Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel

Carton House is a beautiful hotel, particularly the historic main building, which is lovely, elegant, and very relaxing. Many of the guest rooms are in the newer annex, which is comfortable but fairly nondescript and feels much more like a modern, generic hotel. We were staying for just one night during a very short trip to Ireland and had hoped the experience would feel particularly special. There were many things we genuinely enjoyed. The historic tour led by the head concierge was wonderful and taught us a great deal about both the property and Irish history. Kathleen’s Kitchen was excellent, and the service there was terrific. Unfortunately, our room experience significantly detracted from the stay. After checking in and going to the pool, we discovered that our toilet was not functioning. Someone from the hotel came to work on it around dinner time but was unable to fix it, leaving us without a functioning bathroom for part of the evening. We were then told that there was no maintenance person available to deal with the problem, despite it being only around 5 p.m. Later, it became clear that the toilet could not be repaired that evening, so we had to pack everything up and move rooms after dinner, quite late at night. For a one-night stay, and particularly for a room costing around $600, this was a major inconvenience and took away a meaningful part of the evening we had planned to enjoy at the hotel. The following day, there was another smaller issue. Our late checkout had apparently not transferred to the keys for the new room, so we were locked out and had to make the fairly long walk back to reception to have the keys reactivated. We spoke with a manager before leaving, who listened to our concerns. What was disappointing was the suggestion that much of what happened had been outside the hotel’s control. A plumbing problem can certainly happen anywhere, but not having maintenance coverage available at approximately 5 p.m. is an operational choice by the hotel, not something outside its control. We were offered tea or drinks, but since we were already leaving and had only two days in Ireland, that wasn’t particularly useful. We were also given a $50 room credit, which I appreciated as a gesture, although it felt somewhat limited given the disruption to such a short and relatively expensive stay. Overall, Carton House is a beautiful property with some genuinely excellent experiences, particularly the historic areas, the concierge tour, and Kathleen’s Kitchen. I would still recommend the hotel, but our stay was unfortunately diminished by the room problem and, more importantly, how the situation was handled afterward.

Fabulous place . The location is fantastic and the golf and Morrison house which is a Michelin style restaurant is incredible . The staff and service is impeccable. Make sure you have a car is it is out there . Ben our connection was fantastic for our week here

We stayed in the Duke’s Suite (presidential suite) for five nights at this property.  You are enveloped in manicured nature, and looked after by kind & thoughtful staff.  The setting is the point. Though they also have several good restaurants, and a delightful courtyard bar.   Most of the suites are in the original building, which should be thought of as a living museum. As such, you will forgo some amenities like air conditioning and upgraded plumbing. If I was coming in summer, I would elect to stay in the modern wing.  We enjoyed biking around the expansive property, feeding the birds, walking through the rose garden. The property tour is a must.  The Morrison Room is also worth experiencing for a fantastic tasting menu in a beautiful space.  It can be a little tricky to get in touch with guest relations and guest experience teams for hotel activities or general questions. Recommend going straight to the concierge and reception desks. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would return.

Had afternoon tea today at Carton House. Sandwiches acceptable , scones tiny and dry, cream was not clotted. Jam and curd ok. Cream cakes were great. As it was my birthday treat I expected a little treat. As I've had many friends receive something little (was in Barberstown castle with my friend for her birthday and they sang happy birthday and gave her a lovely extra desert, plate had happy birthday in chocolate). I specifically said on the booking that it was my birthday. After I paid I mentioned it to the server and she looked at me blankly, I'm not sure she understood, poor thing. As we were getting ready to leave I mentioned it to the floor manager and he offered me a glass of prosseco. I was driving so couldn't accept, and nor would i have if it was originally offered. Just a little criticism of a little something that would have enhanced the experience..

During your stay here...be sure to experience the tour of the Carton House and learn of all the fascinating details of this magnificent Irish property. Brian Sutton is one of the finest tour guides I've ever known. He is a passionate historian who clearly loves his vocation. He knows exactly how to engage us with facts and insights while also offering a bit of time travel with his storytelling of the true events that shape this present-day luxury hotel. The tour begins daily at 10:30 AM; I'd say go early in your stay to appreciate every nook of Carton's historic setting. The golf course was a huge dairy farm until quite recently. Queen Victoria visited this house twice in her reign. And we learned of two secret doors (I'm certain there are more). Special thanks to Brian Sutton for helping me understand Irish history in this hotel tour better than any family story, book, or museum visit thus far. Also... the food is delicious. Treat yourself to the Caesar salad with chicken at The Carriage House restaurant on the property. Could be the best version in the world of this popular salad.