep-pile patterned carpet in regal shades of grey, rich textured wall coverings, elegant wood panelling, curtains in magnificent brocaded fabric and, of course, an all-consuming, gracefully dressed four-poster bed.

A cosy seating area, complete with armchairs, a sofa and a flat-screen TV, was ideal for unwinding in our own little sanctuary for the night.

A very glamorous stone-grey slipper bath occupied a cosy corner of the stunning room. The rooms are elegant in design, with a thoughtful, muted colour palette enhancing that much sought-after feeling of sheer tranquillity.

We found it difficult to tear ourselves away from the comfort of our gorgeous room, but we were delighted that we did. With dinner booked in the award-winning O’Connell Restaurant, we had just enough time to visit the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail.

Stained-glass windows kept the medieval theme running through the modern bar setting. There was ample, well-spaced seating and warm, friendly staff on hand.

All safety measures relating to COVID-19 were fully followed, with sanitiser available throughout the hotel and all members of staff wearing masks.

Making our way to dinner in the two-AA-Rosette O’Connell Restaurant, the divine scents wafting through the air stirred our appetites. After a quick stop to look over the menu, we had our minds almost completely made up before taking our seats.

The O’Connell Restaurant is incredibly beautiful, with ornate detailing in abundance. Seductively low lighting, aided by candles burning brightly on every table, created the ultimate romantic ambience.

We began our dining experience with an amuse-bouche of smoked mushroom soup with truffle oil. This dainty dish was a wonderfully tasty start to dinner.

Our first starter was slow-braised pork belly. Three cubes of tender, juicy pork belly were served with spiced apple purée, which added a warm, autumnal character to the dish. Cherry tomato, shallot and basil chutney helped cut through the richness of the pork.

The second starter was a tiger prawn, poached fresh salmon and Dingle crab cocktail, served cold with Marie Rose sauce and lemon.

Transporting our taste buds back to the 1990s, when prawn cocktail was the starter of choice, this modern twist delivered the familiar food memory in a welcome, updated fashion. Baby gem cups were the perfect way to enjoy delectable chunks of poached salmon, plump prawns and flakes of sweet crab meat, all coated in a piquant Marie Rose sauce.

The wine list was concise and well matched to the dishes on offer. We opted for a bottle of Charly Nicolle Chablis at €39. Dry, with notes of green apple and citrus fruits, it was an excellent match for our fish dishes and crisp enough to cut through the pork belly starter.

For our first main course, we chose the pan-fried fillet of local hake. It was cooked to perfection, retaining the sweet succulence of the flesh beneath seasoned, crispy skin.

A confit of Provençal vegetables was lifted by aged balsamic, fresh basil pesto and baby capers. For us, this was the standout dish of the night.

Our next main course was the pan-fried fillet of local beef. A generous piece of beef sat on a bed of puy lentils and root vegetables. Requested medium, the beef arrived perfectly cooked and the knife glided through it with ease.

A warmly spiced fresh tarragon and black peppercorn cream sauce completed this delicious dish.

A hearty selection of wholesome country vegetables, including creamy mashed potato, baby potatoes, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower and carrots, completed the meal.

One of us does not possess the ability to refuse cheesecake, so when we spotted the Baileys and vanilla cheesecake, we both knew it was always going to end up on our table.

It was a generous slice of light, creamy cheesecake with a crumbly, buttery biscuit base. The addition of orange crème anglaise was glorious, and a serving of vanilla ice cream certainly did no harm either.

Our second dessert was the stuff of childhood, retro dreams: fresh strawberry and meringue Eton mess.

Shards of crisp meringue were mixed through a martini glass filled with juicy fresh strawberries, tart lemon curd, freshly whipped cream and crème de cassis. Every moreish mouthful was joyfully savoured.

We both thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience in The O’Connell Restaurant. The food was delicious, with unpretentious, solid cooking at the forefront.

The staff were polite, engaging and attentive despite the new regulations and mask-wearing requirements. We cannot compliment the team highly enough.

We made our way outside for a post-dinner walk around the gardens. Ornate detailing is as much a part of the exterior of Ballyseede Castle Hotel as it is of the interior.

Our final treat was ordering breakfast to our room the following morning. Relaxing in the comfort of our stylish surroundings, we enjoyed two delicious full Irish breakfasts, which were beautifully cooked.

If you are looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating break, we highly recommend visiting the tranquil beauty of Ballyseede Castle Hotel. From the moment we arrived, we found ourselves immersed in the grandeur and elegance of this beautiful hotel.