The Europe Hotel & Resort

This hotel charms you from the minute you arrive. The staff is enchanting and helpful. The grounds are impeccable and the rooms are amazing. We enjoyed dinner in the Bistro and it was perfect. The breakfast in the morning is one of the best I’ve had. If I do Ireland again I would stay here and just do day trips to see the sights. One of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in.

Had a lovely time at the Riva Restaurant. The food was good but the service we received from Ira, a lovely waitress, made the experience so much more memorable. Thank you Ira.

I stayed at this hotel with my family in August, and it was wonderful. We had a lakeview room with an amazing view. The room was very well appointed and had a 110-voltage plug, too. The bathrooms were great, and I loved the ESPA products. Breakfast had many options available, as well as a buffet, and the view to start the day was incredible. We had dinner at Riva and Panorama, and both were very good and not rushed. Definitely take your bathing suit because the pool overlooks the lake and is indoor and outdoor. The spa is very popular and offers a variety of services. The gardens leading down to the lake were very well kept, and we enjoyed walking around each day (we were very lucky and had great weather). The horse stables are onsite, and complimentary horseback riding is available. The staff and concierge team (they had 3 Les Clef d'Or onsite...which is very impressive) at the hotel were beyond helpful. They assisted with touring to Dingle, a carriage ride into Killarney National Park, dinner reservations in Killarney and helped with golf arrangements. As a travel advisor, I will definitely be sending clients to this property, and I cannot wait to return for my personal travels.

From the moment you step inside you can tell this is a special place. From the breathtaking views, the amazing breakfast to the incredibly attentive staff. We truly enjoyed our first stay at this beautiful property and look forward to making this a family tradition.

As a huge fan of Hotel Europe and, in particular, Riva Restaurant, I’ve felt for a long time that I should finally put into words just how much this place means to me. After so many visits over the years, Riva has become far more than just a restaurant. It has become one of those places you return to not only because of the food, but because of how it makes you feel. I remember when this space was still the Spa Café, and seeing what it has been transformed into today is something really special. Riva has become my go-to restaurant, without question, and I would go as far as saying that it stands alongside some of the very best restaurants in Ireland. For me, it is without doubt the best Mediterranean restaurant in Co. Kerry. I also have to mention the people who have made Riva what it is. I still miss Roberto. He was not simply a manager; he was one of those rare people who made you feel genuinely welcome. His kindness, professionalism and integrity were obvious from the moment you walked through the door. He had a way of making you feel so sincerely welcomed that you were already looking forward to coming back before you had even left. I still miss seeing him there to this day. And then there is Danielle, who is there now. With buckets of experience, a fantastic sense of humour and a genuinely warm personality, he is absolutely outstanding. I honestly wish I could see Roberto and Danielle under the same roof, because between them they represent so much of what makes hospitality truly special. And, of course, there is the food — which is ultimately what makes Riva. Max deserves enormous credit for creating Riva into what it is today. There is real passion and character in the food, and you can taste the thought and dedication behind it. It is a restaurant that has earned its place among the very best in the county. And I simply have to mention Sam. I have eaten pizza in many places, including Italy and even parts of Sicily, and I can honestly say that Sam makes pizza that stands up against anything I have eaten there. That is quite a statement, but I genuinely mean it. What makes Riva special to me is that it is not just about one person, one dish or one evening. It is the combination of the food, the atmosphere, the people and all those little moments that make you want to return. Some restaurants feed you. Some restaurants impress you. And then there are places like Riva, which somehow become part of your memories. Thank you to Max, Sam, Danielle, Roberto and everyone behind the scenes who has played a part in making Riva what it is. After all these years, I’m still coming back — and I think that says more than any review ever could.