The Courtyard

The Court Yard is great for a variety of things, sit down meals, drinks with friends or a quick lunch and there is a good selection of different items on the menu.
They also have rooms for functions and advertise regularly for reasonably priced weddings.
They keep the hotel very neat and clean. There is about 50 parking spaces, which at times can be a push, but there are spaces elsewhere in Leixlip.

I’ve been in many hotels throughout the world from 1 star to 6 star. I’ve felt more at home in some 1 star places than 6 star but maybe that says more about me. It’s not often I’m impressed these days and I was impressed here; we stayed for 3 nights and toured around. We arrived in their private car park and walked through the court yard area. First, at reception, there’s Owen. He imparts such a warm bubbly welcome he just makes you feel very welcome. What a difference an open, honest, warm greeting makes. Thereafter he addresses you by your first name as you pass by reception. He fills your head with information about the hotel and its Arthur Guinness related history, the hotels dining options and what to do and see in the local and the greater Dublin areas — he’s never too busy to help either. He produces maps, guides and even gave us a discount booklet for the over-​priced over-​rated Kildare Village. Our bedroom was perfectly comfortable too, tea & coffee in the room, flat screen TV an iron and ironing board and the bedroom was so darkly quiet in the dead of peaceful night. We went to the hotel restaurant to try the early bird menu and darn good it was too (so good we went twice) and what follows is me being picky: I began with a first class rabbit, chicken & prune terrine, with delicious garlicky focaccia bread triangles, candied walnuts, a salad and a really fresh tomato paste which was almost akin to a mild Harissa paste and it was darn good food. This paste would be great with Cous Cous and lamb too. It was a good portioned starter dish with great flavours. If the walnuts were sugar candied just a tad more and the dish more bravely seasoned then it would be spectacular dish rather than merely superb one. My wife and I both took the sirloin steak as a main on the first night; it had a 5 euro supplement. I asked for a medium steak and I got rare to medium, but I was relaxed about this and didn’t fuss. My wife asked for and got hers well done or as the French say bien cuit. The French fried onions were just absolutely perfect; with a light, crisp batter. The pepper sauce was good but not great and no Colman’s mustard. The snow pea, broccoli & cauliflower and turnip side vegetables were all just right. The chips were the only disappointment with everything else so good. If the chef was to make triple cooked chips from fresh using Maris Piper potatoes these would be the perfect accompaniment here. The meat itself was tasty but not bravely seasoned. After a really good meal (remember I an being picky here) we opted for the panna cotta & marshmallow desserts as the light option, my greedy side wanted the sticky toffee pudding but my stomach said no. It was very good and to remain picky the dessert would be better with a bit less gelatine in the mix. We had a few cosmopolitans to help digestion so we couldn’t go coffees. A word about the two waitresses at dinner: Wonderful. In fact, all of the staff we encountered were simply charming. The second night I had the same starter and silver hake as a main. This was in a leek & crayfish sauce and this dish was excellent as was the chocolate dessert with a chocolate shot and tuile biscuit. Second night we took Irish coffees. When we went to breakfast we both had omelettes, again perfectly cooked but again not bravely seasoned. There’s an extensive menu from full meat packed and vegetarian breakfasts through to French toast and pancakes. We chose normal omelettes but could have had egg white omelettes only. The portion was generous. I tried a mini croissant and the pain au chocolat pastries — they were very good as were the coffees. This place allowed us to explore the village, Dublin centre (take the bus across from the hotel and down the street 5 minutes € 3.05 single) the curragh, Kildare village, Newbridge Silver and lots of shops. We are booked to return in early 2015 and looking forward to it for more adventures and the touch of gourmet food.